Special to The New York Times, December 29, 1974
Powerboat racing's most glamorous class, the unlimited hydroplanes, will compete for record purses of $350,000 next year in a 10‐event schedule. The 1975 season for the 180‐mile‐an‐hour “thunderboats” opens May 18 on Biscayne Bay in Miami and closes Sept. 14 on Lake Pleasant in Phoenix, Ariz.
Major races between those dates include the President's Cup on June 1, the Gold Cup on July 27 and the Seattle Seafair on Aug 3. The Gold Cup, considered the sport's top event, has been scheduled for the Columbia River at Tri‐Cities, Wash.
In announcing the schedule, the Unlimited Racing Commission of the American Power Boat Association also indicated that at least 20 unlimiteds would be ready for 1975 competition. The fleet is expected to include Pay 'N Pak, Miss Budweiser, Valu Mart, Miss Madison, U‐95, Lincoln Thrift and Loan, Red Man, Sunny Jim, Kirby Classic, Pizza Pete, Mr. Fabricator, Savair's Probe and CU‐22.
Pay 'N Pak, owned by Dave Heerensperger and driven by George Henley, dominated the 1974 season with seven victories. Bernie Little's boat, Miss Budweiser, took three firsts before Howie Benns, the rookie driver, was injured in a motorcycle accident.
The 1975 schedule:
May 18—Champion Spark Plug Regatta, Marine Stadium, Miami, Fla.
June 1—President's Cup, Potomac River, Washington D.C.
June 15—Kentucky Governor's Cup, Ohio River, Owensboro, Ky.
June 29—Gar Wood Trophy Race, Detroit River, Detroit, Mich.
July 6—Indiana Governor's Cup, Ohio River, Madison, Ind.
July 13—Hydroglobe, Eastwood Park Lake, Dayton, Ohio
July 27—A.P.B.A. Gold Cup, Columbia River, Tri‐Cities, Wash.
Aug. 3—Seattle Seafair, Lake Washington, Seattle, Wash.
Sept. 7—San Diego Unlimited, Mission Bay, San Diego, Calif.
Sept.14—Desert Thunderboat Regatta, Lake Pleasant, Phoenix, Ariz.
