1995 Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup
Ohio River, Madison IN, July 2, 1995

MADISON (July 2) -- Transplanting themselves farther up the Ohio River, over near the eastern boundary of Indiana, the unlimited crews welcomed another visit to the always friendly community of 13,000. As popular a stop as there is on the entire tour, Madison also doubles as the only city to own and race its own hydroplane, this time around dubbed the Miss Jasper Engines & Transmissions. Imagine the roars of approval from the crowded beach when driver Mike Hanson powered home ahead (of Muscatel's miraculously repaired craft, no less) in Heat 1-A.

The start of Heat 1-B put everyone's heart in their throat, however, as Steve David's T-PLUS -- racing for the lead on the outside of Miss Budweiser and the Smokin' Joe's -- blew over backwards at the end of the front straight. David, fortunately, was protected by the safety capsule and suffered minor harm -- as opposed to the boat, which underwent another extensive repair job before the race in Texas two weeks later.

Miss Budweiser, with Mark Evans still at the wheel of the two-winged "Turbine-4" hull (never before raced, it was in the stead of the severely damaged T-3 that has been sent back to Seattle for repair) won the re-start and the next two preliminary heats . . . looking for all the world as though it would come away with another Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup. But the same fate, more or less, befell this hull that had befallen its sister ship in Evansville -- it came undone in the final, losing its wing and spinning out in the first turn. And when Evans got it restarted, he crossed over in front of Hanson's onrushing Miss Jasper -- and caused it to spin out. Evans and the Bud were disqualified and, yes, here came that Smokin' Joe's again, sailing on ahead of all this consternation for a relatively easy triumph.

Again, the Leland duo -- although both boats were forced to start from trailer positions on the narrow course -- of the PICO American Dream, with Villwock, and the Miss Wellness Plan, with '94 rookie of the year Jimmy King substituting for Evans, ran two-three. Smokin' Joe's, in terms of the season high points standings, moved to within 186 points of the Bud.

(Reprinted from the URC Electronic Thunderletter No. 29 September 28, 1995)

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MADISON, Ind. (SUNDAY, JULY 2)--It took 12 years of trying but Auburn, Wash., unlimited hydroplane owner Steve Woomer today saw one of his boats win consecutive races for the first time. Driver Mark Tate hurtled the Smokin' Joe's around a rough, 2.5 -mile Ohio River course to win the $160,000 Budweiser Indiana Governor's Cup from Dave Willwock's PICO American Dream. That tandem also ran 1-2 last Sunday at Evansville.

Woomer, a high-performance auto parts wholesaler, now has 10 career victories as an owner, something accomplished only by 11 others in the modern history of the world's fastest racing boats.

The win was made easier by misfortune suffered by Mark Evans in the year-old, never-before-raced, two-wing Miss Budweiser hull. After posting top qualifying speed and winning all three preliminary heats, Evans spun out in the first turn of the winner-take-all final-- Tate narrowly avoiding him in tight quarters. Upon restarting, the Bud was disqualified for interfering with the hometown boat, Miss Jasper Engines & Transmissions, driven by Mike Hanson. A $500 fine accompanies the DQ.

Tate thus increased his lead in the effort to repeat as world driving champion (he leads Villwock by 6,739 to 5,854) and Smokin' Joe's closed the gap in its bid to unseat the 15-time world champion Miss Budweiser in the Eagle Snacks Presents O'doul's high Point boat standings. Bud, at the season's halfway mark, leads by only 6,925 to 6,739.

The race was punctuated by the Heat 1B blowover of T-PLUS Engine Treatment, a Seattle-based boat driven by Pompano Beach, Fla., vetern Steve David, 41 He escaped with bumps and bruises after his craft blew over backwards while leading a charge into the first turn at 165 miles an hour. The hull appears to be repairable. It was the first such incident here since Mercer Island, Wash., driver Steve Reynolds' 1987 somersault in the Miss 7-11 [sic]. He spent days in a coma, recovered, but has yet to drive another unlimited.

HEAT 1A-- 1. Mike Hanson, Miss Jasper Engines & Transmissions, 121.683; 2. Ken Muscatel, Target Stores, 104.529; 3/ Mitch Evans, Holset Turbo, 98.142. DNF -- Dave Villwock, PICO American Dream. DNS-- Jimmy King, Miss Wellness Plan. FAST LAP-Villwock, PICO, 131.647 (1st lap).

HEAT 1B--(restart) -- 1. Mark Evans, Miss Budweiser, 143.154; 2. Mark Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 141.678; 3. Jerry Hopp, Miss Busler Enterprises, 109.962. DSQ- Steve David, T-PLUS Engine Treatment, accident on original start. FAST LAP- Evans, Budweiser, 146.316 (1st lap).

HEAT 2A--1. Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 143.205; 2. Villwock, PICO, 129.120; 3. Hopp, Busler, 116.688; 4. Mitch Evans, Holset, 116148; FAST LAP-- Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 146.802 (2nd lap).

HEAT 2B--1. Mark Evans, Budweiser, 134.415; 2. Hanson, Jasper, 93.528; 3. King, Wellness, 90.291; 4. Muscatel, Target (penalized one lap for first-turn lane violation), 83.823. FAST LAP-- Mark Evans, Budweiser, 140.733 (1st lap).

HEAT 3A-- 1. Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 141.999; 2. Villwock, PICO, 139.098; 3. Hanson, Jasper, 121.341. DNF- Muscatel, Target. FAST LAP - Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 144.929 (3rd lap).

HEAT 3B-- 1. Mark Evans, Budweiser, 133.767; 2. King, Wellness, 126.609; 3.Hopp, Busler, 112.365; 4. Mitch Evans, Holset, 112.182. FAST LAP- Mark Evans, Budweiser, 136.965 (1st lap).

FINAL HEAT -- 1. Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 136.50; 2. Villwock, PICO, 124.880; 3. King, Wellness, 118.450; 4. Hopp, Busler, 110.395; 5. Hanson, Jasper, 109.975. DQ- Mark Evans, Budwieser. FAST LAP -- Tate, Smokin' Joe's, 143.121 (1st lap).

(Reprinted from the Electronic URC Hydroletter, Vol. 1, no. 17 July 3, 1995)

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