© Copyright 2011 Julianne Dodds
Speedboat and hydroplane Championships
1921 - 1925
Victory for Century Tire
Rose Bowl inscribed:
Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
Special Trophy
Griffith Cup Australasian Motor Boat Championship
Century Tire
Owner J McG Williams
Feb 23rd 1924
From members to Mrs. J. McG. Williams
Members of the Royal Yacht Squadron entertained the crews of the competing boats at dinner at the
Largs Pier Hotel on Saturday evening, and a social and musical evening was held at the clubrooms
on the Semaphore Esplanade. Mac was given a rousing welcome when he arrived and the guests
all joined in to sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow”. When Mac was asked to make a speech he said he
felt more at home at the wheel of a hydroplane than on his feet making a speech. When asked if his
engine had given any trouble he replied, “No; she never lost a beat. After the first round I was not
frightened of losing. The only boat I feared was the Tortoise II. Had her engines been going properly
I think it would have been either Tortoise II first and Century Tire second, or vice versa. Asked whether
he would build a new boat for next year, Mac said:- “ I recognize that we must improve every year; but
I cannot say yet what I will do. I feel sure the Rymill brothers will come over with something good.”
When asked if his boat could have gone another heat with the large rent in her side, Mr. Williams
said he could have done four heats if necessary.
Welcome home
Mac arrived back in Brisbane by mail train the following week. As he stepped on to the Central Station
platform, he was met by friends and boating enthusiasts to congratulate him. He had succeeded in
raising the prestige of Queensland sport.
Two weeks later, a dinner was held to honour Mac, and he announced that he had decided to
accept a challenge in August that year from the owners of Tortoise II.
Arrangements were under way to alter the deed of gift in connection with the cup, to enable the
race to be held twice a year, instead of annually. Although the existing conditions entitled Mac to retain
the cup for one year, he felt it would create greater enthusiasm by competing for it every six months.
However, in future years, this was not to be the case.
For the next few months Mac kept a low profile on the racing scene and concentrated his energies on
his plywood manufacturing business.
An aquatic carnival was planned for the Brisbane Centenary celebrations on the 9th August 1924.
George Whatmore prepared by having Reg Holmes in Sydney build a new hydroplane
equipped with a 240 h.p. 8 cylinder Hispano Suiza engine. Whatmore’s new boat was named
J. McG. W. as a tribute to Mac.
The aquatic program began at 2 pm. The amateur rowing races were controlled by the Queensland
Rowing Association, and the speed boat events by the Queensland Motor Yacht Club. Many of the
spectators watched the competitors from the decks of a navy destroyer opposite the Domain.
Mac won the speed motor handicap with Miss Coorparoo. He then raced again to win the half-mile
Australian Centenary record with Century Tire. Meteor came second. Century Tire had also established
a record for the Southern Hemisphere in doing a half mile in 22 sec., the equivalent of over 81 miles
per hour.
Speedboat and hydroplane Championships
1921 - 1925
Victory for Century Tire
Rose Bowl inscribed:
Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
Special Trophy
Griffith Cup Australasian Motor Boat Championship
Century Tire
Owner J McG Williams
Feb 23rd 1924
From members to Mrs. J. McG. Williams
Members of the Royal Yacht Squadron entertained the crews of the competing boats at dinner at the
Largs Pier Hotel on Saturday evening, and a social and musical evening was held at the clubrooms
on the Semaphore Esplanade. Mac was given a rousing welcome when he arrived and the guests
all joined in to sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow”. When Mac was asked to make a speech he said he
felt more at home at the wheel of a hydroplane than on his feet making a speech. When asked if his
engine had given any trouble he replied, “No; she never lost a beat. After the first round I was not
frightened of losing. The only boat I feared was the Tortoise II. Had her engines been going properly
I think it would have been either Tortoise II first and Century Tire second, or vice versa. Asked whether
he would build a new boat for next year, Mac said:- “ I recognize that we must improve every year; but
I cannot say yet what I will do. I feel sure the Rymill brothers will come over with something good.”
When asked if his boat could have gone another heat with the large rent in her side, Mr. Williams
said he could have done four heats if necessary.
Welcome home
Mac arrived back in Brisbane by mail train the following week. As he stepped on to the Central Station
platform, he was met by friends and boating enthusiasts to congratulate him. He had succeeded in
raising the prestige of Queensland sport.
Two weeks later, a dinner was held to honour Mac, and he announced that he had decided to
accept a challenge in August that year from the owners of Tortoise II.
Arrangements were under way to alter the deed of gift in connection with the cup, to enable the
race to be held twice a year, instead of annually. Although the existing conditions entitled Mac to retain
the cup for one year, he felt it would create greater enthusiasm by competing for it every six months.
However, in future years, this was not to be the case.
For the next few months Mac kept a low profile on the racing scene and concentrated his energies on
his plywood manufacturing business.
An aquatic carnival was planned for the Brisbane Centenary celebrations on the 9th August 1924.
George Whatmore prepared by having Reg Holmes in Sydney build a new hydroplane
equipped with a 240 h.p. 8 cylinder Hispano Suiza engine. Whatmore’s new boat was named
J. McG. W. as a tribute to Mac.
The aquatic program began at 2 pm. The amateur rowing races were controlled by the Queensland
Rowing Association, and the speed boat events by the Queensland Motor Yacht Club. Many of the
spectators watched the competitors from the decks of a navy destroyer opposite the Domain.
Mac won the speed motor handicap with Miss Coorparoo. He then raced again to win the half-mile
Australian Centenary record with Century Tire. Meteor came second. Century Tire had also established
a record for the Southern Hemisphere in doing a half mile in 22 sec., the equivalent of over 81 miles
per hour.