The Miss Madison Racing Team was established in 1961 when industrialist Sam DuPont donated his unlimited hydroplane known as Nitrogen to the people of Madison, Indiana.
When the original Miss Madison hydroplane was destroyed in a racing accident in 1962, DuPont sold his second boat, Nitrogen II, to the city for $5,000. The world’s only community owned hydroplane is administered by a board of directors appointed by the city’s mayor. Charlie Grooms serves as President of the Miss Madison, Inc. Board and Team Manager.
Over the years, 7 hulls have carried the name of Miss Madison and our sponsors, but the new racing hulls built by the Miss Madison crew in 2007 and 2018 are responsible for most of the success for Miss Madison Racing. The 2018 hull has accumulated 9 race victories, 2 APBA Gold Cup victories and 4 H1 Unlimited National Championships.
In total, the team has amassed 41 race victories, 6 APBA Gold Cup victories (1971, 2014, ’15, ’17, ‘19, ’21) and 12 National High Points Championships (2008, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ’24). Throughout the years the team has raced in partnership with sponsors including American Speedy Printing, Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Valvoline, DeWalt Power Tools, Kellogg’s, Oberto Beef Jerky, HomeStreet Bank and Goodman Real Estate. In 2022 and 2023, Miss Madison Racing fielded 2 hydroplanes, both the 2007 and the 2018 hulls for the entire season.
Miss Madison’s most iconic win came in 1971 when Jim McCormick captured the APBA Gold Cup in front of the hometown fans on the Ohio River. The story of the victory became the movie, Madison released in 2005.
The 2018 Hull was sold following the conclusion of the 2024 season.
More information about the historic hulls of the Miss Madison can be found on the Team Timeline page.
Specifications for the 2018 Hull
- Designer-Builder: Dale Van Weiringen, Dan Hoover, Michael Hanson, Larry Hanson and the Miss Madison Crew
- Race Victories: 9
- APBA Gold Cup Victories: 1
- H1 Unlimited Season Championships: 3
- Year Built: 2018
- Length: 30 ft.
- Width: 14′ 5″
- Weight: 6575 pounds
- Gearbox: 50% reduction
- Fuel: 60 gallons / Jet A or kerosene
- Propeller: 13-8-MO Stainless / 3 Blade – 26″ Pitch – 16″ Diameter (pitch will vary)
- Construction Material: Composite materials (Honeycomb aluminum, Fiberglass, carbon fiber)
- Engine: The Lycoming T-55 L-7 engine is a shaft turbine, rated at 2,650 horsepower at the output shaft. This engine was used in the Vietnam era by the twin engine Chinook Helicopter.
- Manufacturer: Avco Lycoming
- Output Shaft: 15,300 RPM
- Compressor Ratio: 7:1
- Weight: 600 pounds
- Oil Capacity: 5 gallons
Cockpit Design
The hydroplane utilizes a canopy from an F-16 jet fighter to protect the driver. The canopy is attached to a roll cage, which is bolted to a normal core cockpit. The driver sits in a form fitted seat utilizing a five-point harness to hold him in the seat. He also is supplied with compressed air and an oxygen mask to facilitate breathing should the cockpit fill with water.
