1960 Silver Cup
1960 August 29
Miss Buffalo, Nitrogen, Gale V, Thunderbolt, Miss Thriftway and Nitrogen Too
Picton Lesson Valuable to Ron Musson
Nitrogen Too Takes Racing’s Silver Cup
By Matt Dennis
Ron Musson was named “Rookie Driver of the Year" by the American Powerboat Racing Association in 1959 and Saturday on the Detroit River he displayed the attributes of a well-seasoned veteran in guiding Nitrogen Too home as winner of the Silver Cup.
The 32-year-old unlimited hydroplane jockey, who works as an electrical and plumbing contractor when not behind the wheel of a speedboat, definitely earned his spurs with a solid driving performance in the thrill-packed finale before an estimated crowd of over 90,000 fans.
For Musson. the victory was more than just a cup presentation, it also erased a trifle of the losing feeling of a week previous at Picton, Ont. where he was an unsuccessful U.S. challenger for the Harmsworth Trophy against Canada's Miss Supertest III.
The modest young pilot graciously accepted the usual “congratulations” but when speaking of his vain Harmsworth bid commented:
“I learned a great deal and so did our crew down at Picton. The experience was valuable. I had an idea of the type of race I wanted to drive here. I did it and won. It’s the first win for the boat and I hope there’s many more.”
Regarding his experience at Picton, Mussons driving performance was not unlike that of Canada s Bob Hayward, according the veteran observers.
Six boats were in the final heat and Nitrogen Too was not touted as the favorite. The “bet-to-win” tags were hung on Bill Muncey and Miss Thriftway of Seattle and Bill Cantrell in Detroit's . With teammate Norm Evans in Nitrogen, sister craft of the winner, there was also Bob Schroeder in Miss Buffalo and Walt Kade in Thunderbolt, but were previously considered “also-rans.”
As the six boats headed for the starting line for a picture start. Musson hugged the inside leaving Muncey and Cantrell to their own private devices. His boat accelerated rapidly to his leaden foot and the inside lane was his for good as he steered his Allison-powered mechanical giant adeptly around the course-marking buoys.
Nitrogen Too is of 80% aluminum construction and one of the lightest boats on the circuit at a weight of 5,100 pounds. She rides the water in a “floating” style and the shimmering course with a 10 m.p.h. wind blowing northeast appeared made for her.
Her average speed over the first three-mile lap was 103.498 and her best was the third when Musson shoved her to 104.247 and finished the full 15-mile distance at 103.707.
As Musson drove his own race. Thriftway and Gale V dueled and the fans on the stand were treated to the most daring feats of the afternoon when Cantrell and Muncey gave each other a “hosing” entering the fourth lap.
Thriftway came out best. Heading into the upper turn Gale V blew its supercharger and the result was a hole in the bottom of the boat. Cantrell threw off his life jacket, then his shirt and stuffed it into the gaping opening and saved the boat from sinking.
Meanwhile Musson only needed to keep his craft operating and firmly established his lead over Thriftway to take the checkered flag with over 500 yards to spare. The victory was the first for boat owner Sam duPont of Wilmington, Del. in 34 unlimited races since 1958.
Thriftway took second place. Nitrogen was third, followed by Miss Buffalo. The race from the starting line was too much for Walt Kade in Thunderbolt and the "washing down” finished her before the first lap was completed.
In the four previous heats there was action aplenty to whet the appetite of any unlimited boat fan enthusiast.
To send the show on its way, Nitrogen offered evidence that the duPont combination was ready. From the start Evans swung her into the lead and she finished ahead of Thunderbolt and Such Crust not pressed at an average mark of 98 013 m p h.
In the second, Musson made his first appearance of the day and Gale V, Miss Thriftway and Miss Buffalo followed the blue, gold and entry across the finish line at a clocking of 102.273 m.p.h.
The third race of the afternoon saw an improved performance by Muncey in Willard Rhodes' white and orange craft that took the Detroit Memorial test on the same course in June. He turned in his first lap at an average speed of 105.882. best for the day. and his average over the five turns on the course was 103.846.
These performances gave Muncey the Meehan and Deroy trophies, but to Muncey they were only poor substitutes for the Silver Cup, only silverware he has missed in a better-than-15-year racing career.
Fourth test revived hopes for owner Joe Schoenith and his crew as Cantrell gunned Gale V into an early lead with Evans in Nitrogen falling back When the right sponson ripped off Such Crust IV on the second lap. the two-boat race was Gale's with Nitrogen satisfied with runner up position.
Lining up for the final with Nitrogen Too, Gale V and Nitrogen all were knotted with 700 points, based on their previous finishes, followed by Thriftway at 625; Thunderbolt, 525; and Miss Buffalo, 338.
The 400 extra points picked up by Nitrogen Too and Musson in the finale made the duPont racing team Silver Cup champions in one of the most crowd-pleasing events held on the river in recent years.
FINAL RESULTS
FIRST HEAT — Nitrogen (Norm Evans), Thunderbolt (Walt Kade), Such Crust IV (Leo Mucutza). Time 98.013 mph.
SECOND HEAT — Nitrogen Too (Ron Musson), Gale V (Bill Cantrell) Miss Thriftway (Bill Muncey), Miss Buffalo (Bob Schroeder). Time 102 273 mph
THIRD HEAT — Miss Thriftway, Nitrogen Too, Thunderbolt, Miss Buffalo. Time 103.846
FOURTH HEAT—Gale V, Nitrogen, Such Crust IV (DNF). Time 101.810.
FINAL — Nitrogen Too, Miss Thriftway, Nitrogen, Miss Buffalo, Gale V and Thunderbolt (DNF). Time 103 707.
* * *
First for 1959’s Top Rookie
possession of the O. J. .Mulford Silver Cup
Nitrogen Too driver Ron Musson takes
possession of the O. J. .Mulford Silver Cup from Mrs. John Dixon, granddaughter of the trophy’s donor, following victory at the annual regatta held on the Detroit River Saturday. Victory was the first for boat and driver in the 15lh annual renewal of the powerboat racing classic.
(Star Staff Photo by Mike Bunt)
— The Windsor Star, August 29, 1960
* * *
Silver Cup Race Good Example
Yup, Driver Makes the Boat
By Joe Dowdall
Ron Musson answered one of the most often asked questions in powerboat racing Saturday as he throttled Nitrogen Too to an upset victory in the Silver Cup Race on the Detroit River: which is more important. the boat or the driver?
With superb driving skill he brought a boat with little more than a stock engine home in front of boats with greater power and speed driven by expert drivers.
“Musson drove a perfect race,” said Bill Stead, who retired from powerboat racing last year after winning six races and setting more than a dozen speed records.
“Nitrogen Too had a stock engine. It had a bent quill shaft. Its crew was far from the best. But he beat Bill Muncey in Miss Thriftway and Bill Cantrell in Gale V in two heats.
"Muncey and Cantrell never had a chance to use their superior speed. Musson drove as hard as he could to the starting line and went full blast to the first turn.
"He played the buoys Just right to keep Muncey and Cantrell either in the rough water of his wake or far on the outside.
“It was the same story once again—the driver, not the boat, is the most important factor in boat racing.”
* * *
Musson, a 32-year-old Akron electrical contractor, won two heats and finished second in another to amass 1.100 points.
Miss Thriftway and Nitrogen had a first, a second and third- place finishes to tie for second place.
Gale V, which finished second in its first heat and won its second, gained fourth place, followed by Thunderbolt and Miss Buffalo.
The hotly contested 15-mile race was rough on Detroit's three entries. Gale V had a hole knocked in her bottom by parts of its supercharger which exploded in the final heat.
Such Crust’s IV's right sponson was torn off and Thunderbolt's shaft was twisted like a corkscrew when a blade of its propeller was sheared off.
Race referee Bill Newton of Framingham. Mass., said he couldn't censure Cantrell or Muncey for their cutting off of each other in the final heat. But he said he was going to recommend that the American Power Boat Association consider some legislation to handle recklessness on the course.
Cantrell had carried Muncey wide into a turn as the two battled for second place in the final heat. Muncey retaliated by attempting to “wash down” Cantrell with Miss Thriftway's roostertail in the straightaway.
“He got me wet twice,” Cantrell said, "and he was about to chop me off again when my supercharger blew up as Gale V came back down in the water after a leap.
"I couldn't back off. I had fought too long and too hard to get Muncey on the outside and keep him there. If I'd have backed off when my boat leaped, Muncey would have drenched us for sure when he went by.”
— Detroit Free Press, August 29, 1960