1938 Biscayne Bay Regatta
Juno Triumphs In Local Test; Gingras Fails
Jack Rutherfurd, of Palm Beach in his gold cup hydroplane Juno shattered his own world speed record today with a run at 88.620 miles an hour both ways over a one-mile course.
His non-supercharged speedster had set the former mark of 84.6065 miles an hour at Washington last September. Riding with Rutherfurd was Ed Danner of Miami.
Hugh Gingras of Rockledge failed in an attempt to better the 225-class hydroplane speed record of 73.171 miles an hour in George Cannon's Gray Goose, which won its event yesterday in the 25th annual Biscayne regatta. Juno won the free-for-all race at 59.406 miles an hour.
Biscayne Bay's 25th annual regatta — racing which formerly consumed four days, crammed into six action-filled hours — has the approval of thousands who lined Biscayne Island and watched from pleasure craft anchored inside the course. The events yesterday brought no records, for waters were too choppy for top speed by these bouncing little boats, but there was an exciting crash and several good races.
Hugh Gingras, Rockledge, driving George C. Cannon's Gray Goose, roared to victory in all three heats in the 225-cubic-inch hydroplane competition. It was in this class that a record was expected, but the condition of the bay waters cut the New Rochelle, N.Y., boat's best speed to 56.675 miles an hour, far under the record of 64.439 set by Jack Cooper, Kansas City, in his Tops II.
The racing Rutherfurds, Jack and his smiling wife, Maude, were in classes by themselves as they showed off Juno, a Gold Cup boat, and Baby Juno, class E runabout that retired the Wanamaker trophy here last year.
Rutherfurd, driving Juno, captured the grand free-for-all by driving Juno twice around the two and one-half-mile course at a speed of 59.406, fastest recorded during the day.
Mrs. Rutherfurd took Baby Juno out to sweep both heats of the class E races, beating Frank Muzzey, Jr., and Nittany Lion II as she pleased in 48.309.
The crash came as boats were jockeying for positions before the start of a heat for outboard racing runabouts. Vincent A. Davis and Fred Rushing, both of Tampa, were tinkering with their motors on the west end of the course when the boats collided. Davis and his companion, Robert Ikerd, Miami, were thrown over Rushing's boat into the water by the impact. Riding with Rushing was Hilda Salyerd, Tampa.
Davis suffered two broken ribs and a bruised ankle, but the others were uninjured. The Davis boat, Baloney, sank.
(Reprinted from Miami News, March 21, 1938)