The APBA Gold Cup (originally known simply as the Gold Cup, a

speedboat A motorboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine; faster examples may be called "speedboats". Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the intern ...

race) is an American hydroplane boat race, named for the American Power Boat Association. 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. First run in 1904, it is the oldest trophy in motorsports. 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 APBA Gold 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 is second, with 10, and Bill Muncey 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 (now H1 Unlimited) declared the round official, counting all heat races and qualifying results for eries championship purposes since nine boats started the first heat race. With two fully completed heats, 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) for National Boat Championship purposes.

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 American sports trophies and awards 1904 establishments in Michigan 1916 establishments in Michigan