The Golden Age of Hydroplane Racing: Innovations and Triumphs | Stirlingkit

The Golden Age of Hydroplane Racing: Innovations and Triumphs | Stirlingkit

The Golden Age of Hydroplane Racing: Innovations and Triumphs | Stirlingkit

What's Tethered hydroplanes?

Tethered hydroplanes, also known as tethered powerboats or hydroplane racers, are small, high-speed boats that are tethered to a central point by a wire or cable, a unique and exciting form of motorsport. These boats were first developed in the early 20th century and quickly became popular in the United States and Europe as a form of high-speed water racing.



 ‘Folly’, built by Herbert Teague and Vernon Delves-Broughton. source:https://www.onthewire.co.uk/


The earliest known tethered hydroplane was built in 1908 by the American inventor and engineer, C. H. Taylor. Taylor's boat was powered by a small gasoline engine and was tethered to a central point by a steel cable. He later patented the design and began to sell the boats to the public. Over the next few decades, tethered hydroplane racing became a popular sport in the United States and Europe. The boats were often powered by small engines and could reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). The races were held in specially designed circular ponds or lakes, and the boats were controlled by the racers who stood on the shore, holding the tethered wire.

In the early days of the sport, the UK was a dominant force, with many of the earliest and most influential designers and racers hailing from Britain. Innovators like Edgar T. Westbury and Ron Warring helped to pioneer new engine designs and boat configurations that pushed the limits of what was possible in tethered hydroplane racing. UK racers also had a strong showing in international competitions, including several World Championship victories.

Edgar T. Westbury was a prolific designer and innovator in the field of tethered hydroplane engines. He developed several novel engine designs, including the "Atom Minor" and "Atom Major", which helped to revolutionize the sport in the 1930s and 40s.

Ron Warring was another influential designer and racer from the UK. He built several highly successful boats, including the "Warring-Dolphin" and "Warring-Catspaw", which set numerous speed records and won multiple championships in the 1950s and 60s.

source: http://modelenginenews.org/people/warring.html


British racers had a strong showing in international competitions in the early days of the sport, including several World Championship victories in the 1930s and 40s.

Other European countries have also had their share of successful racers and designers. For example, Italy has a strong hydroplane racing culture and has produced several world-class racers over the years. France, Germany, and the Netherlands have also had successful racers and teams.

Bob Dunlap was a highly successful American racer who won multiple World Championship titles in the 1960s and 70s. He was known for his innovative engine designs and his ability to tune his boats for maximum performance.


Bill Bischoff was another influential American designer and racer who built several highly successful boats, including the "Bischoff D-15" and "Bischoff T-4", which set numerous speed records and won multiple championships in the 1980s and 90s.


The USA has hosted several high-profile competitions, including the annual North American Speed Championships and the World Championships in 1986 and 2008.
American racers have continued to push the limits of speed and performance in recent years, with several world record-breaking runs and multiple World Championship victories since 2000.


While these are just a few examples, they demonstrate the significant contributions that both the UK and USA have made to the sport of tethered hydroplane racing over the years.

In more recent years, the USA has emerged as a major player in the world of tethered hydroplane racing. American designers and racers have continued to push the boundaries of speed and performance, and the USA has hosted several high-profile competitions, including the annual North American Speed Championships. American racers have also had success on the international stage, winning several World Championship titles in recent years.

During World War II, the development of high-speed aircraft engines led to the creation of more powerful tethered hydroplanes. These boats could reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h), making them some of the fastest boats in the world at the time. The sport continued to grow in popularity, and in the 1950s and 1960s, international competitions were held, attracting racers from around the world.

However, as the sport became more popular, safety concerns began to arise. The high speeds and powerful engines of the boats made accidents more frequent and dangerous. In the 1970s, several fatal accidents occurred during tethered hydroplane races, leading to the sport's decline in popularity.

 

What's the key characteristics of tethered hydroplanes?



High speeds: Tethered hydroplanes are designed to go fast - very fast. The boats are typically powered by high-performance engines that can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour or more. This makes tethered hydroplanes one of the fastest forms of motorsport in the world.

Compact size: Tethered hydroplanes are relatively small, with most boats measuring between two and three feet in length. This compact size allows the boats to reach high speeds and maneuver through tight turns with precision and agility.

Tethered racing: Tethered hydroplanes are attached to a central pole or stake by a cable or line, which keeps them racing in a circular path. This creates a unique racing experience that requires a different set of skills and strategies than other forms of motorsport.

Precision engineering: Tethered hydroplanes require a high degree of precision engineering in order to achieve the speeds and performance necessary for competitive racing. Racers must carefully tune and optimize their boats and engines to minimize drag and maximize power, while also maintaining stability and control.

Innovation: Tethered hydroplane racing has a long history of innovation, with racers and designers constantly experimenting with new technologies and materials in pursuit of greater speed and performance. This has led to the development of new engine designs, materials, and techniques that have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the sport.

 

Tethered Hydroplanes Engines

 
The engines used in tethered hydroplanes can vary depending on the size and type of the boat, as well as the regulations and rules of the particular race. In the early days of tethered hydroplane racing, small gasoline engines were commonly used, often with a displacement of less than 1 cubic inch (16cc).

Westbury Kiwi
source: https://www.onthewire.co.uk/etw3.htm


As the sport progressed and technology advanced, racers began to use more powerful engines, such as glow engines, diesel engines, and even turbines. These engines can range in size from less than 0.1 cubic inches (1.6cc) to over 2 cubic inches (33cc) in displacement.

24" Prototype fitted with American two-stroke
source: https://www.onthewire.co.uk/etw3.htm


Today, some of the most common engines used in tethered hydroplane racing are glow engines, which are small internal combustion engines that run on a mixture of methanol, nitromethane, and oil. These engines are often modified and tuned for maximum performance and can produce high horsepower and torque output.

Tethered hydroplane racers also use electric motors in some cases, particularly in classes that emphasize efficiency and low power consumption. These motors can range from small hobby-grade motors to high-performance racing motors, and can be used in combination with battery packs or other power sources.


Who Plays Important Role in History of hydroplanes?

 


There have been many people who have played important roles in the history and development of tethered hydroplanes over the years. Here are a few notable figures:

C.H. Ramus:The first reference to a hydroplane is found in a patent awarded to the Reverend C.H. Ramus in 1873. He patented a model speedboat with a multi step hull, but the lack of a sufficiently high-powered engine prevented further development of the hydroplane at that time. The boat did achieve speeds of over 30 knots on a straight course, using rocket power.


C. H. Taylor: C. H. Taylor is credited with building the first tethered hydroplane in 1908. He later patented the design and began to sell the boats to the public, helping to popularize the sport.

Stanley Hiller Sr.: Stanley Hiller Sr. was an American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the development of high-performance tethered hydroplanes. He was the first person to use a helicopter engine in a tethered hydroplane, and his innovations helped to make the boats faster and more powerful.

Fred Offenhauser: Fred Offenhauser was an American engineer who designed and built high-performance engines for tethered hydroplanes, among other things. His Offenhauser engines were widely used in the sport and helped to establish tethered hydroplane racing as a high-speed, high-performance sport.

Bill Muncey: Bill Muncey was an American tethered hydroplane racer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history. He won multiple national and international championships, and his skill and daring helped to popularize the sport in the United States.

Leo Villa: Leo Villa was a British tethered hydroplane racer and engineer who set multiple speed records in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the first person to drive a tethered hydroplane at over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), and his records helped to establish the sport as a test of engineering and driving skill.

Edgar T. Westbury was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of tethered hydroplanes. Westbury was an accomplished model engineer and had a deep interest in high-speed power boats. He designed and built several successful tethered hydroplanes, including the famous "Gypsy" series of boats, which were highly innovative and helped to establish new standards for performance and speed. view all the engines ETW had designed.

Westbury was also an accomplished writer and published several books and articles on model engineering and tethered hydroplane racing. He was known for his technical expertise and his ability to explain complex engineering concepts in a clear and accessible way.



Westbury's designs and innovations helped to push the boundaries of what was possible in tethered hydroplane racing. His engines and boats were highly innovative and often incorporated new technologies and materials. For example, the Gypsy series of boats were built with aluminum and featured highly streamlined designs that reduced drag and improved performance.



Westbury's contributions to the sport were widely recognized and he was inducted into the Model Engineering Hall of Fame in 2012. His legacy continues to inspire model engineers and tethered hydroplane racers around the world.



Today, tethered hydroplane racing is still practiced by a small group of enthusiasts, and the boats have become more specialized and sophisticated over time. However, the sport is no longer as widely recognized or popular as it once was, and safety regulations have become much stricter to prevent accidents and injuries.

Despite this, tethered hydroplane racing remains an important part of the history of high-speed water racing and continues to inspire enthusiasts and engineers around the world.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in tethered hydroplane racing, thanks in part to advances in technology that have made it easier and more affordable to build and race these boats. There are also a number of organized racing events and competitions held around the world, including national and international championships, where racers can compete against each other and showcase their skills and designs. Additionally, tethered hydroplane racing has a strong tradition of innovation and engineering, with racers constantly striving to improve their boats and engines in pursuit of greater speed and performance. This has led to the development of new technologies and materials, as well as the adoption of alternative power sources, such as electric motors and fuel cells, which are increasingly being used in the sport.

source

https://www.onthewire.co.uk/hhistory.htm

https://www.onthewire.co.uk/epitbox8.htm

https://www.onthewire.co.uk/etw3.htm

https://solidwoodmodelyacht.com/en/model_boat_tether_hydroplane_rare_edgar_t_westbury_kittiwake_major_30cc_engine.php

1 comment

  • John Hayhurst: January 08, 2024

    I have my uncle Hubert’s boat BB1 PRAPS.It is a Westbury hull but the 15cc engine was his own design and won the Model Engineer medal in 1939.

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