Ed MacKenzie

By David Greene

Ed MacKenzie

Ed MacKenzie was introduced to Gold Cup racing in the 1930's by Horace Dodge. Along with his brothers Al, Jack and Burt he formed a team that performed specialty work for a number of Detroit boats in the late forties and early fifties. One of their most impressive accomplishments was building a special gear box for the twin-engined Miss Pepsi in 1950.

MacKenzie became Bill Cantrell's crew chief an the My Sweetie in 1946 and followed the latter's career for the next three years winning two National High Point Championships and seven races in the process, including the 1949 Gold Cup. MacKenzie left racing after the 1951 season and was described by his driver Bill Cantrell as a near genius on the Allison engine.

(Reprinted from the Unlimited NewsJournal, March 1985)