1956 Conners Memorial
City Skipper Gains Victory At Buffalo
Buffalo, N. Y, Aug. 12 (AP) Howard Hibbert of Miami, Fla. set a world record today for Class F runabouts as he gunned his “Jr. Prowler” around a Niagara River course at an average 51.843 M.P.H.
The old record was 50.533 M.P.H., set by Edison Hedges of Atlantic City, N. J. in 1950.
Joseph (Doc) Terry of Detroit, Mich, won the William J. Connors Trophy for unlimited hydroplanes with “My Sweetie,” owned by Horace Dodge, also of Detroit.
Terry had the best scores for the three heats with a first yesterday and two seconds today.
Ron Musson of Akron, Ohio won the national championship for 7-liter hydros with a speed of 79.701 M.P.H. in “Wildcatter” owned by Burnett G. Bartley of Pittsbugh.
Hank Vogel of Webster won the race for 135 cubic inch hydroplanes with a Buffalo boat, owned by Norm Barry.
Bob Palermo of Rochester won the race for 266 cubic inch hydroplane, piloting a boat called Time Flys.
The national crown for class E service runabouts was won by Henry Bickford of Hampton, Va with an average speed of 52.249 M.P.H.
Hibbert’s world record gave him the national championship for Class E runabouts
About 75,000 persons watched the Buffalo Launch Club’s international speedboat regatta.
— August 13, 1956
My Sweetie Victor at Buffalo
Buffalo, N. Y. (AP) — A new world speed mark for Class F runabouts stands in the record books of the American Power Boat Assn, today.
Howard Hibbert of Miami, Fla. slammed his “Jr. Prowler” twice around the 2½-mile Buffalo Launch Club course yesterday at an average 51.483 m.p.h. to set the record and win the national championship.
The old record of 50.533 m.p.h. was made by Edison Hedges of Atlantic City, N. J. in 1950.
The William J. Connors trophy, awarded annually to the International Speedboat Regatta in the Niagara River here, was won by “My Sweetie,” unlimited class hydroplane owned by Horace Dodge of Detroit, Mich.
Joseph “Doc” Terry, also of Detroit, piloted the 26-foot craft to one first place Saturday and two seconds yesterday in the 15 mile heats.
Ron Musson of Akron, Ohio won the National Championship for 7-liter hydros with a speed of 79.701 m. p. h. in “Wildcatter,” owned by Burnett G. Bartley of Pittsburgh.
Henry Bickford of Hampton Va. won the national crown foi Class E service runabouts with an average 52.249 m.p.h. in “Skip-E.”
— August 13, 1956