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   John McGinnis Williams - speedboat champion
Australasian Motor Boat Championship - 1924
South Australia

With the approach of the next Australasian Motor Boat Championship, Mac prepared to compete in the race and beat Tortoise.  

This event was scheduled to be held on Saturday 23 February 1924 at Port River in Osborne, South Australia.

At Port Adelaide River on Saturday, 23rd February 1924, an estimated 30,000 spectators watched the competitors in the race.

The Competitors

Tortoise II  

Photo: Courtesy Mrs M Williams

No. 1 – Tortoise II

Owned by Messrs. Rymill Brothers from South Australia, John L. Hacker design, built by B. Weir, Port Adelaide and powered with a 450 h.p. 12 cylinder V-type Packard-Liberty engine.

Century Tire

Photo: Courtesy Mrs M Williams

No. 2 – Century Tire

Owned by John McGinnis Williams from Brisbane. She was also of Hacker design, built under his supervision and powered by a 450 h.p. Packard-Liberty motor.  

Lady Sid

Photo: Courtesy Mrs M Williams

No. 3 - Lady Sid

Owned by Mr J. Thornycroft from New South Wales, she was from the English firm of Thornycroft Limited. Brought in from England especially for the Championship, this hydroplane was thirty-three feet long and fitted with a Thornycroft engine of 400 h.p.

Millawa

Photo: Courtesy Mrs M Williams

No. 4 - Millawa

Owned by Mr G H McFarlane from South Australia, and also of Thornycroft Limited. She was fitted with a Beardmore engine of 160 h.p.

The Race

The first race commenced at 2:45 pm to cover a course about 20 miles in length.

The Blue Peter was hoisted and a gun fired from the Judge’s stand five minutes before the start of the first heat. At this signal the competitors manoeuvred above the line ready to start; the Blue Peter was lowered and a gun firing signalled the beginning of the race.

During the first heat of the race, Century Tire’s hull was seriously damaged, and she won the second heat carrying inches of water.
Photo: Onlookers gather around Century Tire after the damage to her hull

Lady Sid ran second in both heats.
Tortoise was at a disadvantage – she was missing badly, and blowing centres out of spark plugs.
Apart from the damage to her hull, Century Tire, however, did not miss a beat throughout the two gruelling heats of 20 miles each.
Although three heats had been scheduled, Century Tire was declared the winner as she had won the first two heats.

Photo: Century Tire wins
(Courtesy Mrs M Williams)