The sport of boat racing entered into the advanced stages when Billy Schumacher of Seattle, Washington drove a perfect one heat – ten lap race at Miami Marine Stadium to win the Bill Muncey Wide World Marine Invitational, earn the World Champion crown and take home the first place purse of $10,000.00. A first for the United States, the match race could very well have set a brand new pattern for closed course racing.
Second place was captured by Geoff Briggs of New York, who finished seconds behind the winner and pocketed $3,000.00 for his troubles.Geoff was running neck-to-neck with Barry Woods of Vancouver,Washington when, on the ninth lap (of the 10 lap Final) Barry snagged a buoy with his right sponson.Barry finished the race wearing the buoy as a Crown of Defeat, and defeat it was as officials penalised Barry one lap causing him to finish dead last in the race.
The first foreign driver to enter the winner’s circle was Roger Jenkins of Wales, United Kingdom who took third place and a cheque for $2,500.00
Hydro Driver Fined For Remarks: Schumacher Out $500
Columbia River, Tri-Cities WA, July 27, 1975
By Chuck Ashmun, Times Staff Reporter
TRI-CITIES — Billy Schumacher today was fined $500 by the unlimited racing commissioner, George (Buddy) Byers, Jr., for remarks the Seattle driver made following yesterday’s Gold Cup race.
A threat of suspension, tossed out by the race referee, Bill Newton, was not carried out.
“I’m not going to let him off all that easy,” Newton said after Byers decision was announced.
But it appears that the fine will stand by itself. Continue Reading…
