Racing has been a major part of human history for thousands of years, from the Olympic footraces and chariot races of ancient Greece to modern F1 races with supercharged cars capable of eclipsing 200 mph. Thus, it is no surprise that a handful of enterprising individuals would create the sport of powerboat racing not long after the first motorboat was invented in the late 19th century.
This thrilling motorsport dates back to the very beginning of the 20th century. Powerboat racing has been a spectacle since these early beginnings, drawing crowds of tens of thousands of spectators. However, the sport has naturally evolved over the past century. While the spirit may be the same, the power of these vessels has increased exponentially. Here is a closer look at the early history of powerboat racing.
The Harmsworth Cup – Powerboat Racing’s First International Competition
In 1903, British newspaper and publishing magnate Alfred Harmsworth organized the first international powerboat racing competition, called the Harmsworth Cup. This international competition was held between various countries, rather than the individuals and racing teams that compete in contemporary powerboat races.
In the first few decades of the Harmsworth Cup’s existence, the boats were designed and built entirely by the residents of each participating country. The original rules specified that boats could only be constructed with materials and units from the participating country and that the boat must be built entirely within that country. However, these rules were changed in 1949.
The first Harmsworth Cup race ran on a course from Cobh, Ireland, to a marina in Cork. This initial race did not exactly go smoothly, as many boats struggled to even get started. The British organizers of the event also claimed that the French boats were not built in France, and the French team was disqualified from the race. There ended up being only three entries in the race. British racer and journalist Dorothy Levitt took home the inaugural 1903 Harmsworth Cup for the Brits.
The French would exact vengeance the following year by taking home the 1904 title, but the Harmsworth Cup would soon be dominated by both British and American teams.
Powerboat Racing Rivalry Between the UK and USA
The American team won the Harmsworth Cup for the first time in 1907, which would kick off an era of American and British dominance. The two nations would go on to trade victories until the year 1920, and no other nation won the cup until Canada in 1959.
The roaring ‘20s and the Great Depression era were completely dominated by the Americans, as they won every single race between 1920 to 1933. This dominance can be attributed to legendary racer Gar Wood, who won the race eight times as a driver and nine times as an owner during these 13 years.
The popularity of the sport also exploded during this era. According to Time Magazine, the 1920 Cup drew over 400,000 spectators who sat along the edge of the river to watch the races. However, the Harmsworth Cup went on a hiatus between 1933 and 1949 and has been held irregularly since then.
Gar Wood: Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Powerboat Racing Legend
Gar Wood’s legendary racing story began in 1916, when he purchased his first motorboat, a vessel designed for racing and named Miss Detroit. Wood also purchased the company that manufactured the boat, which would eventually lead to Wood producing his own boats under the brand name Garwood Industries.
During these early years, Wood’s entire focus was on racing, rather than business. He set a new water speed record in 1920 after reaching over 74 mph while cruising on the Detroit River in a twin Liberty V-12 boat he dubbed Miss America. Over the next 12 years, Wood built nine more versions of Miss America and broke the record five more times, topping out at an unprecedented 124.8 mph in 1932 on the St. Clair River.
Wood completed an epic challenge in 1921, when he raced one of his boats against the Havana Special train along a 1,250-mile route along the Atlantic Coast, from Miami to New York City. He completed the trip in 47 hours and 23 minutes, managing to beat the train out by 12 minutes. He also raced the 20th Century Limited Train along the Hudson River between Albany and New York City in 1921, beating it by 22 minutes.
Wood’s dominance extended beyond the Harmsworth Cup. Along with his eight victories in this prestigious race, he also won an impressive five consecutive powerboat Gold Cup races between 1917 and 1921.
In 1931, he lost the Harmsworth Cup in one of the most exciting editions of the race. Gar Wood’s brother, George Wood, competed in the race and won the title. The race was heavily promoted and the brotherly rivalry drove the promotion. Over 1 million spectators showed up to watch the brothers compete in the 1931 Harmsworth Cup, making it one of the largest audiences for any sporting event in history.
Gar would retire from racing two years later to focus on his business, but his impact has persevered into the modern era.