1953 APBA Gold Cup
Lake Washington, Seattle WA, August 9, 1953


The Gold Cup Stays In Seattle
World Record Holder Earns For Stanley Sayres His Fourth Successive Gold Cup Victory
By W. Melvin Crook

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Longer course Proposed

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Oval for Gold Cup Cut to 3.75 Miles

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90 Miles At 100 M.P.H.

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Gold Cup Regatta Slated On Sunday

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Speed Record Set by Slo-Mo-Shun IV

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Cup Boat Bought By George Simon

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Coast Speed Boat Loses Propeller

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Sayres Sued by Lawyer

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Gold Cup Entrant Ripped In Tune-Up

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On the Eve of the Gold Cup Race

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Sunday Race Condemned

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Miss Pepsi to be Retired

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Slo-Mo-Shun, ‘Grand Old Lady’, Sweeps Gold Cup

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Distaff Side Prays Home Slo Mo IV

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Slo-mo is Dream Boat to Driver

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Calling the Space Patrol

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In the Wake of the Roostertails

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Five Boats With But One Thought

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Gold Cup Race Won in the Pits

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Gold Cup Invaders Won't Return Says Schafer

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The Old Lady Got Into Another Race

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Gold Cup Race Sidelights

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Slo Mo Shun IV Surprised

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Slo-mo-shun IV Captures Gold Cup Race for Third Time

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Schafer Reluctant to Return to Seattle

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Slo Mo Shun IV Keeps Gold Cup

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Slo Mo IV Remains Queen

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The"Old Lady" Does It Again

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The Gold Cup Stays in Seattle

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Statistics

When drivers Joe Taggart and Lou Fageol piloted Stanley Sayres' Slo-Mo-Shun IV to a straight-heat victory in the 46th Gold Cup Race at Seattle on August 9, they broke an assortment of performance records and came close to breaking the hearts of the challengers from Detroit. This is the third consecutive year that the fleet from the Motor City has made the long trek to the Pacific Northwest, each time to be soundly whipped by one of the famous Slo-Mos.

The record book shows that never before has the gold-plated old urn been captured four times in succession by the same owner. Slo-Mo IV became the second boat in the history of the class to win the race three times. Sayres' world-record holder has her name engraved on the winner's plaques for 1950 1952 and 1953. In this respect her performance is exceeded only by that of George Reis' El Lagarto which posted three consecutive wins. Certainly some sort of "first" was established by the fact that Slo-Mo's three triumphs were accomplished with no less than four different drivers. The first time she turned the trick, her designer, Ted Jones, was at the wheel. Last year she was piloted by Stan Dollar. And for her third success the driving chores were shared by Joe Taggart and Lou Fageol.

Speeds during this 46th Gold Cup Race, while not up to some optimistic pre-race predictions, were high enough to cause several changes in the record book. Most impressive new mark was the 90-mile average of 92.571 which erased the old 78.215 set by Slo-Mo IV in 1950. This being the first time the race has ever been run on a 3.75 mile course, the Mo's 104.231 for the third circuit of the second heat automatically becomes a record, though it is not up to the unbelievable 108-plus credited to Slo-Mo-Shun V in 1951. This year's fastest heat speed of 95.268 was not even close to Pepsi's 101.024 chalked up a year ago.

Most of the period set aside for qualification trials turned out to be nothing more than a sun-bathing session for the officials.

First to take a crack at the required three laps at 85 in.p.h. or faster was the defending champion, Slo-Mo IV. Late in the afternoon of the 6th Joe Taggart brought her out and wheeled three laps at speeds of 106.7, 107.7, and 108 for a trials average of 107.5. This was nearly four miles faster than the previous fastest Gold Cup qualification — Miss Pepsi's 1952 effort.

As usual, the posting of the first speed was all that was needed to get the ball rolling. Shortly after the Sayres' craft had left the course, Chuck Thompson took his turns with the enormous Such Crust III. Picking up speed as he went, Chuck roared through the laps at 92.5, 93.5, 94.8 for an average of 93.6 m.p.h.

Miss Great Lakes took over immediately thereafter and turned in a trial performance of 93.3, 93.0, 92.5, averaging 92.9 for the 11¼ miles. Then, as the evening wore on, Gale II checked in at 92.2, 90.7, 90.0 (90.9 for the full distance), followed by Such Crust V at 96.9, 96.7, 97.2 (96.9 over-all).

While the other boats were busy avoiding the qualification process, Slo-Mo-Shun V, the 1951 Gold Cup winner, had been badly damaged. During a trial run under the guidance of Lou Fageol, while traveling at a reported 160 m.p.h., she had somehow lost the bottom of her main strut. This permitted the shaft to run wild with resultant heavy damage to all the drive gear and the after part of the hull structure. She was beached and quickly salvaged. Despite day and night activity on the part of the famous Sayres crew and Anchor Jensen's shop, the V was far from ready at the scheduled conclusion of the qualification trials. The Gold Cup committee voted to allow her to make the trials at any time up to the point where it would mean postponing the race. Some two hours before that moment Stan Sayres informed the officials that there would not be time to make the three-lap run and asked to be allowed to compete without first qualifying. This matter was put to a vote of the other owners who firmly voted it down.

George Simon's new Miss U.S. also had her pre-race woes. While her crew worked hard at removing a collection of "bugs," the committee agreed to extend her the same qualifying grace period granted to Sayres. Thus, early on the morning of race day, Arena was able to get his new job under the wire with an 89.0, 87.4, 88.2 performance (88.2 over-all).

Seattle on race day presented pleasantly warm sunshine and a light easterly breeze that was just enough to keep the water from being "sticky." Crowds which had started assembling the night before, by race time jammed every available point of vantage ashore and along the log-boom that lined the backstretch. Start of the program had to be delayed 15 minutes when the boom parted and drifted onto the course along with its hundreds of boats.

Whereas in previous Gold Cup Races on the Lake Washington course, one or more of the contenders plotted starts through the arch of the floating bridge, all six of the 1953 hopefuls came swooping in from around the north turn or from inside the course. In a fast breakaway, Slo-Mo IV led the pack over the line several seconds after "clock zero," closely trailed by Miss Great Lakes, Such Crust V, Miss U.S., Such Crust III and Gale.

Going through the first turn, Great Lakes slowed to a halt. Meantime, Taggart opened up his initial lead, with Bill Cantrell pushing the Crust V in second spot. The defending champ flashed over at the finish of the first round at an average of 101.95 for the 331 miles-the fastest circuit to be made by any during the first heat. Cantrell, who was some quarter-mile behind the leader at this stage, shortly lost his second position to Lee Schoenith in Gale. Crust III had settled into fourth and Arena seemed content to run at a modest pace at the tail of the fleet.

Slo-Mo IV's lead was stretched to half a mile at the finish of the second lap, to three-quarters at the end of the third, and to a full mile one lap later. From there to the end of the heat Taggart kept the space between him and the second-place Gale close to the mile distance. He hammered the 1950 and 1952 winner hard around the turns, drawing gasps from the spectators as he danced from sponson to sponson, but slowed down through those spots where the other craft had dug large holes in the course. The IV's engine, which had sounded progressively rougher through the fourth round, appeared to smooth out later in the race. She lapped Miss U.S. on the second turn of her fourth lap and passed her again on the first turn of her final circuit.

They finished that first heat with Slo-Mo IV in front by 20 seconds for a 30 mile average of 95.268 m.p.h. Gale was second, with Crust V, Crust III and Miss U.S. crossing in that sequence. Although the Simons challenger had been lapped by every other boat in the race, she finished within the allotted nine minutes and received points for fifth.

Prior to the start of the second heat it was announced that Great Lakes had broken her propeller shaft and would be out of further competition. From the Sayres camp came word that Lou Fageol, senior driver on the Slo-Mo team, would replace Taggart at the wheel of the "IV." This announcement would hardly have been necessary for the crowd immediately recognized the Fageol driving technique. Unlike Taggart, Lou chose to take his craft north and make his start through the bridge archway. In this maneuver he was joined by Dan Arena in Miss U.S.

As the fleet poured down on the line from all directions, it was Crust III that was ahead — in fact she was too far ahead and Thompson had to slow to a crawl to keep from jumping. He managed to get the III over first but the faster moving Miss U.S, Crust V, Gale and Slo-Mo IV swept down in a bunch. Fageol had found his way from the bridge to the line unusually crowded with Detroit boats and was forced to make his run to the first turn in heavy traffic.

The Seattle defender roared past all but Crust V before coming out of that first turn. Going down the backstretch the Slo-Mo accelerated rapidly and quickly closed the gap between herself and the Schafer boat. Then, just as Fageol was forging ahead, Crust V slowed to a halt, her propeller missing.

Gale took over the chase at this juncture and took it over in earnest. On the south turn of the second circuit as the Slo-Mo made her characteristic wide turn, Lee Schoenith pushed his Dad's boat into the lead. At the finish of that lap Gale was on top by some 200 yards, followed by Slo-Mo, Crust III and Miss U.S. This state of affairs continued until the third backstretch when Fageol turned loose all the horses in the Mo's Allison and jumped into the number one spot once more.

Fageol and Schoenith fought it out at close quarters for the next lap, without the Seattle boat gaining appreciably. On that fourth backstretch; timer Otto Crocker caught the leader at 128 m.p.h. straightaway speed. Fageol commenced to improve his lead during the fifth lap, on the north turn of which he lapped Miss U.S. Gale, too, passed the Simons entry on the sixth round, but continued to lose ground on Slo-Mo.

On the final two rounds of the second heat it could be seen that Gale was slowing. It developed that a cooling line had broken and the boat was filling with water. So far was Schoenith forced to throttle his charge that Such Crust III passed him almost on the finish line to take second behind Slo-Mo IV. Miss U.S. came on to take fourth. Fageol's speed for the heat was 92.014 with his fastest lap-the third-at the rate of 104.231.

At this stage Slo-Mo IV had picked up 800 points, Gale 525, Such Crust 111 469, Miss U.S. 296 and Crust V 225.

Seattleites were on the verge of jubilance. By nosing out Schoenith for second spot, Thompson had kept two Detroit challengers within striking distance of eventual victory, but had snipped 75 points from the score of the second-ranking Gale. It was obvious that Slo-Mo IV had only to maintain an iota of her 1 minute 44 second time advantage (to pick up the fastest race bonus), and take a fifth or better in the final heat to top any combination available to Gale.

The pits were hectic with activity between the second and third heats. Slo-Mo's propulsive department was found to be in need of several replacements-including the prop. Crust V was fitted with a replacement shaft and propeller. Gale's crew was hard at it repairing the ruptured water line. From the Miss U.S. camp came word that various important items were out of line and owner Simon decided to withdraw for the day rather than damage his new craft.

Taggart, after relinquishing the Slo-Mo's cockpit to "guest driver" Fageol for the second heat, again took over for the final contest. At the start it was Crust V over the line first, trailed closely by Slo-Mo, Gale and Crust III. Taggart, despite his commanding lead in points and time, pushed the defending champion into the lead as he reached the first turn of the initial circuit. Some two miles farther along, Cantrell was compelled to call it a day as Crust V's motor found itself in difficulties.

By the end of the first round, Slo-Mo had a lead of 300 yds. Gale was hanging on grimly in second position, while Thompson kept Crust III at a steady pace somewhat slower than that of the leaders. Taggart maintained his short lead throughout the second lap. But soon thereafter the gap between the Mo and Gale started to widen. Lee Schoenith was receiving an unwanted bath of oil caused by a failure of his gear box lubrication system. The fourth .lap was the fastest of the heat as Taggart whirled the 3.75 miles at an average speed of 99.682. Positions remained unchanged to the finish.

Slo-Mo IV swept over the final lap to the accompaniment of whistle and horn blasts and an appreciative roar from the massed spectators. Her speed for the 30 miles had been 90.557 m.p.h. Gale was next across the line, some mile behind the winner, while Crust III came on steadily to pick up third place points.

Limited hydroplane races run between Gold Cup heats brought out small but fast fields of 225s and 266s. Victor in the 225 competition was Rich Hallett's I'm In. In the second of these heats Hallett wheeled his craft at a speed of 80.429, tacking almost 5 m.p.h. on the record which he himself set in 1951. 266 winner was Skippy.Too, driven by John Corea.

As a final treat for the smaller classes, the Seafair Trophy was put on the line for a one heat match race between the first five finishers in each of the 225 and 266 classes. I'm In bested this field in convincing fashion.

(Reprinted from Yachting, September 1953, pp.38-9, 140)

Boat
Home Port
Owner
Driver
Hull* Qualifying
Speed
(Heat 1)
Position
Speed
(Heat 2)
Position
Speed
(Heat 3)
Position
Speed
Position
Total
Ports
Slo-Mo-Shun IV
Seattle, Wash.
Stanley Sayres
Joseph Taggart (1, 3)
Lou Fageol (2 )
Jensen-Jones
28' X 11'4"
107.5 m.p.h. First
95.268
First
92.014
First
90.557
First
2000
Gale II
Detroit, Mich.
Joseph Schoenith
Lee Schoenith
Arena
30' X 11'9"
90.9 m.p.h. Second
93.649
Third
85.866
Second
87.484
Second
825
Such Crust III
Detroit, Mich.
Jack Schafer
Chuck Thompson
Staudacher
34' X 13'9"
93.6 m.p.h. Fourth
86.579
Second
86.008
Third
83.035
Third
694
Miss United States
Detroit, Mich.
George Simon
Dan Arena
Arena
30' x 11'6"
88.2 m.p.h. Fifth
69.749
Fourth
76.480
DNS. Fourth
296
Such Crust V
Detroit, Mich.
Liz Schafer
Bill Cantrell
Staudacher
30' x 12'4"
96.9 m.p.h. Third
88.908
D.N.F. D.N.F. Fifth
225
Miss Great Lakes
Detroit, Mich.
Albin Fallon
Danny Foster
Arena
30' x 12'
92.9 m.p.h. D.N.F. D.N.S. MN.S. -
*All boats powered by single, 1710 cu. in. Allison engines except "Such Crust III" which carried two such engines.

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