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  John McGinnis Williams - speedboat champion
Brisbane Races

A Battle with Meteor

On 16th August 1924, Mac raced Century Tire, on the Brisbane River at Hamilton Reach.

‘Wayfarer’, a reporter at the time, detailed the events of the day in The Mid-Week Sports-referee’ on 21 August 1924.
“Speed held undisputed sway in the vicinity of the Hamilton Reach on Saturday afternoon. The occasion was the celebration of the Centenary of the discovery of the Brisbane River; a hundred years ago John Oxley toiled laboriously up the same Hamilton Reach which resounded with the roar and crackle of open exhausts on Saturday afternoon. If only the man who found Brisbane and placed it on the map could have visited the earth to see boats which would have looked like canoes even alongside his tiny vessel, racing like demons possessed, and lashing into foam and surging washes the placid waters which he first awoke from the sleep of centuries, what would have been his thoughts? Would he have thought the flying things the nonsense some cynical minds consider them, or would he rejoice to think that in the cause of sport Queenslanders had glorified his river and their river by making it the home of craft whose equals are only to be found in one other country in the whole wide world, and that the recognised home of speed, America?
The proven fastest boat in Australia, Century Tire, and Meteor, probably the second fastest, were the chief contenders in the big race of the day, and their speed thrilled one and all.  Century Tire justified the reputation that it brought with it from America by beating the sensational Meteor with a degree of comfort. The afternoon’s aquatic sport opened with a procession of motor yachts belonging to the fleet of the Motor Yacht Club of Queensland, and there was an imposing array of river craft in the turnout. As soon as the procession ended the boats were marshalled into line, making a background against which the racing craft stood out in bold relief as they dashed to and fro.  The first event on the programme was the championship of Australia for the “mosquito” boats with engine capacities limited to 320 cubic inches. Commodore G. W. Whatmore’s Queensland champion, Gee-Whiz, with Miss Ascot and Q.P. Too were the contestants, and they were sent away to a good start, the champion at once going into the lead.  At the end of the first lap it was seen that she had been able to shake off opposition, and was holding a comfortable lead from Miss Ascot and Q.P.Too. Later Q.P. Too broke down, leaving the other two to fight out an uneven battle, the Whatmore ship scoring an easy victory.

Photo: Major D’Arcy Donkin’s Meteor (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

Meteor made up on the turn, Century Tire swinging fairly wide. But by the time Major Donkin’s boat had rounded the Australian Champion was well down the reach, slipping along nicely, though not at anything like full pace. 

Photos above and below: Meteor (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

Mac’s son, Harry Williams, was also successful in the sport of speed-boat racing. [1]

The same reporter continues –

“In the championship of Australia for boats under 610 cubic inches capacity, there were two starters, J. McG .W. and Miss Coorparoo. The former, which is owned by Mr George Whatmore, commodore of the Motor Yacht Club of Queensland, is named after Mr J. McG. Williams, owner of Century Tire while the latter is owned by the last-mentioned gentleman.  On Saturday, George Whatmore’s son, Ted, drove J.McG.W., while Harry, the son of his rival, J. McG. Williams, drove Miss Coorparoo. 

Photo: Harry Williams in Miss Coorparoo (Courtesy Mrs Williams)

Two “chips off the old blocks” made a great race of it until J. McG. W. was put out of the race by engine trouble.  They raced the first lap neck and neck the whole way, Miss Coorparoo being slightly in the lead.  Then there was an exciting piece of work.  Miss Coorparoo took the turn with caution, swinging gently.  Then along came J. McG. W., which skidded around in masterful fashion.  The skilful manoeuvres on the part of her youthful skipper giving her a handsome lead.  Off went Miss Coorparoo in pursuit, and the pair was almost on terms when they were lost to sight again.  Miss Coorparoo was first to reappear, J. McG. W. following after an interval, the intermittent crackle of her exhaust telling of missing cylinders.  However, she stuck to her guns and finished the course.

Photo: Mac in Miss Coorparoo beside his launch Malaita in the Brisbane River.
Miss Coorparoo, driven by Mac, had won the C. R. C.  on 7^th  August 1923 (Courtesy Mrs Williams)

The race was as sensational as extravagant advertisements promised.  The plane and the two boats started on almost even terms, the airman making things more exciting by flying at a very low altitude.  Bow to bow the two hydroplanes flew down Hamilton Reach, while the ‘plane seemed incapable of catching them.  Turning around the end of the Hamilton wall, the three seemed to be on even terms but the ‘plane must have gained soon afterwards, because it was well ahead when nearing the turning point.  Here, however, the river craft were at an advantage, because the airman had to make a wide to ‘bank’ his way round.  While doing this, the boats were making upstream, and he had to give chase in determined manner.  Just as the boats turned for home the ‘plane drew almost level, and spectators were treated to a great struggle for supremacy. Air proved softer than water, because the aeroplane just forged ahead before the line was reached.  A hundred yards from the line Meteor was leading Century Tire, but the latter put in a great spurt, drawing up level.  Then, however, it was Meteor’s turn, and, with a responding dash, the big 700 horse-power craft reached the line not much more than a foot ahead of her conqueror of earlier in the afternoon.