The Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Association (MDCD) will carry on Detroit’s century-long tradition of boat racing as the Gold Cup sponsor of the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest 2018.
A fleet of eight H1 teams, along with 10 boats from the Hydroplane Racing League, will take to the river for testing on Friday, August 24, followed by
races on Saturday and Sunday, August 25–26. The winner will grab the Gold Cup, the oldest active motorsports trophy and a coveted prize that was first contested in 1904 on the Hudson River in New York.
The H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes are powered by turbine engines producing 3000 horsepower, topping 200 mph and trailing a 60-foot high, 300-foot long wall of water called a “rooster tail.”
The HRL runs a class of boats called Grand Prix. These boats feature supercharged, 468 cubic inch, big-block V8 Chevrolet piston engines producing as much as 1,500 horsepower and reaching speeds of 160 mph.
“Once again, we are going to host some of the fastest boats in the world and race for the most prestigious trophy in all of boat racing—the Gold Cup,” said Event Director and Detroit Riverfront Events Inc. President Mark Weber. “We are fortunate to have the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers back as a partner for the second consecutive year to support one of the longest
continuing sporting events in the city.”
The first boat race on the Detroit River was in 1916, and that too was the Gold Cup. The only Detroit sports franchise to have graced the Motor City before the boats first competed on the River are the Detroit Tigers in 1901. The longevity of the event is significant to MDCD.
Visit http://detroitboatraces.com/ for more information on events, ticket prices, etc.