Jim Thompson (powerboat racing)
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" G. Thompson is a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and sportsman. He is best-known for designing and building the Miss Supertest hydroplanes.
Thompson was born in London, Ontario
to "Colonel" J. Gordon Thompson and Essie McCreery. The couple also had two daughters named Catherine and Essie. His father "Colonel" J. Gordon was a businessman involved in the manufacturing of gasoline pumps, and subsequently the selling of gasoline, a sportsman and a golfer who founded the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. The Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre at Western in London, Ontario was named in his honour.
Thompson attended primary school in London and secondary school in St. Catharines, Ontario
at Ridley College
. In 1944, he graduated as a Naval Officer from the Royal Canadian Naval College/Royal Roads Military College
. Thompson also spent two years studying engineering at the University of Toronto
, and one year studying business at the University of Western Ontario
. While attending the University of Toronto (Engineering) and the University of Western Ontario (Business), he continued to serve with the Naval Reserve on HMCS York
and HMCS Prevost
.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he competed in unlimited hydroplane racing. In 1950, Thompson and his father bought a hydroplane named Miss Canada IV from a retired racer named Harold Wilson. The Thompsons later renamed the boat Miss Supertest I and refurbished it. However, mechanical problems would lead Thompson to abandon Miss Supertest I and set his sights on designing and building a new boat. In 1954, he and his team built Miss Supertest II. She was 31 feet (9.4 m) long, 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, and equipped with a 2000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon
motor. On November 1, 1957, Miss Supertest II set a world Canadian and British Empire speed record for propeller-driven craft straightaway speed record of 184.494 miles per hour (296.9 km/h) in Picton, Ontario
. Miss Supertest II was retired the following year, and Thompson began designing his next boat.
Miss Supertest III
, which also featured a 2000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon motor, was designed specifically to compete for the Harmsworth Cup
. Miss Supertest III was christened in 1959 and went on to win the 1959 Detroit Memorial Regatta and the Harmsworth Cup in 1959, 1960, and 1961. When Miss Supertest III won the 1959 Harmsworth Trophy for Canada it ended 39 years of American domination. When Miss Supertest III' s pilot, Bob Hayward
, was killed in 1961 while driving Miss Supertest II in the Detroit River Silver Cup races in 1961, Thompson retired from racing. He said: "With the untimely death of Bob Hayward, the members of our racing team would derive little satisfaction from further success."
In 1959, Thompson was elected into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
and inducted in 1960. During the same year he received the Medal of Honour from the Union of International Motorboating. He also became the president of Supertest Petroleum Corporation Limited, a position he held until the company was purchased by British Petroleum in 1971.
Thompson was inducted into the Canadian Boating Federation Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2005, he was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
, along with the London Sports Hall of Fame.
He served as honourary Colonel of the 1st Hussars Regiment (RCAC) from 1979 to 1999.
Thompson has also been involved in the operations of the golf course that his father co-founded in London, Ontario during the Great Depression
. He was appointed Chairman of the Building and Construction Committee at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in 1972. He initiated and completed a study on water requirements and clubhouse expansion needs for future years. Then in 1983 he was elected President of the Club. Currently, Thompson serves as Greens Committee Chairman.
Thompson is now retired and lives in London, Ontario with his wife Beverly. The couple supports a number of local charities. They have five children and 15 grandchildren.
Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp in August 2011 honouring a hydroplane racingboat Miss Supertest III, her driver Bob Hayward and businessman Jim Thompson, who designed and built her.
Thompson was born in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
to "Colonel" J. Gordon Thompson and Essie McCreery. The couple also had two daughters named Catherine and Essie. His father "Colonel" J. Gordon was a businessman involved in the manufacturing of gasoline pumps, and subsequently the selling of gasoline, a sportsman and a golfer who founded the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. The Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre at Western in London, Ontario was named in his honour.
Thompson attended primary school in London and secondary school in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
at Ridley College
Ridley College
Ridley College is a co-educational boarding and day university-preparatory school located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 20 miles from Niagara Falls...
. In 1944, he graduated as a Naval Officer from the Royal Canadian Naval College/Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College was a Canadian military college located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The facility is currently being used as the campus for Royal Roads University, a public university that offers applied and professional academic...
. Thompson also spent two years studying engineering at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and one year studying business at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. While attending the University of Toronto (Engineering) and the University of Western Ontario (Business), he continued to serve with the Naval Reserve on HMCS York
HMCS York
HMCS York is a Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division located in Toronto, Ontario. Before the move to its current location on Lake Shore Boulevard West, it had been situated on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition...
and HMCS Prevost
HMCS Prevost
HMCS Prevost is a Naval Reserve unit commissioned Her Majesty's Canadian Ship, of the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve based in London, Ontario.- 1938 :...
.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he competed in unlimited hydroplane racing. In 1950, Thompson and his father bought a hydroplane named Miss Canada IV from a retired racer named Harold Wilson. The Thompsons later renamed the boat Miss Supertest I and refurbished it. However, mechanical problems would lead Thompson to abandon Miss Supertest I and set his sights on designing and building a new boat. In 1954, he and his team built Miss Supertest II. She was 31 feet (9.4 m) long, 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, and equipped with a 2000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon
Rolls-Royce Griffon
The Rolls-Royce Griffon is a British 37-litre capacity, 60-degree V-12, liquid-cooled aero engine designed and built by Rolls-Royce Limited...
motor. On November 1, 1957, Miss Supertest II set a world Canadian and British Empire speed record for propeller-driven craft straightaway speed record of 184.494 miles per hour (296.9 km/h) in Picton, Ontario
Picton, Ontario
Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County in southern Central Ontario, Canada. It is the county seat and largest community. Picton is located at the south-western end of Picton Bay, a branch of the Bay of Quinte, which is along the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario...
. Miss Supertest II was retired the following year, and Thompson began designing his next boat.
Miss Supertest III
Miss Supertest III
Miss Supertest III was a Canadian-designed and built hydroplane that won the 1959 Detroit Memorial Regatta and the 1959, 1960 and 1961 Harmsworth Cup races -- the only four races it ever entered. It was the only three-time Harmsworth Cup winner and the first non-U.S. winner in 39 years.Racing out...
, which also featured a 2000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon motor, was designed specifically to compete for the Harmsworth Cup
Harmsworth Cup
The Harmsworth Trophy is the popular name of the historically important British International Trophy for Motorboats.The Harmsworth was the first annual international award for motorboat racing. Officially, it is a contest not between boats or individuals but between nations...
. Miss Supertest III was christened in 1959 and went on to win the 1959 Detroit Memorial Regatta and the Harmsworth Cup in 1959, 1960, and 1961. When Miss Supertest III won the 1959 Harmsworth Trophy for Canada it ended 39 years of American domination. When Miss Supertest III
Bob Hayward
Robert D. Hayward was a Canadian powerboat racer who was a three-time winner of the Harmsworth Cup as the pilot of Miss Supertest III....
, was killed in 1961 while driving Miss Supertest II in the Detroit River Silver Cup races in 1961, Thompson retired from racing. He said: "With the untimely death of Bob Hayward, the members of our racing team would derive little satisfaction from further success."
In 1959, Thompson was elected into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
and inducted in 1960. During the same year he received the Medal of Honour from the Union of International Motorboating. He also became the president of Supertest Petroleum Corporation Limited, a position he held until the company was purchased by British Petroleum in 1971.
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame
The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was founded in 1993 by Lee Abrahamson and Gary Magwood assisted by Len Coates to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the Canadian motorsport community....
, along with the London Sports Hall of Fame.
He served as honourary Colonel of the 1st Hussars Regiment (RCAC) from 1979 to 1999.
Thompson has also been involved in the operations of the golf course that his father co-founded in London, Ontario during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He was appointed Chairman of the Building and Construction Committee at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in 1972. He initiated and completed a study on water requirements and clubhouse expansion needs for future years. Then in 1983 he was elected President of the Club. Currently, Thompson serves as Greens Committee Chairman.
Thompson is now retired and lives in London, Ontario with his wife Beverly. The couple supports a number of local charities. They have five children and 15 grandchildren.
Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp in August 2011 honouring a hydroplane racingboat Miss Supertest III, her driver Bob Hayward and businessman Jim Thompson, who designed and built her.