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This years commemorative work, "Roostertail Frenzy - The 1976 Gold Cup" is
a portrayal of Atlas Van Lines and Miss U.S. dashing around
the Roostertail turn in the final heat of the 1976 Gold Cup.
The 69th running of the Gold Cup on June 27, 1976, saw over 500,000 race fans crowd the banks of a wind-whipped Detroit River to witness one of the most spectacular hydroplane races ever seen on those waters. Twelve boats would be competing for a $76,760.76 purse. Miss U.S. driven by Tommy D'Eath qualified with an average speed of 116.950 mph and Atlas Van Lines driven by Bill Muncey qualified at an average speed of 114.534 mph. Muncey already had 34 victories and five Gold Cup wins under his belt. Other contenders included Myr's Sheet Metal, Mr. Fabricator, Gemini, Miss Madison, Miss Budweiser, Probe, Just-A-Pest, Miss Vernor's, Olympia and Sunny Jim. During the torrid elimination heats on race day both Olympia and Miss Budweiser were wrecked. Olympia hit a large roller and tore off it's right sponson. The driver escaped without serious injury. After sweeping three elimination heats, Miss Budweiser hit another big roller and spun out, catapulting driver Howie Benns into the water with a broken leg. In the winner-take-all final, Miss U.S. on the inside took the lead in the first lap. Then Atlas Van Lines caught Miss U.S. at the Belle Isle turn and dashed ahead along the straightaway. It was a sponson to sponsor see-saw battle, each boating dashing along in a frenzy of roostertails on the treacherous river. Clinging to a mere boat-length lead for two laps, Muncey in the Atlas Van Lines was finally overtaken by Miss U.S. in the lower Belle Isle turn on the fourth lap to win the race. After a 23-year endeavor, Detroiter George Simon, owner of the Miss U.S. finally had his Gold Cup. In a wild pit victory celebration, even defeated Bill Muncey joined in the fray relating that he had been beaten by a superb all-Detroit effort. Ghosted portraits of drivers Bill Muncey and Tom D'Eath as well as Miss U.S. owner George Simon and former Gold Cup winner, owner, and founder of the Unlimited Racing Commision, Lee Schoenith will be hidden in the work.
All contents Copyright © 2000 Spirit of Detroit THUNDERFEST, except where noted.
Web page created by Brian Reed.
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