1909 Pratt & Letchworth Trophy Regatta
Niagara River, Buffalo NY, September 11, 1909

La Truda Wins Pratt & Letchworth Trophy

Buffalo, N.Y.—This year’s race for the Pratt and Letchworth Trophy, held on September 11th, was unusually interesting and exciting. This contest is held annually, over a 29-mile course, on the occasion of the outing of the Pratt & Letchworth employees. The silver cup offered as first prize becomes the property of the winner. The event usually attracts all the fast boats in the vicinity, and sometimes they come from a distance to compete in the race, as was the case this year, when Hoosier Boy entered for the contest. Four boat lined up for the start: La Truda, owned by Harry T. Vars, vice-commodore of the Motor Boat Club of Buffalo; Hoosier Boy, J. W. Whitlock, Rising Sun, Ind.; Red Head and Buffalo II. La Truda and Hoosier Boy leaped across the line together. La Truda soon took the lead and kept it during the entire race, defeating Hoosier Boy by only 14 seconds. Buffalo II came in seven minutes afterwards, and Red Head did not finish. La Truda’s time for the twenty miles was 40 minutes 13 seconds. This boat is equipped with an eight-cylinder, 5½x6, four-cycle Model B Sterling engine and was driven in the race by A. B. Schultz, of the Sterling Engine Company.

(Transcribed from MotorBoat, Sep. 25, 1909, p. 46.)

*  *  *

La Truda’s Victory Over Hoosier Boy at Buffalo

On September 11 there was a battle royal on the Niagara River, near Buffalo, between Harry T. Vars’ La Truda, of Buffalo, and J. W. Whitlock’s Hoosier Boy, the Western P.B.A. champion, in the race for the Pratt & Letchworth trophy. La Truda won by 14 seconds in the 20-mile race.

The summary:

Name

Start

10 M

Finish

Time

La Truda

4.40.03

4.59.55

5.20.13

40.10

Hoosier Boy

4.40.03

5.00.11

5.20.27

40.24

Buffalo II

      

47.43

Red Head

    

DNF

  

Average speed, miles per hour: La Truda, 29.84; Hoosier Boy, 29.75

(Transcribed from MotorBoating, Oct. 1909.)

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

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