1958 Presidents Cup
Miss U.S. 1 Takes Presidents Cup Despite a Last-Place Finish in Final Heat
Wilson Captures Speed-Boat Prize
Washington, September 22 [1958] (AP) -- Miss U.S. 1, a Detroit hydroplane, today won the Presidents Cup Regatta by turning on the brakes instead of the gas. Loafing safely to last place in the final heat, she collected enough points to take home the trophy. Don Wilson, 26, who usually drives at breakneck speed, reversed his tactics for the windup of this annual Potomac River classic and it paid off. Wilson had gunned George Simon's hydroplane to consecutive triumphs in the first two heats of the three-stage race Saturday. All he needed in the finale was to be checked across at the end. So in a sport always characterized by roaring speed, Miss U.S. 1 slow-poked to victory. Miss Bardahl of Seattle, driven by a refugee Czech pilot, Mira Slovak, won the final thirty-mile test. Breathless II, with young Jay Murphy of Piedmont, CA at the wheel, was second and lumbering Such Crust III, nursed along by Detroit's Bud Saile, came in third ahead of Miss U.S. 1.
Two Boats Withdrawn
None of the leaders had accomplished more than the two third-place finishes of Breathless in the previous heats for which points also were awarded. Thus, the final standing placed Breathless, Miss Bardahl, Miss Detroit, Such Crust and Wildroot Charlie in order behind Miss U.S. 1. Neither Miss Detroit, owned and operated by Chuck Thompson, nor Wildroot Charlie, the property of a Buffalo syndicate, competed in the wind-up. Thompson had to get back to Detroit and Wildroot Charlie was laid up by an ailing oil pump. Miss Detroit, runner-up in each of last Saturday's heats, had posed the only real threat to Miss U. S. 1. When she withdrew, Wilson was able to take in the capital scenery on his leisurely voyage over the gently rippling Potomac. About 7,000 spectators watched from the Potomac seawall as Wilson, a Dearborn, MI, auto dealer who has been driving boats for eight years, won his first outing of the season.
| Final Cup Heat -- 30 Miles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat | Owner | Driver | Average Time | |
| 1. | Miss Bardahl | Ole Bardahl (Seattle) | Mira Slovak | 96.843 |
| 2. | Breathless II | J. Philip Murphy (Piedmont CA) | Jay Murphy | 96.704 |
| 3. | Such Crust III | Jack Schafer (Detroit MI) | Bud Saile | 92.974 |
| 4. | Miss U.S. 1 | George Simon (Detroit MI) | Don Wilson | 88.713 |
| Final Point Standings | ||||
| 1. | Miss U.S. 1 | 969 | — | — |
| 2. | Breathless II | 750 | — | — |
| 3. | Miss Bardahl | 654 | — | — |
| 4. | Miss Detroit | 600 Chuck Thompson | Chuck Thompson | — |
| 5. | Such Crust III | 489 | — | — |
| 6. | Wildroot Charlie | 169 Buffalo Syndicate | Bob Schroeder | — |
| Miss Detroit and Wildroot Charlie did not race in final heat | ||||
(Associated Press, September 22, 1958)