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Century 21 Wins Detroit Trophy |
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Century 21 Finishes 50 Starts |
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Fascinating [Bob Gilliam] |
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Muncey Takes Boat Race, Helps Cantrell Spice Show |
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Statistics |
1962 Spirit of Detroit Trophy
Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan, August 26, 1962
Century 21 Finishes 50 Starts
Crew Gets Credit for Durable Boat
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Finishing all of the last 50 heats he has started with Century 21, Bill Muncey probably has the best record ever made in unlimited powerboat racing.
"It is my crew — they can make that boat run," Bill said after winning yesterday’s Spirit of Detroit race.
It was his fifth straight victory, following the Diamond and Gold cups this year and the President’s and Governor’s cups at the end of last season.
In fact, this year Muncey is unbeaten in nine straight heats.
Owner Willard Rhodes says a new boat is likely in 1963.
* * *
There were seven racers on the course before the final heat when there should have been only six. The seventh was the Fascination, owned and driven by Bob Gilliam, of Seattle.
Gilliam may he forgiven, but there is a rule in the APBA book that gives the referee the power to suspend the Fascination for 30 days.
* * *
Gar Wood, Leonard H. Thompson and other members of the Yachtsmen’s Association of America observed the boats in the race powered with American-designed engines. If Canada is challenged for the Harmsworth Trophy and a 1963 race they will have to pick the U.S. challenger.
The racers with qualified engines were Notre Dame, Gale V, Gale VII, Such Crust, Miss Madison and Fascination. Only one challenger can be selected. Canada’s Miss Supertest now holds the trophy.
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Joe Dewey’s Miss Lumberville, Walter Kade driving, ruined her magneto in a practice run yesterday morning, which explains why she was not drawn for any heat.
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Shirley Mendelson McDonald had boats in both races on the program. Her Shu-Shu won the Orlin Johnson Trophy for gentlemen’s runabouts and, of course, her Notre Dame finished second to his Century 21.
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The Coast Guard helicopter, was late in arriving, missing the first two heats, because bad weather delayed it at Saginaw. With two skin-divers aboard and a basket, it hovered over the racers ready to put down in case of an accident. Fortunately, there was none.
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All racers brought here from out of town got "tow money," amounting to five cents a mile.
The $10,000 cash prize fund was handed out thus: First $2,500 (Century 21), second $1,500 (Notre Dame), third $750 (Tahoe Miss), fourth $500 (Miss Madison), fifth $350 (Thunderbolt), sixth $225 (Gale VII), seventh $175 (Gale V).
(Reprinted from the Detroit News, August 27, 1962)
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