Winds Cancel Final Day of Detroit Hydroplane Race

DETROIT -- The 100th running of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup was ruled no contest Sunday after steady winds in excess of 20 mph kept the unlimited hydroplanes on the beach for most of the day.

It was the first time an APBA Gold Cup race was ruled no contest since 1960, when the event was held in Lake Mead, Nev. The 100th running of the Detroit race will now take place in 2009.

"These are the worst conditions I have seen in 20 years on the Detroit River," said Steve David, driver of Oh Boy! Oberto. "The wind is coming right up the river and when you have a four-foot wave, you have to realize you have an eight-foot hole and that is dangerous."

Five boats in the field of nine did manage to take part in the first elimination heat of the day on Sunday morning.
 

	Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit

Mike Allen in Formulaboats.com flipped his boat going through turn one of the 2.5-mile course. Allen was conscious following the crash and was taken to Detroit Receiving for examination and released later Sunday. The elimination heat was not rerun.

Allen also was involved in a blow-over accident in Detroit a year ago during the final heat of the Gold Cup.

The unlimited fleet will next race in two weeks on the Columbia River in Tri-Cities, Wash.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.