American Boat Racing Association - History

History

The unlimited hydroplane series was founded in 1946 when the unlimited class of boats was allowed to compete following World War II and the subsequent availability of surplus aircraft engines. It had been disbanded in 1922 in favor of the newly introduced "Gold Cup Class".

The world's first sanctioned unlimited hydroplane race was held in 1903 in Queenstown, Ireland and was very modest by later race standards. That race was won by Dorothy Levitt, driving a 35 foot water craft powered by a 75 hp Napier engine which she won the race at an astonishing average speed of 19.53 mph!

The boats were initially restricted to engines of a maximum of 625 cubic inches and this was later increased to 732 cubic inches. Hulls with "steps" or "shingles" on the underside were prohibited.

One reason for the rule change was to end the domination of its star driver, Gar Wood, who had won five consecutive Gold Cups from 1917. One win in 1920 in his twin Liberty L-12 powered Miss America, averaged 70.412 miles per hour in the 30-mile race over a 5-mile course and set a race record that stood until 1946. "King Gar" had entered fifteen Gold Cup heats during those pinnacle years. He finished first twelve times and second three times. Throughout the years, only two boats showed up to challenge Miss America; one of those was piloted by George Wood, Gar's younger brother, in Miss Chicago. Another reason for the rule change was to make racing more affordable.

In 1929, the 725 Cubic Inch Class was introduced by the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association (MVPBA). The majority of these boats were powered by Hispano-Suiza 8 aircraft engines or Curtiss OX-5s. These boats were popular in the Southern and Midwestern US, but did not attract the media attention that the expensive and exotic-looking Gold Cup Class counterparts had.

In 1946 after the hiatus due to the war, the MVPBA was absorbed into the APBA, and as a result the 725s and the Gold Cups merged to become the APBA Unlimited Class.