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GHOST RIDER |
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DESIGNED by JIM WYNN and WALT WALTERS |
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LENGTH 27FT 11 INS BEAM 8FT
DISPLACEMENT 4 TONS |
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ENGINES 2 DAYTONA’S PRODUCING 1200HP |
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BUILT BY SOUTERS, COLD MOULDED TO A
THICKNESS OF 1 INCH. |
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SPEED 63 KNOTS |
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OWNED BY HUGH DOYLE |
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Jim Wynn, since the inception of the
Cowes Torquay in 1961 had entered every race with mostly production
based cruisers but the inventor of the Inboard Outboard and designer
of the first “Formula” make of powerboats had yet to win this most
prestigious of Races to add to his victories in the States. |
Commissioned by sportsman Hugh Doyle to
design an entry for the 1966 season, the Wynn/Walters partnership
produced the designs for a 28 footer which went on to win the Miami
Key West, The Hurricane Classic and the Miami Nassau and was then
shipped to England for the Cowes Torquay..
The 1966 Cowes race turned out to be one of the meanest roughest
races that decade but started off in reasonably good weather and had
one of the top notch entries of the time including Surfury, Flying
Fish, Delta 28, Merrick Lewis had brought over Thunderbolt from the
States along with Thunderbird for Attillo Petroni to drive, in their
search for World Championship points. The Italian contingent failed
to appear this included Delta Synthesis, Delta Blue and Agnelli’s
ULTIMA VOLTA. |
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The start of the race saw Delta and
Surfury storm off into the Solent hotly pursued by Thunderbird and
Albert Figgins Thunderfish, following them came Ghost Rider with one
engine firing on 7 cylinders only and the bow tank not filling
properly so she was purposing quite noticeably but leading a group
of fancied rough water boats, including Flying Fish ,Tramontana 2
and News of the World with Peter Twiss at the wheel. The big boats
were being left behind in the smooth Solent waters and second time
past Cowes saw a battle between Surfury and Delta for the lead,
Merrick Lewis was out already with a lost prop. |
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As the fleet led by Surfury and Delta
left the Solent the first to feel the strain of the high speed was
Delta who stopped with a loose ballast tank pipe resulting in her
erratic, unstable porpoising and chine dancing due to the incredible
power of her twin Daytona’s through her single prop. Surfury headed
across Poole bay on onto Durleston and it was from here on the first
of the heavy swells started to make themselves felt ,the tail end of
a hurricane that was blowing itself out on Britain’s shores. Behind
her Delta was moving again and Ghost Rider suddenly regained full
use of her oiled up plug and 7 cylinders became 8 but still had no
ballast tank! |
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Flying Fish moved up the fleet as the
rougher water suited her long hull along with Tramontana and battled
now for the lead with Surfury. Wynn in Ghost Rider was taking things
cautiously but was caught by several rogue waves and it was landing
off one of these that saw his co driver Bob Sherbert crumple into a
heap on the cockpit floor. Being a gentleman driver Wynn was in two
minds whether to carry on or make for the nearest port to seek aid
for Bob, the injured Sherbert gestured for him to carry on! Wynn
made Bob Sherbert as comfortable as possible wedged into the cockpit
corner and set off after the leaders whom he presumed to be Surfury
and Flying Fish. |
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By the time the leading boats had
reached Portland Bill the weather was deteriorating rapidly with
long swells and 6 to 8 ft waves, one by one they fell, Surfury with
smashed engine bearer and damaged oil lines, Delta’s exhaust
manifold had broken, Flying Fish was now sinking after hitting a
submerged object which ripped her bottom open and the crew of
Tramontana 2 were semi comatose with carbon monoxide poisoning from
a broken exhaust. Unknown to Wynn he was leading, the nearest boat
was Spirit of Ecstacy, half an hour behind but built for exactly
these kind of conditions and nearly twice Ghost Riders size! All the
film and stills of the race show Wynn bouncing off the waves with
Bob Sherbert braced and grappling for a hand hold in an extremely
uncomfortable position. |
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The rest is all now well documented,
Wynn led into Torbay with Spirit closing fast but the smooth waters
allowed him to open up and cross the line but did not slow , he sped
into Torquay Harbour at a rate of knots and docked, Bob Sherbert was
gently lifted out of the cockpit and stretchered to a waiting
ambulance , it transpired that as they crashed off the rogue waves
into the trough’s Sherbert was caught out and a broken ankle
resulted, I wonder how many sportsmen?!… would carry on today with
such an injury and in those conditions? |
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Wynn had done it, the Beaverbrook
Trophy would carry his name and another legend was created by the
Cowes- Torquay. |
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40 years later and fully restored! |
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GHOST RIDER is now in the safe hands of Barry Cohen in America,
often attends races, displayed on her trailer and attracts large
crowds. |
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