1907 Harmsworth Trophy
Southampton Water, August 3, 1907
Fast Dixie Lifts International Cup
Beats Crack Daimler II Over 35-Mile Course by Three-quarters of a
Mile
Averages Nearly 28 Miles
Steered by Capt. Pierce, Fast American Motorboat Spread-eagled the Field of
English Racers
SOUTHAMPTON, Aug. 2 -- The American motor boat Dixie, owned by E. J. Schroeder of the Motor Boat Club of America, and steered by Capt. Pierce, who held her wheel when she made the American record for the fastest mile, claimed by some to be the world's record, won the Harmsworth International Championship Cup to-day from three English competitors in convincing fashion. Over a thirty-five-mile course the swift American boat made a record for sustained speed, beating the best English figures and proving her victory to be strictly merited. She beat the Daimler II, the fastest English competitor in the race, by a full three-quarters of a mile in the contest, and led her from start to finish. She covered the course with never a tremor throughout the entire distance, and recorded her time 1 hour 15 minutes 44 3-5 seconds, while Daimler covered the course in 1 hour 17 minutes 25 2-5 seconds.
The race was run under favorable conditions, with the four starters in prime shape for the test. The American in her warming up in the past few days had shown a turn od speed that made her greatly feared, and the great crowd that gathered to witness the trials expected her to carry off the honors. There was some criticism of the exclusion of the French boats, which had entered too late and could not start on account of the objection of the Americans, but the consensus of the opinion seemed to be that Dixie might might have won had even Rapier been a starter.
She went away perfectly at the start and assumed the lead, and, though Daimler held her for a while, it was evident that the other two were no match for her.
But as the little craft flew over the first leg of the course, throwing their spray high off the prow, it was seen that Dixie was drawing away, and she continued very slowly to open up and increase the gap between her and the Daimler. It was soon evident that the only chance that England had to retain the cup was for the swift American to break down, but a motor boat never ran smoother than she did. Daimler, too, performed very evenly without a single break, but it availed her nothing.
As the finish was neared, and it was evident that the American would win with a fine turn of speed, she was given a great ovation. As she crossed the line every whistle sounded and the Union jack was dipped by the entire fleet in honor of her victory.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, Aug. 3, 1907, p. 1.)
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page --LF]
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