Madison Regatta

Last updated
Madison Regatta
Event information
Type H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race
Race area Ohio River, Madison, Indiana
DatesJuly 1–3
Sponsor
  • MainSource Bank (Title sponsor)
  • Belterra Casino Resort (Presenting sponsor)
Distance2.5 mi (4 km)
Media coverage ESPN3 [1]
WORX-FM
First race1950
Website www.madisonregatta.com

The Indiana Governor's Cup (more commonly known as the Madison Regatta) is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually on Independence Day weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture released in 2005, titled Madison which starred actor Jim Caviezel.The Regatta was part of the APBA Gold Cup in 1979, 1980. 2019, & will be contested in 2021.

Contents

History

Informal racing took place in Madison, Indiana as early as 1911. But the first major race didn't occur until 1929. That was when the now-defunct Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association conducted a race for the 725 Cubic Inch Class, which evolved into the Unlimited Class after World War II. The MVPBA conducted the Webb Trophy at Madison in 1930. The Webb Trophy was the MVPBA equivalent of the APBA Gold Cup—their top award.

The 725s raced at Madison throughout the 1930s until the disastrous Ohio River flood of 1937 and World War II brought down the curtain for a while.

The current series of regattas in Madison began in 1949. This was a "wildcat" race, administered by the Ohio Valley Motor Boat Racing Association of Cincinnati. The largest class present was the 225 Cubic Inch Class.

The first Unlimited race took place in 1950. The Unlimited races at Madison from 1950 to 1953 were one-heat multi-class free-for-all affairs. They didn't count for National High Points.

The first High Points Unlimited race at Madison occurred in 1954. This came about largely through the efforts of Madison Courier columnist Phil Cole. (A High Points Unlimited race must be scheduled for a minimum of two heats with at least four boats making a legal start.)

Madison had an uninterrupted string of High Points Unlimited races every year from 1954 through 2012. The 2013 races were canceled because of flooding on the Ohio that covered the pit area, although the land-based events associated with the regatta went on as scheduled. [2]

Madison hosted the APBA Gold Cup in 1971, 1979–1980, 2019, and 2021. Madison hosted the U.I.M. World's Championship in 1972 and 2004. [3]

The Madison committee is the longest continuously active Unlimited committee in the country. Madison Regatta, Inc. (formerly the Madison Boat Club) has hosted the Unlimiteds every year since 1950 (except in 2013 and 2015 because of river conditions). Seattle didn't start until 1951. Detroit has been on the circuit since 1946, but with four different committees.

List of Madison Regatta winners

2008 winner FormulaBoats.com MadisonRegattaWinner2008.jpg
2008 winner FormulaBoats.com

Source: [4] [3]

YearEventDriverBoat
1951Indiana Governor's CupMarion CooperHornet
1952Indiana Governor's CupBurnett BartleyWildcatter
1953Indiana Governor's CupBurnett BartleyWildcatter
1954Indiana Governor's CupBill CantrellGale IV
1955Indiana Governor's CupDanny FosterTempo VII
1956Indiana Governor's CupFred AlterMiss US I
1957Indiana Governor's CupJack RegasHawaii Kai III
1958Indiana Governor's CupDon WilsonMiss US I
1959Indiana Governor's CupRon MussonHawaii Kai III
1960Indiana Governor's CupBill MunceyMiss Thriftway
1961Indiana Governor's CupBill MunceyMiss Century 21
1962Indiana Governor's CupBill MunceyMiss Century 21
1963Indiana Governor's CupBill BrowMiss Exide
1964Indiana Governor's CupChuck ThompsonTahoe Miss
1965Indiana Governor's CupChuck ThompsonTahoe Miss
1966Indiana Governor's CupMira SlovakTahoe Miss
1967Indiana Governor's CupBilly SchumacherMiss Bardahl
1968Indiana Governor's CupBilly SchumacherMiss Bardahl
1969Indiana Governor's CupDean ChenowethMyr's Special
1970Indiana Governor's CupDean ChenowethMiss Budweiser
1971 APBA Gold Cup Jim McCormick Miss Madison
1972 U.I.M. World's Championship Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines
1973Indiana Governor's CupMickey Remund Pay 'n Pak
1974Indiana Governor's CupGeorge HenleyPay 'n Pak
1975Indiana Governor's CupGeorge HenleyPay n'Pak
1976Indiana Governor's Cup Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines
1977Indiana Governor's CupEric Godfrey Miss Budweiser
1978Indiana Governor's CupBill Muncey Atlas Van Lines
1979APBA Gold Cup Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines
1980APBA Gold CupDean Chenoweth Miss Budweiser
1981Indiana Governor's CupDean ChenowethMiss Budweiser
1982Indiana Governor's CupTom D'EathThe Squire Shop
1983Indiana Governor's CupJim KropfeldMiss Budweiser
1984Indiana Governor's Cup Chip Hanauer Atlas Van Lines
1985Indiana Governor's CupSteve ReynoldsMiss 7-Eleven
1986Indiana Governor's Cup Chip Hanauer Miller American
1987Indiana Governor's CupJim Kropfield Miss Budweiser
1988Indiana Governor's CupScott PierceMr. Pringle's
1989Indiana Governor's CupJim KropfieldMiss Budweiser
1990Indiana Governor's CupChip HanauerMiss Circus Circus
1991Indiana Governor's CupMark EvansAmerican Spirit
1992Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup Chip Hanauer Miss Budweiser
1993Indiana Governor's Cup Chip Hanauer Miss Budweiser
1994Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup Chip Hanauer Miss Budweiser
1995Budweiser Indiana Governor's CupMark TateSmokin' Joe's
1996Budweiser Indiana Governor's CupMark TateSmokin' Joe's
1997Budweiser Indiana Governor's CupDave VillwockMiss Budweiser
1998Budweiser Indiana Governor's CupDave Villwock Miss Budweiser
1999Jasper Indiana Governor's CupChip HanauerMiss Pico
2000Indiana Governor's CupDave VillwockMiss Budweiser
2001Beltano Casino Madison RegattaSteve David Oh Boy! Oberto
2002Budweiser Madison RegattaNate BrownMiss Elam Plus
2003Budweiser Madison RegattaDave VillwockMiss Budweiser
2004 U.I.M. World's Championship Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser
2005Budweiser Madison RegattaJ.W. MyersMiss Elam Plus
2006Madison RegattaDave VillwockMiss Elam Plus
2007Indiana Governor's CupDave VillwockMiss Elam Plus
2008Indiana Governor's Cup Jeff Bernard Formulaboats.com
2009Indiana Governor's CupDave VillwockMiss Elam Plus
2010Indiana Governor's CupSteve David Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison
2011Indiana Governor's CupSteve DavidOh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison
2012Lucas Oil Indiana Governor's CupDave VillwockSpirit of Qatar
2013No race; canceled due to high water
2014Indiana Governor's CupJ. Michael KellyU-5 Graham Trucking
2015[NO TROPHY AWARDED]J. Michael Kelly 1U-5 Graham Trucking
2016MainSource Bank Madison RegattaJimmy Shane Homestreet Bank
2017Indiana Governor's CupAndrew TateDelta Realtrac
2018Madison RegattaJimmy ShaneMiss Homestreet
2019APBA Gold CupJimmy ShaneMiss Homestreet
2020APBA Gold CupNo race; canceled due to COVID
2021 [5] APBA Gold CupJimmy ShaneMiss Homestreet

1 H1 Unlimited cancelled the 2015 race because of high water and debris on the Ohio River where six of the 11 boats withdrew. A non-championship race was held instead with five boats.

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References

  1. ↑ "ESPN3 Platform Headlines H1 Video Streaming". H1 Unlimited . h1unlimited.com. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Madison Regatta will not be rescheduled in 2013". Louisville, KY: WHAS-TV. July 7, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  3. 1 2 2021 Hydro Record Book and Statistics. Edmonds, WA: Unlimited NewsJournal. 2021. pp. 31–32.
  4. ↑ "Race Results - 1950-1959". hydroplanehistory.com. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  5. ↑ "Jimmy Shane Wins 5th Gold Cup". NBC Right Now. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
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