1952 Coast Guard Gold Cup
Annual Regatta Slated at Tahoe By Coast Guard
Arrangements are being made at Lake Tahoe for the Sixth Annual running of the speed boat regatta, to be conducted Sunday. August 17th, on Lake Tahoe by U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 35
Flotilla Commander Fred Main, who also is a co-owner of the Tahoe Boat Company at Tahoe City, declared that this year's affair should top all previous regattas, if the entry list can be used as a criterion.
Several boats that top 100 miles an hour are definitely in the competition. Among the better known racers will be Stanley Dollar, Jr., piloting his Short Snorter, one of the hottest crafts ever to race at Tahoe; Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser in his Fleur Du Lac: Ted Beckett of Sacramento, a former world champion, behind the wheel of Just For Fun. and William Stead of Reno in Fury, a craft that has hit 105 miles an hour on the lake.
The first event, a 115 horse power class, will be under way at 9:40 am., and the nine races will be concluded by 2 p.m., Main estimated. Refreshments will be available on the grounds at Carnelian Bay.
Other races include the 130 HP class with 165 and 325 horse power divisions. The feature race, is a championship for unlimited boats. There will be a ladies' championship contest and another for youngsters under 16 with divisions for outboard motors ranging from 5½ to 14 horsepower.
Main has named several committees from the Flotilla to complete plans for the regatta.
--- August 14, 1952
Visel Will Race Hurricane IV In Lake Tahoe Regatta Sunday
Tahoe City, Aug 11—Excitement is running high at Lake Tahoe since the confirmed report arrived tonight that Morlan Visel of Los Angeles owner of the famous speedster Hurricane IV, the only bigtime racer to own design and drive his own boat will be on hand for the 6th annual Lake Tahoe Coast Guard Regatta to be staged on Sunday August 17, by Tahoe Flotilla 35 whose commander is Fred Main of Tahoe City Events will start at 9:40 a m at the new yacht harbor at Carnelian Bay where plenty of parking and spectator room is available.
Mr and Mrs Visel are house guests at the R Stanley Dollar Jr. estate on the shores of the lake near Dollar Hill and will remain until the day of the races .His famous racer is being brought to the lake by way of Idaho as its width made passage over West Coast highways forbidden. Commander Main tonight dcclaied that it is officially confirmed ihat Visel's Hurricane IV has twice reached a speed of 177 miles per hour in the Los Angeles area and has qualified. Whether it can repeat this record in Tahoe's rarified atmosphere remains to be seen. One thing is certain With R Stanley Dollar Jr piloting his Gold Cup winning Slo-Mo-Shun IV in competition with the Hurricane IV. Spectators will be given a thrill never before witnessed here. He gave Dollar a run tor his money in Seattle on Saturday and is expected to do it again on Sunday.
The racing program runs as follows: First rate of the day all boats stock displacement hulls and stock engines 115 hp and under; 2nd race 130 hp and under; 3rd race 165 hp and under; 4th race 325 hp and under; 5th race the Championship Free-for-All open to all entries; 6th race a special hot-rod event open to any type of souped up engine; 7th race Ladies Championship open to 200 hp and under; 8th race scheduled tentatively is a possible water skiing race which will be announced on the morning of the races. An innovation this year will bo an exhibition ot water skiing after each race by Stockton Sacrimonto and local experts.
--- August 14, 1952