CHRYSLER JEEP DETROIT APBA GOLD CUP July 8-11, 1999 Wednesday May 5th 1999 *** MORE NEWS ABOUT THE U-10 TEAM For 1999, the U-10 (Kim Gregory owner, Detroiter Mark Weber at the helm) will run under the flag of the Detroit Yacht Club as the "Miss DYC". The DYC's history with Gold Cup racing dates back to at least 1918 when Gar Wood won at an average speed of 52.1 mph. *** JACK LOVE INDUCTED INTO MBIA HALL OF FAME John W. (Jack) Love, the longtime leader of the Spirit of Detroit Association, was inducted into the Michigan Boating Industries Hall of Fame on December 3, 1998. In the early 1960s when the future of annual Unlimited hydroplane races in Detroit was threatened, Mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh called upon the late Jack Adams to create a group which would draw upon the resources of the entire boating community to preserve Detroit's racing tradition. The organization was called the Spirit of Detroit Association (SODA). Jack Love was one of the first members on the board. Love became an officer and later Commodore and Race Chairman. "He pushed us to be the best and when we got there, he raised the bar," said John Gysin II, the current race chairman. "Our committee chairmen all knew that Jack put his faith in them and they had better deliver, and they did." "The volunteers loved Jack, because he would never ask them to do anything he hadn't already done himself. Even when he was the chairman of the board, Jack would pitch in and put up fences, load patrol boats and get ready for the race" said Gysin II. *** CHAIRMAN'S CORNER The Board of Directors for the Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest has appointed me as the CEO for the Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest, Inc. I will remain as Chairman of the Board and Treasurer until my term is over in October. I look forward to working closely with all the sponsors, vendors, city officials, volunteers and friends of Thunderfest as we work together to produce the most spectacular event ever this year. We warmly welcome back Chrysler Jeep as our title sponsor. Our event will continue to be titled The Chrysler Jeep Detroit APBA Gold Cup presented by the Southeast Michigan Jeep Dealers and the Chrysler Plymouth Superstores. Let's also hope for a Chrysler Jeep Hydroplane in the pits again as well! The news just keeps getting better and better! Thunderfest has joined forces with The Parade Company (Producers of America's Thanksgiving Parade) and WDIV TV-4 to produce a wonderful new civic event that will be staged on the Detroit River Saturday, July 10, 1999. The event will be an International Illumination Boat Parade. A formal announcement will be made very soon and we will report all the details in another issue of the Signal Flag. We welcome Mary Mason-Dillon aboard who has been hired as Parade Coordinator. This year brings a new addition to the classes racing in Detroit. We have added the 5-Liter Hydroplanes, which are one of the most competitive classes racing in the APBA. Detroit will host the 5-Liter North American Championship for the first time ever. We welcome this new class and look forward to great new racing action! Due to economic issues the Grand Prix Hydroplanes will not be in the line-up of classes this year. A special thank you goes out to Lee Hertz, Dave Zurwinski, Audrey Brodie and all the people involved with the Grand Prix Hydroplanes. They have been part of the show here in Detroit since 1977 and have become one of the fan favorite classes. Congratulation goes out to our dear friend, and our Chairman Emeritus, Jack Love for being inducted into the Michigan Boating Industries Hall of Fame this past December! A very special thank you goes to Happy & Bill Rands for their continued and very generous support as the Co-Chairs of the annual Hydrofest, which is a fundraiser to benefit The Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest and Special Olympics, Michigan. This party will be held Saturday, July 10, at the Roostertail Catering Club. This is a wonderful party that supports two great causes. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you there! --- Thomas R. McInnes --- CEO / Board Chairman / Treasurer --- Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest, Inc. - Brian Reed (Volunteer WebMaster: http://www.thunderfest.com)

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