Madison, Indiana – Power Boat Racing

Madison has a powerboat racing tradition since at least 1911 and in 1929 began holding an annual race, later called the Madison Regatta beginning in 1948. Since 1954, the Madison Regatta has held a high points Unlimited [race] annually in early July. Although Madison has a population of only 12,000, the Regatta maintains its place in Unlimited Hydroplane racing with the American Boat Racing Association, whose other races are in Detroit, Seattle, San Diego, Evansville, and Tri-Cities, Washington. The Madison Regatta draws about 70,000-100,000 people annually and is held on the 4th of July weekend. A week-long riverfront festival also surrounds this racing event. Visitors can experience the thrill of unlimited hydroplane racing while enjoying fine foods, arts, music and street dancing, all celebrated with the “now-seldom-seen” small town community spirit that made America strong.

A source of community pride is that Madison has the world’s only community owned unlimited hydroplane racer, Miss Madison, which began Unlimited class racing in 1961. That boat, which has been known by various corporate sponsor names but is officially called U-6, has traditionally finished near the bottom of the circuit. Before Anheuser-Busch dropped its sponsorship of hydroplane racing after the 2004 season, U-6 had won just six races using a variety of hulls. One of those wins was an upset in the 1971 Regatta, which is the basis for the movie Madison, when the APBA Gold Cup was held in Madison for the first time. Madison hosted the APBA Gold Cup Race again in 1979 and 1980. Under the aegis of the new American Boat Racing Association (ABRA), the City of Madison team driver, Steve David, finished first in the ABRA national point drivers standings in both 2005 and 2006 driving U-6, now in the colors of sponsor Oh Boy! Oberto.