1951 Seafair Trophy
Lake Washington, Seattle WA, August 12, 1951


The Seafair Trophy

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bullet World's Fastest Speedboats
bullet 1951 Seafair Trophy
bullet Statistics

Again, on Sunday, August 12, this same galaxy of revving, roaring speedboats will dash out of the pits at Mount Baker boat house to try for the first running of the race for the new Seafair Trophy. It is a perpetual Trophy and will be raced for every year hence on Lake Washington.

That is not all for August 12. The limited hydroplanes will race for the long-time perpetual Pacific Motor Boat Trophy. These classes racing will be for 48 cu. in., 135, and Divs. I and II in the 225 cu. in. class. The entry list for these boats was not ready at press time for this issue. It will be sprinkled heavily with the Pacific Coast’s fastest limiteds.

For World Speed Records

Both on August 3 and again on August 6, the unlimited Gold Cuppers and many limited hydroplanes will go out onto a special course on the east side estuary of Mercer Island and attempt to set new straightaway speed records. The boats run the straight mile course and then back with a time-limit for the return.

Slo-Mo-Shun IV set the new world record on such a course last year on Lake Washington. It broke the record by nearly 20 mph held since 1939 by the ultra-expensive Bluebird II that belonged to England’s Sir Malcolm Campbell. The Seattle boat went 160.32 mph and the throttle "wasn’t down."

If conditions are right. If Sayres’ racing team thinks it’s wise, just about a half-minute clear down on the throttle may bring a new record of 175 mph — or higher.

The unlimited and limited hydroplane races will all be held on the three official courses on Lake Washington. A descriptive layout of this course accompanies this story.

There will be miles of natural vantage points of the landside spectators. A log boom will be anchored on the eastern side of the course. This will provide mooring space for the spectator craft. Russell Gibson, of the Gold Cup committee, is handling space allotments. Boats up to 50 feet can be accommodated. At the end of the log boom nearest the finish line the charge will be $30 per boat and at the other end, $20. This charge is for both big-race days.

Jerry Bryant, Seattle marine dealer, is chairman of the Gold Cup committee with Lin Ivey as vice chairman. Committee members include Kenneth Metcalf, Thomas Gleed, Phil Smith, Art Shorey, Latham Goble, Frank Morris, Paul Knutson, Ross Merrill, Stanley Donogh, Conrad Knutson, Ross Merrill, Stanley S. Sayres, Lawrence Calvert, Paul Brown, Russell Givson.

The Speedy Outboards

Some 200 of the hottest outboards in the West will be on hand in Seattle during the Seafair for the wildest, dizziest round of events that has ever been offered the outboard clan.

First of all there will be the Pacific Coast Championships on Green Lake, August 5. Max Whitcomb, chairman of this event, estimates that fully 100 outfits will be on hand for a series of events that start every 15 minutes over the sizzling course at Green Lake to conclude with the starting of the F Hydros at 4:15 p.m.

Next, on August 8, will be the One Hundred Mile Marathon, sponsored by the Seattle Seafair and the Post-Intelligencer, a Seattle newspaper. The class to race is the AU, BU, BU2, CU, DU, DU2, EU, FU, and unlimiteds, in the stock utility classes.

The course is set for seven laps around Mercer Island in Lake Washington, which will make this easily the biggest and longest marathon in the West, a distance of approximately 100 grueling miles. Big cash prizes and merchandise are being put up by the sponsors. Chairman is L.F. Sutter.

Then on August 11 another big show will be put on when the stock utility classes battle it out for what is hoped will be the Pacific Coast divisional championships, if the American Power Boat Association sanctions the event as such.

Art Louie, chairman of this event, expects that there will be easily 100 utility outfits on hand even if the sanction is only for a regional race. Although this race, also to be held on Green Lake, is only open to stock classes, the thrills afforded by these boats are second to none.

The stock utility outboards range from 5 hp to 50 hp with speeds ranging to above 50 mph and always provide a full quota of spills and chill baths.

Racing, too, will be the A, B, and D stock hydros which will provide a full afternoon’s entertainment.

(Reprinted from Pacific Motor Boat, August 1951, pp. 8-10)


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