HYDROPLANE RACING : Tate Wins the Gold Cup

Mark Tate averaged 145.26 m.p.h. Sunday to beat Nate Brown in the American Power Boat Assn. Gold Cup final and end a three-year winless drought.

Tate won all five heats on the Detroit River, averaging better than 150 m.p.h. in winning the preliminary heats.

It was the first victory for Tate, who lives in Wayne, Mich., since October, 1991.

Since then, Tate had a spell of bad luck.

Last year, after setting a world speed record (170.087 m.p.h.) during trials, Tate blew an engine at the start of the Detroit race.

This year, there were no mistakes or mishaps.

For two laps, the boats driven by Tate and Brown, who was the crew chief for Tate and the Winston Eagle when they last won in Detroit in 1991, raced neck and neck around the 2.5-mile course. Then Smokin’ Joe’s superior power took command.

The Tide, driven by Brown, has finished second five consecutive years in this race.

Mike Hanson, who took over as driver of the Miss Budweiser when Chip Hanauer was injured Saturday, rallied the team to a third-place finish (130.110). Miss Bud started as the sixth-place qualifier, meaning it had to start 15 seconds after the five others.