Which driver won the first hydroplane race in Seattle — the 1951 Gold Cup?
Lou Fageol began a 50-year tradition in the Emerald City when he steered Slo-mo-shun V to victory in 1951. Seattle hosted the 1951 APBA Gold Cup after Seattle representative Slo-mo-shun IV won the 1950 Gold Cup in Detroit with Ted Jones driving. What was the controversy behind the 1951 Seafair Trophy? After the Gold Cup was run on Saturday, Aug. 4, a second Unlimited race (for the Seafair Trophy) was run on Lake Washington on Sunday, Aug. 12. The race course was lengthened from 3 statute miles to 5 nautical miles and extended well beyond Seward Park. All of the out-of-town boats went home after the Gold Cup, leaving only the two Slo-mo-shun boats. Three local 135-cubic-inch Limited boats were recruited to replace the scratches. Slo-mo-shun drivers Ted Jones and Lou Fageol switched boats. Jones won the Seafair Trophy and Slo-mo-shun V won the race with heat finishes of first, second and first. Fageol and Slo-mo-shun IV finished second, first and second. Which boat has won Seafair the mo
