Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-18
Gar Woods Tactics We're
Not UnspOrtsmanlike
To the Editor Of The star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
am sorry it is necessary for me to
take issue W. your editorial of Sep
TENDER 10, in hich you condemn Gar
Wood for wha on state are unsporfs-
manlike tactics in the Harmsworth
do not feel that it is quite fair to
convict q man whose reputation for
good workmanship has stood the acid
test over long period of years. Gar
Wood, without question, has done more
to promote speedboat racing than any
other man in this country and has
spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
to defend the Harmsworth Trophy
against all foreign invaders. He has
really desired for several years TO with
draw from competition, but he has been
urged to continue because there is no
one else who would spend the time and
money to defend the trophy.
Gar Is so years old, q man OF very
great wealth and has everything to live
for, and he realizes, since his mechanic,
Orlin johnson, has nearly been killed
twice and after Maj. Segrave's death,
that he Is taking his life in his hands
every time ne enters 2 race.
heat how dificult it was to follow in
the wake of Miss England II and gave
instructions to Orlin johnson to get
the jump on the British boat at the
beginning Of the second heat, and his
judgment was correct, as was proved by
the English boat turning over when it
got in his wash. / feel it was remark
able driving on Woods part on Sep
TENDER 6, with a boat 10 feet shorter,
to follow Miss England II without turn
ing over
Gar has nothing to do with the con-
trols. His job is to handle the wheel.
and, on account of the noise from the
exhausts, II is necessary to use signals
with johnson, who regulates the speed
Johnson shot the boat over the line
ahead OF Miss England II, hoping to
come within the five seconds allowance,
and did not know he missed until the
of1cialS waived his boat OF the course
with red flag.
1t very often happens that the driver
gets overanxions and goes over the line
ahead OF the gun. I had charge of 8
regatta about a month ago, where six
out OF nine boats In one race went over
the line ahead of the gun and were
disqualified. This is frequent occur
renee in the major regattas.
Kaye Don has had great experience in
different kinds OF racing and it was his
duty to- look out for himself. There
were five balls on the Official dock
indicating the five minutes before the
race, and as each dropped it indicated
a minute less, and the dropping of the
last ball indicated the start. Kaye Dan
received the time from the oficial
chronometer and had it indicated before
him on q stop watch, so there was no
reason for him to depend on Gar
Wood In starting, and II he had used
proper Judgment he would have been
In very nice position with only Miss
America VIII to race against.
Wood developed very much faster
boat for this race by placing SUPER
chargers on his engines and he had
every reason to believe he could win
the race even though he did not develop
his maximum revolutions in the first
heat.
I note that Miss Carstairs, the Eng
lish girl, who witnessed this race and
who has raced against Gar Wood twice
states that he cannot be blamed for
disqualification of Miss England III.
/ think, in justice to .Mr Wood who
feels this criticism very keenly, that
he should be encouraged, rather than
criticized, for the tremendous good he
has done the sport of motorboat racing
until such time as there is actual proof
that he is not good sportsman.
w. A. ROGERS.