Orth Mathiot & Tom Whitaker's Fatal Crash @ Lake Washington 1951
- 8 months ago
T/Sgt. Tom Whitaker was on leave from the Portland Air Force base to crew as a riding mechanic on the unlimited hydroplane, the home-made Mathiot speed boat named "Quicksilver" of owner-driver Orth Mathiot, in the Gold Cup Regatta held at Lake Washington, near Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, 04 August 1951.
The boat surpassed the required minimum qualification speed of 65 mi/h (105 km/h) and sat out the second heat for repairs. In the third and final heat "Quicksilver" was running fourth in a field of seven and had just begun the third lap when it became airborne on the first turn near the south end of the course and disappeared in a cloud of spray.
The race was red-flagged, but some of the boats continued at speed for several more laps because the drivers could not see the flags. Seattle's "Slo-Mo-Shun V" boat driven by Ted Jones was adjudged the race winner. After the last boat stopped, all that was found on the surface was a seat cushion, one shoe with a sock inside, and pieces of plywood. Mathiot's body was recovered a few hours later in deep water but Whitaker's body was not pulled from the lake until the next day.
Orth Mathiot and Tom Whitaker were reported to be the first fatalities in the 44-year history of the Gold Cup.
R.I.P
The boat surpassed the required minimum qualification speed of 65 mi/h (105 km/h) and sat out the second heat for repairs. In the third and final heat "Quicksilver" was running fourth in a field of seven and had just begun the third lap when it became airborne on the first turn near the south end of the course and disappeared in a cloud of spray.
The race was red-flagged, but some of the boats continued at speed for several more laps because the drivers could not see the flags. Seattle's "Slo-Mo-Shun V" boat driven by Ted Jones was adjudged the race winner. After the last boat stopped, all that was found on the surface was a seat cushion, one shoe with a sock inside, and pieces of plywood. Mathiot's body was recovered a few hours later in deep water but Whitaker's body was not pulled from the lake until the next day.
Orth Mathiot and Tom Whitaker were reported to be the first fatalities in the 44-year history of the Gold Cup.
R.I.P