1908 Harmsworth Trophy
Huntington Bay, New York, July 27-28, 1908

Dixie II Will Help Defend Motor Cup
Will Be One of America's Team of Three in International Race Saturday
Speed 29.55 Miles An Hour
Boston Motorboat Autowin Breaks Down in First Trial Race. Only Two Finishing.

Challenger for the International Trophy International Trophy Challenge Nine Boats Ready to Defend the Trophy International Trials Postponed Until July 27 and 28 Dixie II Will Help Defend Motor Cup Waiting for Motorboats English Motorboats Here Motorboats Race To-Day The International Cup Motorboat Race Off Predict Fast Time for Motorboats The International Motor-Boat Cup Crew in Collapse as Dixie II Wins Cup International Motor Boat Race for the Harmsworth Trophy The British International Trophy Race British International Trophy Race Preparations for the International How Dixie II Defended the Harmsworth Trophy International Trophy Race of 1908

Dixie II, ex-commodore E. J. Schroeder's high-speed motorboat, was selected yesterday by the regatta Committee of the Motorboat Club of America as one of the defending American motorboats for the international cup racer, which will be held next Saturday in Huntington Harbor. The selection of Dixie II as one of the three boats to compose the American team was made at the close of the fast trial race over the thirty-mile course in Huntington Harbor. Two more races will be held to-day, and two other boats will be picked on the basis of their speed showing in these events.

Only four of the eleven entries for the trials appeared at the starting yesterday. Dixie II, the new Boston boat; Autowin II, which, notwithstanding the strain she encountered on the run to Huntington from New London, arrived in good order early in the morning; J. H. Hoadley's Den, which was successfully raced last year, and the new Aiken-Wheeler boat Gray.

Dixie II, which is built on practically the same lines as Dixie, the winner of the International Cup in England last year, looks as if she proved to be a powerful and speedy boat, although she will have to do much better than in her trial race in order to beat the challenger Wolseley-Siddeley, provided the latter comes up to the high records she has done abroad. Dixie II went over the thirty-mile course, three times around the triangle, in 1 hour 9 minutes 57 seconds, and average of 25.7 nautical miles an hour, or an equivalent to 29.55 statute miles, an admirable showing for a boat that has been in the water barely two days. She has an eight-cylinder Crane & Weightman engine of 200 horse power.

Clinton H. Crane, the designer, steered the boat, and with him were Harry M. Crane, Bartley Pierce, who had charge of Dixie in her international race last year, and Albert Rappone, the engineer. The water was calm and for power boat racing the course is an excellent one.

In selecting Dixie II, Chairman Charles P. Tower said the decision was made at this time solely upon her excellent showing, and from the fact that she needs an extra day or two to put in a muffler and tune up her engines. Besides, Autowin, which will be in condition for the races to-day, there is a bare possibility that the new 28-foot Sea Otter, entered by William J. Snadecki, may appear. The summary of the race is:

(Transcribed from the New York Times, July 28, 1908, p. 6)

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. —LF]

Hydroplane History Home Page
This page was last revised Thursday, April 01, 2010 .
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Email us at wildturnip@gmail.com
© Leslie Field, 2001