1956 Sahara Cup
Nation’s Speedboat Queens Open Sahara Cup Competition
Thriftway Choice In Unlimifeds
By Chris Schaller
More than 125 queens of the surf, including 11 of the mightiest unlimited division hydroplanes in the world, will streak across the placid waters of Lake Mead beginning at 11 o’clock this morning in the first annual Sahara Cup races in Boulder Basin.
From the moment the lusty little 48-cubic-inch hydroplanes throttle into position for the first heat race at 11 this morning, until the powerful unlimiteds roar through the final event tomorrow afternoon, the competition promises to be the very best the fascinating sport of boat racing can offer.
Although their little brothers also will command the respect of the crowd, the 11 unlimited, all veterans of the finest racing events in the nation, unquestionably will be the main attractions.
Not since that polite Englishman, Donald Campbell, overcame a series of disheartening obstacles to establish a new water speed record of 216.2 miles-per-hour in his jet-powered Bluebird exactly one year ago today has Lake Mead played host to such an array of boating celebrities.
First, there’s the swift Miss Thriftway, owned by Willard Rhodes and piloted by Bill Muncey. She's the favorite to carry off the first Sahara Cup on the basis of her victories in the famed Gold Cup and Presidents Cup races.
Then there’s William Waggoner's Shanty I, regarded in many racing dries as the queen of America's fastest boats. She’ll be driven by Lt. Col. Russell Schleeh, who gently guided her to victories in the Seattle Seafair and the Harmsworth International events.
The nine other entries — none of which could accurately be described as underdogs — are Edgar Kaiser's Hawaii Kai III, J. P. Murphy’s Breathless and Muvalong, William Waggoner’s Maverick, Bill Boeing, Jr.’s Miss Wahoo, Guy Lombardo’s Tempo VII. George Simon’s Miss U.S. I, Bud Saile, Jr.’s Miss Wayne and Miss Seattle, owned by Roostertails, Inc.
Regardless of her performances in the competition today and tomorrow, the Hawaii Kai III, piloted by Jack Regas, will attempt to break the world’s record for propellor-driven boats Monday on Lake Mead. The existing mark is 178.497, established by the late Stanley Sayres of Seattle in 1952.
All of the drivers of the unlimited division boats have long and successful records in the racing world, and two, Miss Wahoo's Mira Slovak and Shanty I's Russell Schleeh, were internationally-famed aviators at one time.
Four heat races, two today and two tomorrow, will comprise the unlimited division competition, which offers $3000 to the high point winners, $1500 to the first-place boat, $1000 to the runner-up and $500'to the third-place boat.
In addition, the Hotel Sahara, which deserves full credit for originating what should become an annual racing classic, will present a beautiful perpetual trophy to the winner. “Take home” trophies will go to first, second and third place winners in both limited and unlimited divisions.
The 11 unlimited division boats will travel 15 miles in each heat, six laps around arecord-approved two-and-one-half mile course in front of the Special Events Beach at Lake Mead. The limiteds will race in two five-mile heats.
— October 13, 1956
Shanty I Sets Pace In Sahara Boat Races
Nation's Top Pilots Slated For Finals On Mead Today
By Chris Schaller
Col. R.S. Schleeh, who once made his living as a jet aviator, proved conclusively he is as much at home in the cockpit of a hydroplane as he piloted the famed Shanty I to an easy victory yesterday in the first heat race of the Unlimited Division of the first annual Sahara Cup races yesterday in perfect boating weather on the calm waters of Lake Mead.
A second unlimited division heat race, called because of darkness after only two of six laps had been completed over the 15-mile course, has been re-scheduled for 11 a.m. today. Additional heats are elated for 12:30 and 1 p.m., with finals set for 3:30 p.m. Edgar Kaiser’s Hawaii Kai III held a commanding lead at the time Sahara Cup officials called a halt to the proceedings.
But before the sun refused to cooperate further, the enthusiastic spectators lining the Special Events Beach were treated to a royal display of speedboating at its best.
Two world’s records were established, both by the same boat. Seven Grand, piloted by Rich Hallett of Downey, Calif., swept to the 7-Litre Hydroplane crown by averaging 84.428 miles-per-hour in the first heat and 86.289 in the second, smashing the former record of 88.877 established by Reckless. Ironically, Reckless, driven by Barney Navarro of Glendale, Calif., finished second to Seven Grand in both heats.
Seven Grand’s victories were impressive, but nothing could match the performance of Col. Schleeh and his trim Shanty I, who easily routed Miss Seattle and pre-Sahara Cup favorite Miss Thriftway in the Unlimiteds’ first heat race.
Miss Thriftway, winner of the Gold Cup and Presidents Cup Races, was a disappointment to the huge crowd. She developed engine trouble on the first lap, Shortly after relinquishing her early lead to Shanty I, and could move at no better than half speed the rest of the way.
At that, Miss Thriftway, owned by Willard Rhodes and driven by Bill Muncey, was lucky to salvage the third place which guaranteed her a spot in today’s competition. She was the third of three boats to finish the heat, after J.P.. Murphy’s Muvalong and Breathless were forced out of action.
Shanty I, winner of the Harmsworth International Cup and the Seafair Trophy in recent competition in Seattle, never looked anything but a winner after assuming the lead on the second lap, by averaged 95.212 mph, and Col. Schleeh gave owner William Waggoner of Vernon, Texas, an outstanding driving performance.
Norm Evans piloted Miss Seattle, owned by Roostertails, Inc. of Seattle, Wash., to second place.
The Hawaii Kai III, skillfully handled by Jack Regas, was well on its way to victory in the second heat before the sun dipped below a mountain to throw a wrench into the works. Miss Wahoo, driven by Mira Slovak, and Miss Wayne, piloted by owner Bud Saile, Jr., were running second and third, respectively. The aging Miss U.S. I, handled by owner George Simon, had been forced out just before the race was halted.
The postponement of the second heat was a decided break for William Waggoner’s Maverick.
Two injuries marred yesterday’s events, although neither secured in the Unlimited Division. George Matucci of Oakland, Calif., suffered several cracked ribs when he was struck by another boat in the first 7 Litre Hydroplane heat, and Estol J. Engle of Provo, Utah, sustained head injuries when his Slo Polk overturned and sank in the Class E Racing Runabout race. Both men were taken to Boulder City Community Hospital.
Beside the 7 Litre, championships were determined in four other classifications yesterday. Tinker Toy, driven by Wayne Thompson, averaged 66.30 in the second heat to defeat Lou Kay (Louis Meyer, Jr.) and Flying Finn II (Tony Hill) in the 48 Cubic inch Hydroplane competition; Lil’ Bee, driven by Ernie Rose at a 60.402 clip, topped Slide Rule (LeRoy Penhall) and B-OP (George Keene) in the B Racing Runabouts; Holiday, piloted by Rich Hallet at 67.264 and 75.125 in two beat races, trimmed Trample Too (Rod Maurer) and Thunderbird, Jr. (Bill Guasti) in the K Racing Runabouts; and Z-Z-Zip, with Sid Street in the cockpit, slacked 79.717 to defeat Cherokee (Harold Coalho) and Roughneck (Bob Willis) in the 266 Cubic Inch Hydroplanes.
— October 13, 1956
Shanty I Wins, Favored Today
Big Crowd Al Sahara Cup Trials
By John Romero
If Saturday's frenzied first-day indications bear out, Shanty I, driven by Lt. Col. Russ Schleeh of the Air Force, and Hawaii Kai, handled by crew-cut Jack Regas of Livermore, Calif., will make a two-boat showdown of today's Sahara Cup finals at Lake Mead.
Shanty I, piling along at a 100 m.p.h. clip for the first two laps on the 2½ mile course, easily outdistanced contention in the first heat for the big Unlimited Hydroplanes. Regas put his foot into Hawaii Kai III in the second heat and had the pink Edgar Kaiser equipment averaging well over 100 and far in front when the heat was halted after 2½ laps because balloons marking the course broke loose and drifted away.
Schleeh averaged 95.212 mph for his complete six-lap heat win, running under wraps two-thirds of the distance to finish well ahead of Miss Seattle, and Miss Thriftway, in that order.
World Record Set
The startlingly fast Unlimiteds overshadowed spectacular performances in smaller divisions, including two world records, as a crowd estimated at 10,000 watched yesterday’s opening events.
Because of the postponement in the final Unlimited heat, the big Gold Cup type boats will be in four races today — three heats and the finals at 3:30. First heat win be at 11 o’clock this morning. The second and third heats will be backed up at about 12:30.
Rich Hallett, the veteran from Downey. Calif., who races Lake Mead like he owns it, twice pushed Seven Grand past the listed world record in the 7 Litre Hydroplane class. Hallett won the division with an 84.428 clocking for the first heat, and a shattering 80.289 in the second. The record was held by Restless at 83.887, and was set this year.
The second world standard was knocked down by Ed Brown, Sacramento. when he turned 73.409 in the Bouncy Barby to better the listed mark of 72.757 in the E Racing Runabout division. E-Gad held the old record.
Wayne Thompson, Los Angeles, drove Tinker Toy to the 48 cu. In. hydroplane title; Ernie Rose. Patterson, got Lil Bee home by a fraction of a second to win the B Racing Runabout crown; Sid Street, Kansas City, banged Z-Z-Zip at better than 79 miles per hour for the 266 cu. in. hydro title. and Lou Meyer, Jr., Downey, booted Avenger V home in the 135 cu. in. hydro division although Hallett turned the fastest heat time of 75.125 in Holiday.
Two Flip
Two flips marked the opening day of Sahara Cup racing. Estol Engle, Provo, got a dunking when his Sh-boom overturned in an E Racing Runabout heat, and George Mattucci, driving Mixmaster in the 266 class, suffered a forehead cut and two broken ribs when he was thrown clear in a jumble on the South turn.
The course had to be altered for the Unlimiteds, because drivers insisted there was not enough room in the turns. This, coupled with usual first-day delays, had the program, more than a hour behind schedule. The second Unlimited heat got started about 4:30 over the protests of some boat owners, who claimed there was not enough light.
Two laps into the heat, balloons marking the Northeast turn broke loose, and racing commissioner Kent Hitchcock ordered the heat halted. Hawaii Kai III was far ahead at the time, with Miss Wahoo, Miss Wayne, and Tempo VII following in that order.
Schleeh, driving Texas oilman William Waggoner's Shanty I spurted forward at the beginning of the first heat, and quickly took the lead. Schleeh poured on power to leave Miss Thriftway a diminishing second until the Seattle boat lost manifold pressure and was forced to finish the race at extremely low speed. Breathless and Muvalong, driven by Rog and Jay Murphy. Piedmont. Calif., stayed in second and thin, until motor trouble forced them out halfway through the race. Norm Evans, starting dead last in Miss Seattle, climbed all the way to second as he passed the three ailing boats.
Another Chance
in the second heat. Miss U.S. I blew a supercharger and was forced out before Hitchcock stopped the race. Maverick, with Nevadan Bill Stead scheduled to drive, failed to make the second heat when mechanics could not repair a broken prop in time. But with the cancellation of the heat. Stead gets another chance today. It’s doubtful if Muvalong, Breathless, or Miss U.S. I will be racing today, although Miss U.S. owner George Simon said his crew would work all night if necessary to repair a blown supercharger housing — about an 11-hour job. The same problem faces Breathless.
After today’s three heats, the six fastest boats will meet in the afternoon finals.
Officials called the first day “an outstanding success” and drivers agreed that the 2½ mile course was a tremendous challenge — albeit awfully narrow on the turns.
— October 13, 1956
Unlimited Entry List
Here is the entry list for today’s unlimited division hydroplane heat races:
| Boat | City | Owner | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathless | Piedmont, Calif. | J. P. Murphy | Rog Murphy |
| Hawaii Kai III | Oakiond, Calif. | Edgar Kaiser | Jack Regis |
| Maverick | Vernon, Texas | Wm. Waggoner | Bill Stead |
| Miss Seattle | Seattle, Wash. | Boostertails Inc | Norm Evans |
| Miss Thrlftway | Seattle, Wash. | Willard Rhodes | Bill Muncey |
| Miss Wahoo | Seattle, Wash. | Wm. Boeing, Jr. | Mira Slovak |
| Muvalong | Piedmont, Calif. | J. P. Murphy | Jay Murphy |
| Shanty I | Vernon, Texas | Wm. Waggoner | Col. R. Schleeh |
| Tempo VII | Freeport, L.I. | Guy Lombardo | Billy Cantrell |
| Miss US I | Detroit, Mich. | Georgs Simon | George Simon |
| Miss Wayne | Detroit, Mich. | Bud Salle, Jr. | Bud Salle, Jr., Lyle Ritchie |