HAPO Gold Cup
 | |
| H1 Unlimited | |
|---|---|
| Title sponsor | HAPO Community Credit Union |
| Dates | July 24-26 |
| Location | Columbia River, Tri-Cities, Washington |
| Track length | 2.5 mi (4 km) |
| First race | 1966 |
| Former names |
Atomic Cup Columbia Cup |
| Most recent winner |
U-6 Oberto Miss Madison Jimmy Shane |
| Media coverage | KNDU-TV |
| Website | http://www.waterfollies.com/ |
The HAPO Gold Cup is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held each July on the Columbia River in Columbia Park, Tri-Cities, Washington. The race is the main attraction of the annual Water Follies festivities. Tri-Cities has hosted a race consecutively since 1966.
History
The Columbia River towns of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland first climbed on the Unlimited bandwagon in 1966 with the first annual Tri-Cities Atomic Cup. There had been talk of inviting the Unlimiteds there as early as 1958. But 1966 was when it finally happened. Bill Brow was the winner that first year, driving Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser.
Driver Dave Villwock and the MISS E-LAM PLUS team won the 2006 Columbia Cup under extraordinary circumstances. Their boat "blew over" during the running of preliminary Heat 2-A. They rebounded in time to win the next two heats and the overall championship.
After the race at Detroit, the home of the annual Gold Cup race, was originally cancelled, the Gold Cup was moved to the Tri-Cities race, renaming the race to the Gold Cup.