Florida’s Big Dig

The story of the Intracoastal and other thoughts on water, waterways, land, and ecology

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I am Bill Crawford. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., bisected by the Intracoastal. I graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in commerce, with distinction, concentrating in finance. I obtained my juris doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. I have practiced law for more than 43 years. I am a professional historian and author of the award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” (2008) the story of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. I have practiced law in Florida since 1975. Along the way, I developed a keen interest in researching and writing history, publishing numerous scholarly journal articles and one award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” the story of Florida’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, using my legal pbackground to understand legal transactions, deeds, wmortgages, bonds, preferred stock, and legal descriptions of land and water. In recent years, I have maintained a limited practice consulting with other professionals on various historical land and water issues, including sovereign, riparian, and submerged land rights, focusing on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Florida inland waterways. I maintain a broad regular website here at www.floridasbigdig.me and a website solely on how the book was researched as well as some of the major themes explored. The website on the book itself is at www.floridasbigdig.com. The website on contacts for professional services is at www.floridasbigdiglawyer.com?. A fifteen-page outline of my book

1959 Gold Coast Marathon from North Miami to West Palm Beach on the Intracoastal

1959 Gold Coast Marathon from North Miami to West Palm Beach on the Intracoastal
1959 Gold Coast Marathon from North Miami to West Palm Beach on the Intracoastal

From 1949 until sometime in the early 1970s, speed boat enthusiasts raced in the Gold Coast Marathon, an unlimited race with as many as 13 classes from the Pelican Harbor Yacht Club at the 79th Street Causeway to West Palm Beach and back the following day. The brainchild of Sam Griffiths, founder of the Pelican Harbor Yacht Club, Griffiths himself was a powerboat racer who won the first Marathon and two others. Top finishers completed the first 67-mile leg in one hour. The very best drivers in hydroplanes topped 100 miles per hour in the fastest stretches of the race course. In later years, the Marathon moved to the new Miami Marine Stadium amidst safety concerns when scores of small boats entered the race. Toward the end, the Marathon garnered the sanctioning of the prestigious American Power Boating Association. The long-abandoned Stadium is now in the hands of preservationists who hope to restore the Stadium to its former beauty and style along with educational programming.

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5 responses to “1959 Gold Coast Marathon from North Miami to West Palm Beach on the Intracoastal”

  1. The Florida Panther | Florida's Big Dig

    […] AmySmall on 1959 Gold Coast Marathon from… […]

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  2. Tom Sansbury Avatar
    Tom Sansbury

    Ran in the Gold Coast Marathon 3 years in the 200 class for boats with max 30 hp. Finished 2ed in class twice.

    Reply
    1. Florida's Big Dig Avatar
      Florida’s Big Dig

      Tom Stansbury: I got interested in hydroplane several years ago when I drove up the coast to interview a Ft. Lauderdale resident, Stu Wilson who won the 1956 GCM on the Intracoastal from Miami to WPB and return the next day. He passed away after, not because of, the interview. I have his oral history on DVD. His brother Don was more famous because he was one of the three who died on Black Sunday.

      Reply
    2. Florida's Big Dig Avatar
      Florida’s Big Dig

      One of the three who died on Black Sunday. I recall he died in the collision of two boats vying for the President’s Cup on the Potomac River Basin. The third died in another race the same dad. Hydroplanes were never the same. William G. Crawford, Jr. “Bill”. wcrawford41@gmail.com.

      Reply
  3. Tom Davis Avatar
    Tom Davis

    Terrific info. Raced in Gold Coast Marathon 1967 [?] finished 5th. O.A. on the north run. Sank at Palm Beach GEORGE WASHINGTON Hotel finish line. Ted Ramsey rebuilt sponsons on my Colcock 17’Holman & Moody 225 HYDROPLANE. Raced back to Miami next day. Sank again at PELICAN HARBOR Yacht.Club. FINISH LINE finished 7th. O.A. ???? Hydro sponsor co owner Jeff Hunt [ only raced 12 miles before he blew motor in Rayson Craft 20′ Holman Moody 427 NASCAR over cam motor].Hunt was to cheap to spend extra $300. for alloy over the wooden sponsons damaged by cocoanuts both ways.Think this was next to last year. of race. T.I.D.E. ferrari racing, Raced 81 Le Mans 24 Hours 5TH. O.A. IMSA class winner. TEAM & CAR owner SEPT 1980- JULY 1989 .tom I. davis,Jr. Ferrari 512 BBLM #31589. LAST ferrari to finish in top 5 and win class. http://www.palmbeachtidemuseum.com [561] 635 9447. Like to buy my old APBA race boats 1959 – 1972. tomdavisferrari@gmail.com Please help save the MIAMI MARINE Stadium & old Palm Beach from the hit & run carpetbagger builders ??? Anna Marshall yachts, fluent Russian 24 / 7. PBTIDEYACHTS@AOL.COM

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