Detroit Hydrofest ~ Miss Madison Unlimited Hydroplane

August 22 – 24, 2025 (tentative)
Detroit River • 2.72 mile course

BACK IN 2025! The Motor City hosted its first major race in 1916 and continued to do so–off and on–until 1939. The Detroit Yacht Club was the usual host club. After time-out for World War II, Detroit hosted the first major post-war Unlimited race–the 1946 APBA Gold Cup–which was won by band leader Guy Lombardo, driving Tempo VI. Detroit has been a mainstay on the Unlimited calendar since 1946 and was designated as the home of the APBA Gold Cup in 1990. Nineteen consecutive APBA Gold Cup races were contested on the Detroit River. In 2015, the APBA Gold Cup moved to Tri-Cities, WA, but returned to the Detroit River in 2016.

Website: DetroitBoatRaces.com

Pit Location Waterworks Park next to Roosertail Restaurant, 100 Marquette Dr., Detroit, MI

2018 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest APBA Gold Cup

U-9 DELTA/REALTRAC, Andrew Tate (150.460 m.p.h.)
U-1 MISS HOMESTREET, Jimmy Shane (148.864 m.p.h.)
U-11, RELIABLE TOOL & DIE/J & D’s, Tom Thompson (113.325 m.p.h.)
U-440 BUCKET LIST RACING, Dustin Echols (84.710 m.p.h.)
U-7 SPIRIT OF DETROIT, Bert Henderson (DSQ)

2017 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest APBA Gold Cup

U-1 MISS HOMESTREET, Jimmy Shane (152.759 m.p.h.)
U-9 DELTA/REALTRAC, Andrew Tate (126.488 m.p.h.)
U-3, GRIGGS/ACE HARDWARE, Jimmy King (123.152 m.p.h.)
U-12 GRAHAM TRUCKING, J. Michael Kelly (DSQ, Fuel Violation)
U-7 SPIRIT OF DETROIT, Bert Henderson (DSQ, Accident, caused stoppage of heat)

2017 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest APBA President’s Cup

U-9 DELTA/REALTRAC, Andrew Tate (150.654 m.p.h.)
U-12 GRAHAM TRUCKING, J. Michael Kelly (147.900 m.p.h.)
U-1 MISS HOMESTREET, Jimmy Shane (143.314 m.p.h.)
U-7 SPIRIT OF DETROIT, Bert Henderson (132.883 m.p.h.)
U-440 BUCKET LIST RACING, Dustin Echols (75.244 m.p.h.)

2016 UAW/GM Hydrofest APBA Gold Cup

U-5 GRAHAM TRUCKING, J. Michael Kelly (150.157 m.p.h.)
U-1 MISS HOMESTREET, Jimmy Shane (146.103 m.p.h.)
U-7 GRAHAM TRUCKING II, Jeff Bernard (141.320 m.p.h.)
U-21 AL DEEBY DODGE, Brian Perkins (137.379 m.p.h.)
U-11 PETERS & MAY, Tom Thompson (131.041 m.p.h.)
U-9 DELTA/REALTRAC, Andrew Tate (129.065 m.p.h.)

2015 UAW/GM Hydrofest

U-1 OBERTO, Jimmy Shane (147.795 m.p.h.)
U-5 GRAHAM TRUCKING, J. Michael Kelly (146.992 m.p.h.)
U-21 GO FAST TURN LEFT RACING, Brian Perkins (136.092 m.p.h.)
U-27 DALTON INDUSTRIES, Cal Phipps (132.167 m.p.h.)
U-9 RED DOT, Scott Liddycoat (131.453 m.p.h.)

2014 APBA Gold Cup

U-6 OBERTO, Jimmy Shane (140.863 m.p.h.)
U-21 GO FAST TURN LEFT, Brian Perkins (134.876 m.p.h.)
U-7 GRAHAM TRUCKING, Cal Phipps (127.289 m.p.h.)
U-1 GRAHAM TRUCKING, J. Michael Kelly (144.534 m.p.h.)
U-22 WEBSTER RACING, Mike Webster (113.005 m.p.h.)

2013 APBA Gold Cup

U-95 SPIRIT OF QATAR, Kip Brown (145.707 m.p.h.)
U-9 TEAM RED DOT, Jon Zimmerman (144.885 m.p.h.)
U-11 PETERS & MAY, Tom Thompson (124.575 m.p.h.)
U-1 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David (147.409 m.p.h.)
U-5 GRAHAM TRUCKING, Jimmy Shane (102.426 m.p.h.)

2012 APBA Gold Cup

U-1 SPIRIT OF QATAR 96, Dave Villwock (151.089 m.p.h.)
U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David (147.040 m.p.h.)
U-37 MISS BEACON PLUMBING, J. Michael Kelly (138.801 m.p.h.)

2010 APBA Gold Cup

U-96 SPIRIT OF QATAR, Dave Villwock (138.807 m.p.h.)
U-7 VALKEN, Scott Liddycoat (131.360 m.p.h.)
U-5 GRAHAM TRUCKING, Jeff Bernard (129.239 m.p.h.)

2009 APBA Gold Cup

U-96 ELLSTROM ELAM PLUS, Dave Villwock
U-1 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David
U-5 FORMULABOATS.COM, Jeff Bernard

2008 APBA Gold

Race cancelled due to wind and rough waters

2007 APBA Gold Cup

U-1 MISS ELAM PLUS, Dave Villwock (147.687 m.p.h.)
U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David (146.526 m.p.h.)
UU-13 SPIRIT OF DETROIT, J. Michael Kelly (142.560 m.p.h.)

2006 APBA Gold Cup

U-37 MISS BEACON PLUMBING, Jean Theoret
U-3 MISS CHRYSLER JEEP, Jimmy King
U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David

2005 APBA Gold Cup

U-13 MISS AL DEEBY DODGE, Terry Troxell
U-16 MISS E-LAM PLUS, J.W. Myers
U-5 FORMULABOATS.COM, Mike Weber

2004 APBA Gold Cup

U-10 MISS DYC, Nate Brown
U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David
U-16 MISS E-LAM PLUS, Terry Troxell

2003 APBA Gold Cup

U-3 FOX HILLS CHRYSLER-JEEP/SUN COATINGS, Mitch Evans
U-1 MISS BUDWEISER, Dave Villwock
U-9 AL DEEBY DODGE, Mike Hanson

2002 APBA Gold Cup

U-1 MISS BUDWEISER, Dave Villwock
U-99 FOX HILLS CHRYSLER-JEEP, Terry Troxell
U-9 TUBBY’S GRILLED SUBMARINES, Mike Hanson

2001 APBA Gold Cup

U-9 TUBBY’S GRILLED SUBMARINES, Mike Hanson
U-100 ZNETIX, Greg Hopp
U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO, Steve David

2000 APBA Gold Cup

U-1 MISS BUDWEISER, Dave Villwock
U-10 MISS DYC, Mark Weber
U-5 APPIAN JERONIMO, George Stratton

1999 APBA Gold Cup

U-100 MISS PICO, Chip Hanauer
U-1 MISS BUDWEISER, Dave Villwock
U-10 MISS DETROIT YACHT CLUB, Mark Weber

Detroit Unlimited Hydroplane Speed Records

1-Lap Qualification (2.5-mile): 170.087 mph WINSTON EAGLE/Mark Tate, 1993.

3-Lap Qualification Average (5-mile): 168.937 mph MISS BUDWEISER/Chip Hanauer, 1992.

1-Lap Competition (2.5-mile): 158.155 mph MISS BUDWEISER/Chip Hanauer, 1993.

4-Laps Heat (10 miles): 149.622 mph U-37 MISS BEACON PLUMBING/Jean Theoret, 2008.

*Restricted motor 5-Lap Heat Race (12.5-miles): 152.591 mph MISS PICO/Chip Hanauer, 1999

Detroit Unlimited Hydroplane Turbine Restricted Speed Records

1-Lap Qualification (2.5 miles): 163.609 mph U-16 MISS E-LAM PLUS/Dave Villwock, 2007

2-Lap Qualification Average (5 miles): 162.580 mph U-1 MISS BUDWEISER/Dave Villwock, 2000.

1-Lap Competition (2.5 miles): 155.402 mph U-9 AL DEEBY DODGE/Mike Hanson, 2003.

3-Laps Heat (7.5 miles): 150.758 mph U-9 AL DEEBY DODGE/Mike Hanson, 2003.