Internal Combustion Engines Join Turbines For 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup

Vintage and Unlimited Hydroplanes Will Run On Detroit International Water Speedway August 22-24

DETROIT, Aug. 6 -- The fastest racing boats in the world will be joined by the loudest racing boats in history for the 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River, August 22-24.

"For the 99th anniversary of the Gold Cup, we're going to recognize tradition with some of hydroplane racing's most famous boats," said Tom D'Eath, President, Detroit River Regatta Association (DRRA), the organizer of the 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup.

The feature boats of the three-day weekend will be the unlimited hydroplanes that reach speeds of more than 200 mph. With one very important exception -- Ed Cooper's Allison V-12 engine-powered unlimited, winner of this year's opening race -- these boats are powered by turbines. A field of a dozen or more unlimiteds will battle for the Gold Cup.

The whoosh of their turbines, however, will be different than the roar of the Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 in one of history's most famous racing boats: Miss Century 21. Driven by Detroit legend Bill Muncey, this front-engined, oak-and-mahogany hydroplane won the Gold Cup in 1961 and 1962 and will be turning laps once more on the Detroit River on Saturday and Sunday.

"We'll have other vintage unlimited and Gold Cup hydroplanes," D'Eath said. "All kinds of vintage hydroplanes, with both large and small engines, will race on the river, too."

Extreme Water Sports -- featuring Typhoon Tommy and his daredevils -- will be part of the schedule of events for the three-day weekend.

Two popular classes of boats will be joining the unlimited hydroplanes in competitive events:

Jersey Speed Skiffs ... 16-foot-long vee hulls powered by five-liter, 300 horsepower automotive engines carrying drivers and co-drivers can reach speeds of more than 80 mph. These crowd-pleasing boats skip, hop and bound over the waves during unpredictable races.

Sweepstakes Hydroplanes ... while not as large as unlimiteds, these hydroplanes are powered by highly modified 7-liter V-8 engines and can reach speeds exceeding 150 mph. Approximately a dozen of these big boats will be competing for the Detroit Yacht Club Silver Cup and a $15,000 purse compiled by the Old Time Detroit Hydro Racers.

For ticket information, contact the DRRA at 586-774-0980 or www.gold-cup.com . Also, call Ticketmaster at 248-645-6666, visit a local Ticketmaster outlet or www.ticketmaster.com .

The 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup features unlimited hydroplane boats with 3,000 horsepower engines reaching top speeds of more than 200 mph, and covering the length of a football field in less than one second. Title sponsor Chrysler Jeep Superstores Advertising Association is made up of the 41 independently owned Chrysler Jeep Superstores in Southeastern Michigan from Monroe to Fowlerville, and from Clinton to Port Huron.