The British motorboat drivers hold their 80 mile race on a choppy sea. The pace reaches 50 miles an hour and frequently more. Tommy Sopwith gets the checkered flag only to be disqualified for missing a buoy. Keith Horseman wins. The start of the annual 80-mile race staged in the English Channel by the English Motor Boat Drivers. MS - At times these boats are traveling at 50 MPH, with some of them becoming airborne for a few seconds. MS - Sea is very choppy and the pilots of the boats at times have a hard time hanging on. Medium CUS - Number 8 driven by Sopwith gets the checkered flag declaring him the winner. But as faith would have it, Sopwith was disqualified for missing a buoy and Keith Horseman who piloted Buffins Coffin Number 1 is declared the official winner of the English Channel Race.