1956 Maple Leaf Trophy

Lake St. Clair, Windsor, Ontario, June 23, 1956

World’s Fastest Powerboats in Maple Leaf Regatta

Final Test Runs For Speedy Craft

Miss Supertest Races Saturday In Windsor Yacht Club Event

By Ted Douglas

Gale V
COMING AT YOU—The world’s fastest boats will be racing on the Windsor side of the Detroit River Saturday, in the 8th annual Maple Leaf Unlimited regatta, sponsored by Windsor Yacht Club. The United States drivers are doing their final test runs on the Detroit side this week. Jack Dalgleish, Windsor Star photographer, got the picture at left, at great risk. Racing toward his camera at better 130 m.p.h. is the new Gale V, owned by Joe Schoenith of Detroit and Tecumseh, and driven by “Wild Bill” Cantrell.
George Simon sits in the cockpit of his new Miss U.S.
George Simon sits in the cockpit of his new Miss U.S., also a starter.
Maple Leaf Trophy
NEW TROPHY FOR WINNER — Owner of the winning boat gets the Maple Leaf Trophy. This year, for the first time, the winning driver gets a take-home trophy, named after Robert Parker, the W.Y.C. official who began the unlimited race here. Pictured is Rear Commodore Frank Laforet, race chairman for W.Y.C., holds the new trophy.
Miss Supertest II
The only Canadian entry in Canada’s big waterspeed classic. Miss Supertest II, owned by Gordon and Jim Thompson of London, driven by Bill Braden of Hamilton. This boat was test-run at Sarnia.
Miss Wayne
MISS WAYNE CUP DEFENDER — Frank “Bud” Saille of Detroit, who won the Maple Leaf last year driving his Miss Cadillac will defend this year in his new Miss Wayne, world’s first twin-screw three pointer. He is pictured here standing by the business end of his twin-engined speedster—a new boat which in trials looks good.

The worlds's fastest powerboats are skittering across the Detroit River, between Belle Isle and the mainland in this week’s final test runs, in preparation for the running this Saturday of the eighth annual Windsor Yacht Club Maple Leaf Unlimited event.

Frank Laforet, race chairman, said the biggest fleet ever to start in Canada’s only unlimited powerboat race is expected. At least 12 boats are booked to run.

The Windsor event is a “hot one” for U.S. owners, since it will be used as one of the events in picking boats which will serve on the U.S. Harmsworth team.

The London, Ont., partnership of Gordon and Jim Thompson have challenged for the international Harmsworth event with their Miss Supertest II and the three-day Harmsworth run will take place later in the season.

Miss Supertest will run on the Windsor side of the river Saturday, meeting for the first time this season here likely competitors in the world classic Harmsworth.

The Windsor race will again take place between the W.Y.C. dock and Peche Island — the toughest and tightest race course in Canada and the U.S.

Starting times for the five unlimited heats are 2 noon, 1, 2, 3, and 5 p.m. There will also be heats for 266, 225 and 135 cubic inch open class boats.

Here are the likely entries:

Frank “Bud” Saile driver-owner, will defend the trophy in his new twin-engine, twin-screw Miss Wayne, world’s first three-pointer to carry two engines side-by-side. It looks good in trials.

Saile won last year in Cadillac, in a boat now called What-a-Pickle, owned by Gordon Deneau of Birmingham. It may be in.

Miss Supertest, three pointer, powered with Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, owned by Gordon and Jim Thompson of London, to be driven by Bill Braden of Hamilton. Danny Foster of Detroit was to drive, but U.S. owners and drivers complained that they didn’t like his handling of a foreign Harmsworth challenger before the world event.

Short Circuit, the small, light three-pointer owned by Chuck Thompson of Detroit. This boat, driven by one of the best men on the river, has yet to win a race. It reportedly is on the light side for heavy competition.

The Gale fleet. The owner, Joe Schoenith of Detroit and Tecumseh, will enter the old Gale IV, with Roy Duby driving; the new (or rebuilt, if you choose) Gale V, “Wild Bill” Cantrell at the wheel; and the new twin-engine Gale VI, Lee Schoenith, son of the owner, driving. This stable is a former Maple Leaf winner, and Gale V (a hull which includes "only one woodscrew" from the old Gale V) holds high-point honors for the U.S. last year.

Wha Hoppen Too, owner-driver Marv Henrich. No reports available on her performance this season.

Such Crust III, an old-timer, one of the first copies of the three point Slo-Mo-Shun boats, owner Jack Schafer, driver not yet named.

Miss U.S., George Simon’s new three-pointer. Probable driver is Jack Bartlow. It looks good in trials, but the gear box seems too tight, and makes engine starting difficult.

My Sweetie and Dora My Sweetie, two old-type hydroplanes, owned by Horace Dodge. Good rough water boats. Drivers not named.

Miss Richochet, owned by Chuck Doran, an old Allison-powered hydro in the same class with the Sweeties. Probable driver is Bob McElroy.

Possibly two West Coast boats, Miss Thriftway, owned by Willard Rhodes of Seattle, driven by Bill Muncey, and Scooter Too, owned by Henry J. Kaiser (driver not named), may also enter.

This imposing list totals 16, but Rear Commodore Laforet expects 12 will make it to the line.

For the first time in Maple Leaf history, the fleet will be divided. The best 12 qualifiers will be divided, six to run in the first heat, six in the second, heats one and two to be considered as one.

The fleet again will be split for heats three and four, which will be considered as one. The top six boats on points will be selected to run the final fifth and deciding heat.

Last year, a new Leaf record was set when eight boats started —and this is unheard of in powerboating — eight boats finished.

All boats must qualify to enter at 75 m.p.h., one lap. Qualifying runs are set for 8 am. to 10:30 am. on the course race day.

The lap distance is three miles. Each heat represents five laps or a total distance of 15 miles.

--- June 20, 1956