THUNDERFEST: SIGNAL FLAG ONLINE

SIGNAL FLAG ONLINE #56

CHRYSLER JEEP SUPERSTORES DETROIT APBA GOLD CUP
Race: July 11-14, 2002
Saturday July 6 2002
*** TICKET WILL-CALL AND CREDENTIAL PICKUP
If you did not receive your tickets in the mail, then you should plan on picking them up at "will-call" near the race site. The exact location is the rear entrance of the Gregory Boat company at 9666 E. Jefferson, immediately next to Waterworks park. Their website has a good map: http://www.gregoryboat.com
I don't have a direct number yet, but the main line should have a selection to forward you to will-call next week (800.359.7760) Note that our offices at The Book Tower will be closed from July 9 through July 15 while we're at the race site.
For volunteers, media and officials, credential pickup will be at the same location. The temporary phone number is usually the same from year to year (313.824.0350).
The ticket will-call and credential areas will be open Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Additional hours may be added.
*** FREE VIEWING FROM WATERWORKS GRANDSTANDS ON QUALIFYING DAYS
On Thursday and Friday July 11th and 12th, entrance into the main grandstands in Waterworks park is FREE! Everyone is welcome!! The feature of the qualifying days is the Automotive Gold Cup race at about 5pm on Friday, when the Unlimited Lights take to the water for the first racing action of the weekend. Daily pit passes are $10 on Thursday and Friday - see the teams and boats up close!
*** MORE BARGAINS: $2 PIT TOURS, UD CALENDAR, FREE VIEWING
Pit Tours on Thursday and Friday are $2, hosted by Unlimiteds Detroit, a local fan club. Get up close with the boats on a guided tour! Arrange your tour early in the day at the UD trailer across from the blue Awards Stand in Waterworks park. Don't forget to check out the 2002 calendar published by UD ... it's my own perennial "must have" souvenir. It runs July to July and has a great hydro photo for each month.
As always, viewing from the Belle Isle beach is free for every day of the event! http://thunderfest.com/spectate/bimap2.html Follow the yellow line, park at the [P], and go to the beach. There's a nominal parking fee to Belle Isle Park & Recreaction.
*** AUDIO BROADCAST OF THE GOLD CUP EVENT - TWO FULL DAYS!
Just like last year, we plan on joining with MLive.com to bring you two full days of streaming audio, direct from the Public Address system!
To make sure you're ready, test your system setup for RealAudio playback. Go to the MLive.com Cafe at http://www.mlive.com/cafe and select any choice under "Previous Guests". If you have problems please let me know asap at sayhello@thunderfest.com.
If you don't have a RealAudio player installed, please visit "http://www.real.com/" to download the software. Look around to find the "Free RealOne Player Only" link. The others, "RealOne Superpass" or "RealOne Plus" are also options. The Superpass is a 14 day demo, after which you can still use the basic features. I'm not sure what happens if you don't have RealPlayer installed - perhaps Windows Media Player can play the stream but I kind of doubt it.
*** AUDIO BROADCAST OF THE RACE IN MADISON THIS WEEKEND ON WORX
A local radio station in Madison, WORX presents this weekends race live on the radio and their coverage can be found on the internet as well. Go to http://www.worxradio.com and click on the WORX logo to the left of the American flag to hear their great coverage and get your adrenalin flowing for the Gold Cup!
*** ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AREA
The roads in our area have been slowly improving over the past couple years, but they're still working and you may be delayed or detoured getting to the Detroit area or race site.
First, for those of you coming from the South, I-75 is down to one lane in southern Wayne County. This lane is mostly for truck traffic going to the Ambassador Bridge, and passenger vehicles may be prohibited. Follow the detour.
Second, sections of I-94 are closed in the area of the race site. Some may be weekend only closures. Gratiot Avenue to Conner is the best general detour. If you're staying in the Downtown area, it's the usual quick trip up Jefferson.
If you aren't familiar with the area you'll want to look at a good map of the area, or better yet, bring one along. For all the details of road construction and detours, visit http://www.fixdetroit6.com which is an official MDOT page.
*** DETROIT AND GOLD CUP HISTORY FACTS

Since 1916, the Detroit River has been the scene for volumes of Gold Cup history

1922: 80 years ago, Jesse G. Vincent won as the owner and driver of Packard ChrisCraft

1946: 56 years ago, bandleader Guy Lombardo drove his Tempo VI to victory in the first post-war Gold Cup

1950: 52 years ago, the face of powerboat racing changed drastically when the APBA announced that the winning boat would defend the Gold Cup the following year in the boat's hometown. That year, Ted Jones drove Slo-Mo-Shun IV to victory, taking the Gold Cup from Detroit to Seattle

1956: 46 years ago, Bill Muncey won his first Gold Cup in Miss Thriftway

1963: 39 years ago, Ron Musson won his first of three consecutive Gold Cups in Detroit in the Miss Bardahl

1982: 20 years ago, Chip Hanauer won his first of seven consecutive Gold Cups driving for Fran Muncey

1991: 11 years ago, Mark Tate won his first Gold Cup driving the Winston Eagle

1997: 5 years ago, Dave Villwock won his second Gold Cup but first as the driver of Miss Budweiser

The first APBA Gold Cup was awarded in 1904 in New York to C.C. Riotte in "Standard" with an average speed of 23.6 MPH

First Detroit entry to win the Gold Cup: Miss Detroit driven by J. Milot and J. Beebe in 1915 with an average of 48.5 MPH

Detroit's first Unlimited race was in 1916, and was won by Bernard Smith in Miss Minneapolis

Local Detroit boat racer Gar Wood won the Gold Cup five straight times - 1917-1921 - topping out at 70.0 MPH in 1920

Chip Hanauer has won 11 APBA Gold Cups including seven straight - 1982-1988

Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser has won 13 APBA Gold Cups

Dave Villwock is a four-time APBA Gold Cup Champion, his most recent in 2000 with the fastest ever average of 162.850

Team Owner Fred Leland has won two Gold Cups with the PICO sponsorship in 1996 and 1999 - first with Dave Villwock then with Chip Hanauer

- Brian Reed
- SODT Internet Committee Chairman