Detroit Celebrates 100 Years of Boat Racing
The City of Detroit is getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary of boat racing on the Detroit River next week (August 26-28) when the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane series returns to the Motor City for the UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest presents the APBA Gold Cup. A field of nine boats is expected to compete for the granddaddy of boat racing trophies.
One of the favorites is a young 26-year old rookie. Andrew Tate is a fourth generation Detroit powerboat racer, and nothing would be sweeter for the driver of the U-9 Les Schwab/Sound Propeller hydroplane than to win this race in his hometown.
“We are in Hockeytown, so I will compare it to the Stanley Cup,” said Tate. “To win the Gold Cup is a dream come true for anyone who races boats. You dream about it from the day you start racing until the day you win, or you retire, whichever comes first.”
While this will be only his fourth H1 Unlimited race of his career, Tate already has one H1 race win under his belt. Tate won his first race two weeks ago in Seattle capturing the Albert Lee Appliance Cup on Lake Washington.
This week, Andrew will be trying to accomplish what his father Mark did twice (1991, 1994) in Detroit by winning the Gold Cup, but it won’t be easy.
“Out in Seattle the top qualifier averaged 150 mph, and the next three boats were all within five 100th of a second,” said Tate. “The boats are all so competitive that to win a race it all comes down to the start.
“You better have your boat at the starting line when the clock hits zero, or you do not have a chance of beating these other drivers.”
Three different drivers have won the first three races on the H1 circuit. Tate won in Seattle (August 7), J. Michael Kelly in the U-5 Graham Trucking captured the HAPO Columbia Cup in Kennewick, Wash. (July 31) and Jimmy Shane driving the U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank was victorious in Madison, Ind. at the MainSource Bank Indiana Governor’s Cup (July 3).
Gold Cup qualifying and testing will take place Friday with more testing, qualifying, and preliminary heats on Saturday. The remainder of the preliminary heats and the winner-take-all championship final will run Sunday.
Formula 2 outboard tunnel boats and the automotive powered Grand Prix Hydroplanes will also be racing throughout the weekend.
For more race information go to http://www.detroitboatraces.com/ or call 313-329-8047.
For more information on the H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes and the new H1 2016 mobile app click http://www.h1unlimited.com/
THE 2016 GOLD CUP FLEET
U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, Jimmy Shane
U-5 Graham Trucking, J.Michael Kelly
U-7 Graham Trucking II, Jeff Bernard
U-9 Delta Gear/Realtrac, Andrew Tate
U-11 Peters & May, Tom Thompson
U-21 Miss Al Deeby Dodge, Brian Perkins
U-27 Dalton Industries, Cal Phipps
U-57 Porter Racing, Corey Peabody
U-99.9 CarStar powered Miss Rock, Kevin Eacret
2016 NATIONAL HIGH POINT TOTALS (Drivers)
1-Jimmy Shane, 4690
2-J. Michael Kelly, 4411
3-Brian Perkins, 3313
4-Andrew Tate, 2638
5-Jean Theoret, 2290
6-Tom Thompson, 2268
7-Jimmy King, 2039
8-Jeff Bernard, 1803
9-Kevin Eacret, 1325
10-Cal Phipps, 1100
11-Dustin Echols, 0
NOTES:
— The U-27 suffered a blow over accident in Madison and has not raced since July 3. The boat is expected to compete in Detroit.
— The Gold Cup is the oldest active motorsports trophy — first contested in 1904 on the Hudson River in New York.
— “Free Friday” is Aug. 26 and includes free admission to the grandstands and pits during practice runs.
— Only two rookie drivers have ever won the Seattle unlimited hydroplane race and they were both from Detroit. Tate, of course, and Jim Ranger in 1966.
— Not only is Andrew’s Dad Mark a champion hydroplane driver, his mother Sandy also raced powerboats in APBA (American Power Boat Association) competition.
Detroit Celebrates 100 Years of Boat Racing
The City of Detroit is getting ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary of boat racing on the Detroit River next week (August 26-28) when the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane series returns to the Motor City for the UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest presents the APBA Gold Cup. A field of nine boats is expected to compete for the granddaddy of boat racing trophies.
One of the favorites is a young 26-year old rookie. Andrew Tate is a fourth generation Detroit powerboat racer, and nothing would be sweeter for the driver of the U-9 Les Schwab/Sound Propeller hydroplane than to win this race in his hometown.
“We are in Hockeytown, so I will compare it to the Stanley Cup,” said Tate. “To win the Gold Cup is a dream come true for anyone who races boats. You dream about it from the day you start racing until the day you win, or you retire, whichever comes first.”
While this will be only his fourth H1 Unlimited race of his career, Tate already has one H1 race win under his belt. Tate won his first race two weeks ago in Seattle capturing the Albert Lee Appliance Cup on Lake Washington.
This week, Andrew will be trying to accomplish what his father Mark did twice (1991, 1994) in Detroit by winning the Gold Cup, but it won’t be easy.
“Out in Seattle the top qualifier averaged 150 mph, and the next three boats were all within five 100th of a second,” said Tate. “The boats are all so competitive that to win a race it all comes down to the start.
“You better have your boat at the starting line when the clock hits zero, or you do not have a chance of beating these other drivers.”
Three different drivers have won the first three races on the H1 circuit. Tate won in Seattle (August 7), J. Michael Kelly in the U-5 Graham Trucking captured the HAPO Columbia Cup in Kennewick, Wash. (July 31) and Jimmy Shane driving the U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank was victorious in Madison, Ind. at the MainSource Bank Indiana Governor’s Cup (July 3).
Gold Cup qualifying and testing will take place Friday with more testing, qualifying, and preliminary heats on Saturday. The remainder of the preliminary heats and the winner-take-all championship final will run Sunday.
Formula 2 outboard tunnel boats and the automotive powered Grand Prix Hydroplanes will also be racing throughout the weekend.
For more race information go to http://www.detroitboatraces.com/ or call 313-329-8047.
For more information on the H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes and the new H1 2016 mobile app click http://www.h1unlimited.com/
THE 2016 GOLD CUP FLEET
U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, Jimmy Shane
U-5 Graham Trucking, J.Michael Kelly
U-7 Graham Trucking II, Jeff Bernard
U-9 Delta Gear/Realtrac, Andrew Tate
U-11 Peters & May, Tom Thompson
U-21 Miss Al Deeby Dodge, Brian Perkins
U-27 Dalton Industries, Cal Phipps
U-57 Porter Racing, Corey Peabody
U-99.9 CarStar powered Miss Rock, Kevin Eacret
2016 NATIONAL HIGH POINT TOTALS (Drivers)
1-Jimmy Shane, 4690
2-J. Michael Kelly, 4411
3-Brian Perkins, 3313
4-Andrew Tate, 2638
5-Jean Theoret, 2290
6-Tom Thompson, 2268
7-Jimmy King, 2039
8-Jeff Bernard, 1803
9-Kevin Eacret, 1325
10-Cal Phipps, 1100
11-Dustin Echols, 0
NOTES:
— The U-27 suffered a blow over accident in Madison and has not raced since July 3. The boat is expected to compete in Detroit.
— The Gold Cup is the oldest active motorsports trophy — first contested in 1904 on the Hudson River in New York.
— “Free Friday” is Aug. 26 and includes free admission to the grandstands and pits during practice runs.
— Only two rookie drivers have ever won the Seattle unlimited hydroplane race and they were both from Detroit. Tate, of course, and Jim Ranger in 1966.
— Not only is Andrew’s Dad Mark a champion hydroplane driver, his mother Sandy also raced powerboats in APBA (American Power Boat Association) competition.