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Governor's Cup

Gissberg Twin Lakes Park
Marysville, Wash.
Date
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Context
The Indiana Governor's Cup (more commonly known as the Madison Regatta) is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually on Independence Day weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture released in 2005, titled Madison which starred actor Jim Caviezel. The Regatta was part of the APBA Gold Cup in 1979, 1980. 2019, & will be contested in 2021.

Informal racing took place in Madison, Indiana as early as 1911. But the first major race didn't occur until 1929. That was when the now-defunct Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association conducted a race for the 725 Cubic Inch Class, which evolved into the Unlimited Class after World War II. The MVPBA conducted the Webb Trophy at Madison in 1930. The Webb Trophy was the MVPBA equivalent of the APBA Gold Cup—their top award.

The 725s raced at Madison throughout the 1930s until the disastrous Ohio River flood of 1937 and World War II brought down the curtain for a while.

The current series of regattas in Madison began in 1949. This was a "wildcat" race, administered by the Ohio Valley Motor Boat Racing Association of Cincinnati. The largest class present was the 225 Cubic Inch Class.

The first Unlimited race took place in 1950. The Unlimited races at Madison from 1950 to 1953 were one-heat multi-class free-for-all affairs. They didn't count for National High Points.

The first High Points Unlimited race at Madison occurred in 1954. This came about largely through the efforts of Madison Courier columnist Phil Cole. (A High Points Unlimited race must be scheduled for a minimum of two heats with at least four boats making a legal start.)

Madison had an uninterrupted string of High Points Unlimited races every year from 1954 through 2012. The 2013 races were canceled because of flooding on the Ohio that covered the pit area, although the land-based events associated with the regatta went on as scheduled. Madison hosted the APBA Gold Cup in 1971, 1979-1980, 2019, and 2021. Madison hosted the U.I.M. World's Championship in 1972 and 2004.

The Madison committee is the longest continuously active Unlimited committee in the country. Madison Regatta, Inc. (formerly the Madison Boat Club) has hosted the Unlimiteds every year since 1950 (except in 2013 and 2015 because of river conditions). Seattle didn't start until 1951. Detroit has been on the circuit since 1946, but with four different committees.

Picture
Race Format
  • LOVE PLAN: Three flights of preliminary heats, five laps each.
  • First and second connies for each class (depending on total boat count and attrition).
  • First connie winner advances to the final as a front line starter. Second connie winner advances to the first connie as a front line starter.
  • Final heat with top five boats in each class plus the connie winner on the front line.
  • Classic Triple Crown Series Event #3

2022 Race Results
1/10 Scale Modern Class
  1. Mike Hughes, 1991 Winston Eagle
  2. Tyler McKeon, 2019 J&D's
  3. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate
  4. Chuck Murray, 2000 Miss Elam
     DNF Paxton Reunanen, 2018 Homestreet Bank ^

1/7 Scale Modern Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 2021 Graham Trucking
  2. John Sjostrom, 1990 Oh Boy! Oberto
     DNF David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate

1/10 Scale Classic Class
  1. David Newton, 1979 Squire Shop
  2. Jim Latimer, 1985 U-33
  3. Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther ^
  4. Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame
     DNF Tyler McKeon, 1977 Anhueser Bush Natural Light

1/7 Scale Classic Class
  1. David Newton, 1970 Pay 'n Pak
  2. Paxton Reunanen, 1975 Pay 'n Pak ^
  3. Tyler McKeon, 1976 Olympia Beer
  4. Rob Edwards, 1982 Gilmore Special
  5. Nelson Holmberg, 1972 Notre Dame

1/10 Scale Vintage Class
  1. David Newton, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos)
  2. Chuck Murray, 1964 Savair's Mist
  3. Kyson Lor, 1961 Miss Madison ^
     DNF Gerry Bordon, 1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss
     DQ Bill Mowatt, 1968 Miss Bardahl

1/7 Scale Vintage Class
  1. Craig Mullen, 1958 Hawaii Kai III
  2. Tyler McKeon, 1967 Miss Lapeer ^
     DNF Gerry Bordon, 1969 Parco's O-Ring Miss (awarded 169 points)
     DNF Terry Harmer, 1986 Miss Bahia
     DQ Jay Fonville, 1975 Kirby Classic

^ – trailer boat after winning vintage first consolation

Race History
1/10 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2012 — 1960 Miss Burien. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts.
Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister.
Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton.
Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2015 – 1975 Miss Vernors. Owner/Driver: Robert Roberts
Location: Lake Alice Joy, Snohomish, Washington
2016 – 1961 Dewey's Lumberville. Owner/Driver: John Earnest
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2017 – 1969 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2018 – 1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2019 – 1971 Hallmark Homes. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2020 - Canceled due to Covid 19 Pandemic
2021 - 1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
2022 - 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

1/10 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2020 - Canceled due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 - 1974 Miss U.S., Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
2022 - 1979 Squire Shop. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: David Newton
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

1/10 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2012 – 1999 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister.
Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 2010 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Craig Bradshaw.
Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 — 2012 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg.
Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2015 — 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
Location: Lake Alice Joy, Snohomish, Washington
2016 – 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2017 – 2014 Spirit of Qatar. Owner/Driver: Len Taylor
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2018 – 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2019 – 1973 Red Man Too. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans
Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington
2020 - Canceled due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 - 2015 Dalton Industries. Owner: Rick Evans. Driver: Paul Dunlap
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
2022 - 1991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2021 - 1958 Maverick. Owner/Driver: Jim McKeon
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
2022 - 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Co-Owners: Craig Mullen/Ben Keller. Driver: Craig Mullen
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

1/7 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2021 - 1972 Notre Dame. Owner: Gary Hansen. Driver: Nelson Holmberg
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
2022 - 1970 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: David Newton
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2022 - 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg
Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.

History of the Real Governor's Cup
The Lucas Oil Indiana Governor's Cup or Madison Regatta, is a hydroplane boat race and is the first official race of the Air National Guard H1 Unlimited Series season.The race is typically held around Fourth of July weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana, USA. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture in 1999 titled Madison which starred actor Jim Caviezel.
 
Informal racing took place in Madison, Indiana as early as 1911. But the first major race didn't occur until 1929. That was when the now-defunct Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association conducted a race for the 725 Cubic Inch Class, which evolved into the Unlimited Class after World War II. The MVPBA conducted the Webb Trophy at Madison in 1930. The Webb Trophy was the MVPBA equivalent of the APBA Gold Cup--their top award.
 
The 725s raced at Madison throughout the 1930s until the disastrous Ohio River flood of 1937 and World War II brought down the curtain for a while. The current series of regattas in Madison began in 1949. This was a "wildcat" race, administered by the Ohio Valley Motor Boat Racing Association of Cincinnati. The largest class present was the 225 Cubic Inch Class.
 
The first Unlimited race took place in 1950. The Unlimited races at Madison in 1950-51-52-53 were one-heat multi-class free-for-all affairs. They didn't count for National High Points.
 
The first High Points Unlimited race at Madison occurred in 1954. This came about largely through the efforts of Madison Courier columnist Phil Cole. (A High Points Unlimited race must be scheduled for a minimum of two heats with at least four boats making a legal start.)
 
Madison had an uninterrupted string of High Points Unlimited races every year from 1954 through 2012. The 2013 races were canceled because of flooding on the Ohio that covered the pit area, although the land-based events associated with the regatta went on as scheduled.
 
The Madison committee is the longest continuously active Unlimited committee in the country. Madison Regatta, Inc. (formerly the Madison Boat Club) has hosted the Unlimiteds every year since 1950 (except in 2013, when the boats made it to Madison but the river didn't allow racing). Seattle didn't start until 1951. Detroit has been on the circuit since 1946, but with four different committees.
 
A total of 54 major Unlimited races (excluding the free-for-all races) have been run at Madison since 1954.

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