1947 National Sweepstakes

Red Bank, New Jersey, August 23-24, 1947

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Foster Takes Lead in Regatta Feature Events

30,000 See Miss Peps Defeat Lombardo Craft In 3 Races — One Record Broken

(Press Teletype)

Red Bank —- Danny Foster, the son of a California contractor, who is building his power boat reputation to envious heights yesterday three times pulled away from bandsman Guy Lombardo and shot his sleek Miss Peps V into point leadership of the two National Sweepstakes regatta choice events.

Completely dominating the Sweepstakes and the Judge Emil Auerbach trophy race for unlimited inboards. Foster appeared assured of scoring victories in today's final heats. He is also expected to race for the Red Bank Gold Cup, a one-heat free-for-all, against substantially the same field, and probably with the same result.

An estimated crowd of 30,000 saw yesterday's events from aboard pleasure craft in the largest spectator fleet ever assembled on the Navesink, and from riverfront lawns and a public reviewing stand in Marine park. A like number are expected this afternoon when outboards will resume their puttering at 1 p.m.

Record Broken

Fourteen heats of racing yielded one new world's record, made by Don Whitfield, Montclair machinist, with a midget outboard, and, among the Sweepstakes boats, speeds at least 10 m.p.h. faster than the same drivers made two weeks ago when Foster won his first International Gold Cup title in Jamaica Bay.

Weather for the 15th renewal of the second most important boat race in the country was ideal from a spectator point of view, and just short of perfect for the racers. The lack of a breeze kept water on the landlocked course smooth as glass, thus slightly retarding speeds.

Foster and Lombardo, the former the choice of racing folk, the latter the crowd's dandy, swapped each other's back wash first in the opening heat of the Auerbach race, and later in the second Auerbach heat and in the first heat of the Sweepstakes.

Powered by a 1,600-horsepower Allison engine -- three times more powerful than Lombardo's Zumbach Miller -- Miss Peps started last in each of the Auerbach heats, quickly moved into second place and after a duel, took over the lead from the orchestra leader's Tempo VI.

Only in the second heat was there at any time a doubt of the outcome. Tempo, the former My Sin which has won three Gold Cups for its former owner, Zalmon Simmons, and for Lombardo, and has had $100,000 worth of repairs, held on tenaciously for two laps before falling behind the apparently invincible westerner.

Tops 70 M.P.H.

Racing under sponsorship of the Pepsi Cola company, Miss Peps V, which is owned by the Dossin Brothers, distributors of soft drinks in the midwest, carried colors of the Detroit Yacht club. His craft hit the top speed of the day in the second Auerbach heat, at 70.783, while Lombardo, finishing 40 yards behind him, was clocked at 70.478.

The most disappointing competition was in the Sweepstakes. The ex-AAF flight officer and former midget auto racer was off to an early lead, churned up a 100-yard advantage in a few seconds, and added to it steadily, until at the finish six laps and 15 miles later, he was a half mile in the clear. His time was 70.258.

Lombardo, after a bad start, moved ahead of the remaining three boats and finished second. Third was the So-Long, a seven-liter, driven by Lou Fageol, Kent, Ohio, with Aljo V, a 225 cubic inch hydroplane, owned by Joe Van Blerck, jr., Freeport, Long Island, fourth, and the Trudy, owned by Harry Slocum. Long Island, fifth. Slocum's boat is the former Hotsy Totsy, winner of the first National Sweepstakes title.

Auerbach Field Cut

Eleven boats started the Auerbach initial heat and seven came back for the second try. In the 225 cubic inch hydroplane class first heat there were 11 starters, with many of the racers who had entered the higher class contests in the field. Flying Wing, also of the Detroit club, driven by Del Lee, Detroit, was first with an average speed of 64.701.

The Seabiscuit, top 225 in the country last year, laid off that race, concentrating on the Auerbach in which it placed third in both heats, leaving the So Long and Trudy, both Gold Cup boats, far behind.

One of the keenest tests came in the first heat of the 135 cubic inch hydroplanes, when 13 starters went over the line. The 13th stalled just before it reached the line, but got started a few minutes later only to run afoul by following the wrong course. Its name — Nauti-Gal, driven by Jerome D. Powell, Richmond. Va.

Gaining points towards the national 135 cubic inch title, for which the prize is the Jafco trophy, the small displacement hydroplane class first heat, was won by Yankee Doodle, with Merlyn Culver at the weel.

Ray Morris, Red Bank, won the Jersey speed skiff class with a mark of 39.267 m.p.h.; Harold K. Disbrow, Long Branch, was second and Elmer Morris, Shrewsbury, third.

Gordon H. Knapp, Great Neck, N. Y., copped the 91 cubic inch hydroplane class, winning both heats, with a top speed of 49.559 in the second. Sarkis Kavookjian, Highlands, was second, finishing second in the first heat and third in the second. Edward D. Campanella, Rumson, was third, posting a second and a fourth in heats.

Midget Sets Record

A new world's record for midget outboards was set in the first heat by Don Whitfield, Montclair, a machinist, who bettered his mark of 37.641 made here last year, with a 38.070 in the opening heat. He also won the second heat to cop the event.

Effect of combining the outboard amateurs and professionals of the same class in a single race was to speed up the schedule. It sent a record number of entries into the Class A event when 25 starters crossed the line, 23 of them finishing. American Power Boat association statisticians called it the largest field in eastern racing annals.

Jane H. Hendrickson, Little Silver, the only Shore girl to compete, took a fifth in the first heat for midget outboards, but dropped to 11th in the final heat. Only amateurs raced midgets.

Red Bank Regatta Results

CLASS A, outboards, amateur, first heat, five miles, won by Bob Chalmers, Jr., Williamsvllle, N. Y., 40.595 mph; Thomas Von Mello, Taunton, Mass.; William H. Bachner, Gloversville, N. Y.; Gil Kelley, Scotia, N. Y.; Donald W. Eldredge, East Bridgewater, Mass.; Charles H. Prager, Gloversville, N. Y.; George H. Middletown, Wakefield, Mass.

CLASS A, outboards, professional, first heat, five miles, won by Gilbert Peterman, New York. N. Y., 46.512 mph; William E. Barrett, Hawthorne, N. Y.; Fred G. Chase, Northampton, Mass.; Joseph C. Schmutz, Pennsauken, N. J.; William E. Fowler, Medford, Mass.; Charles A. Downe, Cranford. N. J.; John J. Schiedel, Oreland, Pa.; Peter Van Biert, Rutherford. N. J.; Fred R. Spiess, Fairlawn, N. J.; W. H. Guldin, Coatesville, Pa.; Henry Shakeshaft, White Plains, N. Y.; James Ciulla, White Plains, N. Y.; Joseph Wotowitz, Hartford, Conn.; J. M. Anderson, Woburn, Mass.; Harry Modzelewski, Hartford, Conn.; amateur, Second heat, won by Bob Chalmers, Jr., Williamsville. N. Y.; Donald W. Eldredge, second; William H. Bachner, third; Gil Kelley, fourth; Harry Dearborn, fifth, Springfield, Mass.; Charles H. Prager, sixth. Time 7.23.2; speed. 40.687 mph. POINT TOTALS; Chalmers 800; Bachner 450; Eldredge 427; Kelley 338.

PROFESSIONAL, second heat, won by Gil Peterman; William E. Barrett, second; Joseph C. Schmutz, third; Fred Chase, fourth; Charles Downe, fifth; William Fowler, sixth; Henry Shakeshaft, seventh; John Schiedel, eighth; J. M. Anderson, ninth; James Ciulla, tenth; Joseph Wotowitz, eleventh; Harry Modzelewski, twelfth. Time, 6.41-4. speed 44.798 mph. POINT TOTALS; Peterman, 800; Barrett, 600; Schmutz, 394; Chase 394. (Note) Schmutz takes third on the basis of less elapsed time.

CLASS C, outboards, amateur, first heat, five miles, won by Frank J. Desmond, Bernardsville, N. J., 49.315 mph; Red Peatross, Richmond. Va.; John L. Schoolcraft, Jr., Schenectady. N. Y.; Edward Meekler, Jersey City, N. J.; I. E. Hale, Washington, D. C.; Second heat, won by I. E. Hale. Washington, 51.282 mph; Frank J. Desmond, Bernardsville, N J.; John L. Schoolcraft, Schenectady, N. Y. Red Peatross, Richmond, Va.; Edward Meekler, Jersey City. N. J. POINT TOTALS: (Amateur) Desmond, 700; Hale 627; Peatross, 400; Shoolcraft, 450.

CLASS C, outboards, professional, first heat, five miles, won by Henry P. Shakeshaft, Jr., White Plains, N. Y., 52.631 mph; Fred Jacoby, Jr., North Bergen, N.J.; Vic Breda, North Tonawanda. N. Y.: Vic Scott, Forest Hills, N. Y.; Chester R. Scott, Dover, N.H.; J. B. Broaddus, Fredericksburg. Va.; Ray Shilling, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa.; Morton Daller, Claymont, Del.; Ray Shilling, sr., Philadelphia. Pa.; Dean Wooster, Manchester, N. H. Second heat, won by Henry P. Shakeshaft, White Plains, N. Y., 52.509 mph; J. B. Broaddus, Fredericksburg, Va.; Dean Wooster, Manchester, N. H.; Ray Shilling, jr., Philadelphia, Pa.; Morton Daller, Claymont, Del.; Ray Shilling, sr., Philadelphia, Pa.; Chester A. Olcott, Dover, N. J. TOTAL POINTS: (Professional) Shakeshaft, 800; Broaddus, 395; Jacoby 300.

MIDGET OUTBOARDS, first heat. 3-1/3 miles: won by Don Whitfield, Montclair, N. J., 38.070 mph*; James A Bosland, Patterson, N. J.; Steve Gall, Garfield, N. J.; Wilbur S. Menges, Dighton, Mass.; Jane Hendrickson, Little Silver, N. J.; A. G. Brodus, Jr., Richmond. Va.; Bruno Pierguidi, Snipes Beach, N. J.; Dorothy Mayer, College Point, N. Y.; Irving Bartless, Jr., Middletown, N. J. Second heat, won by Don Whitfield, Montclair. N. J.; James Bosland, Patterson, N. J.; Richard L. Middleton, Malden, Mass.; Marston Grevatt, Montclair, N.J.; Wilber S. Manges, Dighton, Mass.; Marjorie Clarke, New Haven, Conn.; Jane Hendrickson, Little Silver, N. J.; Steve A. Gall, Garfield, N. J.; A. G. Brodus, Jr., Richmond, Va.; Bruno Pierguidi, Snipes Beach, N.J.; Jane H. Hendrickson, Little Silver, N. J.; Alice Kaback, New York, N. Y. POINT TOTAL: Whitfield, 800; Bosland, 600; Menges, 296. (Note) * Indicates new world's record in this class. Whitfield broke his own record, 37.641. made at Red Bank Aug. 17, 1946.

JERSEY SPEED SKIFFS, five miles. 1 heat; won by Ray Morris, Red Bank; second, Harold E. Disbrow, Long Branch; third, Elmer Morris, Shrewsbury; fourth, Jim Davis, Keansburg; fifth, Stephen J. Schmidt, Long Branch. N. J.; sixth, Donald Osborne, Interlaken, N. J.; seventh, Amory E. Osborn, Red Bank, N. J.; eighth, John B. Boland, Monmouth Beach, N. J.; ninth, Arthur H. Maethot, Red Bank, N. J.; tenth, Harry Willey, Red Bank, N. J. Time, 5:25.3; speed, 39.267 mph.

91 CU. IN. HYDROPLANES, first heat, 5 miles: won by Gordon H. Knapp, Great Neck, N. Y.; second, Sarkis Kavookjian, Highlands; third, Jack O. Cooper, Kansas City, Mo.; fourth, Edward D. Campanella, Rumson. Time, 6.21.4; speed 47.145 mph. Second heat: won by Knapp; second, Campanella; third, Kavookjian; Time, 6.03.1; speed, 49.559 mph. POINT TOTALS: Knapp, 800; Kavookjian, 525; Campanella, 469; Cooper, 225.

135 CU. IN. HYDROPLANES, first heat, 5 miles: (interstate trophy) won by Yankee Doodle V, Merlyn Culver, Dayton, Ohio; second, Psst, Albert D'Eath, Detroit. Mich.; third, Marg, Oscar Vermillion, Dayton, Ohio; fourth, Bingo, Alfred Bingham, Buffalo, N. Y.; fifth, Thumper, William J. Geiger, Freeport, N. Y.; sixth, Inferno, Harry G. Layton, Monmouth Beach; seventh, Cyclone, Charles E. Edmondson, Cambridge, Md.; eighth, Sad Sack, Walter Haberman, Aquabogue, N. Y. Time, 4.42; speed, 64.194 mph.

CLASS A OUTBOARDS, amateur, second heat: won by Bob Chalmers, Jr.; Eldredge, second; Bachner, third; Kelley, fourth; Dearborn, fifth; Prager, sixth. Time, 7.23.2, speed, 40.687 mph. POINT TOTALS: Chalmers, 800; Bachner, 450; Eldridge, 427; Kelley 338.

CLASS A OUTBOARDS, professional, second heat: won by Peterman; Barrett, second; Schmutz, third; Case, fourth; Downe, fifth; Fowler, sixth; Shakeshaft, seventh; Schiedel, eighth; Anderson, ninth; Ciulla, tenth; Wotowitz, eleventh; Nodzelewskl, twelfth. Time, 6.41.4; speed, 44.701 mph. POINT TOTALS. Peterman, 800; Barrett, 600; Schmutz, 394; Chase, 394; Schmutz takes third on basis of elapsed time.

"JUDGE" EMIL AUERBACH CUP, first heat, 10 miles. Won by Miss Peps V, driven by Danny Foster, Oakland, Cal.; second, Tempo VI, Guy Lombardo, Freeport. N.Y.; third, Seabiscuit, Al Brinkman, Buffalo, N. Y.; fourth, Blitz II, Robert A Bogie, Loon Lake, N. Y.; fifth, So Long, Lou Fageol, Kent, Ohio; sixth, Mr. Dockit, Dr. Walter G. Robinson, Alexandria Bay, N. Y.; seventh, Lou's Blues, Lou Butler, Uhrichsville, Ohio; eighth, Al-Jo V, Joe Van Blerck, Jr., Freeport, L. I. Time, 8:44; speed, 69.124 mph. Second heat: won by Foster; second, Lombardo; third, Brinkman; fourth, Bogie; fifth, Fageol; sixth, Robinson; seventh, Van Blerck, Jr. Time, 8.28.3; speed, 70.783. (Note) Third heat to be run on Sunday.

225 CU. IN. HYDROPLANES, first heat, 5 miles: won by Second Fling, driven by Del Leo, Detroit, Mich.; second, Meadowmere III, Frank Ripp, New York city; third, Mr. Dockit, Dr. Walter G. Robinson, Alexandria Bay. N. Y.; fourth, Yellow Jacket, Reese Layton, Baltimore, Md.; fifth, Tops Speedliner, Jack Cooper, Kansas City, Mo.; sixth, Blitz II, Robert A. Bogie, Loon Lake, N. Y.; seventh, Malt n Hops, Jed Hanley, Providence, R. I.; eighth, Buckeye Baby, Gibson Bradfield, Barnesville, Ohio; ninth, Aljo V, Joseph Van Blerck, Jr., Freeport, N. Y.; tenth, Sally-Jo III, Joe Taggart, Canton, Ohio; eleventh, Nauti-Gal II, Jerome D. Powell, Richmond, Va. Time, 4-38.1; speed, 64.701. (Note) Second heat to be run on Sunday.

NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES, first heat, 15 miles (second heat Sunday); won by Miss Peps V; second, Tempo VI; third, So Long, Lou Fageol; fourth, Aljo V, Joe Van Blerck; fifth, Trudy, Henry M. Slocum. Time, 13:05:4; speed, 68.702.

 

(Reprinted from the Asbury Park Press, August 24, 1947)