 Sav-Air's Probe  Miss Budweiser  Miss Century 21 Some of the stars of the show were the vintage unlimited hydroplanes that thundered on the historic river during the inaugural event. With roostertails flying high, spectators witnessed and heard the growl of their 3000 horsepower Rolls-Royce Griffon and Allison engines that made Detroit the powerboat capital of America during the 20th century. Photographs to here by Phil Kunz  The Dodge Pits: During July 11-13, nearly seventy vintage powerboats participated on the Detroit River during this special sanctioned event regatta. The Detroit River-River Cruise highlighted the past 100 years of powerboat racing on the Detroit River, while commemorating the American Power Boat Association 100th anniversary celebration  You can almost see the smile on my face as I pump my fist for the crowd! What a thrill! Alan Radue - Agitator E-173  Vintage action in the pits. In all my days of attending the Detroit Gold Cup since the mid seventies, I never would have guessed I would have launched a hydroplane out of the Horace E. Dodge Pits.  Great Unlimited action in the pits!
August 22-24, 2003, the newly formed Detroit River Regatta Association, led by President/CEO Tom D'Eath, resurrected the APBA crown jewel of hydroplane racing. The new event featured 3 days of activities with the Gold Cup race as focal point. The event benefitted from fine weather, improved water conditions and a crowd that increased in size as the event progressed. Sunday's final saw the grandstands jammed with fans. New this year was the addition of vintage race boats running fly-bys, a Sweepstakes Free For All race, and a vintage Jersey Speed Skiff Championship. The decision to include vintage boats proved to be a popular one with everyone. Supportive of the D'Eath's and their strong leadership shown in the Vintage & Historic Division, the vintage family jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Gold Cup program. In the spirit of vintage cooperation, Barbara Carper & Ike Kielgass brought the U-60, Century 21 Gold Cup Winner from Seattle. It also campaigned as the Miss Thriftway in it's racing heyday. Marv Hart ran his Gentleman's racer King of Hearts. Boats representing 5 decades of racing ran fly byes for the fans. Included were such familiar names as Bill Sterrett's Miss Crazy Thing; Bill Fisk's GP-317 Irishman; Carl Wilson's Tiger; Tom Bertolini's Country Boy; AI Radue's Agitator; Dave Johnson's Close Shave; Bill Mehan's Tip Back. Others included Ron Taylor's Yellow Streak; Miss Rosie, Big Chief, Wildcatted and Short Circuit. Sweepstakes entries included GP-102, Propulsion, GP-59 Baby 0011111, GP -99 Controller, GP-56 Freedom, GP-6 Xanadu, UL-58 Union Dooz, GP-154 Pontiac Coil Express, and the UL-110. This event was hotly contested and a treat for the fans to watch. Schoenith's Roostertail Restaurant sponsored the vintage Jersey Speed Skiff Championship. Patrons enjoyed the close up look at these skiffs as they were pitted at the Restaurant between heats. 11 skiffs from yesteryear combined to give fans a visually pleasing, ear rattling show as they leaped and bounced noisily around the race course, shooting froth and spray everywhere. The grand stand spectators and Belle Isle docks were jammed with enthusiastic people who waved & cheered their approval as the fly byes sped close to shore. The skiff fleet represented 9 states. Included were Tom Wark JS-8 Jersey Girl, FI; Dave Yeager JS-97 River Rat, Ga; Chuck Warner JS-7 Hot Tub, Md; Marty Ferry JS-44 Puppy Love, Md; Paul Nowack JS-22 Heartbeat, In; Robert Francis JS-7 Blu By U, Tn; Bruce Lowe JS-78 Lowe Blow, NJ; Bill DeGlopper JS-25 Hot Ticket NY; Rich DeGlopper JS-88 Stormalong NY. It was a wonderful occasion for all the vintage participants, culminating with an awards ceremony where vintage drivers received their plaques at the same time as the Gold Cup was presented. Detroit RRA was a terrific host for this event. |
