Home    |   Early races    |    Century Tire    |    Griffith Cup - Adelaide 1923    |    Griffith Cup - Adelaide 1924

Brisbane races    |    Griffith Cup - Brisbane 1925    |    Retirement    |    Trophies    |    Contact

  John McGinnis Williams - speedboat champion
Century Tire

Mac had set his sights on winning the Griffith Cup at the Australasian Motor Boat Championship. When Miss Brisbane sunk during a trial run on Sydney Harbour, Mac knew of no other boat in Australia that would have been fast enough to tackle the task against Tortoise II. The holder of the Griffith Cup in 1923, Tortoise, which was owned by the Rymill Brothers, had taken the Cup to South Australia in 1916 and had since held it against all comers.  

Photo: 'Mac' Williams (right) in Century Tire with mechanics Smith and White (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

Mac had heard about a hydroplane named Century Tire in the U.S.A that had, in March 1922, set the world’s record speed for a single engine boat – 73 miles per hour.  She had been designed by the celebrated John L. Hacker, and built under his supervision.  This hydroplane was fitted with a 12 cylinder Packard Liberty V Engine and developed approximately 450 horsepower. 

So Mac went to Chicago, U.S.A. and purchased the hydroplane for US$846 17s 6d.

On her arrival back in Australia, and under Mac’s instructions, Century Tire was given an overhaul. Her hull was in a bad state, and her bottom was very roughly coated with clumsy copper paint.  She was sandpapered and coated in orthodox racing fashion, with a black lead preparation, which offered the least possible resistance to water. Century Tire’s engine received expert attention at the hands of Jack Smith, who had a great deal of experience in dealing with Liberty motors.