George Simon
By David Greene

George Simon got into Unlimited Racing in 1953 to publicize his U.S. Equipment Company. Simon won his first race two years later with the Miss U.S., which was the first boat to average over 100 m.p.h. for a 15 mile heat and a 30 mile race. In 1956, Miss U.S. II won the Silver Cup and the Miss U.S. I won the Indiana Governor's Cup.

1958 was George Simon's best year when his new Miss U.S. I won four races, the most for any boat that year, and barely missed winning the National Nigh Point Championship. This same Miss U.S. secured her place in motorboat history when she became the first boat to set a mile straightaway record of over 200 m.p.h. In one run through the trap, the George Simon entry hit 205 m.p.h. with Roy Duby at the wheel. This record has stood for nearly 23 years, which is the longest period that any boat has held the mile straightaway record.

The U.S.'s mark was 8 m.p.h. faster than any other boat of her era could officially achieve.

The U.S. boats went on to win such races as the 1966 Suncoast Cup as well as the 1966 and 1969 World Championships. In 1975, the Miss U.S. won the Gar Wood Memorial at Detroit as prelude to her greatest triumph on the river in winning the 1976 Gold Cup. After this, George Simon called it a career after 23 years in the sport.

(Reprinted from the Unlimited NewsJournal, March 1985)

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