TBT – For my final throw back post of 2014, I want to focus on a hull that went about gaining her fame a little bit differently than most. The year was 1949, a time when the future of boat racing was about to take shape. Some were convinced that the future of boat racing was the lighter 3-point design but some still thought that a stable step hull with more horsepower was the answer. Such was the case with two Canadians with other ideas. Ernest and Harold Wilson had their hull built around the power plant. This Douglas Van Patten designed hull was built to replace the smaller Miss Canada III. The new 1949 CA-9 Miss Canada IV was a keel knuckle step hull and was designed with the powerful Rolls Royce Griffon power plant in mind. The engine used was a V-12 two stage, two speed 2239 cubic inch supercharged engine that weighed over 2,300 lbs. The IV had exceptional speed….when she was running. Supercharger issues kept this hull from entering the 1949 Gold Cup but when she was on, she was on! An impressive 3rd place finish at the Harmsworth Trophy in Detroit labeled her as a real contender, but then it was followed by a DHF at the Silver Cup, also in Detroit. Due to all of her engine issues, she may have tested more times than actually raced. Ernest and Harold knew the boat had potential when she was running right so the Father-Son duo embarked upon a new goal… a straightaway speed record. On October 2nd, 1949 on the Bay of Quinte in Ontario, Canada the IV topped the speed of 126 mph set by the Such Crust 1, driven by Detroit’s own Jack Schafer just two months earlier. The Miss Canada IV with her massive Griffon went 138.865 mph setting a new North American straightaway speed record. An extension was granted the following day in order for the IV to make an attempt at the world straightaway speed record of 141mph held by the great Sir Malcolm Campbell in the Bluebird II at 141 plus mph but poor weather conditions kept the attempt from being official. It was said that on the first pass the IV had either tied or broken the record but the all-important second pass did not happen due to fuel problems and the record stayed in England with the Bluebird II. In 1950 the IV only ran once, again at the Harmsworth Trophy race in Detroit. With high hopes in mind the IV again had engine problems and limped home in last place, which was 4th because four other hulls were not able to qualify. However this was enough for the Wilson’s to throw in the proverbial hat and call it quits. The hull was purchased by J. Gordon Thompson and campaigned in 1951 as the CA-9 Miss Supertest I this time with a Merlin instead of the Griffon. Again the engine problems persisted and the hull was unable to qualify or finish a race for the next two seasons. Finally in 1953, the Miss Supertest I would finish a race, last place but a finish none the less. By then the faster 3 point hulls which included the Gale II, The Such Crust’s and the Slo-Mo’s were dominating the sport so Thompson decided to retire the hull for a faster, lighter hull and the one time record holding CA-9 Miss Canada IV/Supertest I went into long term storage. In the many years that followed, the hull would suffer damage in a fire and would also be restored back to running condition several times while also making numerous appearances at vintage regattas. In my opinion, truly one of the prettiest step hulls ever built. She now rests at the Ingersoll Cheese Factory Museum in Ontario, Canada for all hydro fans to see. A very happy New Years to all of the Vintage hydroplane lovers out there. May your 2015 be a happier, more productive new year.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 04:21:47 +0000
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