1952 President's Cup
Potomac River, Washington, DC, September 21, 1952
Record Fleet Seen In President's Cup
Started back in the era of Calvin Coolidge, the speed boat race meet on the Potomac at Washington which has always been known as the President's Cup Regatta will have top billing over the coming weekend and beyond doubt the largest number of contestants, Probably as so many of his predecessors have done, President Truman will witness the excitement from the afterdeck of the Chief Executive's yacht on Saturday or Sunday or perhaps both afternoons.
The President's Cup calls for three fifteen-mile heats, one to be contested late Saturday around the two and one-half mile course in the Georgetown Channel of the Potomac River, off Hain’s Point, and the second and third on Sunday.
Intended for the biggest and best speed boats, meaning of course—the Unlimited Class, some twin Allison aircraft engines, and the Gold Cup Class, some times the incredible but powerful smaller classes such as seven litres and 266 cubic inchers make things much too hot and much too close for the headliners. But generally speaking the President's Cup has attracted the top bracket drivers with the most expensive speed boats of the nation.
Recognition of Victory
One of the rewards for victory comes later in the fall when the nation's President summons the boat owner, driver and family to the White House where formal presentation is highlighted and photographed for the archives.
William A. Rogers, who is serving as chief starter at the National Sweepstakes regatta at Red Bank, is chairman this year of the President's Cup classic and is handling entries at 3231 P Street N. W., Washington 7.
Changes in this year's plans include moving the pits for outboards and small inboards to the lower end of Hain’s Point. The big speedsters will continue to have pits and crane facilities at the Anacostia Naval Air Station.
Saturday's program includes two heat events for the orthodox outboard hydroplanes, three added events for the stock utility runabouts and a combined two-heat race but with separate prizes for the 136 cubic inch hydroplanes and for the rough riding Pacific One Design Class. This will leave Sunday for small and middle-sized inboard classes.
Special prizes will include the Mexican Republic trophy for Class E racing runabout; the John Charles Thomas trophy for 266 hydros, the National Broadcasting Company trophy for 135-hydros and the William Randolph Hearst trophy for seven liter hydros.
[Reprinted from the New York Times, September 14, 1952]
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