1941: Motor Boat Racing

Motor boating during 1941 continued its pace as one of America's fastest growing outdoor recreations. Despite the activities concentrated on the National Defense effort, the vast majority of the annual regatta fixtures were held, new boat basins were established, and the membership of national boating organizations, such as that of the United States Power Squadrons and of the American Power Boat Association, were increased to a considerable extent. Thousands of new converts to the sport were noted in every section of the country, particularly in those localities where the erection of governmental dams created vast areas of man-made lakes, providing ideal boating and recreational facilities.

A further advance in speed, which saw 34 inboard and outboard records established, and the continued leadership of the 225 cubic inch hydroplane as the nation's most popular inboard racing craft were highlights of the 1941 motor boat competitive campaign.

Twenty-two inboard marks were set, evenly divided between competition and one mile trials, while outboard drivers, in both the hydroplane and runabout divisions, created six competitive marks and six in the one mile tests. Top speed of the year was the 99.884 m.p.h. set by Bill Cantrell's non-supercharged Gold Cup boat, Why Worry, over a measured mile. Other outstanding inboard speeds over a mile were the 76.923 m.p.h. created by Gene Crawford's Division II, 225 cubic in. racer, Hi-Ball, and the 71.670 m.p.h. for 135 cubic in. boats, set by Clay Smith at the wheel of Yankee Doodle. The 225 competitive speed toga was won by Joseph J. Taggart, who drove Tommyann III over a five-mile course at 73.170 m.p.h. Another sensational speed advance was recorded in the 135 cubic in. class when Henry G. Shrake drove Sally Jo II at 62.068 m.p.h.

Once again the 225's proved America's most popular inboard racing class, with George Schrafft of Newton, Mass., the outstanding driver of the division. Piloting his Chrissie IV, the young Harvard graduate led all rivals, collecting 4,825 points in 13 races for a performance percentage of 92.8. Among other triumphs Schrafft won the National Sweepstakes Trophy, the John Charles Thomas Trophy, and the New York State Championship.

The 38th Gold Cup Championships, originally scheduled for Detroit on Labor Day, was shifted to Red Bank, N. J., as part of the National Sweepstakes program on the Shrewsbury River when the Detroit Gold Cup Committee could not see its way clear to stage the fixture. On the day of the race, Aug. 16, only Zalmon G. Simmons, Jr., Greenwich, Conn., sportsman, appeared at the starting line with My Sin, winner of the Cup in 1939. Expected rivals, including Sidney A. Allen, 1940 winner, failed to appear and My Sin coasted through one 30-mile heat to recapture the famous old trophy.

The Red Bank regatta ran true to form as the outstanding speed carnival. The National Sweepstakes was won by Schrafft, and the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers' famous Inter-State Trophy, emblematic of the national 135 cubic in. championship, went to Uncle Sam, driven by Edison Hedges of Atlantic City, N. J. Among the new records set in this regatta was a competitive mark of 53.129 m.p.h. for 91 cubic in. boats, created by Jack Cooper of Kansas City, Mo., in Tops Pup.

Cruiser racing continued its wide popularity, the campaign being featured by the return to competition of the James Craig Trophy. This historic, solid gold cup, dormant since 1927, was resurrected by the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers and put up as a prize for a 180-mile predicted log ocean race from Newport Harbor to Coronado to Long Beach on the Pacific Coast. Sixteen boats started the race, which was won by Mark A. Pierce at the wheel of Anne C. The Motor Yacht Trophy for the Block Island Race went to Charles A. Bliven's Telsie V, and the International Trophy Race, from Winslow, Wash., to Nanaimo, bc, was won by Dr. E. C. Guyer's Shangri-La.

Fred Jacoby, North Bergen, N. J., professional veteran, again won the Townsend Trophy, emblematic of the national high point championship among outboard drivers, with 18,692 points, his fifth triumph in the past six years. Frank Desmond of Short Hills, N. J., with 12,099 points, led the amateur outboard drivers. Jacoby, among many notable victories, won the Albany-New York marathon down the Hudson River, world's longest and most grueling outboard test, to repeat his triumph of 1935. Desmond, representing Villanova College, gained the national intercollegiate crown.

At the National Outboard Championships, held in September at Austin, Tex., Jack Henckels of Fort Worth took the A and C amateur titles. Desmond was the Class B champion and James W. Mullen of Richmond, Va., became the Class F ruler. Richard McFadyen of Montclair, N. J., won the Midget crown. Among the professionals, Paul Wearly of Marion, Ind., took down the A and B diadems; Thom Cooper of Kansas City, Mo., won in Class C, and Harry Vogts of Madison, Wis., captured Class F honors.

The campaign for new waterfront facilities for recreational craft was spurred during 1941 by the completion, improvement, and work inauguration of 36 marinas. Among these new boat basins completed during the year were those at Decatur and Florence, Ala.; Harrison Bay State Park and Soddy Marine Park in Tennessee; Pleasantville and Seaside Park, N. J.; Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; South Norwalk, Conn.; Corpus Christi and Port Isabel, Texas; Seattle. Wash.; and Palm Beach, Fla. See also YACHTING.