1958 Mapes Mile-High Trophy
Tons of Grace, Horsepower, Race Today, Saturday
Unknown ‘Facination’ Entered
Maverick Popular Choice But Top Hydros in Field
Qualifying Runs Slated Today; Eleven Ships Enter Mapes Cup
By Dwight Dyer
Tahoe City, Calif., July 25. (AP) — Unlimited hydroplanes — several tons of grace and horsepower — began churning Lake Tahoe’s cold mountain waters today with qualification and test runs for the Mile High Regatta.
Eleven and possibly more of the world’s fastest propeller-driven racers were expected to sound the Sierra lake’s three-mile course in preparation for the sixth annual running of the Mapes Cup race.
Big favorites among followers of the waterborne sport of kings were Arizona millionaire sportsman William Waggoner’s “Maverick,” Ole Bardahl’s brand-new “Miss Bardahl” out of Seattle and a local speedster, “Breathless,” one of three boats entered by J. Phillip Murphy of Lake Tahoe and Piedmont, Calif.
“Breathless” and her sisters “Breathlesss II” and “Muvalong” were set to take the qualifying run, along with a new entry, “Fascination,” a relatively small and unknown boat from Seattle.
Other hydroplanes had been qualified in previous tests and need to prove their ability to exceed 95 miles an hour in order to compete for the $5,000 revolving Mapes Cup.
“Maverick” gained favor with hydroplane experts this week by flashing around the course for an average 115 M.P.H.—an unofficial regatta record.
Waggoner claims his two and one-half ton “Maverick,” powered by a 12-cylinder, 2500-horsepower aircraft engine, reached a top speed of 205 M.P.H. in trials on Lake Mead recently.
A top challenger, however, is “Miss Bardahl” with last year’s Mapes Cup winner Miro Slovak at her controls.
Hope was fading that Waggoners’ newest hydroplane, radical “Shanty II,” would be ready in time for the Saturday races. The all-aluminum craft “coasted” to 100 M.P.H. in Lake Mead trials but reportedly had engine troubles later.
Other definite entries were Detroit sportsman Joe Schoenith’s Gale Sisters,“Gale V” and "Gale VI,” along with “Miss U.S. 1,” owned by George Simon of Detroit, “Wildroot Charlie,” owned bv George Trimper of Buffalo and “Thriftway Too,” Associated Grocers, Inc., Seattle owners.
The big hydroplanes were expected to be split into two groups for Saturday’s five heats. Each boat must take two tries at a five-lap heat, with top qualifiers battling it out in the 10-lap 30-mile championship race.
— July 25, 1958
Mapes Cup Race Data
Name Of Regatta: Lake Tahoe Mile-High Regatta.
Place: Tahoe City, Calif, (west side of Lake Tahoe)
Time: Saturday, starting at I o’clock.
Rules: APBA Drivers must present 1958 club affiliation and membership cards.
Course: Unlimiteds race five laps (15 miles) in the four morning prelims. Finals will be run over 10 laps (20 miles.) Five buoys each turn. Five each straightaway.
Prizes: Charles W. Mapes perpetual trophy to winners. Duplicate Mapes trophies in miniature to winner and runner-up for permanent possession.
Schedule: Qualifying runs Friday, July 25, from 9 am. to 5 o’clock. (Qualifying time must exceed 95 miles an hour). Heat Races Saturday, July 26: 9 o’clock, 9:45; 10:30, 11:15; final at 1:30. (Must get third place or better in heats to assure spot In final.)
Highway Directions: Highway 40 via Truckee to Tahoe City; from Reno over Mt. Rose road; from Reno through Carson.
Admission: Tickets for 800 re-served seats cost $5 and sell at the Mapes and Holiday Hotels in Reno and at Tahoe City; Regatta buttons ($1) entitles wearer entry to roped-off hillside areas overlooking race site.
Officials: Fred Hallett, head referee; Otto Crocker, timer; Kay Hallett, official scorer; Morlan Vlsel, Regatta chairman.
Previous Winners:
- 1953 — Short Snorter, driven by Stanley Dollar;
- 1954 — ’Scooter* driven by Jack Regas;
- 1955 — Breathless, driven by Roger Murphy;
- 1956 — Shanty I, Bill Stead;
- 1957 — Miss Wahoo, driven bv Miro Slovak.
1958 Entries:
Miss Bardahl, Gale V, Gale VI, Muvalong, Fascination, Maverick, Thlrftway, Too; Miss U.S. 1, Wildroot Charlie, Breathless I, Breathless II.
— July 25, 1958