If Art Asbury, the diminutive driver who piloted Miss Supertest to a world's unlimited class speedboat record last November, never cracks another mark or wins another race, he'll at least have the satisfaction of knowing that his work may result in saving the lives of hundreds of vacation and weekend boating enthusiasts.
Now you will undoubtedly wonder what connection there is between wheeling a powerful, big speedboat at speeds of up to 190 miles an hour and chugging through the water in a six horsepower outboard. There is a definite connection as Asbury discovered. And here's the story!
While a United States speedboat, speedy Shanty I, driven by Col. Russ Schleeh, was going through a trial run prior to the President's Cup race at Washington, D.C., last September, the boat hit a swell at 150 m.p.h. and crashed. Schleeh was thrown from the boat, unconscious.

Face Down
He was wearing a life jacket, which kept him afloat. But when the nearby patrol boat went to pick him up, they found, Schleeh floating face down. Despite the fact that he was rescued in a matter of seconds; despite the fact that he was in a Government approved life jacket, Schleeh nearly drowned. In fact, for some minutes after he was hauled from the water it was touch and go whether Schleeh was going to be revived.
Aside from a few bruises and a wrenched shoulder, Schleeh suffered no serious injury. Yet, life jacket and all, he almost became a victim of the waters. This created a great deal of consternation among the other drivers scheduled to compete in the President's Cup race, among them Art Asbury. Many of them put on life jackets similar to what Schleeh wore and hurled themselves Into the water, simulating unconsciousness.  In many cases, they found that their life jackets FORCED them face down. These same jackets had been approved by the Canadian Boating Federation and the Canadian Government, too!
"It is conceivable that in rough water that all these jackets would force the wearer's face into the water," Asbury pointed out yesterday. Result was the drivers were more than a mite reluctant to go through with the race. However, the US Navy  came to their assistance. "The navy had a life jacket that was an improvement over the ones we were wearing, but far from perfect. For example,  when I tested It, it didn't keep my face out of the water. But it did seem to work fairly well with heavier men."

Holds Demonstrations
Some time later, when the Canadian Boating Federation held its convention here in London, Asbury with the cooperation of Bill Chipperfield, physical director of the YM-YWCA, conducted a series of demonstrations at the "Y" pool. He showed the CBF committee that the life jacket which was approved by the boating body, was not only virtually useless, but an actual danger to wear.
"As far as I'm concerned," Asbury said, "it kept a person afloat and perhaps saved dragging operations. But that's all."
At the same time, Asbury demonstrated the U.S. Navy life jacket on three men with different physiques, with the following results:
(1) On a tall, heavy man it was perfect.
(2) On it lighter man of about 160 pounds (tall and slight) It failed miserably.
(3) On a short, 130 pound man, it was a dead loss.
The word "dead," which Asbury used is most appropriate.
Asbury's demonstration was witnessed by a representative from the Department of Transport, as well as the members of the CBF and immediately following, there was a conclave of officials from the Department of Transport, the Canadian Board of Steamship Inspectors, the Canadian Red Cross, the Canadian Boating Federation and life jacket manufacturers.
A committee, headed by Dr. Bernard Wilensky, of Toronto, and which included Asbury, was formed. 
Their object: To conduct a series of tests and investigate what is required to manufacture a life jacket that is 100 percent safe for everyone. "Dr. Wilensky wants a jacket that will lift the face of an unconscious person out of the water within 10 seconds. That is the maximum time," Asbury said.
A meeting of the National Research Council attended by Asbury in Ottawa, came up with the specifications for the perfect life jacket for recreation boaters. But the actual manufacture of such an Item was alot easier discussed than done.

Got Him Started
 But it got Asbury started! When he returned to him home at Ox Tongue Lake, Ont., Asbury went to work on three old life jackets. With the help of his mother, who did the sewing end of the job, he tore them apart and kept putting the pieces together until he came up with what he thought was the ideal life jacket.
This week, tests at the Y pool proved that Asbury was right!
Asbury's jacket fulfilled every expectation and yesterday Asbury took it to Toronto for official approval.
"All other life jackets will be obsolete," Asbury contends. "The new jacket will not only be completely safe, but It will be comfortable to wear." He added: "Of course racing jackets will have to be specially made and I'm planning more tests and experiments before they're perfected."
Now you can see the connection between speedboat racing and pleasure crafts!