Classic Boat - Dixie II

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£350.00

On August 3, 1908, the Harmsworth Trophy contenders included five boats. The deed of gift limiting each country to three entries. The challenger Wolseley-Siddeley, with her powerful hull coated in blue-gray and the Union Jack of Great Britain on the pole at her stern, has two six-cylinder Wolseley engines totaling 400 hp. She was 39 feet 6 inches long. The maximum cup racing length had to be under 40 feet.

The August 10, 1908 edition of the magazine Motor Boat described it as the “greatest motor boat race the world has ever known.” Maybe it was since it certainly had its share of excitement. During the race Albert Rappuhn, Dixie II’s engineer, felt himself losing consciousness from inhaling the exhaust fumes but rounding the final turn he had the presence of mind to open the throttle full speed propelling the Dixie II to victory. The final four miles were run with Captain S. Bartly Pearce steering the boat with one hand while he held up the unconscious Rappuhn with the other. All this while racing against boats with twice the horsepower.

Shortly thereafter Dixie II realized a speed of 36.6 mph in official time trials. It was the highest speed achieved by any boat in the world during the year 1908.

Toward the end of August 1908, Dixie II won its first Gold Cup race at Chippewa Bay flying the colors of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club. Dixie II easily won the first two races but had a problem in the third and final race. Shortly after the race began, she broke down and lay dead in the water for two minutes. The other boats surged ahead but when Dixie II restarted her engines, she went full throttle and soon outdistanced her foes by a mile. Captain Pearce and Rappuhn continued to serve as helmsmen and engineer.

This stunning model is made from solid hardwoods reclaimed from the furniture industry. The metal details are all made in individual castings and the seats are real leather. The attention to detail is exceptional and far better than other lesser quality models on the market.

The model comes fully assembled on its own display plinth.

Size: L96 x W18 x H20cm

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