|
CHRYSLER JEEP SUPERSTORES DETROIT APBA GOLD CUP
It's official now ... we are a "GO"!
*** DETROIT MAYOR KWAME M. KILPATRICK UNVEILS PLAN FOR
Under the leadership of Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, the
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and the Board and Sponsors
of Thunderfest, a new plan is now in place securing the future
of the nation's premier power boating event.
This year's event, July 11 through 14, will begin with time
trials and free days and will culminate with the worlds fastest
power boats battling for the 2002 Chrysler Jeep Superstores
Detroit APBA Gold Cup on Sunday, July 14.
Race President Thomas McInnes called the race "the Indianapolis
500 of boat racing". "This is an intensely exciting time for the
race, because we've come through serious challenges to run the
longest, continuously-awarded motorsport trophy in the world,
despite adverse conditions that actually brought an end to our
open-wheel counterpart, the Detroit Grand Prix."
"We could not be more elated by this year's Thunderfest. This
event brings excitement and energy to our city. And everyone at
Thunderfest is deeply appreciative of Mayor Kilpatrick for
recognizing the importance of the race to the community as a
whole. Only through his leadership are we able to declare the
future of Thunderfest secure," said McInnes. "So we're inviting
everyone to come on down for a full schedule of races, and bring
the family!"
Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick said that Thunderfest is an
event worthy of the support it has earned.
"I'm excited to see that corporations and individuals in our
community are stepping up, not only to ensure that our city is
clean and safe, but also to preserve events like Thunderfest
that offer things for families to enjoy in the city of Detroit",
Kilpatrick said.
This year's event marks a cooperative support package including
resources for use in retiring previous obligations and support
for this year's races.
For previous obligations, a $360,000 package is provided,
including a $150,000 loan from the Detroit Economic Growth
Corporation, guaranteed by General Motors, National City Bank
and individual members of the board of Spirit of Detroit
Thunderfest. The balance of support for previous obligations
comes from the Ford Foundation, DaimlerChrysler, National City
Bank and DTE.
This year's event is sponsored by Chrysler Jeep Superstores,
which has been with this event for seven consecutive years and
is the title sponsor of the APBA Gold Cup race, and by
Budweiser, Pepsi, Authorized Cellular/Verizon, Sindbad's and
The Roostertail, as well as additional local sponsors.
*** MEDIA INFO FROM SPIRIT OF DETROIT THUNDERFEST
HISTORY: One of racing's most prestigious events, the Chrysler
Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup features the world's
fastest race boats. Founded in 1962, the Spirit of Detroit
Thunderfest Inc. is a group of volunteers dedicated to
supporting and promoting powerboat racing on the Detroit River.
The group provides the people power needed to stage this dynamic
event. About 600 volunteers pay $30 a year to become a member
and help support the event.
UNLIMITEDS: All boats are at least 28' in length and powered by
Lycoming Turbine Engines, WW II Allison Airplane engines or
WW II Rolls Royce Merlin engines and multiple automotive engines
combining for a total of 900 cubic inches. These boats reach
speeds close to 225 mph down the backstretch of the 2-1/2 mile
oval course. There are no restrictions on reciprocating engines
-- thus, the name Unlimited. Approximately 11 Unlimiteds are
expected to race on the Detroit River. These boats compete for
the most prestigious trophy in all of powerboat racing -- the
Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup.
UNLIMITED LIGHTS: These boats are roughly 21-24' in length and
reach speeds up to 165 mph. The powerplant can be up to 511ci
for carburated engines, or 468ci for those running superchargers
and methanol. About 12 Unlimited Lights will compete this year.
On Friday night, the Chrysler Jeep Automotive Gold Cup Race will
take place at 5:15 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, these boats
will compete for the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Automotive Gold Cup.
JERSEY SPEED SKIFFS: A 16' lap strake rowboat powered by a 300
H.P. small block Chevy with driver and rider seated behind the
motor traveling at over 80 mph. Close racing in an
unpredictable, skipping, hopping bounding boat makes a real
crowd-pleasing sight. Detroit welcomes back this exciting class
with a predicted 12 boats racing on the river competing for the
Kowalski Sausage Championship.
INFLATABLES: These boats are capable of running in the roughest
water conditions known to the sport of boat racing and share
many characteristics as the Offshore boats with similar handling
as tunnel boats. These boats, also called Thunderducks, require
a pilot and co-pilot with speeds exceeding 50 mph. They measure
13' long and have a 6' beam. This year's race will be the
Sindbad's Outboard Performance Inflatable Race.
VINTAGE: Vintage hydroplanes will be conducting historic laps on
the river on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11. Included in
the Vintage group this year will be the remake of 1970's Miss
Madison unlimited hydro that won the Gold Cup race in Madison,
Ind. This boat will be featured with actor Jake Lloyd in the
movie 'MADISON.' The movie will be released in October.
TIME: Qualifying and testing for all classes will take place
Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12, from approximately 9am
to 5pm. All heats are run on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday,
July 14. The final heat is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Sunday.
CROWD ESTIMATE: More than 250,000 fans -- one of the largest
single-day crowds for a sporting event in the USA.
PARKING: All parks have on-site parking or reserved lots nearby.
A shuttle service is available from Thursday - Sunday of race
week from Henderson Park located at Burns Dr. and Jefferson Ave.
TELEVISION: FOX-2 Detroit is the official television station for
the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup.
RADIO: WWJ 950 AM is the official radio station and will be
broadcasting the race live on-site on Sunday, July 14, with news
highlights throughout race week.
TICKET INFO: Eleven viewing locations are available along the
Jefferson side of the Detroit River. Pit tours and group rates
are available. Free viewing is available on Belle Isle and at
Gabriel Richard and Owens Park on the Jefferson side of the
Detroit River. For ticket info call Thunderfest at 800-359-7760
or go to the www.thunderfest.com. General Admission park tickets
are sold through TicketMaster, at 248.645.6666. During race
week, tickets will be sold at Gregory's Boat Works on 9666 E.
Jefferson at Waterworks Park.
*** THE MARK TATE STORY
A third generation boat racer, Mark Tate began his racing career
at age 13 in the J Stock Outboard Class. He was elected to the
APBA Inboard Hall of Champions in 1981, was National High Point
Champion in the 850-CC Class in 1980-81-82, and in the 7-Litre
Class in 1986 and 1988.
Tate handled Jerry Schoenith's DOUBLE TROUBLE on the short-lived
Automotive Thunderboat Association circuit in 1987 and landed
his first Unlimited assignment in 1990 with Jim Harvey's OH BOY!
OBERTO team. Mark was voted Unlimited Rookie of the Year.
Only five drivers have won four National High Point
Championships in the Unlimited ranks. "The Tater" is one of
them. (The other four are Bill Muncey, Chip Hanauer, Dean
Chenoweth, and Dave Villwock.) Tate won the driving championship
in 1991 with WINSTON EAGLE, in 1994-95 with SMOKIN' JOE'S, and
in 1997 with CLOSE CALL.
Mark was also elected to the APBA Unlimited Hall of Champions
in 1991-94-95-97.
A resident of Wayne, Michigan, Tate has two APBA Gold Cup
victories (in 1991 and 1994). He won both before his hometown
crowd on the Detroit River. After going winless during the 1992
and 1993 seasons with WINSTON EAGLE, Tate returned to victory
lane in 1994 by winning the Gold Cup with SMOKIN' JOE'S. (He won
four preliminary heats and then came from behind on the second
lap of the Final Heat to take the lead from Nate Brown and THE
TIDE.)
Mark had one of his best years in 1995. Along with wins at
Evansville (Indiana), Madison (Indiana), the Tri-Cities
(Washington), and San Diego (California), Tate was runner-up in
Phoenix (Arizona), Kansas City (Missouri), Dallas (Texas), and
Honolulu (Hawaii). Plus, he interrupted MISS BUDWEISER's top-
qualifier string by posting the fastest speed at the
Tri-Cities.
His best showing in seven years with the Competition Specialties
team was probably the 1997 season finale in Honolulu, where Mark
enjoyed a perfect weekend. He qualified fastest, smashed
records, and finished first in all four heats. The effort
secured Tate's fourth driving championship.
Following the unexpected death of team owner Steve Woomer in the
spring of 1998, Mark found himself without a ride for much of
the next year and a half. Then came a phone call from Jim
Harvey in August 1999. Tate agreed to replace Steve David, who
retired following the Tri-Cities race. Mark drove the Harvey
Motorsports boat at the last four races of 1999.
He finished third at Kelowna, B.C., and gave spirited chase to
Dave Villwock and MISS BUDWEISER in Heat 3-A at San Diego.
(Tate averaged 143 miles per hour to Villwock's 144.)
The Harvey team was hampered by mechanical difficulties in 2000.
But they nevertheless managed to put together several impressive
performances during the year. Tate guided the U-2 hydroplane to
second-place at Lake Havasu City (Arizona) and fourth at
Detroit.
Between 1990 and 2000, Mark Tate drove in 88 Unlimited races and
finished in the top-three at 46 of them. He scored 12 victories,
was second 28 times, and third six times.
After taking a year off from the Unlimiteds, Mark is back at the
wheel of Jim Harvey's boat for 2002. It's a safe bet that his
fellow drivers will know that he's back when they see Tate at
the starting line, full throttle, and going away.
- Brian Reed
|
|
All contents Copyright © 2002 Spirit of Detroit THUNDERFEST, except where noted.
Written by Brian Reed.
|
![[Text Bullet]](../../img/apbasml3.gif){kind=small}
Return to the Top NEWSLETTER page.