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CHRYSLER JEEP SUPERSTORES APBA GOLD CUP
The countdown to the Gold Cup race is under way!
IN THIS ISSUE:
*** THE SILVER CUP SWEEPSTAKES FREE-FOR-ALL
The Detroit Yacht Club has offered the Silver Cup for
presentation to the winner of the Sweepstakes / Free-For-All
race, so we will be awarding TWO very prestigious trophies in
another nod to history!
In the future the Sweepstakes will be open to all comers, but
since many classes are already committed to race in Celina OH
that weekend, this year's Sweepstakes is an invitational for the
Unlimited Lights and Grand Prix classes. The ULs don't have to
run per their rules, they can do anything they want to their
piston power plants... basic rules are 17-27 feet long, with a
maximum of 750cid.
*** THE "DETROIT INTERNATIONAL WATER SPEEDWAY"
The Mayor of Detroit is working on a proclamation to declare the
portion of the Detroit River from the Belle Isle bridge to the
DYC & Roostertail Restaurant as the "Detroit International Water
Speedway".
*** STREAMING AUDIO DIRECT FROM THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM
Thanks to MLive.com, plans are under way to carry the Public
Address audio over the Internet for fans that can't attend the
race. The streaming audio will be in the Real Audio format and
be available August 23rd & 24th covering all the racing action.
*** NEW NAME FOR OUR NEWSLETTER - THE "REGATTA REVIEW"
We have selected a new name for our newsletter from among the
ideas submitted by our readers, the "Regatta Review". I regret
that due to my loss of 3 weeks of incoming email, I can't thank
each of you personally, so let me say it here: "Thank you!".
Will the person that submitted "Regatta Review" please contact
me at the subscription address below. I'll recognize your name.
*** HOTEL DISCOUNTS: "GREAT RATES FOR GOLD CUPPERS"
The "Host Hotel for the 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold
Cup" is the Omni Detroit Hotel at River Place. This is the
closest hotel to the race course and is deluxe in every way.
It feels like a small up-scale European hotel... very nice
place, very nice price. The special rates on these rooms are
$89/night. For more information on this National Historic
Landmark click here.
Here's another special piece of good news from the Marriott
Rennaissance Center... their Jr. Suites, usually $269.00/night
are $99.00 for DRRA "Gold Cup" attendees... that's a heck of a
deal. Singles or doubles at the Marriott Renaissance, the
Westin Town Center (Southfield) or the Crowne Plaza
Pontchartrain are typically $169.00-179.00 ... for Gold Cuppers
the rates are about $100.00 less. Note: any reservations at the
Marriott for the special prices are good only for reservations
made by 08/15/03.
The Best Western Georgian Inn is also offering a special rate
(see below). The magic password to get the deal at all
locations is "Gold Cup Races" or DRRA.
The Best Western Georgian Inn
The Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center
Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain
Westin Southfield
*** SUPPORT THE DETROIT RIVER REGATTA ASSOCIATION
Anyone can join the DRRA to support the Gold Cup event! The
basic membership is $25, and the form is available on our
"Volunteers" page. Working volunteers get a perk package that
includes 2 event t-shirts and a cap.
Those wanting to support the DRRA and Gold Cup further can join
our DRRA Founders Club. Charter memberships begin at $100.
For more information, see our DRRA Founders Club page.
*** "MISS CHRYSLER JEEP" AND THE GREGORY TEAM READY
Detroit Driver Comes Out of Retirement to Race
His Favorite Boat on the Detroit River
DETROIT, MI, August 12, 2003 -- One of the winningest hulls in
unlimited hydroplane racing, a co-world champion driver and a
little hometown sibling rivalry set the stage for drama with the
"Miss Chrysler Jeep" entry in the 2003 Chrysler Jeep Superstores
Detroit APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River August 22-24, 2003.
"Miss Chrysler Jeep", unlimited hydroplane U11, is sponsored by
the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Advertising Association in this
year's Gold Cup race. Chrysler Jeep Superstores is also the
race title sponsor.
The boat is owned, prepared and entered by Kim Gregory of Las
Vegas, Nev. It holds the fastest lap record on the Detroit
River course, recently named the Detroit International Water
Speedway.
Hometown co-world champion driver Mark Weber, of St. Clair,
Mich., just couldn't turn down the challenge to go for the one
victory that has eluded him, racing's gold standard "the
American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup". Weber has won
11 national championships, 19 major titles, won in unlimiteds
and shared the World championship. He will be facing a tough
field, including his brother Mike Weber driving "Miss Detroit
Yacht Club", also part of the Gregory team.
"Miss Chrysler Jeep is one of the winning hulls in the sport. I
have a lot of seat time with it, it's very competitive and I am
very confident", Mark Weber said. 1997 Co-World Champion Mark
Weber is coming out of retirement to drive in this year's Gold
Cup race. Weber is also owner of a marina in Fair Haven, Mich.
The boat had been driven by Chip Hanauer as "Miss Circus/Circus"
and by another hometown driver, Canton, Mich.'s Mark Tate as the
"Winston Eagle" and "Smoking Joe", before being bought by
Gregory in 1998.
Weber has a solid history with the Gregory team, racing for it
during the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons, always finishing
the season among the top three in points. Gregory hired Weber
away from the Budweiser team in 1998, and he won under the York
Heating and Air Conditioning banner in the last race of the
season. Weber raced with the boat until he retired from
unlimited racing after the 2001 season. "I have driven 11 other
unlimited boats in my career, but I have more seat time in "Miss
Chrysler Jeep" than all the others combined", he said. "I'd also
like to lure Kurt Taverner, my old crew chief, to prepare "Miss
Chrysler Jeep. This is going to be a one-race homecoming
effort."
"Miss Chrysler Jeep" is an awesome sight almost 30 feet long and
15 feet wide, the boat weighs more than three tons, yet its
2,700-horsepower turbine engine can propel it over the water at
speeds of more than 200 mph. "Miss Chrysler Jeep" has new
sponsons, modifications at the rear end, and extensive skid fin
modifications", Weber said. "I have all my notes from our
set-ups for Detroit from past years. We have a lot of good set-
ups and gears for the course. The new fuel restrictions throw a
new wrinkle into the works, but we'll be very competitive."
Brother Mike Weber, a Detroiter now living in Georgia, will be
driving the other Gregory boat, "Miss Detroit Yacht Club". Both
boats are yellow, but Mark's "Miss Chrysler Jeep" can be
distinguished by its yellow cowling over the turbine engine,
while Mike's "Miss Detroit Yacht Club" has a blue engine cowling.
- Brian Reed
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All contents Copyright © 2003 Detroit River Regatta Association, except where noted.
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