12/8/00 - The movie "Madison" is about to be unveiled!

We have heard that the movie "Madison" staring James Caviezel, Jake Lloyd and Bruce Dern is preparing for it's premiere. The big news is that
the premiere will take place at the Sundance Film Festival! For more on this story, visit Hydros check the news area for all the latest details.

"Madison" was filmed, in part, in the city of Madison and tells the story of Jim McCormick and Miss Madison's victory during the 1971 Gold Cup.
 

11/10/00 - New Madison Regatta photos!

We continue our walk back through the season with a look at this year's Belterra Resort & Casino Indiana Governor's Cup.  We invite you to visit our Madison gallery where we've added twenty-four new photos.
 

10/20/00 - Additional Evansville photos added!

We've just updated the Evansville gallery with six new photos from this year's race.  Many more photos are on the way soon...
 

10/17/00 - New photos on the way!

Over the next few weeks, we will walk back through each of the races the U-6 Miss Madison and later the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky attended this season.  We have new photos to share from each event.  To kick off the new photo flood, we've added twelve new photos from this year's Evansville race.  From the first half of the season with Charley Wiggins to Nate Brown and the western races, we'll have a ton of new photos to enjoy soon!
 

Long-time unlimited hydroplane public relations guru, Scott Smith suffered a massive stroke in Pasco this week.  Smith who originally began in the sport as Seafair's public relations director also doubled as the Hydros director of public relations during the 80s.  In the late 80s he worked with the 7-Eleven handling their hydroplane, NASCAR, Funny Car and Indy car teams.  Smith later became team manager for the Mr. Pringles and Tide race teams and most recently assisted with the public relations on the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto and Lowrey's race boats.

Smith prognoses in unclear. He has been transferred to Seattle's Harborview Hospital.  Thoughts and prayers go out to Scott, his wife Nanci and daughter Trisha.
  

Looking back on San Diego...

	In San Diego, Nate Brown and the U-6 Miss Madison/Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky took home third place honors in the Bayfair final.  For a full look back on the weekend's action , visit www.hydros.org and click on results. The U-6 team offers our prayers and sympathy to the family and friends of George Stratton.  George was a friend who will be missed.

Sad news...

Roger raced Limited inboards in the late 1960s.  In 1971, he attempted qualification in two different Unlimited hydroplanes named Miss Timex - Gordon Deneau's U-75 at Owensboro and Jim McCormick's U-8 at Madison, Indiana.

Like his brother and father (Ford McCormick), Roger spent most of his life in the construction business.  He was president of Imperial Construction Co. and former co-owner of Ford McCormick Plumbing and Heating.  Roger was a past-president of the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
  

Southern California residents will have the chance to get up close and personal with the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto-Beef Jerky unlimited hydroplane when it goes on display Monday afternoon through Wednesday, September 11-13 at Ken Grody GMC in Carlsbad, California.  The Ken Grody GMC dealership is located at 5445 Paseo Del Norte, in Carlsbad.  For directions, please call the dealership at (760) 438-1021.

Oh Boy! Oberto, a cultural fixture in unlimited hydroplane racing, decided after a five-year absence that the time was right to return to motorsports.  Art Oberto, Chairman of Oberto said, it's time to give hydroplane racing fans what they have been missing, red, white and green jerky boat.

The 82-year old Oberto Co. has partnered with the U-6 Madison team, the oldest name in hydroplanes, having competed in 40 consecutive seasons.  The boat is driven by Nate Brown.

The U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto-Beef Jerky HYDRO-PROP unlimited hydroplane will compete in San Diego's Bayfair, next weekend, Sept. 15-17 on Mission Bay.
 

KENT, WASH. (Sept. 1,2000)--The Beef Jerky Battle continues in the upcoming unlimited hydroplane race scheduled for Sept. 15-17 on San Diego's Mission Bay, the last race of the season.  (more)
  

Just click here to follow the team throughout the race weekend!
 

Beef Jerky Battle Continues...

Kent, Washington (July 31,2000) In keeping with the theme of the "Beef Jerky Battle" it was announced Monday that two Ackerley radio stations have taken sides in the "Oh Boy! Oberto/Albertons" vs. "Lowrey's Big Beef Jerky presents Jeronimo" war that has erupted for this weekend's General Motors Cup at Seafair.

KUBE 93 FM has aligned itself with rookie driver George Stratton in the Lowrey's Big Beef Jerky and will provide ammunition to help the Big Beef team hold their ground after beating the Oh Boy! Oberto in the championship final last Sunday at the Tri-Cities Columbia Cup race, placing second behind Mark Evans in the Miss E-Lam.

Pacific Northwest race fans should stay tuned throughout the week for your chance to win VIP KUBE 93 FM/Lowrey's race prizes.  Interviews with both George Stratton and crew chief John Walters are being scheduled for the afternoon drive time throughout the week with DJ, Eric Powers. 

Across the battle field, NEW MIX 95.7 FM have joined forces with the powerful fan favorite Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky/Albertson unlimited hydroplane with the colorful Preston, Wash. resident Nate Brown.  Brown who placed third behind the Lowrey's Big Beef Jerky last weekend said, "we just needed a little more pepper in our beef jerky boat to beat the Big Beef team. NEW MIX 95.7 will give us the right mix of tunes to beat those other guys.

Not to be out done, NEW MIX 95.7 FM will offer fans their chance to win VIP MIX 95.7 FM/Oh Boy! Oberto race prizes all week. Long time Seattle DJ, and morning host Gary Bryan will have interviews all week with Nate Brown and Art Oberto during the morning drive time.

To keep track of the Beef Jerky Battle- choose your hydroplane, choose your radio station, grab your favorite brand of Oberto Sausage Company beef jerky, log onto www.oberto.com or www.hydros.org and be sure to have fun this week. Stay tuned...
 

Nate Brown, who stepped in for the retired Charley Wiggins, made an impressive debut in the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky.  The red, green and white colors were a welcome site to fans on the Columbia River who hadn't seen the U-6 in some time.  Brown won his first preliminary heat of the year and finished third in the final during the weekend's Tri-Cities Budweiser Columbia Cup.

Just click here for a full gallery of photos from the event!
  

First look!

Wondering what the new paint scheme will look like on the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky?  Although we don't have photos to share yet, we do have a computer generated image showing what she should look like on the water!  Just click here!
 

Nate Brown Selected to Drive Miss Madison

Nate Brown, who served as the backup driver for the U-6 Miss Madison during this year’s Madison Regatta, will serve as the new driver for the remainder of the Budweiser Unlimited Hydroplane Series. Brown is no stranger to the Unlimiteds having driven for Bill Wurster’s U-8 team and the Ellstrom family’s U-16 team and he was the Unlimited Rookie of the Year in 1992 with Fred Leland’s KISW Miss Rock. Last year Brown drove the U-8 LLumar Window Film and finished in eighth place in the O’Doul’s National Driver High Point Championship.
 

Oh Boy! Oberto Returns to Hydroplane Racing
Celebrates 25th year since first sponsorship

Marking the 25th anniversary since the Oberto Sausage Company sponsored its first unlimited hydroplane, the country's largest manufacture of natural style beef and turkey jerky announced today the company will sponsor longtime hydroplane icon, the community owned U-6 Miss Madison hydroplane, beginning at the Kennewick, Wash. race July 28-30.  Oh Boy! Oberto, a cultural fixture in unlimited hydroplane racing decided after a five-year absence, the time was right to return to motorsports.  Art Oberto, Chairman of Oberto said, it's time to give hydroplane racing  fans what they have been missing, red, white and green jerky boat.

For the full press release, just click here!
 

Nate Brown to be interviewed on WORX!
New Miss Madison pilot Nate Brown is in Madison and WORX 96.7 FM will conduct a one hour show Sunday evening 7/16/00 starting at 6:00 PM EST.  Jeff Ayler and Tim Torrance will host the show interviewing Nate Brown and Miss Madison Team Manager Charlie Grooms.

Local and internet listeners can send questions to worxwxgo@seidata.com.  You can listen live on the web at www.worxradio.com!
 

Charley Wiggins Retires From Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
(Madison, IN) – Charley Wiggins, driver of the U-6 Miss Madison and the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products, announced his retirement from hydroplane racing yesterday.

Wiggins stated, "To My Family, The City of Madison, Fellow Racers, Fans and Friends, it is with sorrow that I tell you of my decision to hang up my helmet and driving gloves for the last time.  In light of my recent accidents and the deaths of fellow motorsport drivers Kenny Irwin and Adam Petty, I have come to the conclusion that for the first time in my life, my passion for life, family and other activities outweigh my passion for driving race boats.

"This sport, through its participants and fans have pushed me to great accomplishments, taught me life’s lessons, sometimes tragic, and given me friendships that will last a lifetime.  The City of Madison gave me a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of racing an unlimited hydroplane.  For these things and to all those involved, I will be forever grateful.

"Now, it’s time to say goodbye to the sport that I love so, so much.  And may God bless you as I feel he has blessed me!"
  

Detroit APBA Gold Cup
The U-6 Miss Madison is on it's way to Detroit and was spotted in a rest area just north of Cincinnati, OH earlier today.  Testing and qualifying is set to start at 8:00 AM on Thursday, July 6th.  For full coverage of the the U-6's race weekend, just click here!
 

The U-6 makes the final in Madison
Although hurting from Evansville, Charley tested, qualified and drove the Miss Madison in  heat competition.  Before a cheering crowd of hometown fans, Charley won the provisional making it into the final.  Regrettably the U-6 went down during the final preventing the team from finishing the race.  
 

Charley Wiggins qualifies the Miss Madison!
Throughout the day Friday, the U-6 was not seen in the pits of the Belterra Resort Casino Indiana Governor's Cup.  The team made a dramatic debut during the parade with Charley Wiggins riding alongside Bob Hughes.

The U-6 joined the other teams in the pits following the parade and prepared for today's qualifying action.  As we reported earlier, it was Charley's decision whether or not he would drive today.  In the end, a sore but healing Charley Wiggins climbed aboard the U-6 and qualified the boat on the first lap he drove.

Charley continued to driver throughout the day with Nate Brown offering a bit of relief during one qualifying run.

Charley also took his Unlimited Light to two heat wins between testing and qualifying.  Charley may be sore, but he's certainly here to race.
 

Miss Madison set to run in Madison!
Charley Wiggins is still recovering from injuries sustained during the Evansville race.  It will be Charley's decision whether or not he is able to drive the U-6 this weekend.  Charley has been going through re-hab in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama and, if he feels he is able to drive, he will be behind the wheel of the U-6.  Nate Brown has been tapped as a back-up driver should Charley be unable to compete.
 

Update... A very sore Charley Wiggins was released from the hospital at 10:00 AM on 6/26/00.
 

Rough end to a strong start!  The Evansville Thunder Festival was off to a promising start with Charley Wiggins in the the Miss Madison taking a strong third place in their first heat of action.  They challenged the U-100 Team Znetix for second place during the heat.  It was an impressive show for the rookie!  However, in the second heat, the escape hatch experienced a fluke incident.  Part of the hatch broke, possibly due to floating debris, allowing water and pieces of the hatch to shoot into the cockpit at around 150 mph.  Charley suffered a knee injury and is fairly bruised from the force of the impact.  GET WELL SOON, CHARLEY!!!!
 

Charley Wiggins is officially an Unlimited driver!  
During this morning's first test session of the day, Charley completed the required laps to be declared an Unlimited driver.  During the afternoon driver's meeting, Chief Referee Mike Noonan complemented Charley explaining that he had "the fastest lap average I've seen in a long time."  Charley also distinguished himself by getting quite a bit of seat time in preparation for tomorrow's race running roughly twenty laps over the first two days of the Evansville Thunder Festival.
 

Photos from Charley's first run!
We've just launched a new gallery featuring Charley Wiggin's first time out in the U-6.  Just click here to take a look.
 

We're racing in Evansville!  (6/23/00)  How about a first lap of 132.419?  Charley Wiggins took the U-6 out for the first time today and he looks like a natural.  Charley made it out several times through the day.  The second time they sent him out to run one lap before barge traffic took over the river.  Charley ran three and brought it home.  He looks sharp behind the wheel of the U-6!  Charley will get in as many laps as possible today toward qualifying to race later this weekend.  At the time of this update, the U-6 had qualified for this weekend's race!
 

We're back!  Charley Wiggins and the U-6 Miss Madison took part in yesterday's Madison Regatta Media launch/celebration.  Charley was warmly welcomed by the city of Madison, Indiana and the press.  Later in the evening, Charley trailer fired the U-6 and spent some time with Charlie Grooms and the team learning about the craft he will soon pilot in competition 
 

Miss Madison pilot Charley Wiggins will be in the studios of WORX 96.7 FM on Tuesday 6/20/00.  Wiggins will be in town for the Madison Regatta Media Party, but between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM EST he will be interviewed during the station's morning show!
 

• Interview transcript - Part One
• Interview transcript - Part Two
• Interview transcript - Part Three
   

• Miss Madison with 18.9%
• Atlas Van Lines with 14.9%
• Miss Bardhal with 12.2%