The Mark Tate Story

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

A third generation boat racer, Mark Tate began his racing career at age 13 in the J Stock Outboard Class. He was elected to the APBA Inboard Hall of Champions in 1981, was National High Point Champion in the 850-CC Class in 1980-81-82, and in the 7-Litre Class in 1986 and 1988.

Tate handled Jerry Schoenith's DOUBLE TROUBLE on the short-lived Automotive Thunderboat Association circuit in 1987 and landed his first Unlimited assignment in 1990 with Jim Harvey's OH BOY! OBERTO team. Mark was voted Unlimited Rookie of the Year.

Only five drivers have won four National High Point Championships in the Unlimited ranks. "The Tater" is one of them. (The other four are Bill Muncey, Chip Hanauer, Dean Chenoweth, and Dave Villwock.) Tate won the driving championship in 1991 with WINSTON EAGLE, in 1994-95 with SMOKIN' JOE'S, and in 1997 with CLOSE CALL.

Mark was also elected to the APBA Unlimited Hall of Champions in 1991-94-95-97.

A resident of Wayne, Michigan, Tate has two APBA Gold Cup victories (in 1991 and 1994). He won both before his hometown crowd on the Detroit River. After going winless during the 1992 and 1993 seasons with WINSTON EAGLE, Tate returned to victory lane in 1994 by winning the Gold Cup with SMOKIN' JOE'S. (He won four preliminary heats and then came from behind on the second lap of the Final Heat to take the lead from Nate Brown and THE TIDE.)

Mark had one of his best years in 1995. Along with wins at Evansville (Indiana), Madison (Indiana), the Tri-Cities (Washington), and San Diego (California), Tate was runner-up in Phoenix (Arizona), Kansas City (Missouri), Dallas (Texas), and Honolulu (Hawaii). Plus, he interrupted MISS BUDWEISER's top-qualifier string by posting the fastest speed at the Tri-Cities.

His best showing in seven years with the Competition Specialties team was probably the 1997 season finale in Honolulu, where Mark enjoyed a perfect weekend. He qualified fastest, smashed records, and finished first in all four heats. The effort secured Tate's fourth driving championship.

Following the unexpected death of team owner Steve Woomer in the spring of 1998, Mark found himself without a ride for much of the next year and a half. Then came a phone call from Jim Harvey in August 1999. Tate agreed to replace Steve David, who retired following the Tri-Cities race. Mark drove the Harvey Motorsports boat at the last four races of 1999.

He finished third at Kelowna, B.C., and gave spirited chase to Dave Villwock and MISS BUDWEISER in Heat 3-A at San Diego. (Tate averaged 143 miles per hour to Villwock's 144.)

The Harvey team was hampered by mechanical difficulties in 2000. But they nevertheless managed to put together several impressive performances during the year. Tate guided the U-2 hydroplane to second-place at Lake Havasu City (Arizona) and fourth at Detroit.

Between 1990 and 2000, Mark Tate drove in 88 Unlimited races and finished in the top-three at 46 of them. He scored 12 victories, was second 28 times, and third six times.

After taking a year off from the Unlimiteds, Mark is back at the wheel of Jim Harvey's boat for 2002. It's a safe bet that his fellow drivers will know that he's back when they see Tate at the starting line, full throttle, and going away.