Tri-Cities Will Host 2015 HAPO Gold Cup

[Hydroplane Museum]

KENNEWICK, Washington - H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David and officials of the Tri-City Water Follies have announced that the Tri-City group will host the 2015 APBA Gold Cup July 24-26.

The HAPO Gold Cup will mark the 50th anniversary of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing on the Columbia River between Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, Washington under the direction of the Tri-City Water Follies.

Past Water Follies President and current Vice President of H1 Unlimited Mike Denslow said, “Kathy Powell (Event Director) and I have been lobbying for years and it’s finally happened!”

In making the announcement on behalf of H1, David said, “We are very excited to be able to award the 2015 Gold Cup to the very deserving race committee and community in the Tri-Cities and look forward to seeing the competition for one of the most prestigious trophies in all of motorsports take place in one of our outstanding long term venues and well respected by all of our race sites.”

David added, “When we talked to all of our race sites, they agreed unanimously that the 50th anniversary of the Tri-City race and the long standing support by the committee, volunteers and community made the Tri-City area and the Water Follies committee very deserving of the opportunity to host the 2015 Gold Cup.”

Current Tri-City Water Follies President Ron Hue said, “The entire Water Follies organization could not be more excited to host the 2015 HAPO Gold Cup. We would like to thank everyone who had a hand in getting the oldest motorsports trophy in the world, back to the Tri-Cities.”

Sponsor of the HAPO Gold Cup will be HAPO Community Credit Union whose president/CEO David Schulz said, “What an honor for us at HAPO to be a part of this milestone! That really adds to our excitement for this 50th celebration.”

HAPO was formed by a group of workers at the Hanford nuclear site in 1953 to provide a place to save and borrow money. Today, HAPO Community Credit Union currently has over 100,000 members with over $1 billion dollars in assets and 13 locations in Southeastern Washington and one location in Hermiston, Oregon. HAPO is an acronym for Hanford Atomic Products Operations.

The Gold Cup was last held in the Tri-Cities in 1984 and has been held exclusively in Detroit since 1990.

The H1 Unlimited racing season will open in Madison, Indiana July 3-5 with the annual running of the Madison Regatta/Indiana Governor’s Cup.