1960 Silver Cup

1960 August 24

Muncey Will Show Famous Racing Boat Here Monday

One of the nation’s most famous racing boats, Miss Thriftway, and the man who has piloted her to the world's speed record among his 1960 triumphs, will be in Port Clinton next Monday,

Bill Muncey, Seattle, Wash, brother of Chevrolet-Olds dealer Ray Muncey, will bring “Miss Thriftway” here for a day’s exhibition at the Buckeye Boulevard Muncey garage.

In the unlimited hydroplane classification, Miss Thriftway is a 32-footer with a 12-foot beam. Bill drove her to the world's speed record in February on Lake Washington, hitting 192 miles per hour over the measured mile.

The brother of the Port Clintonite, fast becoming known as one of the nation’s top men in boat racing, is racing Miss Thriftway in the Silver Cup at Detroit Saturday, and then will trail the boat to Port Clinton for the day’s display. He and two crew members will stay over here Monday night.

Other 1960 triumphs to date include victories in two other major racing events and a third in another. Bill and Miss Thriftway are rated stiff competition in the Silver Cup. He is 31, and has been racing since 14.

Port Clinton auto dealer Ray Muncey also is a racing enthusiast.

Bill is public relations director for Thriftway stores, and his own TV program and disc jockey show in addition to his racing. He is married and has three sons.

— The Daily News, August 24,1960

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Miss U.S. 1 Smashes At 175mph

DETROIT — (AP) — Miss U. S. 1, going through a trial spin on the Detroit River for the Silver Cup race for powerboats, lost her rudder and smashed into docks at the Detroit Yacht Club Tuesday.

Driver Roy Duby, 48, was only shaken up in the accident. Duby dived from the skipping unlimited hydroplane just before she piled into the dock area, He swam to shore.

The boat, speeding at 120 m.p.h., continued on, shearing off a piling 18 inches thick before passing through a vacant berth and jumping over the main dock. Then it bounced off a cabin cruiser and landed on a walkway.

Al Simon, brother of Miss U. S. 1’s owner. George Simon, said the craft was badly damaged and cannot be repaired in time for Saturday's Silver Cup race on the Detroit River.

Duby's neck was broken in a similar accident eight years ago. He was to have driven Miss U. S. 1 in the Silver Cup, one of the top U. S. races for powerboats.

He said his craft was going 175 m.p.h. along a straightaway when the rudder tore off.

— The Charlotte Observer, August 24, 1960

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Miss U. S. Sidelined

Driver Piles Out at 120 M.P.H. as Silver Cup Entry Crashes

DETROIT, Aug. 24 (UP) — The pride of Detroit — the powerboat Miss U. S. 1—will miss Saturday’s Silver Cup races.

The powerful hydroplane was badly damaged yesterday when it went out of control during a tune-up test on the Detroit River and crashed near the Detroit Yacht club.

Roy Duby, 48, was behind the wheel when the boat lost its rudder while speeding at 175 miles an hour. He managed to slow the craft to 120 M. P. H. before rolling off into the water.

The boat knifed through a piling, jumped the main yacht club dock, bounced off a cabin cruiser and landed in a boat well. Al Simon, whose brother George owns Miss U. S. 1, said the craft was too badly damaged to be repaired in time for Saturday’s race.

The cruiser hit by the hurtling vessel suffered $1,000 damage.

Duby suffered a broken neck in a similar accident in 1952, but in yesterday’s crash he was only soaked and shaken up.

— Lansing State Journal, August 24, 1960

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Driver Bails Out

Miss U.S. 1 Runs Wild on the River

Path of Miss U.S. 1 toward dock

Roy Duby, 48-year-old speedboat driver from Clarkston, is convinced that the toughest part of the annual Silver Cup race is the tune-up.

Duby was forced to leap from Miss U.S. 1 Tuesday when the unlimited hydroplane lost Its rudder at 160 miles an hour in a test run on the Detroit River for Saturday's Silver Cup race.

Eight years ago, Duby suffered a crushed chest and broken neck vertebrae in. a similar accident in Such Crust III during a Silver Cup test run.

* * *

He was not injured in Tuesday's accident but the boat, owned by Detroiter George Simon, was so badly damaged that it will not be able to compete in the race Saturday.

Duby was speeding down the backstretch of the Silver Cup course when the rudder tore off. He managed to reduce speed and then rolled into the river.

The boat, still traveling at an estimated 120 m.p.h., headed for the main dock of the Detroit Yacht Club at the east end of Belle Isle.

It sheared off a piling, hurdled the main dock, caromed off a 55-foot pleasure craft owned by C. E. Langfield of Northville and finally stopped in a boat well.

— Detroit Free Press, August 24, 1960

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“I had made several runs. Duby said. “Everything seemed okay: But as I was coming into the backstretch almost wide open, I felt a jolt and lost control. I slowed her down as much as I could and then decided I’d better get out while I still had a chance."

He barely made it. Seconds after he hit the water, Miss U.S. smashed into the dock and the cruiser No La Vam II. Damage to the pleasure cruiser was estimated at “between $1,000 and $2,000” by harbor officials.

No figure was placed on the damage to Miss U.S. 1, which Duby was to drive in the Silver Cup.

— Detroit Free Press, August 24, 1960