Imperial Valley press., 1932-09-03
WOOD DEFEATS
KAYE DON FOR
OPENING EVENT
By JOSEPH F. HEARST
United Press Staff Correspondent


HARMSwORTH COURSE, LAKE
ST. CLAIR, Mich, Sept. 3.-Gar
Wood, American defender of the
Harmsworth trophy, flashed to vic
tory today in the first 35 mile heat
of the famous race after trailing
Kaye Don, the English challenger,
four of the five laps.
Woods Miss America x, its 48
cylinders beating out a steady tattoo
of staccato notes, crossed the line
a full two miles ahead of Don's
white hulled Miss England III,
Choppy water and rain which
turned from a drizzle to steady
downpour midway in the fourth
lap, slowed the speed of both boats.
Until midway in the fourth lap
the Miss America looked like beat
en- boat. Don had brought Miss
England over the starting line we'll
. in advance of Wood, and opened
up lead of more than q mile on
the first lap.
Woods average for the 35 miles
was 78.485 miles an hour, far be-
low the record set last year by Don
in Miss England II, when he raced
the distance at an average of SO
miles an hour. His time for the
entire distance was 80 minutes 48. 70
seconds. .tt -
Wood took Miss America back to
his Grayhaven home Immediately
after the race, and Don headed
o1a In T
boat house.
Il ran the race just as I plan
ned it," Wood said. 1.-The boat
worked perfectly in every respect, 1
am delighted to have won today,
and I believe we will repeat the
victory Monday and retain the tro-
ply" .r.t
The Miss America seemed out
classed at first and her nose rode
high in the tossing water at times.
Thousands were expecting an Eng
lish victory when in the fourth lap
Wood was seen to gain appreciably
on the back three emile straight
away. AS he rounded the upper
turn, he was scant 300 yards be-
hind the English boat. AS Wood
came into the straightaway he
swung wide and rapidly over
hauled Don. He passed him just as
the boats flashed past the timers
barge and headed for the upper
turn, two miles away.
Wood continued to press his ad-
vantage, crossing the finish line
far in the lead, while the river
craft sounded their horns in salute.
Don, apparently realizing the race
was lost, made no effort for speed
after the fifth lap was half run.
Both Wood and Don took no
chances of recurrence of last
years disqualification, when both
lost out for beating the gun. Don
crossed the line first, 1859 seconds
after the gun sounded. Wood was
five seconds behind him.
Dons time for the final lap was
but 1861 miles an hour. The Sec
ond heat will be held Monday
morning. If Don wins, the third
and deciding heat will be held at
the same time Wednesday.
Don blamed mechanical trouble,
which developed in one of his twin
motors on the fourth lap.
The British pilot said he didn't
know whether the Miss England
will be ready for the second heat.
Woods time for the 35 miles was
80 minutes, 48.72 seconds. Don
finished 33 minutes, 5592 seconds
after the starting pIIn
LONDON, Sept. 3. U.H Kaye
Don today telephoned the London
Star the news of his defeat in De-
troit.
1T was sheer bad luck" he said,
talking from Detroit over the
transatlantic telephone system.
The boat was half full of water.
Gar Wood is one up, but there
are two to play and I can win the
next two"