1949 National Sweepstakes

North Shrewsbury River, Red Bank, NJ, August 14, 1949

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Records and Number of Entries Feature

National Sweepstakes Regatta

Once again Red Bank, N.J. is responsible for the largest and probably the best motor boat regatta of the year, both from the standpoint of number of entries and racing competition, as well as unsurpassed land and water arrangements. While some of the social activities such as dances, parties and free hotel rooms, which some promoters feel arc necessary for a successful regatta, were missing, yet from a racing standpoint it’s hard to see how the regatta could have been improved upon.

Known as the National Sweepstakes Regatta, this was the 17th annual event in this series held at Red Bank, although motor boat racing on the Shrewsbury dates back to 1912.

Horace E. Dodge of Detroit sent down his My Sweetie, winner of the A.P.B.A. Gold Cup. Once again this boat proved herself to be one of the top-flight boats of all time. With Bill Cantrell at the wheel she took the National Sweepstakes Trophy and the Red Bank Gold Cup with ease against such competition as Lahala, Harry Lynn’s Gold Cupper; Tempo VI, owned and driven by Guy Lombardo; Etta, another new Gold Cup, Allison-powered boat, owned by George Sarant of Freeport, L.I.; Joe Van Blerck's 7 liter Aljo, as well as a number of other 7 liter and smaller class boats. As a matter of fact, My Sweetie’s chief competition in the Red Bank Gold Cup event was Z-z-zip, a 225 cubic inch, Div. I, hydroplane, owned and driven by Sid Street of Kansas City. This boat, which did not start in the sweepstakes events, finished in second place against a field of 13 other starters, most of which were powered with motors of much larger piston displacement.

My Sweetie beat the gun at the start of the first heat for the Sweepstakes Trophy and had to run an extra 2½-mile lap. Even then she caught all other contestants except Etta before the finish line was reached.

In winning the second beat of the Sweepstakes events. My Sweetie established a 10-mile heat speed of 87.464 miles per hour, a new world’s record and breaking the Sweepstakes record of 76.14 m.p.h., established in 1940 by Notre Dame. One 2½-mile lap was timed at 89.108 m.p.h.

With the A.P.B.A. Gold Cup and Sweepstakes Trophy already won, My Sweetie is well on her way to become the third boat in all history to win the three major American trophies in one year. The President's Cup race at Washington, D. C. on Sept. 17 and 18 must be won by My Sweetie before she becomes a three-major-trophy winner. Other boats accomplishing this feat were El Lagarto, owned and driven by George Reis, and Peps V with Danny Foster at the wheel.

Sharing top honors with Bill Cantrell and My Sweetie was Sid Street’s 225 cubic inch hydroplane Z-z-zip. This little boat set a 5-mile world’s record of 75.122 m.p.h. for this class on the first day and then went out and raised this to 76.524 m.p.h. during the final session.

If anyone thinks that this boat cannot go or that her owner cannot drive, he should have seen them in the 10-mile race for the Red Bank Gold Cup when m.p.h. was pressing My Sweetie every minute for the lead and taking not only her wash but that of several other unlimited boats which were trailing m.p.h. but making a big wash on the race course.

The outboard classes, with amateurs and professionals racing together, the 135 and 125 cubic inch classes all filled well, as did the 7 liter and 48 cubic inch classes, although the latter was spoiled somewhat by the 48 cubic inch runabouts racing with the hydros. Fourteen of these little flyers started.

The inboard racing runabouts were a flop; only a total of nine boats facing the starter in these classes. Only two Div. II 225 cubic inch hydros raced.

Two hundred eighty-three boats started, which number is 22 more than started in the 1948 regatta. Of the starters, 125 were outboards. compared with 132 a year ago.

* * *

Summaries, National Sweepstakes Regatta

Red Bank, N.J., August 13-14, 1949

CLASS A OUTBOARDS Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1. Gilbert Petermann, Malverne, L.I.; 2. Cab Walier, Avon, Conn.; 3. Peter Van Biert, Rutherford, N.J.; 4. Charles A. Downe, Plainfield, N.J.; 5. James Campbell, Danville, Pa.; 6. William H. Guldin, Coatesville, Pa.; 7, Henry P. Shakeshaft Jr., White Plains N.Y.; 8. Joseph Wotowitz, Hartford, Conn.; 9. A. G. Broaddus, Jr., Richmond, Va.; 10. Phil Smith. Fairlawn, N.J. Time—7:05. Speed—42.352 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1. Petermann; 2. Walier; 3. Barrett; 4. Guldin; 5. Van Biert; 6. Downe; 7. Campbell; 8. Wotowitz; 9. Shakeshaft; 10. Lee F. Clarke, New Haven, Conn.; 11. Broaddus; 12. Smith; 13. Walker.

Time—7:05 1-5. Speed—42.333 m.p.h.

Total Point Score—Petermann, 800; Walier, 600; Van Biert, 352.

CLASS B OUTBOARDS

First Heat, Five Miles

1. Les Buckman, Baldwin, L I.; 2. Nick Allen Jr., Newport News, Va.; 3. Ben Jankowski, Glen Head, L.I.: 4. Joe Stager, Flushing, L.I.; 5. George Andrews, Jackson Heights, L I.; 6. Joe Frins, Brooklyn, N.Y.; 7. Phil Smith, Fairlawn, N.J.; 8. Frank Desmond, Bemardsville, N.J.; 9. Robert Soliday, Middlesex, N.J.; 10. Rudolph Reisert, Bronx; 11. Dick Bowers, Falls Church, Va. George Shevlin, Middle Village, L.I. and Vic Scott, Levittown, L.I., did not finish.

Second Heat, Five Miles

1. Jankowski; 2. Stager; 3. Frins; 4. Scott; 5. Smith; 6. Bowers; 7. Reisert; 8. George Shevlin, Middle Village, L.I.; 9. Hans Behr, Sandy Hook, Conn.

Time—6:05.0, Speed—49.315 m.p.h.

Total point score—Jankowski, 625; Stager, 469; Buckman, 400.

CLASS C OUTBOARDS Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1. Ben Jankowski, Glen Head, L.I.; 2. I. E. Hale, Washington; 3. Vic Scott, Levittown, L.I.; 4. Shakeshaft; 5. Frank J. Desmond, Bemardsville, N.J.; 6. J. B. Broaddus, Fredericksburg, Va.; 7. George E. Shevlin, Middle Village, L.I.; 8. Red Peatross, Richmond, Va.; 9. W. Edwards Jr., Philadelphia; 10. Morton Walier, Claymont, Del.; 11. A. K. Souders, New Cumberland. Pa.; 12. Raymond Shilling Jr., Philadelphia; 13. Hudson S. Moses, Washington; 14. Porter Hoagland Jr., Rumson, N.J.: 15. Clarence Hagadorn, Troy, N.Y.; 16. Robert W. Thornton, Atlantic City, N.J. Ed Meckler, Jersey City, N.J.; James Loomis, Hamden, Conn., did not finish. Time—5:35. Speed, 53.731 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1. Scott; 2, Hale; 3, Shakeshaft; 4. Hagadorn; 5, Shevlin; 6, Souders; 7, Desmond; 8. Raymond Shilling Sr., Philadelphia; 9. Moses; 10, Thornton; 11. Shilling, Jr. Joe Stager, Flushing, L.I.; J. B. Broaddus, disqualified for beating gun. Peatross did not finish. Time—5.41.3, Speed 52.739.

Total Point Score—Scott. 625; Hale, 600; Jankowski. 400.

CLASS F OUTBOARDS

First Heat, Five Miles

1. Ben Jankowski; 2. Vic Scott; 3, Emil Mayer Jr., College Point, L.I.; 4. Henry Shakeshaft Jr., White Plains, N.Y.; 5. Harper Chance, Merchantsville, N.J.; 6. J. B. Broaddus, Fredericksburg, Va.; 7. Hershey W. Irwin, Boothwyn, Pa.; 8. Hudson Moses, Washington; 9. Ray Shilling Jr., Philadelphia. George E. Shevlin, Middle Village, L.I., Byron C. Shannon, Audubon, N.J. and Harry Dennis, Waverly, N.Y. did not finish. Time—5:29.4. Speed—54.579 m.p.h.

Second Heat. Five Miles

1. Shakeshaft; 2. Shannon; 3, Scott; 4. Joe Sager, Flushing; 5. Irwin; 6. Moses; 7. Chance; 8, Shilling; 9, Dennis. Time-5:43.1. Speed—52.448 m.p.h.

Total point score—Shakeshaft, 569; Scott, 525; Jankowski, 400.

CLASS M OUTBOARDS Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1. Don Whitfield, Montclair, N.J.; 2, Steve Gaal, Garfield, N.J.; 3. Mrs. Eleanor Shakeshaft, White Plains; 4, Mrs. Jane H. Bartlett, Little Silver, N.J.; 5, Mrs. Dorothy Mayer, College Point, L.I.; 6. Mrs. Marjorie W Clarke, New Haven; 7. Jean Perkins. White Plains; 8, Edward Major, West Warwick. R. I. Time––8:04.2, Speed––37.185 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1, Gaal; 2. Mrs. Shakeshaft; 3, Mrs. Bartlett; 4, Mrs. Mayer; 5, Perkins; 6, Major; 7, Mrs. Clarke; 8, Richard McFadyen, Montclair; 9. Irving T. Bartlett, Little Silver, Bruno Pierguidi, North Bergen, N.J., did not finish. Time—8:34.1. Speed—35.006 m.p.h.

Total point score—Gaal, 700; Mrs. Shakeshaft, 525; Mrs. Bartlett, 395.

225-CUBIC-INCH HYDROPLANES Division I, Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1, Sid Street, Z-z-zip, Kansas City, Mo.; 2. John M. Bogie, Blitz II, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; 3, Lou Butler, Barracuda, Zanesville, O.; 4. Bob Rowland, Lyndora, South Norfolk, Va.; 5, Ray Gassner, Sunshine Baby, St. Petersburg. Fla.; 6, P. J. Henn, Goo Goo II. Murphy, N.C. Time—3-59.3. Speed—75.122 m.p.h. (New world record.)

Second Heat. Five Miles

1. Z-z-zip, Sid Street, Kansas City, Mo.; 2. Barracuda. Lou Butler, Zanesville, Ohio; 3. Blitz II, John M. Bogie, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; 4, Sunshine Baby, Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg. Fla.; 5. Goo Goo II, P. J. Henn, Murphy. N. C.; 6, Lyndora, Bob Rowland. South Norfolk. Va. Blitz III, Robert A. Bogie, Saranac Lake, N.Y., did not finish.

Time—3:55.1. Speed—76.524 m.p.h.

Total point score—Street, 800; Butler. 525; Bogie, 525; Gassner, 296. Butler takes second place on faster elapsed time.

Division II

First heat

1. Skedaddle, J. D. Powell, Richmond, Va. Time not taken (only starter).

Second heat, five miles

1. Whizz, Sid Street, Kansas City, Mo.; 2, Skedaddle, J. D. Powell, Richmond, Va. Time—4:03.5, speed 73.9215 m.p.h.

91 CUBIC-INCH HYDROPLANES

First Heat

1. Red Witch, Jack Van Deman, Philadelphia; 2. Thumper, Henry Green, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; 3. Fidgit, Marty Howard, St. Petersburg, Fla.; 4, Another Little Bea, Gurdon H. Knapp, Great Neck, L.I. Time––5:59..2, Speed—50.084 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1. Van Deman; 2. Knapp; 3, Green; 4. Howard. Time—7:17.0, Speed––41.100 m.p.h.

Total point score—Van Deman, 800; Green, 525; Knapp, 469.

JERSEY SPEED SKIFFS Five-Mile Heats

Jersey Speed Skiffs

First Heat

1, Falcon, Raymond M. Morris, Red Bank; 2, ? Too, John B. Boland, Monmouth Beach; Susan, Stephen Schmidt, Long Branch, and If, M. Van Winkle, Little Silver, disqualified. Time––7:07.0, Speed—42.155 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1. Morris, 2. Boland; 3. Chanticleer, Harold E. Disbrow, West Long Branch. Time—7:08.3. Speed—41.997 m.p.h.

Total point score—Morris, 800; Boland, 600; Disbrow, 225.

PACIFIC ONE-DESIGNS

Pacific One-Design Class

First Heat

1. Cherub II, Dr. Louis J. Novotny, Los Angeles; 2. Here's Me, William A. Fieman, Wyoming, Del; 3. Katydid, William C. Durr, Dover, Del. Time––6:42.2. Speed—44.732 m.p.h.

Second Heat

1. Novotny; 2. Durr; 3. Fieman. Time—6:38.1, Speed—45.303 m.p.h.

Total Point score—Novotny, 800; Durr, 525; Fieman, 525.

135-CUBIC INCH HYDROPLANES Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1. Gee Whiz, Sid Street, Kansas City, Mo.; 2, Shooting Star, C Mulford Scull, Ventnor, N.J.; 3. Skedoodle, Jerome Powell, Richmond, Va.; 4. Zip II, Curtis Martins, Hampton, Va.; 5. Spot Cash, Al Sunshine, Freeport, L.I. Time—5:42.4, Speed—52.509 m.p.h.

Second Heat, Five Miles

1. Skedoodle, Jerome Powell, Richmond, Va.; 2. Gee Whiz, Sid Street; 3, Shooting Star, C. Mulford Scull, Ventnor, N.J.; 4. Spot Cash, Al Sunshine, Freeport. L.I. Shirl II, Clarence H. Collins, Norfolk, Va., Bon Bon, Edward Fairbanks, Massapequa, L.I., Zip II, Curtis Martins, Hampton, Va., did not finish. Time—4:50.4, Speed—61.898 m.p.h.

Total point score—Street, 700; Powell, 525; Scull, 525.

48 CUBIC-INCH CLASS

First Heat, Five Miles

Y Boats (hydroplanes):

1. Jack Van Deman, Philadelphia; 2, H. Starkey McKenney, Solomons, Md.

Z Boats (runabouts):

1. Sheila Boyd, St. Michaels, Md.; 2, Stanley H. Jones, St. Michaels, Md.; 3. Alice E. Cohee, St. Michaels, Md.; 4. Francis E. Vintschger, Morristown, N.J.; 5. Edward H. Boyd, St. Michaels, Md.; 6. Edward D. Campanella, Rumson, N.J.; 7. William Van Winkle, Little Silver, N.J.; 8. Walter Hellmig, Cynwyd, Pa.; 9, Myrl D. Russ, Lynnhaven, Va.; 10. Joseph Rayman, Baltimore.

Y Boats: Time—7:01.1, Speed 42.755 m.p.h.
Z Boats: Time—7:4V,J. Speed 38.347 m.p.h.

Second Heat—Five Miles

Y Boats: 1. Van Deman; 2. Jim Crudden, Philadelphia, McKenny did not finish.

Z Boats: 1. Cohee; 2, Jones; 3, Boyd; 4. Van Winkle; 5. Campanella; 6, Helmig; 7. Vintschger.

Y Boats: Time—7:28.0, Speed—40.178 m.p.h.
Z Boats: Time—8:08.2. Speed—36.855 m.p.h.

Total point score—Y Boats: Van Demon. 800; Crudden. 300. Z Bouts: Cohee, 625; Jones, 600; Boyd, 400.

SEVEN-LITER CLASS Five-Mile Heats

First Heat

1. So-Long, Lou Fageol, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; 2, Mercury, Oliver M. Elam Jr., Ashland, Ky.; 3. Thunderbird, Harry Birdsall Jr., Hartsdale, N.Y.; 4. Dee-Jay IV, D. J. Murphy, Merion, Pa. Joe Van Blerck Jr. did not finish in Aljo.

Time—5:22.1. Speed-55.866 m.p.h.

Second Heat, Five Miles

1. Aljo, Joe Van Blerck, Jr., Freeport. L.I.; 2. Thunderbird, Harry Birdsall, Jr., Hartsdale, N. Y.; 3. So-Long, Lou Fageol, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; 4. Dee-Jay IV, D. J. Murphy, Merion. Pa ; 5. Mercury, Oliver M. Elam, Jr., Ashland, Ky.

Time—4:33.4, Speed—65.471 m.p.h.

Total point score—Fageol, 625; Birdsall, 525; Elam, 427.

A, B AND C INBOARD RUNABOUTS

First Heat, Five Miles

1. Tornado, Les Trafton, St. Petersburg, Fla.; 2. Baby Eagle, Edison Hedges, Atlantic City, N.J.; 3. Pixie, H. Barclay Stevenson, Torresdale, Pa. T. M. Special, Edmund Thomson, Jr., Dundalk, Md., did not finish. Cyclone, John A. Beard, St. Petersburg. Fla., capsized.

Time—5:15.4. Speed—56.998 m.p.h.

Second Heat, Five miles

1. Trafton; 2, Stevenson; 3. Hedges.

Time 8:23.3, Speed—35.742 m.p.h. (Stevenson, 15:54.4; Hedges, 15:55.5.)

Total Point score—Trafton, 800; Stevenson, 525; Hedges, 525.

D AND E INBOARD RUNABOUTS

First Heat, Five Miles

1. Hell’s Angel, Sherman Crichfield, St. Petersburg, Fla.; 2. Wild Oats, George Trimper, Buffalo, N.Y.; 3. Cupcake, Charles Jefferson. Philadelphia.

Time—5:18.3, Speed—56.496 m.p.h. Can Do, Julius E. Jensen, Freeport, L.I., did not finish.

Second Heat, Five Miles

1. Crichfield; 2. Trimper; 3. Jefferson.

Time—4:44.3, Speed 61.247 m.p.h.

Total Point score—Crichfield, 860; Trimper, 600; Jefferson. 450.

NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES Ten Mile Heats

First Heat

1. Etta, George E. Sarant, Freeport, L.I.; 2. My Sweetie, William E. Cantrell, Louisville, Ky.; 3. La Ha La, Harry Lynn, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; 4. Sunshine Baby, Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Blitz II, John Bogie, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; Tempo VI, Guy Lombardo, Freeport, L.I.; and So Long, Lou Fageol, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, did not finish. Time—10:03.2. Speed—59.662 m.p.h.

Second Heat, Ten Miles

1. My Sweetie, William E. Cantrell, Louisville. Ky.; 2. La Ha La, Harry Lynn, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; 3. Etta, George E. Sarant. Freeport, L I.; 4. Sunshine Baby, Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg, Fla.; 5. Mercury, Oliver M. Elam, Jr., Ashland, Ky.; 6. Spot Cash, Al Sunshine, Aljo, Joe Van Blerck, Freeport, L.I., did not finish.

Time—6:51.3, Speed— 87.464 m.p.h.

Total point score—Cantrell, 700; Sarant, 625; Lynn, 525.

RED BANK GOLD CUP

One Heat, Ten Miles

1. My Sweetie, William E. Cantrell, Louisville, Ky.; 2. Z-Z-Zip, Sid Street, Kansas City; 3, Etta, George E. Sarant, Freeport. L.I.; 4. Tempo VI, Guy Lombardo, Freeport; 5, Aljo, Joe Van Blerck, Jr., Freeport; 6. Blitz II, John M. Bogie, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; 7, Sunshine Baby, Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Bon Bon, Frank Dubeshter, Bayside. L.I.; Barracuda, Lou Butler, Zanesville, Ohio. La Ha La, Harry Lynn, Lake Hopatcong, and So Long, L. J. Fageol, Cuyahoga Falls, did not finish. Time—7:18.3, Speed—82.080 m.p.h.

Total Point Score—Cantrell, 400; Street, 300; Sarant, 225.

— Motor Boating, September 1949