Great History in Canada for Unlimited Racing

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

The 2006 American Boat Racing Association tour for Unlimited hydroplanes goes "North of the Border" this weekend to race in one of Canada's premier boat racing ventures: Valleyfield, Quebec.

Even though ABRA participated in an exhibition at Valleyfield in 2005 the Unlimiteds last raced in Canada at Kelowna, British Columbia, in 1966-67-96-97-98-99 and at Barrie, Ontario, in 1999.

The Harmsworth International Trophy was contested at Picton, Ontario, in 1960 and 1961.The Harmsworth was technically a race between nations--specifically Canada and the United States--rather than between individual boats.

The Canadian defender, MISS SUPERTEST III driven by Bob Hayward, prevailed both times in a best two out of three heat race format. The Rolls-Royce Griffon-powered SUPERTEST outran three U.S. challengers in 1960: GALE V with Bill Cantrell, NITROGEN with Norm Evans, and NITROGEN TOO with Ron Musson. MISS SUPERTEST III and Hayward defeated a lone U.S. challenger, the MISS DETROIT with Chuck Thompson, in 1961.

As per Harmsworth rules, the U.S. boats were limited to engines designed in the United States. This meant that only Allison power could realistically be used. The more-powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin was considered a British Empire engine--even though the Merlins had been manufactured in the States by Packard. None of the Merlin-powered U.S. Unlimiteds (which included MISS THRIFTWAY, MISS BARDAHL, HAWAII KAI III, and MISS U.S. I) were eligible to compete for the Harmsworth Trophy, which was traditionally emblematic of the speed boat championship of the world and dated back to 1903.

Prior to the two Harmsworth races, Picton hosted an Unlimited contest in 1956 for the Prince Edward Trophy at the Dominion Day Regatta. MISS SUPERTEST II won that one with Bill Braden as driver. The SUPERTEST II, which likewise utilized a Rolls-Royce Griffon, defeated a field of seven U.S. contestants. Jack Bartlow finished second with MISS U.S. II, followed by Bud Saile in MISS WAYNE, Bill Cantrell in GALE V, Walt Kade in DORA MY SWEETIE, Gordon Deneau and Marv Henrich in WHAT A PICKLE, Roy Duby in GALE IV, and Fred Alter in SUCH CRUST III.

Another Ontario race, the Maple Leaf Trophy at Windsor, was a fixture between 1949 and 1956. The Windsor event was conducted on the Detroit River between Belle Isle and the Canadian mainland.

Sponsored by the Windsor Yacht Club, the Maple Leaf Trophy was slow to catch on. Only two boats participated in 1949 and only four raced in 1950.

The best all-around show at Windsor was probably the 1955 classic. Eight boats started and eight boats finished the Final Heat, which was run on a very narrow 3-mile course with a dogleg in the middle of the straightaway. The first three finishers in the Final Heat crossed the finish line less than two seconds apart--MISS SUPERTEST II, GALE V, and GALE IV in that order--although first-place overall went to Saile and MISS CADILLAC which scored 869 points to 795 for Braden and SUPERTEST II.

Then came GALE V with Lee Schoenith, GALE IV with Cantrell, WHA HOPPEN TOO with Henrich, SUCH CRUST III with Kade, MY SWEETIE with John Ban, and SHORT CIRCUIT with Chuck Thompson.

MISS SUPERTEST II's Final Heat speed of 99.457 in 1955 was the fastest heat ever recorded at Windsor.

The SUPERTEST team made its final appearance in 1961 when Bob Hayward was fatally injured while driving MISS SUPERTEST II at the Silver Cup in Detroit.

Prior to MISS SUPERTEST, a number of other Canadian teams participated in Thunderboat racing.

MISS TORONTO II finished fourth in the 1920 APBA Gold Cup at Detroit with F.G. Erickson at the wheel.

Harry Greening's RAINBOW IV apparently won the 1924 Gold Cup at Detroit but was later disqualified on a technicality.

Ernie and Harold Wilson's MISS CANADA team raced from 1937 to 1950. Their MISS CANADA III won the President's Cup in 1939 and the Silver Cup in 1948.

The unsuccessful MISS WINDSOR of 1946 never could seem to answer the starter's gun but served to introduce the Rolls-Royce Merlin to the racing world.

A return to Canada and one of the top venues in powerboat racing should add to the great Canadian history in the sport.