1949 Harmsworth Trophy
Detroit River, Detroit MI, July 23-August 1, 1949
Such Crust I Sets Record In Harmsworth Trophy
Trials on the Detroit River
Arena Boat Hits 97.44 Miles Speed
Such Crust I Set Pace for Craft Seeking to Defend International
Honors
Dollar Entry is Second
Skip-A-Long Averages 87.56 for Two Laps—My
Sweetie Placed Third by Dodge
By Clarence E. Lovejoy
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The Challenger: Miss
Canada IV Harmsworth Favorite |
_1949_harmsworth.jpg) |
My Sweetie |
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Skip-a-Long, the pride and joy of California. |
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Such Crust I, owned by Detroiter Jack Schafer. |
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Detroit, July 23 [1949]—For years it was Gar Wood’s job to defend for the United States the world’s supremacy in speed boating for the British International Trophy, better known as the Harmsworth.
But next Friday and Saturday when the first challenge since 1933 will bring upwards of 500,000 spectators to the shores of the Detroit River to see Harold Wilson’s Miss Canada IV from Ingersoll, Ont. try to recapture the famous bauble for the British Empire, the team of three American boats probably will be:
Such Crust I, driven by Dan Arena
Skip-A-Long, driven by R. Stanley Dollar Jr.
My Sweetie, driven by Horace E. Dodge.
The alternates will be Such Crust II, driven by Dan or Gene Arena, and Aluminum First, piloted by Gibson Bradfield.
Astraea II Fails Test
This was the order of finish this afternoon in the complicated and protocol-studded official eliminations as each boat was required to demonstrate speed as well as seaworthiness over two laps of the seven-nautical-mile course.
Several of the entrants, largely from the Gold Cup fleet, were unable to make the grade, including Cameron Peck’s Chicago-owned Astraea II, which could not finish the test, and Major Dodge’s twin-engined Lotus II, which could not start; Guy Lombardo’s Tempo VI and Harry Lynn’s La-Ha-La.
Such Crust I, owned by the Detroit baking tycoon, Jack Schafer, with Dan Arena driving and his young brother, Gene, riding as mechanic, hung up an amazing and record-breaking performance this afternoon, completely relegating to lesser lights My Sweetie, the Gold Cup champion, and Skip-A-Long, winner of the Ford Memorial and recent Gull Lake events.
On water that was smooth, flat, windless and practically ideal for speed boating, Arena coaxed 96.895 miles an hour out of Such Crust I in the first lap. Not satisfied he went out in the second long lap which measures better than eight statute miles, was clocked at 4:56:13 which translated into speed registered an average of 97.992 miles per hour. For the couple two laps Arena had a speed of 97.44.
Kaye Don Set Mark
The existing Harmsworth record is Kaye Don’s 93.017, made here in 1931 in Miss England on a 5-mile course.
Dollar’s Skip-A-Long made his laps in speeds of 94.948 and 93.529 m.p.h. for an average of 94.296. Dodge’s were at 85.495 and 89.728 for a two-lap average of 87.561.
Fourth best performance today and therefore the first alternate on the United States team was Schafer's second entry, Such Crust II, also with Dan Arena driving. Using only 2,200 r.p.m.'s because of an unsuitable propeller, although the capacity is some 3,000 revs, Such Crust II registered speeds of 80.857 and 80.641 for an average of 80.799. There is an outside chance that Chester Ricker's selection committee may require further trials of this promising craft before the final team is picked next Friday.
The fifth best speed this afternoon was made by Aluminum First, the unlucky entry of Henry J. Kaiser, who ordered her built last winter expressly for the Harmsworth race. With the veteran Ohioan, Gibson Bradfield at the wheel, Aluminum First was timed at 70.532 and 73.356 for the two laps.
(Reprinted from the New York Times, July 24, 1949)
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