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My local newspaper runs a page every week titled, “The news from yesteryear: The Calvert Independent from 50 years ago
Here’s one of the stories from May 10, 1956.
Boat Races At Solomons
Sunday, May 13, will be the opening day for boat races in this area. The Calvert Volunteer Rescue Squad will sponsor these races, with free admission to everyone, starting at 11 A.M. until 5 P.M. The location of the race course this year will be on Mill Creek and St. John’s Creek, Solomons, Md. The course will be 4 1/4 miles long, 12 laps for a total of 50 miles that each class will run. From the new spectator grounds, located at the old Naval A.T.B. Base, you will be able to see the entire race from start to finish. Refreshments will be available on the grounds. There is a shaded picnic area overlooking the race course for your comfort.
The first race will start at 11:15 A.M. with BU runabout class. BU class is a stock outboard motor of less than 20 cubic inches, or approximately 10 horsepower. These boats have a speed of better than 50 miles per hour.
The second class to start at 1 P.M. will be the DU runabout which has a motor of less than 40 cubic inches, or approximately 40 horsepower, and usually runs at a speed of 60 miles per hour.
At 2:15 P.M. AU and CU runabout classes will start together, both have speeds between 40 and 45 miles per hour.
The last race of the day will start at 4 P.M. which will include D and B stock hydroplanes. These hydroplanes reach a speed up to 70 miles per hour and should provide a thrilling race.
Each class will race the entire 50 miles on this short course, making it a very grueling race on both motorboat and driver. These races are referred to by the drivers as “The Indianapolis of Speed Boat Racing.”
The trophy presentation will be held at the Calvert Volunteer Rescue Squad Building located at the D & L Shopping Center at 6 P.M. Senator Louis Goldstein, President of the Senate, in the State of Maryland, will present the trophies to the winners.
A dance for the race drivers and public will be held on Saturday night, May 12, at the Rescue Squad Building.
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The article includes a very grainy photo of a DU, complete with an open forward cockpit. The boat number is 262E and is powered by – and I need a little help here – it looks like the model that followed the KG9 but looked like the KG9 and had a rewind starter. Would that be a Mercury Mark 40?
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Louis Goldstein, a Calvert County native, went on to become the Maryland State Comptroller and has the distinction of the longest tenure of any elected official in Maryland history outlasting a slew of governors who were restricted by law to two terms in office. He retained the office of Comptroller until his health failed when he was in his 80’s. The highway to Solomons, Maryland is now dedicated in his honor and includes a plaque featuring his best-known saying, “God bless y’all real good!”
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I've asked a few people and haven't been able to confirm the exact years that races were held in Solomons, MD except that by 1964 or 1965 they had ceased at this location. Can anyone else provide details?
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And no, this would not be a potential race site these days. If Annapolis is the Rag Boat Capital of the World, then Solomons is the wannabe Rag Boat Capital of the World. There are too many recreational boats and too many snobs who wouldn't want their weekend ruined by the inconvenience of powerboat racing.
Here’s one of the stories from May 10, 1956.
Boat Races At Solomons
Sunday, May 13, will be the opening day for boat races in this area. The Calvert Volunteer Rescue Squad will sponsor these races, with free admission to everyone, starting at 11 A.M. until 5 P.M. The location of the race course this year will be on Mill Creek and St. John’s Creek, Solomons, Md. The course will be 4 1/4 miles long, 12 laps for a total of 50 miles that each class will run. From the new spectator grounds, located at the old Naval A.T.B. Base, you will be able to see the entire race from start to finish. Refreshments will be available on the grounds. There is a shaded picnic area overlooking the race course for your comfort.
The first race will start at 11:15 A.M. with BU runabout class. BU class is a stock outboard motor of less than 20 cubic inches, or approximately 10 horsepower. These boats have a speed of better than 50 miles per hour.
The second class to start at 1 P.M. will be the DU runabout which has a motor of less than 40 cubic inches, or approximately 40 horsepower, and usually runs at a speed of 60 miles per hour.
At 2:15 P.M. AU and CU runabout classes will start together, both have speeds between 40 and 45 miles per hour.
The last race of the day will start at 4 P.M. which will include D and B stock hydroplanes. These hydroplanes reach a speed up to 70 miles per hour and should provide a thrilling race.
Each class will race the entire 50 miles on this short course, making it a very grueling race on both motorboat and driver. These races are referred to by the drivers as “The Indianapolis of Speed Boat Racing.”
The trophy presentation will be held at the Calvert Volunteer Rescue Squad Building located at the D & L Shopping Center at 6 P.M. Senator Louis Goldstein, President of the Senate, in the State of Maryland, will present the trophies to the winners.
A dance for the race drivers and public will be held on Saturday night, May 12, at the Rescue Squad Building.
************************************************** **************
************************************************** **************
************************************************** **************
The article includes a very grainy photo of a DU, complete with an open forward cockpit. The boat number is 262E and is powered by – and I need a little help here – it looks like the model that followed the KG9 but looked like the KG9 and had a rewind starter. Would that be a Mercury Mark 40?
************************************************** **************
Louis Goldstein, a Calvert County native, went on to become the Maryland State Comptroller and has the distinction of the longest tenure of any elected official in Maryland history outlasting a slew of governors who were restricted by law to two terms in office. He retained the office of Comptroller until his health failed when he was in his 80’s. The highway to Solomons, Maryland is now dedicated in his honor and includes a plaque featuring his best-known saying, “God bless y’all real good!”
************************************************** **************
I've asked a few people and haven't been able to confirm the exact years that races were held in Solomons, MD except that by 1964 or 1965 they had ceased at this location. Can anyone else provide details?
************************************************** **************
And no, this would not be a potential race site these days. If Annapolis is the Rag Boat Capital of the World, then Solomons is the wannabe Rag Boat Capital of the World. There are too many recreational boats and too many snobs who wouldn't want their weekend ruined by the inconvenience of powerboat racing.
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