The trophy was named after Sir Alfred Harmsworth, the owner of the London Daily Mail newspaper. He originated the series by challenging the French, apparently trying to encourage the development of what were then called "motor launches" and "stink pots." Later, he was given a lordship and became Lord Northcliffe.
Countries defended the Harmsworth only when challenged by another country. No APBA points were extended to the participants; only the silver cup trophy (including two motorboats rounding a bouy in rough conditions) and national pride were on the line. The trophy allegedly cost 10,000 pounds in British Sterling, paid for by Harmsworth.
The original rules called for boats no longer than 40 feet, with both hulls and engines manufactured in their respective country of origin. Only three boats from each country could compete. Trials could be held beforehand to determine which boats would defend or challenge, as in the America's Cup. At least two naturalized citizens of the country of origin had to make up the crew. The boats had to be powered by mechanical systems, but no further restrictions were placed on the design.
The race format called for a "best of three" heats, with each heat six laps around a five-mile course.
Parker Jones has kindly compiled a list of past Harmsworth Trophy winners; if anyone has any additional information it would be greatly appreciated. What in the world have the Canadians been doing with the trophy since 1961?
Sources for this compilation:
RACING UNLIMITED by Bob Burd, published by
Burd Publishing
22053 S.E. 269 Street
Maple Valley, WA 98038
SPEEDBOAT by D.W. Fostle, published jointly by
United States Historical Society and Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut 06355
Year Boat Owner Driver Speed
1903 Napier (GB) Selwyn F. Edge Campbell Muir 19.5 *
defeated France at Queenstown, Ireland (now Dun Leary)
1904 Trefle a Quatre-Feuilles Henri Brasier M. Thery 25.1
wins by protest; Challenger (US) owned by Smith & Mabley also challenged
1905 Napier II (UK) John S. Montagu NA 26.0
def Trefle-A-Quartre (F) Arachon, France
1906 Yarrow-Napier (GB) Lionel D. Rothschild NA 15.5
on the Solent in England
1907 Dixie I (US) E.J. Schroeder S.B. Pearce 31.8
def Daimler II (UK) at Southampton, England
1908 Dixie II (US) E.J. Schroeder S.B. Pearce 36.6
def Daimler II (UK) Howard DeWalden NA Huntington Bay, NY
1910 Dixie III (US) Fred K. Burnham F.K. Burnham 36
Huntington Bay, NY
1911 Dixie IV (US) Fred K. Burnham F.K. Burnham 40.2
1912 Maple Leaf IV (UK) Mike Edgar Tommy Sopwith 43.1
def Baby Reliance II (US) J. Blackton/B. Smith at Huntington Bay, NY
1913 Maple Leaf IV (UK) Mike Edgar Tommy Sopwith 56.4
def Ankle Deep (US) and Disturber(US) Osborne Bay, England
1920 Miss America I Gar Wood Gar Wood 61.4 **
def Maple Leaf VI (UK) Mike Edgar A.W. Tate NA
1921 Miss America II Gar Wood Gar Wood 59.7
def Maple Leaf VII (UK) Mike Edgar A.W. Tate NA
1926 Miss America V Gar Wood Gar Wood 61.0
def France no information available NA
1928 Miss America VII Gar Wood Gar Wood 59.3
def Estelle II (UK) Betty Carstairs Hawker/CarstairsNA
1929 Miss America VIII Gar Wood Gar Wood 75.3
def Estelle IV (UK) Betty Carstairs Hawker/CarstairsNA
1930 Miss America IX Gar Wood Gar Wood 77.1
def Estelle V (UK) Betty Carstairs Hawker/CarstairsNA
1931 Miss America VIII Gar Wood George Wood NA (*)
def Miss England III Lord Wakefield Kaye Don NA
1932 Miss America X Gar Wood Gar Wood 78.4
def Miss England III Lord Wakefield Kaye Don NA
1933 Miss America X Gar Wood Gar Wood 86.8
def Miss Britain III Hubert Scott-Paine Hubert Scott-Paine
[No racing due to the depression and World War II]
1949 U-25 Skip-A-Long Stanley Dollar, Jr. S. Dollar 94.1 #
def U-1 Such Crust Jack Schafer Lou Fageol NA
CA-9 Miss Canada IV Earnest Wilson H.Wilson NA
U-3 My Sweetie Horace E. Dodge,Jr. Bill Cantrell NA
1950 U-27 Slo-mo-shun IV Stan Sayres Lou Fageol 100.6 ##
def U-11 Such Crust II Jack Schafer Jack Schafer NA
U-3 My Sweetie Horace E. Dodge,Jr. Bill Cantrell NA
CA-9 Miss Canada IV Earnest Wilson Harold Wilson NA
1956 U-29 Shanty I W.T. Wagggoner Russ Schleeh 90.2 ###
def CA-1 Supertest II J. Gordon Thompson Bill Braden NA
1959 CA-3 Miss Supertest III J.G. Thompson Bob Hayward 100.4 +
def U-00 Maverick W.T. Waggoner Bill Stead NA
1960 CA-3 Miss Supertest III J.G. Thompson Bob Hayward 116.3 ++
def U-79 Nitrogen Sam F. DuPont Norm Evans NA
U-55 Gale V Jos. Schoenith Bill Cantrell NA
U-79-2 Nitrogen Too Sam F. DuPont Ron Musson NA
1961 CA-3 Miss Supertest III J. Gordon Thompson B. Hayward 100.2
def U-99 Miss Detroit Chuck Thompson C. Thompson NA
* - Dorothy Levitt co-drove, the first woman driver, perhaps in
powerboat history
** - The 1921-1932 races were held on the Detroit River.
The usual three-mile course was extended out past Belle Island
into Lake St. Clair for one mile to make a five-mile course.
The 1933 race was held on the St. Clair River at Algonac, MI.
# - Race held July 29th and 30th. On August 1, Dollar entered and drove
the U-25 in a 100 Mile Marathon and won. Pit stops were allowed.
U-1 Such Crust took second Two, other boats failed to finish.
The CA-9 used griffon power, which was not available again until
the early 1950s, when it was surplussed from the military.
## - Race held September 1st-2nd. The Slo-Mo was Allison-powered; the
Canada IV Griffon-powered. Ted Jones did not drive the Slo-Mo due
to an injury incurred arm-wrestling a crew member.
### - Race held August 25th, 27th & 28th. Other defenders in attendance
did not race, including the U-20 Miss U.S. II and U-14 My Sweetie, Dora.
+ - Race held August 25th, 26th & 27th.
++ - Race held August 19th & 20th at Picton, Ontario on Lake Ontario.
Hayward also set a competition lap record of 126.226 mph for a 5-mile
lap. Both Nitrogen boats were owned by Samuel F. DuPont and later
became U-6 Miss Madisons.
+++ - Race held August 5th & 7th at Picton, Ontario. The U-99 was the former
Short Circuit, nee G-13 Tempo VII. Thompson withdrew after the first
heat. Bob Hayward died Sept. 10, 1961, when Supertest II, CA-1 rolled
over during the Detroit Silver Cup.
Crew chief for this page: Lance Gleich - lance.gleich@leland.stanford.edu
Page contents (C) 1995 Lance C. Gleich unless otherwise noted