1954 Presidents Cup
Formidable Power Boat Field Awaits Regatta Next Week End
The big sleek and powerful Gold Cup boats will start arriving here this week for the biggest and most colorful events of the Presidents Cup Regatta, the power boat section, Saturday and Sunday.
Although last year's winner, Stanley Sayres’ Slo-Mo-Shun, will not return to defend her laurels, the field is a formidable one with virtually all of the other Gold Cup craft in action.
Churning the three-mile Gold Cup course In three heats will be such internationally known competitors as Horace Dodge's My Sweetie, Fred Saile’s Miss Cadillac, George Simon's Miss United States [Miss U.S. (1)], Chuck Thompson’s Short Circuit, Joseph and Lee Schoenith’s Gale IV and Gale V, Charles Doran and Marvin Henrich’s Wha Hoppen Too and Guy Lombardo's Tempo VI.
The Regatta course is laid out from Highway Bridge to Hains Point and this division of the big show always draws the colorful crowds which jam both sides of the historic Potomac in picnic atmosphere or line the course in yacht and smaller craft.
The Gold Cup boats will be launched from the Naval Air Station in Anacostia, while the smaller boats will use the crane service available at Hains Point. All classes, except the Gold Cuppers, will race around buoys marking a 1⅔ mile course.
Not only does this show have the big stars of power boat racing, but the supporting cast is the largest array ever to vie here in Presidents Cup competition. Over 200 entries make the power boat division the largest in the history of the Cup races.
The outboards and inboards will be manned by national champions as well as other nationally “known pilots, Including Harry Bickford, Frank Foulke, Curt Martens, Bill Ritner, Ruby Scull, Wally Rowland and Preston Woodburn.
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Power Boat Chairman Earl M. Hildebrand expects record breaking performances including an assault by Gold Cup boats on the time of 90.706 miles per hour made last year by Slo-Mo-Shun.
General Chairman Horace Walker announces that usual trimmings will accompany the climax of the annual regatta with queen Joan Brownell and dignitaries viewing the events from a reviewing stand at the finish line.
Tickets for the full regatta program range from $1.00 to $2.50 for the daily program with box seats numbering six in a box priced at $30.00 for the Friday. Saturday and Sunday attractions.
They may be purchased at the American Automobile Association, 1712 G street N.W. and at 1117 Fidler lane, Silver Spring, Md.; Hunting Towers Apartments, 42 South Glebe road, Arlington; Hecht Co. stores in Washington, Silver Spring and Arlington; Fairway Sports Center, Hains Point, East Potomac Golf Course and at Regatta Headquarters, 1616 K street N.W.
--- September 12, 1954
4 Gold Cup Hydros On Way Here to Race For Presidents Cup
The first of the Qold Cup unlimited hydroplanes slated to compete in the three heats of the Presidents Cup race this week end may arrive here tonight from Detroit.
General Chairman Horace Walker said Horace Dodge’s three boats, My Sweetie, My Sweetie Dora and My Sweetie John Francis, and George Simon’s Miss United States were scheduled to leave Detroit this morning.
My Sweetie was the Labor Day winner of the Silver Cup at Detroit, while Miss United States is rated as one of the hottest new hydros in the country.
Other probable starters include Joseph Schoenith’s Gale IV and Gale V, Frank Salle’s Miss Cadillac and Chuck Thompson’s Short Circuit.
Thompson has driven three Presidents Cup winners, the Miss Pepsis, owned by the Dossin brothers of Detroit.
Schoenith, who flew here from Detroit early in the week to look over the race course and make arrangements for his two boats, said he believed he has two of the best speed craft in the country, as well as two of the top drivers. Bill Cantrell, who has driven two Presidents Cup winners, will be at the wheel of Gale IV and Lee Schoenith, son of the owner, will drive Gale V.
Race Chairman Earl Hildebrand is counting on a record field for both Saturday’s outboard events and Sunday’s inboard show. The regatta starts Saturday at 11:20 am. and Sunday at 12:20 p.m. The first heat for the Presidents Cup is slated Saturday at 5 p.m. and the other two Sunday at 2:20 and 4:40.
Box seats for the regatta may be purchased by phone at Sterling 3-4765. Other tickets may be obtained at regatta headquarters in the Willard Hotel, the Washington Board of Trade, and from a number of business firms.
--- September 15, 1954