Twin-Engine Question

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

QUESTION:

In the 1950s and '60s, did THRIFTWAY TOO ever compete with twin power plants? What other teams raced with twin power during that era? - Kevin Hogan

ANSWER:

THRIFTWAY TOO was designed to carry two V-12 engines but never used more than one.

During the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, several three-point hydroplanes used twin Allisons. All of them hailed from the Detroit area. Nearly all had the engines mounted in tandem--one ahead of the other with the gearbox coupled in between them. These included two different boats named SUCH CRUST III, two different boats named GALE VI, and the third SUCH CRUST IV. They all tried to duplicate the success of the twin-Allison MISS PEPSI, a step hydroplane, but failed.

Only two three-pointers are known to have used twin Allisons, mounted side-by-side. These were the MISS MICHIGAN in the 1940s and the MISS WAYNE in the 1950s.

They just couldn't keep up with the smaller, lighter single-engine three-pointers of that era.

Several teams tried twin V-8 automotive power plants. But only one of these (MISS CHRYSLER CREW) ever won a race. And most that were fast enough to qualify eventually took backward steps to proven principles with a single V-12 Allison or Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.