Pay 'n Pak Win Third Straight Governor's Cup Before Record 90,000
By J.D. Lewis, Staff Writer
Reprinted from The Republic, Columbus, Ind., July 7, 1975
Pay ‘n Pak out-dueled Weisfield's in one of the closest heat races in unlimited hydroplane history and went on to capture its third straight Indiana Governor's Cup Sunday during the 26th running of the Madison Regatta on the Ohio River.
A record crowd of 90,000 fans watched driver George Henley score about a 10-foot win over Bill Schumacher and Weisfield's in the fourth and next to last heat race. The victory worth 400 points meant Henley needed only a second place finish in the final heat to clinch the Governor's Cup. He did just that, playing it safe and settling for second behind Schumacher, whose finish maintained Weisfield's lead in the national point standings.
"The name of the game is winning the Cup,” said a smiling Henley later. "We could have gone all out at the end, but we could've broken something and not finished. You go on strategy, not pride."
The victory, Pay 'n Pak's first in five unlimited races this year, was worth $6,336 out of a total purse of $30,000 for Henley and owner Dave Heerensperger of Seattle, Wash. The winning combination scored a first and two seconds in three heat races for 1,000 points.
Weisfield’s had a first, second and third for 925. Lincoln Thrift driven by Milner Irvin placed third with 794, Miss U.S. driven by Tom D'Eath was fourth with 750 and Miss Vernor's driven by Fred Alter was fifth with 625.
The local favorite, Miss Madison, piloted by Jerry Bangs, was black flagged for failing to shut off its engine after conking out in turn two in the first heat and scored no points. However, it finished second in the third heat and wound up eighth overall with 300 points.
A total of 11 boats were entered, but only nine reached minimum qualifying speeds of 100 miles an hour on Friday and Saturday. Pay 'n Pak averaged 103.010 for the three heats. But it set new Madison records in the thrilling duel with, Weisfield's in heat 2B.
The Pak covered the fifth and final lap over the 2½-mile course at 116.883 miles an hour, the fastest speed ever at Madison. The previous lap records of 116.580 for qualifying and 114.796 during a race were set by the Pak last year. And the Pak's average for the heat was 115.148, which shattered the record of 110.892, also set by the same boat last year.
Told later what his heat average was, the 39-year-old Henley, an Eatonville, Wash., native, exclaimed, "Holy mackerel!"
"I didn't think I had it won until I looked over my shoulder and saw (Schumacher) wasn't there," he said. "I could hear him all the time."
"There was nothing left in my engine," said Schumacher. “I pushed it as hard as it would go. That's one of the best races I've ever been in. "
"Me, too," said Henley. "I don't think I've ever been in as close a race even when I was racing limiteds. It was a good, clean, fun race."
In the final heat, Schumacher took Weisfield's into a comfortable lead on the first lap and led all the way. Weisfield's only hope for a Cup championship was that Miss U.S. would beat the Pak for second, but Henley held on and finished ahead of D'Eath by a safe margin.
Prior to the Regatta, Pay 'n Pak had won only one out of 10 heat races, but Henley said he felt confident of his chances after taking the boat out for a test run on Friday. "It finally began to handle like it did last year," he said. "Now I think she's back where she was."
There was only one minor mishap during the 4-hour program. In the second heat race, Miss Budweiser sustained considerable sponson damage on the right side when she hit a "low" spot entering the second turn. Driven by Mickey Remund, she went on to win the heat, but was forced to withdraw from the competition. "The crew will have to work night and day for a week just to get her ready for the next race (the Dayton Hydroglobe on July 13)," said Remund.
Final Points Standing: 1.) Pay 'n Pak, George Henley, 1,000; 2.) Weisfield's, Bill Schumacher, 925; 3.) Lincoln Thrift, Milner Irvin, 794; 4.) Miss U.S., Tom D'Eath, 750; 5.) Miss Vernor's, Fred Alter, 625; 6.) Miss Budweiser, Mickey Remund, 400; 7.) Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey, 338; 8.) Miss Madison, Jerry Bangs, 300.
