1948 Biscayne Bay Regatta

Biscayne Bay, Miami FL, April 12, 1948

Select related article . . . Cooper Heads Drivers to Close Regatta Today P.J. Henn Wins Regatta Trophy Henn Captures Gold Cup Henn Takes Gold Cup, Griffith Wins Class E

Henn Takes Gold Cup, Griffith Wins Class E

By Frank Mallants (Miami Dally News Boating Editor)

A slow start and a poor finish in the first heat of the Gold Cup Class event at the final day’s running of the Biscayne Bay regatta did not discourage P. J. Henn, Murphy, N. C., winner of the event. In two final heats he managed to get out in front at the gun and remain there until the two-lap heats were finished.

In the third heat he even widened the gap between himself and Paul Sawyer’s boat, winner of the first heat and second place finisher.

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The Gold Cup race for the Collins trophy was actually misleading. None of the competing vessels were in the Gold Cup Class. Lou Fageol, California driver was the only one who promised to have a Gold Cup boat in the regatta. At the last minute he canceled his trip.

There was plenty of excitement when the Class E inboards went over the starting line. Several Miami drivers were in this contest as well as Loren Pennington, holder of the crown for the class. The first heat proved to he a battle between the champion, Buddy Galatis, Miami, and Sherman Crichfield, St. Pete. Galatis was in the lead when in the final turn the drivers put on a burst of speed that put Crichfield in the lead and Pennington in second position. At that Crichfield won by inches only.

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Sam Griffith, Pelican Harbor Yacht club, at the wheel of an E service runabout, was the big gun in the event for this class when he edged out Mrs. Dawn Rollins on the homestretch by putting on a burst of speed. Mrs. Rollins had been leading from the start in her vessel Baby. At the last 500 yards she couldn't get anymore speed out of the engine and lost the race. However, both of them came in for heat honors since they were competing in different events in the same race.

Cleve Johnston, Miami, didn't allow a collision to hamper his intentions of taking the cruiser race. At the start of the second heat in this event one of the contestants went out of control at the first buoy and spun into Johnston's vessel. The twin Fageol engines in the vessel sent it around the course in record time.

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Ed Campanella, Rumson, N.J., proved he hasn't lost much of his old knack in pushing 91-cubic inch hydroplane out in front and keeping it there until the last gun was fired. And J. B. Bregand, Detroit, sat down on the throttle of his 135-cubic inch Hot Stuff, to cop the laurels in that event.

Winning drivers were honored with a banquet at the River Rats floating clubhouse last night where the trophies were presented the winners.

Here is the way the drivers finished;

SUMMARIES 135 Hydroplanes, first heat -- Won by J. B. Bregand. Detroit; second, S.P. Steed, Tyler, Texas; third, Sid Street. Kansas City. 135 Hydroplanes, second heat -- Won by J. B. Bregand; second, Steed; third, Street. 91 Hydroplanes, first heat -- Won by Ed Campanella, Rumson, N.J.; second, Marty Howard, St. Pete; third, Wallace Rowland, Havre de Grace. 91 Hydroplanes, second heat -- Won by Howard; second, Campanella; third, Rowland. (Class won by Campanella for best time.) Gold Cup class, first heat -- Won by Paul Sawyer, Long Beach, Cal.; second, Ray Erickson Columbus; third, Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg; fourth, P. J. Henn, Murphy, N. C. Gold Cup class, second heat -- Won by Henn; second. Sawyer; third, Erickson; fourth, Francis. Gold Cup class, third heat -- Won by Henn; second, Erickson; third. Sawyer; fourth, Ray Gassner. St. Pete. 225 Hydroplanes, first heat -- Won by Paul Sawyer, Long Beach. Cal.; second, John Francis; third. Ray Erickson; fourth, Sid Street. 225 Hydroplanes, second heat -- Won by Sawyer; second., Henn; third. Erickson. Class E racing runabouts, first heat -- Won by Sherman Crichfield, St. Petersburg; second. Loren Pennington. Santa Monica. Cal.; third, T. J. (Buddy) Galatis. Miami. Class E racing runabouts, second heat -- Won by Pennington; second, Crichfield; third, Sammy Crooks. E Service runabouts -- Won by Sam Griffith, Miami; second, Tom Fletcher, Miami; Mack Sanders, DNF Pelican Harbor race, 105 horsepower -- Won by Mrs. Dawn Rollins; second, Dick McGinley; third, Dan Craig. Miami Cruiser race, first heat -- Won by Cleve Johnston; second. Charlies Presbrey; third. Tommy Jacobs. Miami Cruiser race, second heat -- Won by Cleve Johnston; second. Jacobs; third. Presbrey. F Service runabouts, second heat -- Won by Sanders; second, Craig; third, Griffith.

 

(The Miami News, Tue Apr 13, 1948)