1948 Maple Leaf Trophy
Miss Canada Zips in Test as 2 Gold Cup Rivals Sink
Tours Mile at 119 MPH
Miss Windsor and Katy Did Go Down
By Lanny Knight
Lorne Armstrong’s Miss Windsor Is Towed To Shore After Sinking
It was competing in the International Sweepstakes and sank in the first heat
While the graceful Miss Canada III flashed over a mile course at Picton, Ont., at 119.009 miles per hour -- the fastest time since Gar Wood -- two Detroit Gold Cup competitors sank during a regatta at Windsor [NOTE: Windsor is approximately 350 miles from Picton].
Miss Windsor, owned by Lorne Armstrong, and Katy Did, owned and driven by Ed D. Stair, Jr., went to the bottom during the first heat of the Windsor International Sweepstakes on the Detroit River.
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Both drivers were rescued, but it was doubtful that they will be able to get their craft back in shape for the Gold Cup classic in Detroit Aug. 28.
Jack Schafer’s Such Crust won the Windsor grind, averaging 81 mph over the three-mile course. Al Fallon’s Miss Great Lakes was second, and Bill Stroh’s seven-liter, Nuts and Bolts, was third, averaging 62.069 mph.
The multiplaned Miss Canada, veteran Gold Cup performer, took the straightaway at Picton in an attempt to better Gar Wood's American unlimited record of 124.9 mph set in 1932 at Algonac in Miss America X.
Miss Canada's speed, though not enough to top Wood’s, excelled the 118.229 mph attained by Guy Lombardo in his Tempo VI at Salton Sea, Calif., last May 3.
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The sleek craft is owned by Ernie A. Wilson, of Ingersoll, Ont., and was driven by his son Harold. Charley Voelker, of Detroit, served as mechanic. The trial was held during a Dominion Day regatta at Picton.
The fastest lap registered by Such Crust in winning at Windsor was 84 MPH, amazingly speedy for the choppy waters which sank the two other hopefuls.
It was also learned that Dukie, the one-step hydroplane which sank just before the Ford Race, July 10, was tested again Monday.
And Dukie, owned by Whitey and Tom Hughes, again plunged to the bottom of the Detroit River.
(Reprinted from the Detroit Free Press, August 3, 1948)