Miss Detroit II
Photo of 1920 Miss America at Detroit by thunderboat.com
1917 was the first year of five that Gar Wood (Garfield Arthur Wood) would win the Gold Cup. 1917 he won in Miss Detroit II with an average speed of 56.5 mph. Then in 1918 & 1919 he won in Miss Detroit III, 1918’s average speed was 52.1, and 1919 was 56.3 mph. 1920 the win was in Miss America I at an average of an astounding for the time at 70.0 mph, and in 1921 he won the Gold Cup in Miss America with a 56.5 mph average.
Gar Wood was an inventor who moved his hydraulic lift company, Wood Hoist Company, to Detroit in 1911. He held hundreds of patents over his life which amassed him a fortune which allowed him to powerboat race, which then lead him to the boat building industry as one of his many businesses. Gar Wood set many water speed records including the first man to top 100 mph on the water.
Miss Detroit II, Miss Detroit III and Miss America I specs.
Owner: Gar Wood
Miss America specs.
Length: 26 foot
Engine: 900 horsepower
Owner: Gar Wood
Belle Isle is the 102nd Michigan State Park. Like all state parks you will need a Recreation Passport to be on the island.
All caches placed at Belle Isle State Park by the Belle Isle Cachers, or Rattrak, are here with consent of the support of the DNR supervision for the island.