1951 National Sweepstakes
Lombardo's Tempo VI Wins Sweepstakes At Red Bank
Roland, Van Deman Take Other Features
Red Bank — Affable bandleader Guy Lombardo walked off with the National Sweepstakes Trophy for the third time over the weekend when his triumphant Tempo VI won two heats in lhe 19th National Sweepstake* Regatta.
The Red Bank classic was run off under a threatening overcast that turned to showerg at various intervals. This did not hamper a crowd of 15,000 and a large turn’ out of spectator craft which witnessed Jack Van Deman of
[text missing]
The inboard events got off with a bang when Sid Street of Kansas City, Mo., driving bis Z Z Zip, a Division I 225 cubic-inch hydroplane, clipped off a 78.534 mph pace to win over a field of eight boats on Saturday. Bob Roland of South Norfolk, Va., in the You All, brought up second money and exchanged places with Street in the Sunday finals. Roland beat out the Kansas city driver by about one length and covered the course at 79.435 mph. Street was awarded the Mexican Good Will Trophy by having a better elapsed time, although both earned 700 points.
The Division II, 225 hydro race was a two boat affair with the Sagana XII skippered by Frank Foulke of Essex, Md. taking both heats by a wide margin for the Mexican Good Will Trophy far this class.
Lone Starter
In the 91 cubic-inch hydro class Van Deman was up against no competition, being the only one starting. Jack set a new record that went by the boards when his Red Witch flew over the course at 55.419 mph. Three entries are needed in a race to make a new mark stand. A new class of 136 cubic inch hydros were run with Wallace Roland of Leonardtown, Md. picking up 800 points with two firsts in a “Poor Man’s 135”.
Lombardo was off to an early lead in the first heat of the National Sweepstakes Trophy race and quickty outdistanced the Gale I driven by Albert D’Eath of Detroit, the only other Gold Cupper in the race, which finished in second place. Bob Roland in his fast 225 hydro You All toook third money.
Yesterday's event only brought four starters to the line with Lombardo being the last over. The Tempo VI quickly took the lead over the Gale I and You All with the boats duplicating Saturday’s finish.
At the end of lhe race the Tempo VI caused a thrill to run throughout the crowd when it caught fire while pulling away from the judges barge. Lombardo quickly doused the flames with no apparent damage to the craft.
Martsen Wins Two
In the 135 cubic inch hydro class for the Interstate Championship, Curtis Martsen of Hampton, Va., scored two wins, the second only after a nip and tuck contest with Earl H. Jarretts Why Not from Albany, N.Y. Sid Street took and early lead in the second stanza for this class, but conked out on the first turn with Martsen’s Mar-be! taking over, closely followed by the Why Not. The Why Not surged ahead taking the lead from Martsen before the end of the first lap. but Martsen staged a comeback and was able to regain the front spot on the last turn, beating out Jarrett by three lengths
[text missing]
Apel from Ventnor turned over and sank. The completely ruined craft was salvaged after the races were over.
Records did not begin to fall until the small 48 cubic inch hydros and runabouts took over the course. The first to go was the runabouts,. when national champion Bob McAllister of Ventnor pushed his Yankee Boy over the course at 50.920 mph. bettering his old mark of 49.723. The Yankee Boy was disqualified in the second frame when it beat the gun. Ruby Scull, another Ventnorite, took this race, which combined with the third place position in the first heat, amased enough points to take home the award.
Swede Stromstedt of Chicago, driving Sammy Crooks’ Dragon Jr., set lhe world mark of the 48 hydros up to 57.600 mph, only to relinquish it to Ruby Scull’s husband C. Mulford in the next heat. Scull drove his Shooting Star 48.121 mph. over the placid course. Stromstedt took home the prize by having a better elapsed time.
VanDeman, who is national champion of this class, placed fifth and fourth in the two heats.
Cherub II Scores
The Pacific One Designs staged another two boat race with Dr. Louis J. Novotny oi Los Angeles, Calif, behind the wheel of his Cherub II easily outclassing Jac Cook’s Maggie VIII from Marydel Md.
The fastest time of the affair wa turned in on Saturday when Lombardo put the Tempo VI through her paces to win the first heat o the Red Bank Gold Cup at a speed of 82.396 mph. The racing maestro was followed across the line by Bob Roland’s You All while the Gale I dropped to fourth, being beaten by the Barracuda, driven by Lou Butler of Zanesville, Ohio.
The starting gun yesterday was answered by three 225’s and one 135, with Tempo VI and the Gale I not being a hie to get started and seemingly out of the picture. Roland took an early lead which he held. Joe Van Blerk, driving Lombardo's craft, finally crossed the starting line when the lead boa! finished the first lap. The Gale I broke out in flames trying to start. The fire was quickly smothered and D’Eath was able to get into the race as the boats finished the third lap. Roland s second and first positions gave him enough points to get the coveted gold cup.
Ray Morris of Red Bank suffered a setback by having two worlds records nullified when pit inspectors found the motor of his fast Jersey Speed Skiff. The Falcon, not up to specifications. Morris turned in speeds of 44.732 and 44.989 mph, bettering his old mark of 44.510.
Harold Dlsbrow of West Long Branch, driving the Scat II, was awarded the first prize for this class when Morris was disqualified. Bud Dixon of Rumson was given second spot and John Boland of Port-au-Peck third.
Joint Race
The heats for the D and E Class Racing Runabouts were run together with My Woody Boy piloted by Elwood Pliescott of Cambridge, Md., taking both for Class D and Sherman Critchfield's Hell’s Angel taking both honors in Class E.
The A, C and M out boat A hydro class races were held on Saturday with plenty of thrills and spills. Gilbert Peterman of Malverne, L. I. took two firsts in the Class A heats, while Ken Wolff of Buffalo, N. V. won the Class C with 525 points earned with two seconds. Vic Scott of Levittown. N. Y. beat out Wolff in the first and D. M. Creech of Charlotte. N. C. won the Second.
-- August 13, 1951