1948 Percy Jones Memorial
Contestants Find Gull Lake Ideal for Power Boat Races
Gull Lake is ideal for racing the huge Gold Cup class power boats and could easily be made the locale for the world's top power boat events.
This is the opinion expressed unanimously alike by officials of the American Power Boat association, drivers of the nation's top boats participating in the Percy Jones Trophy race at Gull Lake Saturday afternoon, and spectators.
Water Is 'Soft'
The water is soft, and it's perfect for power boat racing. said Bill Stroh, owner and driver of Nuts and Bolts. What I mean is that the waves all move in the same direction and are the same tempo, he added as other drivers, who had been nodding in agreement, shouted, "Be careful what you say about tempo."
In locations elsewhere with sufficient straightaway to permit racing at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, there are cross currents and the water is choppy, and these are hazards not welcomed by the power boat drivers.
"Gull Lake is the spot where new power boat records will be established," said Danny Arena, pilot of the winning Such Crust, as Guy Lombardo, owner and pilot of Tempo VI, agreed.
Property Owners Satisfied
Prospects that more of the big boat races may be staged at Gull Lake appeared very good when many Gull Lake property owners expressed satisfaction with the manner in which Saturday's Percy Jones races were conducted.
When first plans for the big boat races were discussed, a number of property owners expressed fear that their docks and beaches would be damaged by the wash from the power boats and that their property would be trampled by trespassers seeking to gain vantage points for the races.
These fears were proved groundless by Saturday's performance of the power boats and the conduct of the spectators. The power boats actually create less wash than the average launch, and no damage resulted from the races. Although at least 35,000 persons observed the events, there was not a single report of trespassing or property-damage.
Entrances Patrolled
State police and sheriff's officers from Kalamazoo. Calhoun and Barry counties effectively patrolled entrances to private beaches and directed spectators to points where they would be permitted to watch the races.
Forty officers and 14 patrol cars were used in establishing the proper road blocks and in directing traffic. Sergt. Okla Knox, commander of the Battle Creek state police post, reported that traffic flowed smoothly at all times and that no congestion was encountered.
The greatest crowds were concentrated at the Gull Lake Country club. Ross township park, and the Percy Jones General hospital's W. K. Kellogg annex. At the township parks the bank was lined solidly with spectators 10 or 15 deep.
500 Boats Line Coarse
At least 500 boats, ranging from rowboats to deluxe cabin cruisers, lined the race course. All of the boats had at least two or three occupants. and some of the larger ones had approximately two dozen aboard.
One enterprising Gull Lake resident lashed three boats together and placing a platform on them, provided chairs for friends desiring to have a good spot to watch the races.
Despite the huge number of spectators. no mishaps occurred serious enough to require the facilities of the first aid stations established at the Kellogg annex and the country club. Several Gull Lake residents reported. however, that members of their parties were affected by the heat and had to retire to houses to rest for awhile. The heat created a demand for beverages, and some vendors of soft drinks ran out before the afternoon was over and had to call for additional supplies.
Shows Fine Sportsmanship
One of the finest exhibitions of sportsmanship was given by Jack Schafer, owner of Such Crust, when he saw that Guy Lombardo's Tempo VI had developed engine trouble at the start of the third and final heat and couldn't make its start with the other boats.
Although he realized that if Lombardo did race in the final heat he almost certainly would win the coveted trophy. Mr. Schafer asked officials in charge of the race to postpone the heat until Guy could get his boat running. The American Power Boat association is strict in its interpretation of the rules, however, and stated that it could not call for a restart. When five minutes had elapsed from the time the first boat crossed the starting line, the APBA immediately announced that Lombardo was disqualified.
Happiest about the victory of Such Crust was Danny Arena's wife, who accompanied Danny and his brother, Gene, mechanic for the Such Crust, across the lake to the Kellogg annex for the trophy presentation in a launch piloted by Lee Elkins of Bayview.
A Kiss for Victor
"Just think. You've got a winning boat now," she exclaimed as she planted a big kiss on her husband's lips.
Turning to the reporter accompanying them across the lake in the boat, she said, This is the first winner Danny has had in three years. Last year, he was ahead in the Gold Cup race when his boat was forced out. Maybe he is going to have better luck this year.
Jack Schafer's elation over receiving the Percy Jones Trophy was short-lived. The trophy was placed in a chair in the race headquarters tent and was broken when it was knocked to the ground by one of the contest officials.
Secretary's Busy Day
Miss Virginia Briscoe. Mr. Schafer's secretary, busied herself throughout the day handling details of the meet so her employer could occupy himself with supervision of preparations on his boat.
Spectators crowding around the racing pits and listening to conversation of crew members soon discovered that power boat racing is an expensive hobby. These sleek craft, all of which have their own personalized design, cost as high as $25,000. The majority of the Gold Cup class boats are equipped with 1,500-horsepower Allison engines.
Some amusement resulted from the antics of Miss Pepsi, owned by Walter Dossin of Detroit and piloted by Clell Perry, which couldn't get over the starting line because the nose remained high in the air, causing the boat to spin in a circle. The Miss Pepsi is a new hull with the old Miss Peps engine in her, and Perry explained that she tipped her nose skyward because the engine didn't have enough power to thrust the boat into a planing position.
To Install New Engine
He said he would install a new engine, adding that the building of a new boat is the easiest part of developing a winning craft. A crew should have at least six months to a year to work out the defects in her before she'll be running right, he said.
Perry added that Jack Schafer has been very fortunate with his new boat. After the Saturday races were completed, Danny Arena still had just an hour at the wheel of Such Crust. "Give me some more time with this boat, and I'll really be able to make it go," Danny said.
The Percy Jones Trophy races attracted the widest news coverage of any event staged in western Michigan in recent years. In addition to newspaper and radio men from a number of Michigan cities, there also were photographers making films for television broadcasts.
Seven Michigan radio stations Covered by 7 Stations carried on-the-spot broadcasts of the races. In addition to Battle Creek's WELL, WELL-FM and WBCK, there were broadcasters from Detroit's WJR and WJR-FM, WKZO of Kalamazoo, and WJEF of Grand Rapids.
WJR and WJR-FM had by far the most extensive broadcast facilities, using a mobile transmitting station contained in a large bus, plus portable shortwave units on the lake. A 40-watt transmitter was located on a navy duck, an amphibian truck, near the starting barge, and a two-watt transmitter was aboard Howard Preston's launch. The station on shore cut in the portable units for close up accounts of the races from time to time.
Guy Lombardo, who received a big ovation from the Percy Jones homecomers. was awarded the second place cup by Brig. Gen. Raymond O. Dart, chief of the army's institute of pathology at Washington.
Oldest Patient
Capt. Arthur Lunsden, who has been a patient at Percy Jones since February, 1944. and is now the oldest patient, presented Bill Stroh with the trophy for high points for class boats. Lieut. Elizabeth Kosler made the presentation of the 225 class trophy to Wally Harper, and J. B. Brigand received the 135 class cup from Master Sergt. Roy Harris, another patient.
Brig. Gen Harry D. Offutt, hospital commander, awarded the third-place cup in the Percy Jones race to E. D. Stair.
(Battle Creek Enquirer, Sun. July 18, 1948)