Governor's Cup

Gissberg Twin Lakes Park
Marysville, Wash.
Date Saturday, August 12, 2023
Contest Director Ron Daum
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.
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

2023 race stats

2022 race results

1/10 Scale Modern Class
  1. Mike Hughes, 1991 Winston Eagle
  2. Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream
  3. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate
  4. Briana Burdsall, 1988 Sutphen Spirit
     DNF Jim Latimer, 2011 DegreeMen
     DQ Nelson Holmberg, 2023 Bucket List Racing ^

1/7 Scale Modern Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 2021 Graham Trucking
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate

1/10 Scale Classic Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW
  2. Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame
     DNF Jerry Dunlap, 1986 Boat
     DNS Tom Markos, 1976 Atlas Van Lines
1/7 Scale Classic Class
  1. Craig Mullen, 1974 Miss U.S. (Owner: Denise Sjostrom)
  2. Rob Edwards, 1982 Gilmore Special

1/10 Scale Vintage Class
  1. Chuck Murray, 1955 Hawaii Kai
  2. Paxton Reunanen, 1970 Burien Lady
     DNF Jerry Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
     DNF Bill Mowatt, 1968 Miss Bardahl

1/7 Scale Vintage Class
  1. Bob Van den Akker, 1962 $ Bill
  2. Dennis Caines, 1968 Eagle Electric
     DNF Chuck Murray, 1976 Vagabond
     DNF Mike McIntosh, 1980 Island Security Systems

^ – trailer boat after winning vintage first consolation

governors cup all-time results

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.
2023 - 1955 Hawaii Kai. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. 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.
2023 - 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. 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.
2023 - 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.
2023 - 1962 $ Bill. Owner/Driver: Bob Van den Akker. 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.
2023 - 1974 Miss U.S. Owner: Denise Sjostrom. Driver: Craig Mullen. 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.
2023 - 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, Wash.
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