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The City of
Madison – and all Madisonians
– can feel justifiably proud
as the host for the 2009 American
Boat Racing Association’s annual
meeting and awards banquet, scheduled
for Feb. 13-14. The picturesque Ohio
River town is the home of the 2008
National Champion team, the Oh Boy!
Oberto-Miss Madison.
In the words of Madison Mayor Tim
Armstrong, “We are excited to
be able to host this annual event.
We will do everything possible to
roll out the red carpet and show the
hydroplane aficionados and racing
fans that Madison is the best place
in America to celebrate our first
National Championship.”
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Madison
Regatta Party
The
Madison Regatta is planning
a celebration to honor the Oh
Boy! Oberto-Miss Madison’s
2008 American Boat Racing Association
title during the weekend of
the ABRA’s meeting in Madison.
A cocktail hour, buffet dinner
and live music by the Jimmy
Davis Band are planned for Feb.
13 at the Madison Moose Lodge,
1340 Michigan Rd. The race boat
will be on display. Those scheduled
to attend include driver Steve
David, Larry Oberto from the
Oberto Sausage Co., crew chief
Mike Hanson and Miss Madison
crew members. The evening begins
at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 each
and can be purchased at the
Madison Area Chamber of Commerce.
Call (812) 273-6510 or 292-5220.
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ABRA Chairman Sam Cole agreed, saying,
“We have been looking for the
right place to hold this year’s
dinner and this will give our fans
in Madison and the Midwest an opportunity
to attend a celebration they’ve
waited more than 40 years to have.
We plan on this being one of the most
memorable evenings in the sport’s
history.”
The dinner will be held Feb. 14 at
the Livery Stable on Broadway. A crowd
of 250 is expected. The ABRA meetings
will be held Feb. 13, and during the
day on Feb. 14, at Madison City Hall.
A public dinner and dance is also
planned for the public on Friday night
at the Madison Moose Lodge.
This is the first time that the power
boat association’s annual gathering
has been held in Madison, site of
the annual Indiana Governor’s
Cup Race. Previous national meetings
have taken place in Seattle, Miami,
New York, Indianapolis, and Las Vegas.
“We want to showcase Madison
as the destination that it is and
embrace our tradition around hydroplane
racing,” Armstrong continued.
“What our racing team accomplished
last year ranks right up there with
our high school sports championships
and the 1971 Gold Cup victory by the
Miss Madison. It is a tradition we
want to preserve.”
For the first time in its 48-year
history, the Oh Boy! Oberto-Miss Madison
(U-6) finished first in National High
Points for Unlimited hydroplanes.
This entitles the team to carry the
coveted U-1 designation throughout
the 2009 racing season.
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ABRA
to crown
2009 World Champion
in Dohar, Qatar
From
the ABRA
DOHA, QATAR – The
American Boat Racing Association
and the Qatar Marine Sports
Federation have agreed to have
the final race of the 2009 ABRA
unlimited hydroplane season
in Doha, Qatar. Ten of the fastest
racing boats in the world will
travel there in November for
the inaugural Oryx Cup event
– the ABRA-UIM World
Championship – as
a result of an Agreement in
Principal reached Jan. 9 between
the ABRA and the QMSF.
The race date is among the items
being finalized. It will be
held in November (third or fourth
weekend) and serve as the last
stop on the 2009 series, which
begins on the Fourth of July
weekend in Madison, Ind.
ABRA is the worldwide sanctioning
organization for Unlimited Hydroplanes.
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Seven times in its history, the community-owned
Miss Madison has finished second in
National High Points during 1964,
1971, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Drivers during those years include
George “Buddy” Byers, the
late Jim McCormick, Milner Irvin,
Mike Hanson and Steve David.
A lot of people deserve credit for
the Miss Madison’s historic 2008
campaign. In addition to driver David,
these include owner representative
Bob Hughes, sponsor representative
Larry Oberto, team manager Charlie
Grooms, crew chief Mike Hanson, turbine
engine specialist Larry Hanson, and
the entire Miss Madison mechanical
crew and board of directors.
The awarding of the ABRA Awards Banquet
location to the City of Madison is
a fitting culmination of all of their
efforts.
In the words of David, “More
than one boat can win a race during
the year. But at the end of the season,
there can be only one U-1. We dedicate
this championship to all of the people
of Madison.”
• Fred Farley is the
ABRA Unlimited Historian and a resident
of Milton, Ky. Email him at: fredf44@hotmail.com.
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