This episode of the 1950s TV series The Greatest Drama tells the story of Garfield “Gar” Wood.
Gar, also known as the “Silver Fox,” sits in a speed boat in 1931 before attempting to break the world record by reaching 100 mph (00:41). He speeds across the waterway on Miss America IX, hitting 102 mph. In a boat shop, women sand a speed boat (02:22). Gar’s wife christens the first Miss America. At Osborne Bay, England 02:40), Gar Wood and his mechanic Orlin Johnson prepare to race Miss America. The boat flies across the water, leaving the opponents behind. Gar wins the race. The episode then shows the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline of New York City (03:45). Gar stands with his wife and young son. In 1924, Gar races an express train from New York to Albany (04:07). Gar prepares to race Miss America VI against British competitors in 1928, but his boat breaks down. Gar and his employees build Miss America VII (05:26). At the Detroit River, site of the Harmsworth Trophy Race of 1928, challenger Marion Carstairs waits for the race to begin (05:30). Gar sits in his boat with two teddy bears he uses for luck. The race begins, and Gar races his untested boat to victory. Henry Segrave motors his boat Miss England II out to race Gar for the title (07:35), but the boat explodes, killing Segrave. Gar faces Kaye Don (08:01) for the Harmsworth Trophy in 1932. Aerial footage shows Kaye Don’s boat taking the lead during the race. Gar opens up the throttle and captures another win. The Silver Fox relaxes after his retirement (09:16). In Florida, Gar shows off a model of an experimental speed boat (08:28). Gar sits with his new Venturi tied to a dock (09:46). Gar joins the Civil Air Patrol during WWII and flies missions patrolling the U.S. coast. The film ends with footage of Gar captaining the Venturi (11:06).
Garfield Arthur “Gar” Wood (December 4, 1880 – June 19, 1971) was an American inventor, entrepreneur, and championship motorboat builder and racer who held the world water speed record on several occasions. He was the first man to travel over 100 miles per hour on water.
The Harmsworth was the first annual international award for motorboat racing. Officially, it is a contest not between boats or individuals but between nations. The boats were originally to be designed and built entirely by residents of the country represented, using materials and units built wholly within that country. The rules were somewhat relaxed in 1949[1] and may have been relaxed further since. It was founded by Alfred Charles William Harmsworth in 1903
