| BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
RACING AGAINST THE RAIL
Boat Racing comes in many different forms of competition. Racing against other boats on an open or closed course. Racing against elapsed time. Racing against water and weather conditions and racing against the running time of the world’s fastest train...that’s right, a speedboat versus a speeding train! Just such a competitive event took place on the Hudson River in the mid-1920’s. Garfield Wood, “The Speed King”, promoted his planned record attempt to beat the New York Central Line’s 20th Century steam-powered commuter train’s scheduled daily run time between New York City and Albany, NY. The pre-race hype included rides given in Garwood’s BABY GAR IV and V, notifying NYC newspapers, scheduling broadcast time for radio stations and chartering private chase planes. It was quite a big media event for 1925. But four days before Garwood’s scheduled race against the 20th Century flyer, a wealthy NYC stockbroker financed a run using his own speedboat. Richard F. Hoyt had been using his 40-ft runabout TEASER to regularly commute across the Hudson River to his Wall Street offices, although TEASER was not your common mahogany runabout. The hull was an enlarged version of the Baby BOOTLEGGER, G-5, that Caleb Bragg drove to 1924 and ’25 Gold Cup victories. The George Crouch design, built by Henry Nevins of Island City, featured a 7 ½-ft. beam, double planked ¾ in. bottom and three cockpits (driver sat in the front cockpit). Under the engine hatch was a 1,947 cu.in. brute of an engine that, at a time when the average yearly wage was $1,500, cost $20,000! The Wright “Typhoon” Marine V-12 was a 60-degree V-block that weighed 1,860- lbs. And produced 750 H.P. using a 50/50 racing blend of gasoline and benzol. The highly specialized engine (less than 25 were manufactured in 1925) was the brainchild of George J. Mead, chief engineer at Wright Aeronautical Corp. Hoyt chose Mead to pilot the TEASER on the record attempt. Mead was accompanied by riding mechanics Theodore Carlisle and L. Christiansen, APBA member and editor of MOTORBOATING magazine, C. Chapman, rode along as navigator and timekeeper. Starting at the 86th St. location of NYC’s Columbia Yacht Club, TEASER began its up river run on May 20, 1925 at 8 am. Mead set the throttle wide open and the big boat charged up a smooth Hudson River. Chapman noted "the thrilling ride and speed, speed, speed” of TEASER. “As comfortable riding as a Pullman car, with a cold and invigoration 55 mph breeze in one’s face”’ Chapman added. Two hours and forty minutes later, trailed by benzene fumes and river spray, TEASER blazed past the finish line at the Albany Yacht Club to cheers from a large crowd of spectators. TEASER beat the rail time by 27 minutes and averaged 51 mph for the 137-mile trip. As the boat was being refueled for the down river run the crew enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Albany Yacht Club. On the return run, the crew found themselves slowed by ocean-like waters. It took them 3 hrs. 5 min. to reach the NYC finish line. Nonetheless, Hoyt’s TEASER set a one-way record and became the first boat to complete the 274-mile roundtrip in one day. Newspaper headlines proclaimed, “Speedboat Beats 20th Century Time”. Meanwhile Garwood, unhappy about being upstaged, issued a $25,000 challenge to Hoyt to race against his BABY GARs over the same distance. The shrewd Hoyt replied that he would stand by the record set by TEASER as the time to beat. Garwood’s attempt would find him piloting BABY GAR IV. Riding mechanic Orlin Johnson and MOTORBOATING’s editor Chapman, again acting as observer/timekeeper, were the passengers. BABY GAR V was to be driven by Wood’s brother George, with mechanic Joe Kinney and a reporter onboard. Both boats only ran down river from Albany to NYC. Despite Garwood’s switching over to drive the faster Gar V at midcourse then back to Gar IV after experiencing engine failure, his elapsed time was 10 minutes faster than TEASER’s rough water run. Thus Garwood could claim victory over the railroad’s 20th Century and Hoyt’s TEASER. Two months later L. Gordon Hammersley drove his boat, Cigarette JR, up river, besting TEASER’s time by 2 minutes. However, it became a moot point when a railway aficionado discovered time tables which showed that the “Empire State Express” train made scheduled runs at speeds which regularly beat all three boat times back in 1895! What does this East Coat action have to do with a West Coat report? Well, the Tahoe Yacht Club Concours d'Elegance and Raceboat Regatta, August 7 & 8, will feature Vintage/Historic raceboats this year and the TEASER, now owned by Dave Olson and beautifully restored, will be in attendance. The Tahoe Yacht Club will provide complimentary fuel and unlimited time on the racecourse both days for raceboats participating in the program and giving thrill rides to event sponsors. A static “on trailer” display area will be provided free of charge for owners who bring their raceboats but are not entering them in the show. Advance notice and registration is required to assure space. Breathtaking Lake Tahoe is the perfect place to introduce Vintage/Historic raceboats to boating enthusiasts. Tahoe is a West Coast jewel and attracts visitors from all around the world. GUIDO ROMANI’S EUROPEAN REPORT:
RACE SITES:
ON A SAD NOTE:
HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
©1999 Tom D'Eath |
