Miss Budweiser (T-4) Question

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

QUESTION:

Over the years, there have been a number of radically designed unlimiteds. One of the most interesting, from a design perspective, is the 1994 Miss Budweiser T-4 (twin-winged). It is my understanding that the boat was tested but never raced. Is this true? Do you have any information on the T-4, its background (design philosophy), and what the Budweiser team learned from the design?

ANSWER:

MISS BUDWEISER (T-4) was entered in competition one time. This was at the 1995 Madison Regatta. Mark Evans drove the boat. The other MISS BUD had been damaged the week before at Evansville. So the T-4 hull was reluctantly substituted. It failed to finish the Final Heat.

The design philosophy was similar to that of the twin-winged T-PLUS hull. The design might have worked if fuel restrictions had not been imposed. As a result of less fuel, the boat would "fall down" in the corners.