1957 Detroit Memorial
10 Boats to Race In Detroit Regatta
By Joe Dowdall
Luck of the draw will delay a boat-to-boat meeting of Saturday’s Detroit Memorial Regatta co-favorites Short Circuit and Such Crust III.
Jack Schafer’s twin-engined Such Crust III is the fastest boat entered in the race. Freddie Alter topped the 111 miles per hour mark in qualifying for the race Thursday in the blue and white three-pointer on the Detroit River's three-mile course.
But the boat has been plagued with mechanical difficulties. It is a question of how long Such Crust III can last. The race is in three heats of 15 miles each.
Chuck Thompson's Short Circuit is the next fastest boat and has enough speed to push Such Crust III to the breaking point. And Thompson's boats have finished practically every race they started.
Alter will also have stiffer competition in the first heat at noon, called Heat One A. Bud Saile’s Miss Wayne, Canada’s Miss Supertest and possibly What a Pickle II and Bill Cantrell in Gale V will run against Such Crust III. The average qualifying speed for the heat was close to 94 mph.
Thompson's competition in Heat One B should be easier. Only Lee Schoenith's Gale VI has a chance of staying on tsame lap with Short Circuit. Gordon Deneau’s What a Pickle I and Bob Sommervilie’s Ricochet are older boats that are outclassed. The qualifying average speed for the heat was only 87 miles an hour.
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Joe Schoenith withdrew Gale III, which he qualified at 90 miles an hour, but said either Roy Duby may requalify it Saturday morning.
The start and finish of the race will be at the foot of Parkview. Race fans will be able to get a closer look at the boats in their pits at. Memorial Park at the foot of Burns Drive.
Heat One A will start at noon, followed by Heat One B at 1 p.m. The drivers will then re-draw for Heat 2 A at 2:30 and Heat 2 B at 3:30. The six leading boats will then race in the final heat at 5 p.m.
A possible last-minute entry may be the old Gale IV. A Buffalo. (N.Y.) hair oil company purchased the boat late Friday and has renamed it Wildroot Charlie.
The boat must qualify Saturday morning at a speed of better than 75 miles an hour.
— June 22, 1957
Nine Race Today
Detroit (CP) — Nine boats, including the Canadian-owned Miss Supertest, have qualified for the 11th running of the Detroit memorial regatta today on the Detroit River.
Such Crust III, owned by Jack Schafer of Detroit, whipped up an average speed of 111.34 miles an hour over the five-mile course for unlimited class racing boats. Next was Short Circuit at 100.93 miles an hour.
Miss Supertest hit 87.09 miles an hour. She is owned by James G. Thompson of London Ont.
— June 22, 1957
9 Boats In Detroit Regatta
Detroit, June 22 — UP — A field of nine boats will compete today in the Detroit Memorial Regatta, the first top speedboat event of the summer on the Detroit river
Jack Schafer's Such Crust III, which qualified at better than 111 miles an hour, is favored on the strength of the fast qualifying speed but will have to stand the rigor of three 18 mile races
Because of the large field, owners drew for spots in the first race which was broken up into two heats
Such Crust III will race against Miss Wayne, Miss Supertest, What A Pickle II and Gale V in heat 1A. The four boats in heat 1B are Chuck Thompson's Short Circuit, Gale VI, Ricochet and What A Pickle I
Gale III had been qualified by Joe Schoenith but he withdrew.
— June 22, 1957
9 Detroit Hydros Set
Detroit, June 21.—(AP) — Nine boats led by Such Crust III, have qualified for the 11th running of the Detroit Memorial Regatta tomorrow in the Detroit River.
Such Crust III, driven by Fred Alter and owned by Detroit breadman Jack Schafer, whipped up an average speed of 111.34 miles an hour over the five-mile course for unlimited class racing boats. Next was Short Circuit, piloted by Chuck Thompson, which hit 100.93 for the only other speed over 100 during the tryouts.
The only unlimited boat failing to qualifiy was Gale V, which bogged down with engine trouble. The race will be run in three 15-mile heats.
Other qualifiers were: Miss Wayne, 95.57 Mph.; Gale VI, 92.22; Gale III, 90.00; Miss Supertest II, 87.09; What A Pickle I, 81.81; What A Pickle II, 81.81; and Miss Ricochet, 76.5.
— June 21, 1957