History of Southland Sweepstakes Regatta
The Southland Sweepstakes Regatta broke into the National racing limelight in 1939-40 when Commodore Harry M. Shaw of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club designated this as one of the major activities of the Yacht Club Winter program and this event has grown into its present prominence by leaps and bounds.
One of the main factors bringing a number of our well-known guests back to St. Petersburg each year has been the many courtesies and hospitality extended to them. In the opinion of every driver participatingt our Lake Maggiore course is one of the finest competition race courses in the country today. The land-locked lake affords ideal spectator sights as well as protected waters, the chief complaint voiced by drivers through the country when competition was held off the Municipal Pier in unprotected waters. On several occasions inclement weather caused postponement of the major events. The 33rd Annual Super Southland Sweepstakes Regatta, now considered one of the major Speedboat Regattas in the South, has brought to St. Petersburg some of the finest racing craft and drivers in the United States and Canada, as attested by a list:
RECORDS
DATE CLASS MPH BOAT NAME DRlVER'S NAME DRIVER'S HOME
3/9/46 C Serv. Run. 36.000 SNUBBY Amp. Orth Wilmington, Del.
4/24/48 C Racing Run. 52.386 TORONADO Les Trafton St. Pete, Fla.
4/24/48 E Racing Run. 61.058 COPPERHEAD Lorin Pennington San Diego, Cal.
2/17/51 91 Hydro 59.960 RED WITCH Jack Van Deman Red Bank, N.J.
2/12/56 91 Hydro 60.688  PORKY Burt Davidson Tampa, Fla.
2/8/58 44 ci. Run. 50.448 MY SIN Bob Mutschler Ocean City, N.J. 
2/4/62 280 Hydro 72.493 MISS PEACHES Ronnie Hearn Hampton, Va.
2/3/62 91 Hydro 69.552 SOUTHERN AIR V F. C. Moor Miami, Fla.
2/3/62 48 Hydro 72.058 SOUTHERN AIR IV F. C. Moor Miami, Fla.
2/3/62 F Serv. Run. 66.766 OH! MONA Del Daily Miami, Fla.
9/20/64 91 Hydro 72.993 SOUTHERN AIR V F. C. Moor Miami, Fla. 
8/22/65 Ski Rac. Run. 83.995 SUDDENLY Tony Maricich San Pedro, Cal.
8/22/65 E Serv. Run. 67.976 SECOND MORTGAGE Ben Pume Miami, Fla.
2/6/66 266 Hydro 89.020 WA WA TOO  "Skeeter" Johnson  Philadelphia, Pa.
2/6/66 91 Hydro 77.453 SOUTHERN AIR V F. C. Moor Miami, Fla.
2/6/66 F Serv. Run. 69.445 DANCING BEAR Curtis Brayer Miami, Fla.
2/4/67 225 Hydro 86.331 CHIP WINDER Ed Morgan Trenton, Mich.
2/3/68 F Serv. Run.  74.938 DANCING BEAR Curtis Brayer Miami, Fla.
2/4/68  266 Hydro 92.308 MISS PEG Bill Buntin Metrivie, La. 
1/31/69 266 Hydro 148.638(Kilo) IROQUOIS CHIEF  Gordy Reed Kenmore, N.Y.
7/6/69 280 Hydro 75.408 THE CHOPPER Tony Sanzone New Orleans, La.
2/8/70 266 Hydro 93.946 MISS WASHINGTON D.C. Charlie Dunn Miami, Fla.

 
 
 
 
 
Racing Schedule
Saturday 12:00 February 6 
Sunday 1:00 February 7
CLASSES:
E & F SERVICE
850 CC, 98 CI, 145 CI, 150 CI
280 CI, 225 CI, 5 Litre,
SKI
SUPERSTOCK
7 Litre
Sweet Sixteen Feb. 6 
Southland Sweepstakes Feb. 7
Racing Schedule
Saturday 12:00 February 13
Sunday 1:00 February 14
CLASSES:
E & F SERVICE
850 CC, 98 CI, 145 CI, 150 CI 
280 CI, 225 CI, 5 Litre
SKI
SUPERSTOCK
7 Litre
Sweet Sixteen Feb 13 
Southland Sweepstakes Feb. 14

 
 
 
 
Boat Classes
850 cc in. Hydroplane, Class Designation Y. Minimum Length 9 feet. Most popular Engine is souped-up Crosley using Methanol Alcohol. Max. Engine cost $1,000.00. 5 mile competition record 74.938 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 97.536 MPH. 
98 cu. in. Hydroplane. Class Designation L. Minimum Length 13'6". Most popular engine is Alfa Romeo or Lotus Ford, using any fuel. Max. engine cost $3,500.00. 5 mile competition record 77.45 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 113.374 MPH. 1970 National Champion Steve Jones.
145 cu. in. Hydroplane. Class Designation S. Minimum Length 13'6". Powered by Stock American Automobile Engines. 5 mile competition record 72.816 MPH. 
Straightaway Kilo Record 93.532 MPH.
150 cu. in. Hydroplane. Class Designation A. Minimum Length 12'6" (15'6" if registered after 1965). Maximum displacement 150 cu. in. These boats are powered by modified auto engines not to exceed $1,000.00 in cost. 5 mile competition record 80.717 MPH. 
Straightaway Kilo Record 121.819 MPH.
225 cu. in. Hydroplane. Class Designation N. Maximum engine cost $1,000.00. Used modified engines. Minimum length 16'. Minimum weight 1,025 lbs. 5 mile competition record 89.021 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 125.633 MPH.
5 Litre Hydroplane. Class Designation F. Minimum Length 18'. Minimum Weight 1,300 lbs. Most popular Engine is souped-up Chevrolet burning methanol. 5 mile competition record 93.946 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 148.638 MPH.
280 cu. in Hydroplane. Class Designation E. Minimum Length 16'. Most popular engine is stock 265 cu. in. Chevrolet using pump gas. No minimum weight. 5 mile competition record 78.466 MPH. Straightaway Record 108.591 MPH.
7 Litre. Class Designation H. Minimum Length 20'. Engine Displacement 427 cu. in. and can cost no more than $3250.00 (including supercharger). Most popular Engine is Chrysler. 5 mile competition record 101.580 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 159.217 MPH.
E Service Runabout. Class Designation E. Inboard Runabout, a pleasure type class Runabout, such as you would expect to purchase from a manufacturer. However, it can be homemade. Engine Displacement 300 cu. in. Minimum weight 1750 lbs. 5 mile competition record 69.471 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 84.895 MPH.
F Service Runabout. Class Designation M. Minimum weight 2200 lbs. Max. Engine 400 cu. in. Most popular engine is Chrysler. 5 mile competition record 77.787 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 94.607 MPH. National Champion M-00 Curtis Brayer.
SK Racing Runabout. Class Designation SK. Minimum length 16'. Engine displacement 400 cu. in. Minimum weight 1500 IDs. Most popular engines are Chrysler, Ford, Chevrolet. 
5 mile competition record 85.552 MPH. Straightaway Kilo Record 104.789 MPH.
Super Stock Runabout. Minimum length 16'. Maximum engine 428 cu. in. Stock automobile motors -Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler. 5 mile competition record 86.957 MPH. 
Straightaway Kilo Record 100.767 MPH.
Thanks to Brent McLean for providing this race program!

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