Century Tire
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”)
Above: 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 above (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.