Evening star., 1961-07-14
FORE AND AFT
Rocing Hydros to HumHere Over Week End
FORE AND AFT
BY CHARLES COVELL
star Outdoor Editor

ny OnAnLES COVELL
. star outdoor Editor
This is the midsummer week
end when little outboard and
lnboard hydroplanes roar UP
and down the Potomac between
14th Street and Memorial
Bridges in the Capital Power
Boat Associations annual
regatta.
Actually a prelude to the
Presidents Cup races Septem-
ber 16 and II off Hams Point
when the big unlimited hydros
join in WaShington's annual
powerboat extravaganza, the
races tomorrow and Sunday
will draw top drivers from all
over the East.
g: Cooperating in sponsoring
the program is the organiza-
ton known as the Propriding
Outboarders of the Potomac
and admission to parking areas
along the banks Of the river
will be free.
Racing Also at SOlOmOns
The Solomons Yacht Club
also is sponsoring q powerboat
regatta this week end on the
Patuxent off Solomons, so in
,boarders will race here tomor-
row while outboarders are rae
ing at Solomons. Tomorrow
night, the inboards will be
hustled onto trailers and towed j,
to Solomons to race there Sun
day while the outboarders are
racing here.
Racing on the Potomac will
start at noon both days. There
will be classes tomorrow for
the 48 cubic-inch craft which
zip along at 10 miles an hour
on up through the 1856, las,
266 and $50 cubic-inch hydros.
These can do well over 100
miles an hour.
Unlike an automobile race
track. where spectators are US
ually barred from the pits, they
are welcomed by boat drivers
who like to show off their
bright colored hllllS and CLEAN.
ing motors.
Regatta Every Week End
The Capital Powerboat AS
sociation belongs to Region 4
OF the American Power Boat
Association and starting May
80 there is a regatta every {
week end. This means travel {
to such places as Elizabeth ]
City, N. c., or New Martins
vile, w. Va, or possibly north
to Pleasantville, N. j., or Har- {
riSburg, Pa. {
In the Washington area are {
a number of champions and '
former champions as well as 9
members of powerboat racing's $
Hall Of Fame. With the season {
half over, Art McDougall is the
point leader among Washing
ton area drivers.
McDougall also has climbed t
to second place nationally be- q
hind Doc Moore of Miami in q
the 4S cubic-inch class. q
Whether the boat, Road Run u
nner Too, he bought from e
Moore after last season has t
anything to do with it or not, T
the fact is that last year the
best he could do was fourth. 2
Other well known inboard .
drivers in action will be Frank 3
Vernon, who drives a 1876 cubic +
inch hydro and has had a rash b
OF seconds and thirds this sea- Il
son, Paul Price and Don Dun
nington. Outbo:rders will in f
clude Dean Worcester, Dick .
Ayres. Earl Christy and Bob 3
Thornton. -... h =
Missing will be Merle Blair c
OF Springfield who was thrown il
out Of his 266 cubic-inch hy-
droplane May 80 during the h
first race of the season. o
Blair received nine broken b
ribs, collapsed lungs and q a
paralyzed left arm. He is home n
now after a two-month fight Fl
for life in hospital.
$50
Meanwhile, a western fleet
Of seven unlimited hydroplanes Il
are getting ready to make their o
1861 debut next Saturday in e
the Diamond Cup race on Lake u
Occur d'Alene in Idaho. e
The boats. several of which G
probably will appear in the Il
Presidents Cup regatta, are Z
Miss Spokane, Seattle II, Miss
Everett, Coral Reef, Tempest e
tformer Burien), Fascination n
(former Kol-roy) and Mic5 v
Thriftway-C Century 81. +
D =
The Selby Bay Yacht Club 3
has announced a new annual s
award. the Com m o d dore's 2
Plaque. to be awarded to the t,
winning boat Sunday in the
nnknaaanA ni..a.. nA..A.. II