The APBA Gold Cup (originally known simply as the Gold Cup, a speedboat race) is an American hydroplane boat race, named for the

American Power Boat Association The American Power Boat Association (APBA) is an American membership-owned corporation. In 1903, New York's Columbia Yacht Club had formulated a constitution for what ultimately became the APBA. It is the United States sanctioning authority for the ...

. It is now run as part of the

H1 Unlimited H1 Unlimited is an American Unlimited Hydroplane racing league that is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA). Until 2009, the series was known as ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane, in turn renamed from APBA Unlimited Hydroplane in 2004. ...

season. Starting in 1904, the Gold Cup consist of three heats, and starting in 1918 the heat distance was 30 statute miles. In 1963 the number of heats was increased to four, but the total distance was reduced to 60 statute miles. In 1976, the Unlimited Racing Commission adopted a winner-take-all format for all its races including the God Cup. In 1981 the total number of heats was reduced to three with the total distance being reduced to 45 statute miles. Since 1983 the Gold Cup has been competed at various total distances ranging from 36 statute miles to 52.5 statute miles. The driver with the most Gold Cup victories is

Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer (born July 1, 1954 in Seattle) is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 11 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the '' ...

, with 11 victories.

Dave Villwock Dave Villwock (born February 10, 1954) is a hydroplane driver, known best for racing Unlimited Hydroplanes. Villwock has the most victories in unlimited hydroplane history for a driver with 67. Villwock won ten National High Point Championshi ...

is second, with 10, and

Bill Muncey William Edward Muncey (November 12, 1928 – October 18, 1981) was an American hydroplane racing legend from Detroit, Michigan. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and hydroplane historian Dan Cowie described Muncey as "without question, the ...

is third, with eight.

List of Gold Cup winners

Source: Notes: 1960: Heat 1A completed. Second half of first heat was abandoned when Gale V crashed in Heat 1B. By rule, two heats were required to be completed for an official meeting for series championship purposes. Round abandoned and cancelled by APBA because of high winds. 2008: Heats 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B completed. Round abandoned after crash in Heat 3A and high winds, declared No Contest by APBA.

American Boat Racing Association H1 Unlimited is an American Unlimited Hydroplane racing league that is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA). Until 2009, the series was known as ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane, in turn renamed from APBA Unlimited Hydroplane in 2004. ...

(now H1 Unlimited) officials declared the round official as nine boats started the first heat, and two heats were completed when an official round requires four boats start the first heat. U-5 FormulaBoats.com (Jeff Bernard, driver) declared ''round winner'' with 850 points (fifth in qualifying, first in heat 1B, and first in heat 2B) when meeting abandoned after it was official.

References

External links

American Power Boat Association websiteH1 Unlimited website
{{DEFAULTSORT:APBA Gold Cup H1 Unlimited Racing motorboats Hydroplanes Motorboat racing Annual sporting events in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1904 Racing Sports trophies and awards 1904 establishments in Michigan 1916 establishments in Michigan