1952 National Sweepstakes

Navesink River, Red Bank NJ, September 13-14, 1952

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You All Wins Sweepstakes, Gold Cup Races

Virginian Cops Six Trophies; Two Hurt By Leon Zuckerman

Red Bank—Robert C. Rowland, a motel operator from South Norfolk, Va., walked off with the in dividual honors in the 20th annual National Sweepstakes Regatta on the Navesink River yesterday, but most of the thrills for the more than 15,000 spectators were provided by accidents in which two drivers were badly injured.

Altho the waters did not appear choppy or rough, the east wind, which brought an overcast sky as contrasted to the brilliant sun of Saturday, caused little waves which made the usually serene course here—long a favorite of race drivers—hazardous, and especially so for the boats in the smaller classes.

Drew Bigger Field

The two accidents were in the 135 cubic-inch hydroplane national championship race, which drew the biggest field, and incidentally provided the most action for spectators. The 13 contestants, after a meeting with the officials, decided to start together rather than divide in two sections.

A few hundrew yards after the start, John M. Kipp, 2d, 26-year-old executive in his father's Baltimore leather company, leading the field in his Sabra, upset when the bow kicked up in the air and he suffered a spinal injury. The race was then divided into two sections. The first was run off without incident, but in the second, Sam Owen, Columbus, Ohio, piloting Charles B. Hanley’s national champion, Ethel XX, from Muscatine Iowa, in defense of its title, skidded without warning near the official barge. Owen suffered a serious injury to his right leg as parts of the craft went flying thru the air.

Worked All Night

Rowland, tall and handsome Virginian who had his father, Robert B. Rowland, Jr., working all night to get his You All in readiness, copped the coveted National Sweepstakes Trophy and the Red Bank Gold Cup, the co-features of this famous racing event. Saturday, he also captured the 266-cublc-inch inboard championship and at the conclusion of the races yesterday was presented with six trophies, three of which are for permanent possession.

The You All virtually had the field to itself in the National Sweepstakes, for Saturday's winner, Burnett A. Bartley, Jr., Columbus. Ohio, was forced to withdraw when his Wildcatter was unable to overcome oil difficulties it encountered in the last of Saturday’s races. The only other competitor, then, was Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg, Fla., in his Sunshine Baby 2d. Gassner, as a result of his fourth place win of Saturday and his second place yesterday, wound up with runner-up honors. Third place went to Bartley.

Four Starters

In the Gold Cup race. You All had a little mor? competition, numerically, but not actually as far as the race was concerned. There were four starters, but after the second of the four laps. Rowland opened a substantial margin over his nearest rival. Ed Aleksandrowicz. Baltimore, in Wee Tommy Tucker.

Two Racing Pilots In Serious Condition Red Bank—Two drivers whose boats cracked up in separate accidents in the 135-cubic-inch hydroplane race for the national championship during the National Sweepstakes Regatta yesterday were reported in serious condition this morning at Riverview Hospital. John M. Kipp, 2d. Baltimore. suffered a fractured vertebra and a possible fractured shoulder. A body cast was applied this morning. Sam Owen, Columbus. Ohio, was operated on last night for a deep laceration of the right leg. according to a hospital report.

 

Joe Wolfe, a daredevil from Richmond. Va , won the national 135 cubic-in title with victories in both heats in his Whoopee. William A. Ritner. Jr, Merion. Pa., in Wa Wa and Bob Bourcq, New Orleans, in Miss Nehi swapped second and third places in the two heats, both finishing with a total of 525 points, but second place went to Ritner because of a better time record.

Ardolino Wins

Dan Ardolino, the West Long Branch monument maker, captured the Guest Airways silver sombrero trophy in the Jersey speed skiffs, a class that is rapidly becoming more popular. Ray Morris, Red Bank, a frequent winner in this event in his Falcon, look the first heat, with Ardolino second, hut in the final heat they reversed their positions. Ardolino riding Jo Carol Too. was declared the winner on his better time of 1:46 1 for an average speed of 44 313 miles an hour compared to Morris’ 6:46.5 for 44 063 miles an hour.

Third place went to John Roland, Port-au-Peck, in Suds, who finished third and fourth In the two heats

NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES
Final Heat—10 Miles

1. You-All, Bob Rowland, fio. Norfolk, Va 2. Sunshine Baby II, Ray Gassner. St. Petersburg, Fla Did not finish— Chaz, Charles Klein, Atlantic Beach, N. Y. Time —8.44 2 Speed—68 674 MPH. Total point score Rowland 700 Gassner 469; B. O. Bartley, Jr. Columbus, Ohio 400.

RED BANK GOLD CUP
Final Heat—10 Miles

1 You-All, Bob Rowland, So. Norfolk. Va: 2. Wee Tommy-Tucker, Ed A. Aleksandrowicz, Baltimore, Md ; 3, Chaz, Charles Klein, Atlantic Beach, N. Y. Did not finish Sunshine Baby II. Ray Gassner St Petersburg, Fla Time—7 50 7. Speed - 76 478 MPH. Total point score— Rowland 800: Alexsandrowlcz. 600; Barracuda, Lou Butler, Zanesville, Ohio 225 (Best Time)

135 CUBIC INCH HYDROPLANES
First Heat—5 Mlles

1. Whoopee Joe Wolfe. Richmond. Va.; 2. Wa Wa. William R Ritner, Jr.. Merion, Pa ; 3, Miss Nehi, Bob Bourcq, New Orleans, La ; 4. Why Not, Earl Jarrett, Albany, N.Y: 5. Could Be Irving Daus, Buffalo. N Y.: 6. Skip Ardson Bozarth, Vineland. N J. Time 4 09 3. Speed 72 144 MPH

135 CUBIC INCH HYDROPLANES
Final Heat—5 Miles

1. Wolfe; 2, Bourcq; 3, Ritner; 4, Jarrett; 5. Daus; 6 Bozarth. Time — 4:09 2. Speed 72 231 MPH Total point score— Wolfe 800, Ritner 525 (Best time); Bourcq 525.

JERSEY SPEED SKIFFS
First Heat—5 Mlles

1. Falcon, Ray Morris. Red Bank. N J ; 2. Jo Carol Too, Daniel Ardolino, W. Long Branch, NJ.; 3, Suds, John Boland. Port-Au-Peck, NJ.; 4. Hurricane, Leo R Dixon, Rumson. N.J , 5. Shorty Too, Robert Perri, Long Branch. NJ: 6. Joseph P. Julian, Atlantic Highlands. NJ Disqualified. Sea-Bug, Henry Murata, Clifton, N.J.; Skat II, Harold E Dubrow, Ocean Beach, N.J. Did not finish Slo Poke, James Camp, Newark, NJ Time-6 48 5. Speed- 44:063 MPH.

JERSEY SPEED SKIFFS
Final Heat—5 Mlles

1 Ardolino. 2, Morris, 3, Slo Poke. James Camp, Newark, N.J; 4. Roland; 5. Perri; 6. Skat II, Harold E Disbrow, Ocean Beac-h. N.J 7, Julian. Time—6 46 1. Speed 44.313 MPH Total point score Rest time Ardolino 700; Morris 700; Boland 394.

--- September 15, 1952