Thunder on the Ohio
Encyclopedia
Thunder on the Ohio was a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season.
Thunder was held each year on the Ohio River
in downtown Evansville, Indiana
, USA. Evansville had hosted Thunder on the Ohio consecutively since 1979 (although the race was originally founded in 1938). The winner of Thunder on the Ohio received the Four Freedoms Cup, which was named after the nearby Four Freedoms Monument which rests along the Ohio River
. The race had frequently been broadcast on major television networks such as ESPN
and SPEED.
Evansville had established itself as one of hydroplane racing’s most important venues with superb spectator viewing areas. Historically, most of the world speed records for 2-mile courses have been set on Evansville’s sporty tri-oval.
Having hosted its first Thunderboat classic in 1938, only two current race sites pre-date Evansville, Indiana
. Madison, Indiana
, conducted its first major event in 1929 and Detroit, Michigan, debuted in 1916.
, on the unlimited calendar in 1979. Evansville was the world headquarters of Atlas Van Lines, Inc., which sponsored Bill Muncey
's race team. Muncey played a major role in Evansville being awarded its first sanction.
Thunder on the Ohio was not new to Evansville in 1978. From 1938 through 1940 the 725 Cubic Inch Class boats, the forerunners of the modern unlimiteds, raced at Evansville for the Thunder on the Ohio title. From 1938 through 1940, the winning driver was presented the Seagram Cup instead of the current Four Freedoms Cup.
From 1979 through 2008, Thunder on the Ohio had been the primary event of the broader Evansville Freedom Festival
. In 2009, Thunder on the Ohio broke away from the Evansville Freedom Festival, and moved towards the end of August as a stand alone event.
Dave Villwock has won more Evansville races than anyone else, including seven with Miss Budweiser
.
Thunder was held each year on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in downtown Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, USA. Evansville had hosted Thunder on the Ohio consecutively since 1979 (although the race was originally founded in 1938). The winner of Thunder on the Ohio received the Four Freedoms Cup, which was named after the nearby Four Freedoms Monument which rests along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The race had frequently been broadcast on major television networks such as ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and SPEED.
Evansville had established itself as one of hydroplane racing’s most important venues with superb spectator viewing areas. Historically, most of the world speed records for 2-mile courses have been set on Evansville’s sporty tri-oval.
Having hosted its first Thunderboat classic in 1938, only two current race sites pre-date Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
, conducted its first major event in 1929 and Detroit, Michigan, debuted in 1916.
History
Thunder on the Ohio had been an Unlimited hydroplane mainstay for 31 consecutive years. "Ideal Evansville" replaced Owensboro, KentuckyOwensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
, on the unlimited calendar in 1979. Evansville was the world headquarters of Atlas Van Lines, Inc., which sponsored Bill Muncey
Bill Muncey
William Edward "Bill" Muncey was an American hydroplane racing legend from La Mesa, California. He won 62 races, the most races in the history of the sport...
's race team. Muncey played a major role in Evansville being awarded its first sanction.
Thunder on the Ohio was not new to Evansville in 1978. From 1938 through 1940 the 725 Cubic Inch Class boats, the forerunners of the modern unlimiteds, raced at Evansville for the Thunder on the Ohio title. From 1938 through 1940, the winning driver was presented the Seagram Cup instead of the current Four Freedoms Cup.
From 1979 through 2008, Thunder on the Ohio had been the primary event of the broader Evansville Freedom Festival
Evansville Freedom Festival
The Evansville Freedom Festival is an annual festival in Evansville, Indiana that celebrates the Fourth of July. What began in 1970 with only a handful of events has grown to include unlimited boat racing, airshows, food booths, dances, and music culminating with a fireworks show over the...
. In 2009, Thunder on the Ohio broke away from the Evansville Freedom Festival, and moved towards the end of August as a stand alone event.
Dave Villwock has won more Evansville races than anyone else, including seven with Miss Budweiser
Miss Budweiser
The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe...
.
List of Thunder on the Ohio winners (1938- 1940)
| Year | Driver | Boat |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Marion Cooper | Hermes III |
| 1939 | "Wild Bill" Cantrell William Cantrell William "Wild Bill" Cantrell was a power boat and IndyCar driver.In 1949, Cantrell won the prestigious hydroplane Gold Cup in Detroit... |
Why Worry |
| 1940 | Marion Cooper | Mercury Marine Mercury Marine Mercury Marine, founded in 1939, is a division of Brunswick of Lake Forest, Illinois, in the United States. Mercury provides engines for private, commercial and government sales. Mercury also has its own line of very successful racing engines tailored for power and speed. The company's primary... |
List of Thunder on the Ohio winners (1979- 2009)
| Year | Driver | Boat |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Bill Muncey Bill Muncey William Edward "Bill" Muncey was an American hydroplane racing legend from La Mesa, California. He won 62 races, the most races in the history of the sport... |
Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines is a moving company formed in 1948 by a group of local transfer and storage firms. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. It has about 500 agents worldwide , of which 75 own shares in Atlas World Group, which controls Atlas Van Lines and other related... |
| 1980 | Dean Chenoweth | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1981 | Bill Muncey Bill Muncey William Edward "Bill" Muncey was an American hydroplane racing legend from La Mesa, California. He won 62 races, the most races in the history of the sport... |
Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines is a moving company formed in 1948 by a group of local transfer and storage firms. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. It has about 500 agents worldwide , of which 75 own shares in Atlas World Group, which controls Atlas Van Lines and other related... |
| 1982 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines is a moving company formed in 1948 by a group of local transfer and storage firms. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. It has about 500 agents worldwide , of which 75 own shares in Atlas World Group, which controls Atlas Van Lines and other related... |
| 1983 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines is a moving company formed in 1948 by a group of local transfer and storage firms. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. It has about 500 agents worldwide , of which 75 own shares in Atlas World Group, which controls Atlas Van Lines and other related... |
| 1984 | Jim Kropfeld | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1985 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Miller American |
| 1986 | Jim Kropfeld | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1987 | Jim Kropfeld | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1988 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Miss Circus Circus |
| 1989 | Larry Lauterbach | Winston Eagle |
| 1990 | Tom D'Eath | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1991 | Scott Pierce | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1992 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1993 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1994 | Chip Hanauer Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid 1990's. He was inducted into the International... |
Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1995 | Mark Tate | Smokin' Joe's |
| 1996 | Dave Vilwock | PICO American Dream |
| 1997 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1998 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 1999 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 2000 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 2001 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 2002 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 2003 | Mitch Evans | Cooper Motorsports |
| 2004 | Dave Villwock | Miss Budweiser Miss Budweiser The Miss Budweiser were 22 Hydroplanes sponsored by Budweiser beer. They were owned by Bernie Little and , his youngest son, Joe... |
| 2005 | Steve David | Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) Miss Madison Miss Madison is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane. It is the only community-owned unlimited hydroplane in the world. It is based out of Madison, Indiana, a small town of 12,000 residents on the Ohio River which annually hosts the Madison Regatta... |
| 2006 | Dave Villwock | Ellstrom Elam Plus |
| 2007 | Dave Villwock | Ellstrom Elam Plus |
| 2008 | Jean Theoret | Miss Beacon Plumbing |
| 2009 | Jeff Bernard | Miss Formulaboats.com |