HAPO Columbia Cup

Last updated
HAPO Columbia Cup
HAPO Gold Cup logo.jpg
Event information
Type H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race
Race area Columbia River, Tri-Cities, Washington
DatesJuly 24–26
Sponsor HAPO Community Credit Union
Distance2.5 mi (4 km)
Media coverage KNDU-TV
First race1966
Former namesAtomic Cup
Columbia Cup
Website www.waterfollies.com

The HAPO Columbia Cup is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held each July on the Columbia River in Columbia Park, Tri-Cities, Washington. The race is the main attraction of the annual Water Follies festivities. With the exception of 2020, Tri-Cities has hosted a race consecutively since 1966.

Contents

History

The Columbia River towns of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland first climbed on the Unlimited bandwagon in 1966 with the first annual Tri-Cities Atomic Cup. There had been talk of inviting the Unlimiteds there as early as 1958. But 1966 was when it finally happened. Bill Brow was the winner that first year, driving Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser.

Driver Dave Villwock and the Miss Elam Plus team won the 2006 Columbia Cup under extraordinary circumstances. Their boat "blew over" during the running of preliminary Heat 2-A. They rebounded in time to win the next two heats and the overall championship.

After the race at Detroit, the home of the annual Gold Cup race, was originally cancelled in 2015, the Gold Cup was moved to the Tri-Cities race, renaming the race to the Gold Cup for that year. When the Detroit race came back at the end of 2015 and into 2016, the Gold Cup returned to the city, and the Tri-Cities race returned to the "Columbia Cup" again.

The race is run on a 2.5 mile oval course located in an area on the Columbia River referred to as the "McNary Pool. [1] "

List of Tri-Cities Unlimited Hydroplane Champions

Champions of Tri-Cities Unlimited Hydroplane Events [2]
YearEventBoatDriver
1966Atomic CupMiss BudweiserBill Brow
1967Atomic CupMiss BardahlBilly Schumacher
1968Atomic CupMiss Eagle ElectricWarner Gardner
1969Atomic CupMYR’s SpecialDean Chenoweth
1970Atomic CupPay ‘n Pak ‘Lil BuzzardTommy Fults
1971Atomic CupMiss MadisonJim McCormick
1972Atomic CupAtlas Van LinesBill Muncey
1973APBA Gold CupMiss BudweiserDean Chenoweth
1974U.I.M. World’s ChampionshipPay ‘n PakGeorge Henley
1975APBA Gold CupPay ‘n PakGeorge Henley
1976Columbia CupAtlas Van LinesBill Muncey
1977APBA Gold CupAtlas Van LinesBill Muncey
1978Columbia CupMiss BudweiserRon Snyder
1979Columbia CupAtlas Van LinesBill Muncey
1980Columbia CupAtlas Van LinesBill Muncey
1981Columbia CupThe Squire ShopChip Hanauer
1982Columbia CupThe Squire ShopTom D’Eath
1983Columbia CupAmerican Speedy PrintingJack Schafer, Jr.
1984APBA Gold CupAtlas Van LinesChip Hanauer
1985Columbia CupMiller AmericanChip Hanauer
1986Columbia CupMiller AmericanChip Hanauer
1987Columbia CupMiss BudweiserJim Kropfeld
1988Columbia CupMiss BudweiserTom D’Eath
1989Columbia CupCooper’s ExpressMitch Evans
1990Columbia CupMiss BudweiserTom D’Eath
1991Columbia CupWinston EagleMark Tate
1992Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserChip Hanauer
1993Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserChip Hanauer
1994Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserChip Hanauer
1995Budweiser Columbia CupSmokin’ Joe’sMark Tate
1996Budweiser Columbia CupPICO American DreamDave Villwock
1997Budweiser Columbia CupPICO American DreamMark Evans
1998Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserDave Villwock
1999Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserDave Villwock
2000Budweiser Columbia CupMiss E-Lam PlusMark Evans
2001Budweiser Columbia CupZnetix IITerry Troxell
2002Budweiser Columbia CupMiss E-Lam PlusNate Brown
2003Budweiser Columbia CupLlumar Window FilmMark Evans
2004Budweiser Columbia CupMiss BudweiserDave Villwock
2005Budweiser Columbia CupEllstrom E-Lam PlusDave Villwock
2006Atomic CupEllstrom E-Lam PlusDave Villwock
2007Lamb Weston Columbia CupEllstrom E-Lam PlusDave Villwock
2008Lamb Weston Columbia CupOh Boy! ObertoSteve David
2009Lamb Weston Columbia CupOh Boy! ObertoSteve David
2010Lamb Weston Columbia CupOh Boy! ObertoSteve David
2011Lamb Weston Columbia CupSpirit of QatarDave Villwock
2012Lamb Weston Columbia CupGraham TruckingJimmy Shane
2013Lamb Weston Columbia CupOh Boy! ObertoSteve David
2014HAPO Columbia CupObertoJimmy Shane
2015HAPO APBA Gold CupObertoJimmy Shane
2016HAPO Columbia CupMiss HomeStreetJimmy Shane
2017HAPO Columbia CupGraham TruckingJ. Michael Kelly
2018HAPO Columbia CupDelta RealtracAndrew Tate
2019HAPO Columbia CupGraham TruckingJ. Michael Kelly
2021HAPO Columbia CupPinnacle Peak ConsultingCorey Peabody
2022HAPO Columbia CupMiss HomestreetJimmy Shane
2023HAPO Columbia CupBeacon PlumbingCorey Peabody

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References

  1. TCWF Media Guide Archived 2017-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 2021 Hydro Record Book and Statistics. Edmonds, WA: Unlimited NewsJournal. 2021. pp. 31–32.