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The story of John McGinnis Williams – Australian Speed Boat Champion – Winner of ‘The Griffith Australasian Championship Cup 1924 & 1925’

Story researched, written and presented by: Julianne Dodds (Daughter of Racing Boat Champion ‘John Williams’). Copyright 2025

INTRODUCTION: Celebrating a CENTURY WIN -1924 & 1925 E.C. Griffith Cup Winner

E.C. GRIFFITH CUP – Australian Motorboat Championship Unlimited
The Worlds most Spectacular Motor Sport

The EC Griffith Cup, known as the most prestigious trophy in Australian Powerboat Racing, is considered the oldest perpetual trophy in Australia and one of the oldest in the world.

We call it ….. ‘The Holy Grail’

This year (2025) marks the occasion of the 100th anniversary of ‘John Williams (owner/driver) ‘Century Tires’ 1925 E.C. Griffith Cup WIN!

”A Century ago this year – ‘Century Tire’ WON”

1925 – 2025
It began way back in 1910, unlimited powerboat racing was in those days a sport for the wealthy or apparently wealthy few, and their mighty motors thundered a chorus that could be heard for miles as the message was bellowed out that the greatest single event in Australian motor sport was here. They were real racing men in those days and boats were not treated with kid gloves. To race your boat back in the Golden Years of the Griffith Cup you had to drive it to and from the race meeting. Often the only navigation lights were the flames from the red hot open exhausts, but they were the pioneers of Australian boat racing; they laid a foundation for the coming generations. 

From the State Library South Australia

“Century Tire” was built in 1921 in the USA. She was a 23-foot hydroplane designed by John Hacker, powered by a 450hp Packard-Liberty motor, and formerly owned by Charles J. Venn of Chicago. During her last race in the USA in February 1923, driven by Louis Disbrow, a well know automobile race driver, she won the feature event, beating ‘Miss Chicago’. ‘Century Tire’ was then purchase by John McGinnis Williams from Brisbane and brought Australia to WIN the GRIFFITH CUP. Williams represented Queensland and drove ‘Century Tire’, winning the first two heats of the 1924 Australian Championship and averaging 55.39 miles per hour with a top speed of 69 miles per hour. South Australia held the Griffith Cup for eight years and this win took the cup to Queensland. Here’s his story …………

This is a truly fascinating ‘true story’ of one of Australia’s early pioneers of Australian Power Boat Racing

Featuring a true blue Australian with a ‘CAN DO ATTITUDE’ – “these Legends just got stuff done”

There is a phrase that rings true when we think of these ‘extraordinary men’

“Today we stand on the shoulders of Giants” – (is a metaphor meaning that someone’s accomplishments are made possible by the work of those who came before them, allowing them to “see further”)

Below photograph: Lieutenant Horrie Miller in his Curtis Seagull overtakes ‘Century Tire’ (E.C. Griffith Cup Winner 1924 and 1925)
Photo donated by Roger Moore from Redland Bay, Queensland.

The E.C. Griffith Cup is the oldest perpetual trophy in Australia. Photographed here (nearly a hundred years later) is a picture of Matt Hall (Matt Hall is a Red Bull Air Race world champion and former Royal Australian Air Force top gun fighter pilot), racing Grant Harrison in GP1 ( Australian Power Boat Champion – Grand Prix 1 Hydroplane Race Team/Melton Toyota)racing at the 2023 E.C. Griffith Cup. Photographer: Owen Lambert VSBC member.

Below Gallery exhibits an original copy of the 1948 E.C. Griffith Cup Program (kindly donated by Julie Dodds – daughter of John Williams/Century Tire). The History page of this program acknowledges John Williams win in both 1924 and 1925.

The Gallery Below proudly exhibits a more recent E.C. Griffith Cup Program from the 2023 race meet. (Where, I, as the social media publisher enjoyed an all access pass and managed to get a few autographs with a ‘very limited edition’ 10 copies). Check it out …..

This year at the 2025 E.C. Griffith Cup we celebrate the 100 year Anniversary of ‘Century Tire’ 1925 E.C. Griffith Cup Win ! Owned and raced by the ‘Giant – Legend’ ***John Williams*** – for further information, please follow the Victorian Speed Boat Club social media pages here ….

Article Published by: GILLGIRL Media / GILFLITE Boats / GILFLITE

With thanks to Julie Dodds for realising and appreciation her Fathers incredible feat and her passion to pursue the available resources to gather and collate information, and her dedication to record and present this incredible piece of Australian Power Boat Racing History.

This is a story that will remain in the archives of Australian Power Boat Racing History and History itself!
We hope this tale of an ‘Australian Power Boat Racing Legend’ encourages others to find the writer within and dig a little further into the history of their pioneering Grandparents.

Please see copyright below

SPEED BOAT RACING IN THE SIXTY’S TO THE EIGHTY’S

By: GREG BALLEM (Kosi 16)   

In 1962, I went to Albert Park Lake to see a family friend race a boat.  Bill needed a Jockey and asked me to fill-in on the day. That was my introduction to speed boat racing and I was hooked! Immediately, I decided that this is what I want to do! RACE BOATS!!

I bought a new Jack Eddy Wooden Clinker Hull and fitted it out myself with a Side-Valve Ford V8 to run in the 266 ci Side-valve Class and named the boat ‘AN-TICKS’. I joined the Victorian Speed Boat Club and have remained a member ever since.

VS registration number: VS 88

Usually the Side-valve Class had about 12 to 14 boat entrants in a race, and back then, we raced in a clockwise direction.  Some races were over 6 laps and sometimes after a race, when you drove the boat back to the boat ramp, the race secretary would give you a set of flags and send you out as a duty boat because some of the duty boats were in the next race. (It was a can do era, and we did what we could, all in the name of Boat Racing). We call them “the good old days” ……….

To obtain a racing licence back then, (in the 1960’s) all I had to do was a couple of laps on the circuit while the race secretary watched from the bank.

At that time there were about 8 clubs in Victoria and you could race nearly every 2^nd weekend, somewhere in the state. Albert Park Lake was my favourite along  with Eppalock and of course, Yarrawonga on Boxing Day and New Years Day! 

There was always large fields of boat in each class.  There was always handicap races on the day, some were for these classes and some classes were mixed. That meant for some exciting racing, and driving!

SOLD THE BOAT IN 1970.

In 1980 I purchased a new Fibreglass Hydroplane Hull and fitted it out with a 1600 ci Ford Motor to race in the F/Ford Class which at the time, there were about 10 to 12 boats in the class. I called this new Hydro ‘AN-TICKS’. Racing had changed to a anti-clockwise direction to meet International regulations.

I had a lot of GOOD FUN, won a few races, got my name on some coveted trophies, went to a lot of great places, met great people and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

At one race meeting at Albert Park Lake there were 14 F/Fords, run 2 heats on the day.

I enjoyed the restricted classes because you could still tune and develop your boat within the regulations.

The following trophies were presented to me,

1982 Len Owen Memorial Trophy

1982 Stan Hammond Trophy

1983 Best Presented Boat

1983 Motor Craft Trophy

1984 Stan Hammond Trophy

1985 Northern Cylinder Head Trophy (Sponsor)

1986 Ron Wilkins Memorial Trophy

1986 Formula Ford Lap Record (Albert Park Lake)

1986 Motor Craft Trophy

1986 Len Owen Memorial Trophy

1987 State Trophy – Formula Ford

1987 Formula Ford Lap Record (Albert Park Lake)

1987 Stan Hammond Trophy

Words by Greg Ballem Owner / Driver: AN-TICKS (Jack Eddy Hull VS 88 and Fibreglass Hydroplane VH09)

Photos courtesy: Greg Ballem

Thank you Greg for sharing your fantastic memoirs and photos

Story and Photos by Greg Ballem

Published by GILFLITE – Paula Gill ‘GILLGIRL Promotions’

13th of December 1938 – 18th of February 2021

Australian Power Boat Racing History

Ode to Graeme Williamson

We had the pleasure of catching up with Scott Williamson, when he called into the GILFLITE factory to say ‘Gidday’ – a while ago. During Scott’s visit with myself and Dad (David Gill), I asked Scott if he would provide me with some photos and info about his Dads boat racing days so we could pay him a tribute in ‘Boat Talk’ by GILFLITE and ensure that Graeme’s memory lived on as he had worked at GILFLITE for many years before retiring. Highly regarded by David Gill as being one of the best, and most highly skilled at doing what he did in the industry.

I remember: Often on my way to the tea room from my office as I walked through the factory I would see in my passing a cloud of dust and the puffs of smoke from the red glow of the end of a cigarette hanging out of the mouth of Graeme, as he gradually appeared from the aura of fibreglass dust that surrounded him while he worked.

(Note: photos in this article relate to a period before this time).

Graeme was a very talented man in his profession, yet a man of few words. A smile and a nod from Graeme was like winning the lottery, it felt like a real sense of approval from a bloke who simply got on with the job.

 Graeme was certainly very economical with his words so we decided, why not pitch his story the same way.  He was more of a doer than a talker!  I always enjoyed getting a smile out of him and to this day, never forget his words of wisdom which ring truer and truer for me as the years go by.  One year on my birthday, Graeme said to me “the older you get, the faster time goes by” ……….

FOLLOWING STORY: Words written from the heart by Scott Williamson (Son of Graeme Williamson).

November 2022 – via email

Hi Paula,

Dad was born on the 13th of December 1938 and died on the 18th of Feb 2021. 

I’ve been told dad built Manta Ray 2 for Len Arnott but kept it after a payment dispute, I think that was around 1979, I’m pretty sure it’s his own design but inspired by others around at the time .

Dad had the Big crash at Yarrawonga in 1979/80 races.

The 2 unlimited hulls he built for Ron Burton were both  US Ron Jones designs. 

Dad started on Aussie Bud in Scoresby in 1984 and Aussie Endeavour I think in 1993. Dad wasn’t involved in the conversion from Merlin power to turbine.

 John Wellwood, and Brett Martin were also involved in the build. John took care of the Merlin and Brett the electrical. Bob Buchanan who drove fast/r also did a bit of fibreglass work and I was also fortunate to have a bit of part time work on the boat.

I know Dad had a hydro named Snoopy before Manta Ray 2 but others that he built or drove I’m not sure of, your dad might remember.  John Wellwood might be able to provide more info or Ian Harvey.

 I can’t really offer to much info on Dad or anecdotes as I didn’t grow up with him and he was very economical with his words.

 I always enjoyed  it when I was able to go to the races though and that I  got to experience the Thunderboat era.

I hope you had have enough to work with, If I think of something, I’ll let you know.

Cheers, Scott 

Manta Ray VS 65 – Photo Gallery below

Aussie Endeavor VS 22 – Photo Gallery below

Aussie Bud VS 22 – Photo Gallery below

Words by Scott Williamson: Dad (Graeme Williamson) built this (Aussie Bud) for Ron Burton in 1984 at his (Graeme’s) factory in Scoresby, this was to replace Miss Bud, I can’t remember exactly when? But it was destroyed in a crash at lake Learmonth after only a few race meetings .

Sometime between Aussie Bud  being destroyed and Dad starting on Aussie Endeavour there was another mould  that Dad started on for a different unlimited, but Ron changed his mind and whatever Dad had built was scrapped . 

I took most of the photos in the factory and at lake Boga, Max Lamb let me copy the better quality shots he took at Lake Learmonth.

P.S.

Just to clarify John Wellwood and Brett Martin worked on Aussie Endeavour not Aussie Bud, also with Manta Ray 2 some of those photos are from when Len Arnott flipped it at Melton, that’s what I was told by Lee Kavanagh, Len must have had the boat briefly before Dad took it back.

 After Dad had the Big crash at Yarrawonga he rebuilt it replacing the sponson that was ripped off, he did race it again after the rebuild, you can see it in the colour shot without the engine that the sponson has been repainted.

 Someone sent me that photo of the boat after dad sold it to someone in NSW, repainted as the Tramp. I’ve since be told that the boat has been destroyed..

Cheers, Scott 

Photos and information courtesy: Scott Williamson (Son of Graeme).

Presented by: GillGirl Productions – Paula Gill – (GILFLITE) – as supplied by Scott in November 2022

Thanks Scott, your words and photos add to the memory of another Legend of Australian Power Boat Racing – to go down in History!

Story and photo’s courtesy of Scott Williamson

Published by: GillGirl Media – GILFLITE Boats