1950 Presidents Cup
Miss Pepsi, Regatta Winner, To Try for New Speed Mark
By Malcolm Lamborne, Jr.
Walter and Roy Dossin’s breathtaking boat, Miss Pepsi of Detroit, winner of the 1950 Presidents Cup Regatta before 132,000 spectators yesterday off Hains Point, may settle within a few weeks the big question of what is the Gold Cup racer of the year.
The Dossins, who are slated to visit the White House this afternoon to receive the gold trophy from President Truman, disclosed they have plans to try for the 160-mile-an-hour speed record held by Stanley Sayre s Slo-Mo-Shun IV of Seattle.
Miss Pepsi swept both heats of the Potomac River classic yesterday and set new regatta records—38.725 m.p.h. for a 15-mile heat and 91.278 for a 2-1/2-mile lap. It was the twin Allison-powered racer’s second major triumph of the season under the capable hands of 38-year-old Chuck Thompson. Miss Pepsi set heat and lap records in the Silver Cup at Detroit over Labor Day.
Slo-mo-shun, on the other hand, has won the Gold Cup and Harmsworth International Trophy, both at Detroit. But Sayres headed westward after leading Miss Pepsi in only one heat of the Silver Cup event. Consequently, the question of which is the better boat was left unsettled.
Mile Trials Planned Soon
One way to answer it, however, would be for Miss Pepsi to better the West Coast boat’s 160 miles an hour. That’s why the Dossins are making plans to stage the mile trials soon, possibly on Detroit’s Lake St. Clair.
Roy Dossin frankly admitted Miss Pepsi has far exceeded their expectations. For the brothers, it will be their second Presidents Cup. They won it in 1947 in an earlier boat of the same name.
A poor second yesterday in both heats was Horace Dodge's single Allison boat, My Sweetie, driven by Bill Cantrell. The latter, winner of the prize a year ago. had the sad experience of being lapped by Miss Pepsi in the first heat of the day, in which Miss Pepsi set the 88 m.p.h. record.
But Cantrell was in distinguished company because others lapped included Dan Foster, driving Such Crust I, Dan Arena at the wheel of Such Crust II, both owned by Jack Schafer of Detroit; George Sarant in Etta, Lee Schoenith in Gale and Norman Lauterbach in Dee Jay V.
World Mark Is Set
To Aubrey Thacker of Washington fell the honor of the only driver of the weekend setting a world competitive mark. His Jezebel VIII, which has won 26 out of 28 starts, was clocked at 49.342 miles in the first heat for Class D service runabouts.
It was the third time this year that Thacker and his brother, Joe, have increased their own 5-mile record. Jezebel won both heats yesterday. Dick Cooper of Front Royal, Va., placed second on points.
Frank Vernon of Washington, a bright newcomer to the 135-cubic-inch hydroplane class, won the All-Washington Sweepstakes. He beat out George Brinckerhoff of College Park, who has been taking the trophy for years.
But the committee ruled that since Vernon’s Fancy Free was a hydroplane and Brinckerhoffs’ was a displacement boat, both drivers should be given first place trophies.
For Vernon, it was something of a consolation prize. His Fancy Free, after the sweepstakes event, was standing by the crane at the Naval Air Station when Etta, preparing for the final heat of the Presidents Cup, started up her engine. Unaware that the little 135 was nearby. Etta struck Fancy Free, cutting her nearly in half and slightly injuring Vernon in the arm.
Earl Hildebrand of Arlington turned in a brilliant performance in the 48-cubic-inch hydro class, taking both heats in his Jo Jo II against a good field. Edward Howar, also of Washington and a new name to the racing game in these parts, got a third prize in the 48-cubic-inch runabouts.
A big array of silverware was awarded top drivers at the Willard Hotel last night by Regatta Queen Marilyn Lee O’Neill, who closely followed the races both days.
--- September 18, 1950