Reprinted from Detroit Free Press, June 30, 1974
Look out George Henley and Howie Benns. They're after you again. It will be Henley in Pride of Pay 'n Pak and Benns in Miss Budweiser against the world again Sunday in the Gar Wood Trophy Race on the Detroit River.
The rest of the 10-hydroplane field will be out to overtake the pace-setters when Detroit's only unlimited hydroplane race of the season gets under way at noon. The final heat is scheduled for approximately 3:40 p.m. The race will be broadcast by WBRB AM (1430) and FM (103). And if this race runs according to form for the first three races of the season, either Henley or Benns will be stepping up to collect the trophy by 4 o'clock.
Pay 'n Pak, with wins in the last two races, holds the point edge for the season with 2,925, just 256 better than Budweiser, which won the season's only other event.
Both boats were among the top speedsters during qualifying last week, but both will be up against factors they have not encountered earlier this season For one thing, the new Miss U.S. finally seems to be in racing form for driver Tom D'Eath, who would enjoy nothing more than winning in front of a hometown crowd on the Detroit River.
For another, veteran Bill Muncey, who is presently fourth in season points, will be back in the top Atlas Van Lines boat (U-71) which needed extensive rebuilding following a mishap earlier in the season.
Then there is the matter of handling the often-difficult Detroit River course and in this race, under the infrequently-used Fan Plan, there is no easy way to victory ... no backing into a title by accumulating points in preliminary heats against weak competition.
Under the Fan Plan, the five fastest qualifiers Pay 'n Pak, Miss U.S., Atlas U-71, Miss Budweiser and Miss Madison will battle it out in two preliminary heats. The top three will advance to the championship final. The five slowest qualifiers Savair's Probe, Atlas U-44, Sunny Jim, Miss Cott and Mr. Fabricator will compete in the other two preliminaries and send their top two into the final event.
The whole race then goes down to that championship heat, with the winner taking home the Gar Wood Trophy … regardless of point totals accumulated in previous heats.
"That's racing," said Henley. "It's good for the fans and it's good for racing. You have to win that last heat. It's not like the other races where you get enough points in the first two heats, then play it safe in the final and still win."
With speed going against speed all afternoon, and with the course shortened and redesigned to eliminate the sharp, Roostertail turn, the race could be a fast one.
Grandstand tickets are still available at the gates for $5. They will be sold at the foot of Parkview, Memorial Park and Waterworks Park, where bleachers have been.
Today on the River
11:30 a.m. Flag-raising ceremonies.
Noon. Flight 1A.
12:30 p.m. Flight IB.
1:00 p.m. Miss America IX vs. Miss Canada IV.
1:30 p.m. Flight 2A.
2:00 p.m. Flight 2B.
2:45 p.m. Schoenherr Memorial Consolation Race.
3:40 p.m. Gar Wood Trophy Race.
The Qualifiers
U-l Pay 'n Pak, George Henley, 133.044
U-2 Miss U.S., Tom D'Eath, 132.352
U-71 Atlas Van Lines, Bill Muncey, 132.352
U-l2 Miss Budweiser, Howie Benns, 129.963
U-8 Miss Madison, Milner Irvin, 118.811
U-50 Savair's Probe, Bob Miller, 116.883
U-44 Atlas Van Lines, Fred Alter, 111.111
U-22 Sunny Jim, Tom Martin, 109.311
U-76 Miss Cott, Roger D'Eath, 109.090
U-3 Mr. Fabricator, Tom Kaufman, 105.571
CU-22, Bob Schroeder, 102.661