John Kelly

Roostertail: the Miss Supertest Story John Kelly

From 1959?1961, the Supertest Petroleum Company's unlimited hydroplane boat racing team dominated the world of speedboat racing. In 1934, young Jim Thompson, age seven, attended the Harmsworth Trophy race on the Detroit River with his father, and saw the world famous American race boat driver, Gar Wood, keep the trophy in the hands of the United States. That day, Thompson announced to his father that he would one day win the Harmsworth Trophy for the British Commonwealth. In 1951, Thompson and his father purchased the Miss Canada racing boats with the hopes of creating a team that would win the trophy for the British Commonwealth after nearly four decades of American dominance. Eventually, Miss Supertest II set the world water-speed record, and Miss Supertest III won the long-desired Harmsworth Trophy and continued to reign over the sport for the next two summers. By 1961, Miss Supertest III had become the best in the world. After a tragic accident killed Miss Supertest's driver, the race boat was sent to a museum, never to race again. Race boat fans around the world will treasure this story of perseverance during an unforgettable period in Canadian race boating history.