Miss Budweiser Is Worth Its Salt After Victory

Remember “Cub Busters?” How about “Salt Busters?”

That’s what Miss Budweiser, driven by Jim Kropfeld, is being called after winning in the salt water in Miami and becoming the first turbine engine to win in salt water.

Now, Miss Budweiser--which has come up with a separater to keep the salt water out of the combustion chamber--could make it a sweep of salt water locales in the Miller High Life Thunderboat Regatta at salty Mission Bay this weekend.

Entering this weekend, Chip Hanauer’s Miller American has a 569-point lead over Miss Budweiser, but Miller American is 0 for 5 in salt water.

“Whether we hit a lucky fluke in Miami is hard to say,” Kropfeld said. “I think we’ve controlled the situation and the other teams haven’t been able to.”

Last year in San Diego, Miss Budweiser won using a Rolls Royce Griffon engine. Miller American, the pre-race favorite, suffered a salt-water related compressor stall and broken prop when its Lycoming T-55 gas turbine was forced to deal with the salt water. This year in Miami, Hanauer came away empty once again.