1956 St. Clair International Trophy
[International Boundary]
Gale VI Wins Speedboat Run
By Ed Senyczko
St. Clair, July 16—Gale VI, Joseph Schoenith’s newest twln-engine boat, driven by his son Lee, won the International Trophy race here Sunday on the St. Clair River in its first start.
Veteran observers said the crowd was somewhat smaller than the 70,000 that saw last year’s race.
While stocky, young Schoenith was scoring 1,000 points on one first and two seconds to edge Gale IV for the St. Clair Lions club trophy, Such Crust III won the all important third heat and picked up 400 points towards a Harmsworth race berth.
Gale IV, with Roy Duby driving, scored 925 points, Such Crust III had 569, Chuck Thompson in Short Circuit was fourth with 563. Miss Wayne owned by Frank “Bud" Saile and driven by Saile and Bob McElroy placed fifth with 479. George Simon’s Miss United States [Miss U.S. II] scored 127 and My Sweetie Dora, Horace Dodge’s hardluck craft, failed to finish.
The Dodge boat, which sank in the 1955 race, got an early lead in Heat 1-A, but sprung a leak in its keel, tore loose some siding and was unable to continue.
Crew members said taking the turns too fast and vibrations probably caused the damage.
The Dodge boat, Jack Bartlow driving, had the fastest lap time in Heat 1-A at 85.089 set in its second lap. Gale IV won the heat with an average speed of 77.002 miles an hour.
Quite a mix-up occurred at the start of Heat 1B. Such Crust III, followed by Miss Wayne and Gale VI, streaked across the starting line before the cannon was fired.
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The boats kept circling the three mile course for three complete laps before the drivers realized it was no race. Referee Bill Newton ruled Such Crust disqualified and ordered a restart between Miss Wayne and Gale VI.
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Crust owner Jack Schafer filed a protest saying his driver, Fred Alter, couldn't see the official clock because it was obscured by a lift crane. When the heat was finally held Gale VI won it with an average speed of 77 534 miles an hour. Later the protest was dropped.
The six qualifiers got off to a roaring start in the heats with Chuck Thompson jumping off to a 20-boat lead as he had Short Circuit wide open going across the starting line.
The rough, choppy water slowed the smaller Thompson craft after three laps and the Gales surged ahead. Gale IV won with Gale VI second. Dube had Gale IV at speeds of 90 miles an hour or better in three of the five laps.
Gale VI had the day’s fastest lap when Schoenith tried to overtake the VI in the last lap. The new Gale was clocked in 91.487 m.p.h.
Low oil pressure forced Miss U.S. out of the last two heats.
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Alter rocketed the Such Crust III out in front in heat 3 and held her there, enjoying almost a half lap lead over Gale VI.
The Crust and Gale V, defending Gold Cup champion, each have 400 points towards a Harmsworth berth, while Shanty I, William Waggoner’s boat, is the West Coast leader.
Actually Such Crust III, according to officials, is the leader as she won a grand total of 407 points in Sunday’s race.
Alter, 29, said the Crust tore a hole in its left sponson some time during the last lap.
“She could have hit an object in the river, or dipped her nose into the water going into a turn.”
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The Gales and Such Crust III will travel to Seattle for the Seafair, Aug. 5.
The course was patroled by the U. S. Coast Guard, its Auxiliary and Canadian Police.
The Inter-County Amateur Radio club and members of the National Guard handled communications between eight points on the course.
Cecil Voilstaedt, race chairman, presented trophies and awards to winners.
--- July 16, 1956