June 29, 1974, DETROIT (AP) — George Henley's Pride of Pay 'n Pak and Bill Muncey's Atlas Van Lines U-71 head Sunday's field in the Spirit of Detroit unlimited hydroplane race for the Gar Wood trophy.
Muncey's U-71 ended up on the bottom of the Detroit River when he was here in May, but six weeks of rebuilding helped him turn in the second-best qualifying time over a shortened course.
Muncey pushed the U-71 to an "official" speed of 132.352 m.p.h. over the 2½-mile course Friday. However, officials are computing speeds based on the normal three-mile run for unlimited hydroplane races.
The course over the often treacherous river was shortened Thursday in the interest of safety. The major changes was the removal of the sharp "roostertail" turn.
Henley piloted the Pay 'n Pak to a 133.044 m.ph. qualifying run Thursday to notch the fastest qualifying speed.
Others making the cut in the final qualifying heats Friday were Milner Irvin in Miss Madison, Fred Alter in Atlas U-44, Roger D'Eath in Miss Cott Beverage, Tom Martin in Sunny Jim and Tom Kaufman in Mr. Fabricator.
Although the speeds turned in during qualifying and the race will not have any historic basis because of the shortened course, Muncey was all smiles.
"It was the first time we had it in the water since I crashed it and it was just beautiful. And we had plenty left," he said.
The Atlas U-71 and Pay 'n Pak will be joined in the "fast" heat of Sunday's race by Miss U.S., Miss Budweiser and Miss Madison.
The first heat will feature Savair's Probe, Atlas U-44, Sunny Jim, Miss Cott Beverage and Mr. Fabricator.
CU-22, piloted by Bob Schroeder, is an alternate in case one of the top 10 qualifiers is unable to run.
