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   John McGinnis Williams - speedboat champion
Australasian Motor Boat Championship 1925 -
Brisbane

Mac’s win in South Australia meant that Queensland was the new holder of the Griffith Cup and that for the first time in history the race would be held in Brisbane.
This event took place at Brisbane on 21 February 1925. 

Two of the hydroplanes against which Mac had raced the previous year, Tortoise II and Lady Sid, were again competing.  Miss Edith Napier Birks, of the Port Adelaide Club, drove Lady Sid. She was the first female hydroplanist. The other two competitors were G. Whiz and Miss Albion.

Boat versus plane and water versus air seemed to be the attraction of the day.
For several days before the race, spectators were thrilled with daring, flying exhibitions by Lieutenant Horrie Miller who planned to meet the Australasian championship competitors in a special challenge race after the conclusion of the championship.  This Curtiss Seagull flying boat had been demonstrated by Miller throughout Australia in 1922. During her practice sessions she attained remarkable speeds. A change in conditions meant that the seaplane would be able to leave the water during the progress of the race, whereas it was originally intended that the machine would have to skim along the surface of the water.

Photo: Horrie Miller in the Curtiss Seagull flying boat
Photo donated by Roger Moore from Redland Bay.

On Friday morning, the day before the race, Mr E. C. Griffith, honorary secretary of the Motor Yacht Club of New South Wales, and donor of the cup for the championship, along with other visiting yachtsmen attended a civic reception at the Town Hall for a midday luncheon and official welcome at the Royal Queensland Yacht Club rooms directly afterwards. The Acting Mayor, Alderman T. Wilson, welcomed the visiting yachtsmen from the Southern States, some of whom were taking part in the race. 
At the luncheon, it was announced that Major D’Arcy Donkin, owner of the hydroplane Meteor, had donated a handsome trophy, valued at 40 guineas to go to the winner of the cup, independent of other prizes. Major Donkin was himself a pilot with an old S.E. plane purchased after WWI. He owned Meteor Station, near Springsure in Central Queensland - hence the name of his hydroplane.

Photo: The assemblage in the Brisbane Town Hall which welcomed the speed boat representatives.
John 'Mac' Williams front row on left. 

On Saturday 21 February, both the Hamilton and Bulimba foreshores were lined with spectators.  Hundreds of cars were parked in every available space on either bank. Upwards of 6000 people saw the race.
The Doomba was chartered and acted as an official flagship and was filled to capacity – she was an excursion steamer capable of carrying 1,524 passengers. Originally, the Koopa was to have been the flagship, but the Doomba was be able to carry 400 more spectators than the Koopa.
The Vice-Regal and Mayoral parties were accommodated on the flagship, which was moored at a point that provided a good view of the race. A first-class brass band was on the Hamilton retaining wall.

At 2 pm the Doomba left Circular Quay and the race began at 2:45 pm.
The first heat was started as Century Tire piloted the boats to the line. When the flag dropped, Century Tire, Tortoise, Miss Albion, G-Whiz and Lady Sid were almost in line. Century Tire and Tortoise immediately rushed to the front, creating hug washes in which G-Whiz was entrapped. She disappeared from sight in a cloud of spray, after being thrown clean out of the water.  The crew were thrown overboard and several boats rushed to their assistance. While the crew were being rescued, the boat slowly sank.
Miss Albion was also troubled by the wash, and was eased up in speed.
When the turn was reached, it was seen that the cooling system in Tortoise was not functioning properly, for the cockpit was a cloud of steam. When the boats came in sight Century Tire held a good lead from the failing Tortoise, and was rounded, her pilot taking the turn with utmost care, and completing the fastest lap of the day.
Tortoise started on the second lap in second position, but it could be seen that the end was near.  She was forced to retire, which robbed the race of a considerable amount of interest, as it left Century Tire a certain winner, barring accident.  Century Tire finished her laps at 5 min, 5 secs. Miss Albion brought up the rear throughout, racing always within striking distance of the leaders after the retirement of Tortoise. The second heat saw only two starters, Miss Albion being unable to start her engine. Lady Sid and Century Tire crossed the line nicely. Century Tire held the lead throughout.

Photo: Century Tire is pictured on the extreme lower right.

Photo: Horrie Miller's seaplane draws away from Century Tire.
Photo donated by Roger Moore.

Photo: The Curtiss Seagull flying boat
(Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

The finish of the second heat was extremely spectacular, Lieutenant Miller, in his seaplane, taking up the running with the Century Tire as she neared the finish. Speed-boat and seaplane made a thrilling race and the aircraft was only able to draw away as the line was neared by rising slightly higher in the air.
Immediately after the finish lightening broke over the course and the boats commenced scurrying homewards.
The seaplane made for her moorings and, of course, the seaplane versus the hydroplane race that was to have followed the Championship, had to be abandoned.   

After the race, Century Tire came along the flagship, which screamed congratulations with her siren, and Mac went aboard with thunderous cheers to be congratulated by His Excellency the Governor. So, having won the first two heats, the Century Tire had won the Griffith Cup for the second time in succession.

Photo: Cup presentation (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

The Cup was handed over to Mac at a ‘smoke concert ’at the Royal Queensland Yacht Club that evening.
At the presentation, the Commodore of the Yacht Club during his speech said “Mac, may you live to a Century and never tire!” [2]

Photo: Front cover from The Australian Motor Boat and Yachting Monthly
1st July 1925

[2]John McGinnis Williams died 28 February 1971 aged 88 years