Hanauer Leads Gold Cup Qualifying

The unlimited hydroplane fleet opens its season today on the Detroit River with its most prestigious event, the American Power Boat Assn. Gold Cup.

Chip Hanauer, nine-time Gold Cup champion, was top qualifier in Friday’s time trials, driving Miss Budweiser on a lap around the egg-shaped 2.5-mile course at 162.614 m.p.h. The speed was well below last year’s record 170.087 by Mark Tate in the Winston Eagle, mainly because of a new fuel restricter valve that limits the flow of fuel to the turbine engines.

Two three-lap heats today and two five-lap heats Sunday will set the field for the six-boat Gold Cup championship race later Sunday. Ten boats are expected to compete.