And Statistics
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2021 HYDRO RECORD BOOK AND STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE UNLIMITED NEWSJOURNAL Gar Wood (left) sits at the steering wheel of his Miss America X and next to his long-time riding mechanic, Orlin Johnson. Built in 1932, the massive boat was created to defend the Harmsworth Trophy from an expected challenge by Lord Charles Wakefield’s newMiss England III and its driver, Kaye Don. Nearly 40 feet in length, just short of the maximum allowed by Harmsworth rules, the boat weighed about eight tons and was powered by four 12-cylinder Packard engines that together generated 6,400 horsepower. One eyewitness to its launching and first test run on the St. Clair River said, “It was epochal. That boat was writing the history of daring in the waters of that turquoise river. We came away speechless at the drama of it all.” Racing on Lake St. Clair, Gar Wood drove the boat to victory in both heats of the 1932 Harmsworth and later that month drove the boat through a mile course set on the St. Clair River and set a new world straightaway speed record of 124.86 mph. A year later, in a defense of the Harmsworth on the St. Clair River near Marine City, Michigan, Wood drove the boat to victory over Hubert Scott-Paine and his Miss Britain III. It was the last race the legendary Gar Wood would enter. EDITOR: Andy Muntz ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Craig Fjarlie, Chris Tracy, Dick Sanders HYDROFILE EDITOR/WEBMASTER: Lon Erickson HISTORIAN: Bob Greenhow EDITORIAL BOARD: Clint Newman II, Bob Senior Unlimited NewsJournal, established in 1973, is published by Unlimiteds Unanimous, an enthusiast club interested in promoting and documenting the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing. Copyright © 2021, Unlimited NewsJournal. Reproduction or transmission in whole or part is not permitted without written approval of the Unlimited NewsJournal. WEBSITE: unlimitednewsjournal.net EDITOR: Unlimited NewsJournal, 14313 Beverly Park Road, Edmonds, WA 98026. Email: [email protected] 2 / UNLIMITED NEWSJOURNAL / RECORD BOOK 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS DRIVER RECORDS RACE TEAM STATISTICS The most race victories ...................................................................... 4 Most race appearances .................................................................... 24 Winners of national driver titles ........................................................ 5 Winner of the most heats ................................................................ 24 The most national championships .................................................... 6 The most consecutive heat victories ................................................ 24 The most Gold Cup victories .............................................................. 6 Most consecutive heat finishes ....................................................... 25 Driver race victories (1922 to present) .............................................. 6 Best percentage of heat wins vs. heats finished .............................. 25 Best percentage of heats finished vs. heats entered ...................... 25 DRIVER STATISTICS The most perfect weekends ............................................................. 12 EVENT RECORDS The driver of the greatest number of different hulls ....................... 13 Winners of the most recent H1 Unlimited races ............................. 26 The most races entered ................................................................... 13 Gold Cup race winners .................................................................... 27 The best percentage of races won vs. races entered ........................ 13 Harmsworth Trophy Race winners ................................................... 29 The most heat victories .................................................................... 14 World’s Championship race winners ............................................... 29 The most consecutive heat victories ................................................ 14 Winners of all official races by location (1922 to present) .............. 30 The best percentage of heat wins vs. heats finished ....................... 14 SPEED RECORDS OWNER RECORDS Standing all-time competition/qualifying speed records ................ 36 The most race victories .................................................................... 15 Standing records for current race courses ....................................... 37 National High-Point Championship winners .................................. 16 Gold Cup speed records .................................................................. 38 The most national championships .................................................. 17 Straightaway speed records for propeller-driven boats ................... 38 The most Gold Cup victories ............................................................ 17 Owner race victories (1922 to present) ........................................... 17 BOAT RECORDS Boats that have won the most races ................................................ 23 Sponsors that have won the most races .......................................... 23 Records vs. Statistics A record is an achievement that is officially recognized. In almost all cases, the driver or owner will receive a trophy or certificate indicating that the race has been won or a record has been established. A statistic is an unofficial achievement. The statistical rankings included in this publication were developed through the analysis of heat results and other statistical data. What is a race? The information in this Record Book includes the results of all “official races” that took place since 1922, which is when the Gold Cup class was established. It also includes Gold Cup races and some Harmsworth races that were held previous to 1922. To be counted among the 710 official races listed here, an event must meet two conditions: 1) at least three starters of the Unlimited-class, Gold Cup–class, the 725-class in Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association events, or equivalent; and 2) at least two heats of racing. The results of free-for-all events, for example, which were just one heat and were common during the years before World War II, are not counted in these records. Many exhibition races included several limited-class boats but only one or two Gold Cup–class boats and also wouldn’t be counted in these records. Who’s the driver? In the case where more than one person handled the steering wheel during an event that ended up being a victory for that boat, the person who drove the boat in the event’s last heat is given credit for the win. Updated: April 2021 RECORD BOOK 2021 / UNLIMITED NEWSJOURNAL / 3 DRIVER RECORDS Dave Villwock Bill Muncey Chip Hanauer Dean Chenoweth Jim Kropfeld Bill Cantrell Jimmy Shane Steve David Billy Schumacher Danny Foster Ron Musson Tom D’Eath THE MOST RACE VICTORIES: 1. Dave Villwock .......................................67 28. Bill Brow .................................................6 Harold Wilson ........................................2 2. Bill Muncey ..........................................62 Bill Sterett ...............................................6 Harry Lynn ..............................................2 3. Chip Hanauer .......................................61 Don Wilson .............................................6 Jack Bartlow ...........................................2 4. Dean Chenoweth ..................................25 Jean Theoret ...........................................6 Jim McCormick ......................................2 5. Jim Kropfeld.........................................22 Lou Fageol ..............................................6 Mark Weber ............................................2 Bill Cantrell ...........................................22 Warner Gardner......................................6 Richard Hoyt ...........................................2 7. Jimmy Shane .......................................19 Marion Cooper .......................................6 Ron Snyder .............................................2 8. Steve David ..........................................18 35. Guy Lombardo ........................................5 Russ Schleeh ..........................................2 9. Billy Schumacher .................................17 Vic Kliesrath ............................................5 Tommy Fults ...........................................2 10. Danny Foster ........................................16 Nate Brown.............................................5 Tommy Sopwith......................................2 Ron Musson .........................................16 Stan Dollar ..............................................5 Walt Kade ...............................................2 Tom D’Eath ...........................................16 39. Fred Alter ................................................4 A.J. McGrete ...........................................2 13. Chuck Thompson ..................................15 J.W. Whitlock ..........................................4 Mel Crook ...............................................2 14. George Henley .....................................12 Mike Hanson ..........................................4 Fred Blossom ..........................................2 Mark Tate ..............................................12 Mitch Evans ............................................4 Bartley Pearce .........................................2 Gar Wood .............................................12 43. Bob Hayward ..........................................3 17. J. Michael Kelly ....................................11