EASY VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 291, 4 September 1933, Page 9

EASY VICTORY

Win for Miss America SPEEDBOAT CONTEST Three-mile Margin at Finish MISS BRITAIN’S BURST By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received September 3, 6.45 p.m.) Marine City (Michigan), Sept. 2. Gar Wood in Miss America X won an easy victory over Mr. Scott Paine in Miss Britain in the first of the Harmsworth Trophy speed-boat race, leading by about three miles at the finish. The race, which was twice postponed because of the choppy course, finally started at six p.m. over smooth water. Miss Britain wak apparently unable to get up speed at the start, but Mr. Scott Paine ..-as getting her to capacity as the race progressed and he shot across the finishing line in a tremendous burst of speed, swinging sharply around after finishing to thrill the crowd by shooting down the middle of the course through a score or more small speedboats. Gar Wood’s average speed was 82.498 statute miles an hour. Miss Britain started at an average of 66.038 in the first lap, but averaged 78.429 by the end. Her fastest speed was 82.265 in the last time around. The course is seven nautical miles in the form of a semi-elipse, with a two and a half mile straightaway. The total distance of the course is thirtyfive miles. - The second race wiU be held on Monday, and the third, if necessary, on Tuesday. Fifteen minutes before the race was scheduled to start Mr. Horace E. Dodge’s Delphine V., which was entered at the last moment, caught fire and was destroyed about a mile below the lower turn of the course. Delphine V. was on her way to the starter's barge when the fire occurred. Mr. F. G. Eicson. who was driving, beached her and jumped out unhurt. The exact cause of the flrq. was not immediately determined. Gar Wood did Aiot take Mr. Scott Paine’s challenge lightly. “He may have something,” Wood said before the race. “You know Segrave’s boat was small and light, but it certainly gave a good account of itself.” Wood has practically rebuilt Miss America X, adding 100 horse-power to each of his four motors. He has greatly strengthened the sides, adding laminated wood. Mrs. Brenda Scott Paine said she would leave the race strictly to the meui'u'.k, notwithstanding the • two speedboat trophies she owns in her own right. “Of course,” she said, 'I m going to cheer for Fuzzy (Mr. Scott Paine), but I am not going to advise him or take the credit or discredit f<?r his winning or losing.”