HARMSWORTH TROPHY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 16, 10 September 1931, Page 3

HARMSWORTH TROPHY

Press Association-

'Post" Special Service.

wood permittfcd to finish race KAYE DON'S BOAT DAMAGED Rec. Sept. 9, 7.50 p.m.

— Copyright.

By Telephone — '

DETROIT, Tuesday. The Harmsworth Trophy committee agreed to let George Wood run the third heat of the race alone today so that his name might be placed upon the trophy. After covering half of the course at an average speed of a little more than 50 miles an hour, they waved him in as it was unnecessary that one boat should complete the course. Kaye Don's Miss England II has been raised from the bed of the river, where she sank after striking the wash of another boat after Monday's race. The hull was badly damaged and the motors had suffered from the sudden immersion in cold water while turning over at high speed. Gar Wood on Tuesday admitted that he deliberately tricked Kaye Don into a premature start in the second heat of the Harmsworth Trophy race. Prior to the race Wood had requested a 45-minute postponement to repair a newly-discovered gasoline tank leak. Don refused, explaining that it would necessitate taking his boat back to the boat-well to empty its oil tanks, and' reheating the lubricant. He said that if Wood had but one boat he would glady have agreed, but with two boats against him he felt the race should start on time. "When they told me I couldn't have the postponement," Wood said, "I "made up my mind I would show Don a trick or two. I planned the start. I said I would be over the line first if I were a minute ahead of the gun, and if Don wanted to follow me that was his business. Everything went off just as I planned." Don did not discuss the start. His American manager, William Sturm, however, commented that Gar Wood evidently knows lots of tricks in racing. " Kaye Don received a telegram on Tuesday from Lord Wakefield, who financed Miss England II., expressing satisfaction that no one was hurt, and adding: "Nothing else matters."