British Prospects for 1908

Outlook for British Racing Season

A recent issue of The Motor Boat published in London states that it is still early to prophesy, because some racing boats have in the past exhibited a disinclination to materialize, but without being unduly optimistic, it seems permissible to say that full-powered racing, like other branches of marine motoring, is entering on a period of prosperity in England. "perhaps our defeat by Dixie last year was a blessing in disguise. But for it we doubt if our flotilla of unrestricted racers would have developed as it has done."

In the same issue there was printed an article which in effect is a resume of the plans which have been made by our British cousins for the 1908 racing season. Herein there is mentioned the Wolseley-Siddeley, a new boat which has been previously described in these pages, and it is further stated that the two Daimlers will be equipped with new motors for the coming season. Another boat of which great things is expected is a 25-foot Brooke product and a new Daimler boat which is to be built at once. Finally there is the Scarlet Runner, which, while not quite so fast as the others, has been built for the Monaco small racer class. "Thus," continues the article, "there are six boats and four well-known makes of engine represented, so that the sport should be of the best. A good deal of uncertainty seems to exist regarding the immediate future of these craft, so it may help to clear up the ideas of those who follow this, the highest, branch of motorboat racing if we give, so far as we know them, the intentions of the various owners. Wolseley-Siddeley has been built specially as a challenger for the B. I. Trophy, though previously to visiting America she is going to Monaco, on both of which expectations all Englishmen will wish her every success. The Brooke boat will go to Monaco, if she can be got into first-class racing trim in time; if not, she will race in all home events, and will probably be a starter in the B. I. Trophy eliminating race. it is quite certain that neither Daimler II, Daimler III, nor the new boat will go to Monaco; the last two named will first be fitted with the new pattern eight cylinder motor, and if, as we fully anticipate, all goes well, Daimler I will be fitted with similar motors, in which case three Daimlers will participate in the B. I. eliminating race. Finally, Scarlet Runner will be sent to Monaco, and will subsequently race in home waters, though, being built to the "155mm" class, she will stand no chance in an absolutely open event like the B. I. Trophy. There are two other boats that we know of that may be added to the list, though we do not expect to see them until 1909, so they may be left out.

"Special interest will attach to the relative performances of the new Daimler and Daimler III, as both will have exactly similar motors, and they should be very nearly equal in weight. it will, therefore, be a test of hull design, and we are curious to see how a normal and (for a racer) wholesome type of boat compares with the extreme double-wedge form of Daimler III."

(Transcribed from MotorBoat, Mar. 10, 1908, p. 14.)

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. — LF]