The Detroit Gold Cup hydroplane races of the American Power Boat Association (A.P.B.A) took place on the Detroit River July 11 through 13, 2014. The event was presented by the Detroit Yacht Club (DYC) along with a large number of other sponsors. The Detroit Gold Cup is the oldest active trophy in motor sports racing, which means it is a prize that hydroplane racers highly covet. The H1 Unlimited boats compete for the Gold Cup while other trophies are awarded to restricted classes, such as the Gar Wood trophy for the 5-liter hydroplanes.

In addition to the exciting, high-speed races, the Gold Cup provides a lot of other activities for the entire family, including live music, shopping, classic cars, food and drink vendors, and much more. We love Stubbs BBQ products and they actually had a Stubbs tent at the races.

The races were exciting and you never know what you’re going to see, such as Jon Zimmeman flipping his Qatar hydroplane near the Belle Isle turn. Fortunately he walked away from the accident unharmed, even though you can’t say the same about his boat.

Jimmy Shane was the winner of the Unlimited class in his Oberto-sponsored hydro and claimed the Gold Cup for 2014. Saturday we had spotted Shane signing autographs for fans and we had a 'feeling' about his boat being a winner, so enjoy our photos of him! His boat ended up with a busted vertical rear stabilizer bar, but he still won his first Detroit A.P.B.A. Gold Cup. This was the Oberto boat’s first Gold Cup victory also. About a quarter lap behind Shane was J. Michael Kelly in the U-1 Graham Trucking unlimited hydroplane, but Kelly was penalized a lap for getting to the race’s one-minute course marker for the start of the race too soon.

The dates of the Gold Cup are being changed to August 21-23 for 2015 and a new boat class is being added. This should eliminate fan conflicts that can occur around the 4th of July holiday weekend and they are bringing back the Grand Prix hydroplanes to the Detroit River. Next year’s race marks the 99th anniversary of the first Gold Cup race on the Detroit River.

For more information about the Detroit Gold Cup, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/DetroitGoldCup?ref=br_tf
https://www.gold-cup.com