1908 APBA Gold Cup
Motorboat Dixie Again Leads the Way
OGDENSBURG, N.Y., Aug. 21--Covering the thirty-mile course on Chippewa bay in the fastest time, 58 minutes, the motorboat racer Dixie II, owned by E. J. Schroeder of New York, and entered in the name of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club, to-day won the second of the series of races for the Gold Challenge Cup, thus putting two races to her credit and giving her a big advantage over the other entries. As in yesterday's race, the Chip III, defender of the cup for the Chippewa Yacht Club, was the boat Dixie had to beat. The Chip kept close to the Dixie throughout the race, and at the end was only seven seconds in the rear. There were four other boats in the race, the Jan finished third, the Pirate fourth, the Stranger fifth, and the Pawnee again last.
Improved weather conditions accounted for the fast time made. Yesterday's race was a run in a rainstorm, and the bay was whipped into a choppy sea, but to-day the wind died down and the water leveled so much that record time was anticipated.
The change in the weather brought out a great crowd of spectators, hundreds of gayly decorated yachts, motorboats and excursion steamers working down into Chippewa bay and lining the course.
The alignment of the racers at the start was almost perfect, and the six sharp-prowed boats darted across the line on equal terms. It was soon apparent that the Dixie and the Chip outclassed the others, and over the three legs of the course interest centred on these two. The race was in doubt up to the last mile or so. Then it became evident the Dixie would win unless she met with an accident.
As the winner sped between the two boats marking the finish she was greeted with cheers and the blowing of whistles on all of the steam craft. A few minutes later, when her time was announced, the Dixie was again given a demonstration. Cheers were also given for the Chip, for this swift little racer certainly acquitted herself creditably
It is now the opinion of yachtsmen that the Dixie will win the cup. The Dixie won the great international cup race at Huntington, L.I., recently, and if she comes out victorious in the Gold Challenge Cup races she will certainly be champion of motorboats.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, Aug. 22, 1908, p. 8.)
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page —LF]
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