1955 International Boundary Trophy

St. Clair River, St. Clair MI, July 17, 1955

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St. Clair, July 18—At least six of the world’s most powerful racing craft will streak around the St. Clair River here Sunday with each trying to crack a world’s lap record of 101 miles per hour.

At 1 p.m. the starting gun will signal the first of three heats in the city’s first International Trophy race. The second heat is at 3 p.m. the third is at 4 p.m. Each heat covers 15 miles. The International trophy sponsored by the St. Clair Lions club will be presented to the winner at 5 p.m.

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The race is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association. It is sponsored by the St. Clair Children’s Recreation Committee in conjunction with the city’s third annual water carnival.

The race will be seen by thousands of spectators lining a 2½ mile course on both sides of the river.

There is no admission fee and no reserved seats, spectators may watch the race from any place except at the boat pit and official’s stand.

The starting point is at the city waterworks park. Drivers will get about a mile's flying start north of the park, and head south in a counter-clockwise direction.

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The boats will race about 900 feet offshore on the American side to the Diamond Crystal plant, then swing over to the Canadian side, travel northward about 1700 feet offshore on the Canadian side to a point a quarter mile south of the City’s north limits, and then swing over to the American side and back to the starting point.

The Coast Guard will control river traffic, with National Guard providing communications along the entire race course.

Boat owners may take their boats into the middle ground area inside the race course up to 1 p.m. After that time the Coast Guard will close the area, and no boats may enter or leave the area until after the race is finished. Race officials stress that violation of this rule could mean a fine up to $2000.

This will be the third major unlimited power boat race in Michigan this year, two previous races having been run at Detroit and Windsor. Drivers and mechanics promised there won’t b« any saving of power and speed, despite heavy swells several drivers encountered in the river on trial runs.

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The race is seen as a warmup to the Gold Cup race on Aug. 7 at Seattle but only one boat racing, Such Crust III, has definitely been listed as a visitor to the West coast.

Miss Cadillac, driven by Frank “Bud” Saile, Jr. of Detroit is regarded as the boat to beat. Racing fans can look for a strong challenge from Miss Supertest of London, Ont., driven by Bill Braden.

There is a strong rivalry between two other drivers, Walter Kade driving Such Crust and Danny Foster driving Wha Hoppen Too.

Chuck Thompson will try to defend his record of 101 miles per hour driving as the favorite of the river district fans. The sixth driver in the race is expected to be Johnny Ban, driving one of the Dodge boats, possibly My Sweetie.

Here is information on participating boats:

Miss Cadillac — won this year’s Maple Leaf regatta with 968 points. Driven by Bud Saile, Jr., Miss Cadillac is 30-foot long and has about 1800 horsepower. Saile entered the unlimited boat ranks in 1953 as owner-driver of Miss Wayne, formerly Gale I. He earned third in the Silver Cup, and in 1954 he bought Miss Great Lakes and renamed her Miss Cadillac. He was fifth in a field of nine in the 1954 Gold Cup race.

Short Circuit — Driven by Chuck Thompson, 43. Short Circuit is one of the smallest unIimted racing craft with 2000 horsepower. Thompson is a veteran driver, having driven Miss Pepsi to victories in the President's Cup in 1951; the Steel Cup and Maple Leaf regatta. In 1952 he won the Maple Leaf, Detroit Memorial and President’s Cup. He was second in the Gold Cup in 1952 when he set the present 101 miles-per-hour record. In 1953 Thompson drove Such Crust III, taking second in the Silver Cup and the Presidents and Gold Cups. Short Circuit was designed by his son, Chuck Thompson, Jr.

Such Crust III — Owned by Jack Schafer, Detroit. Such Crust is driven by Walter Kade. It is the largest boat of its type in the world, with 3000 horsepower. Such Crust features a new three-blade propellor in this race. It has been a heat and lap winner in the President’s Cup race.

Wha Hoppen Too — Usually driven by Marv Henrich and Chuck Doran of Detroit, this boat formerly was known as Gale II. Built in 1951 by Arena, the boat was high point boat in 1953 and won the Silver Cup in 1952 and 1953. Wha Hoppen Too is 30-feet long and has 1800 horsepower.

Miss Supertest — The boat is quartered at Sarnia, and ia owned by James Thompson, London. Miss Supertest has 3000 horsepower, and is 31-foot long. It finished second in this year’s Maple Leaf.

My Sweetie — Owned by Horace E Dodge, Detroit, It has about 1700 horsepower which brought the boat in second in last year’s Silver Cup race.

Times Herald Radio Station WTTH will broadcast the races. Starting at 2 p.m. with the first heat.

Race officials are Cecil Vollstaedt, race chairman; Bill Newton, referee;. Al Westaway, starter; Gerry Gunn, assistant starter; Dick Leavell, timer; Mai Krebs, assistant timer; Tom Pavel, pit manager; and Ken Fournier, public address announcer All officials are members the Windmill Point Yacht Club, Detroit

--- The Times Herald, July 17, 1955