Miss Madison News

A team member bids farewell
A note from Chuck Moore, the outgoing webmaster of www.missmadison.com...

For almost five years I have had the distinct pleasure of working with the Miss Madison team and serving as the team’s website designer. Since I first launched the site on 5/11/99 , I have had a blast chronicling the team’s progress and covering the legend that is Miss Madison Racing. It is with a little sadness in my heart and a bit of excitement regarding my own future that I share with you that I am retiring from my work with the team.

I would like to personally thank Charlie Grooms and Bob Hughes for making a home for me with the U-6 team. I would also like to thank each and every team member I have worked with (too many to list here) as this team is the heart of hydroplane racing if you ask me. Charlie Grooms, especially, has been a great friend and he’s the person who first welcomed me into the Unlimited hydroplane racing family. For that fact, I will always be grateful.

What does this mean for the website? Hopefully very little. I am leaving the site design and content in the very capable hands of Kim and Geoff Eldridge. They will be taking over the site effective immediately and will usher in a new era for Miss Madison racing on the web. Check back regularly as it should be exciting to watch!

I wish the team much success in the upcoming years and thank them for all the great memories.

Cheers,
Chuck Moore
4/8/04

Two steps back and a leap forward
January 31st, 2004 shop update...

Remember our earlier updates where we mentioned with excitement that the bottom of the boat was put back in place? Upon further review, the team opted for a few changes and ripped the bottom back out of the 6. It was a weekend of deconstruction, sanding and fabrication. With the keen eyes of Larry Hanson and Tim Ramsey, work on the hull is moving toward a strategic leap forward. The team is excited. On hand this Saturday were Cindy, Eric, Richard, David and John.

Tim Ramsey has been very focused on building a solid data history for Miss Madison allowing the team to take an increasingly detailed look at performance on the water. Each time the boat heads out, analysis will be key right down to the last crew opinion, driver impression or boat set-up.

Miss Madison Racing team gets ready to attack!
January 17th, 2004 shop update...
Well, the boat has yet to turn and the pace here in the shop has shifted just a bit. With Larry Hanson and Tim Ramsey taking on the guiding influence for the rebuild, it was time to size up the resources available, get organized and prepare for a full assault on the U-6. It's about to get exciting in Madison. On hand this weekend were Harry, David, Richard, Eric, Cindy and Larry.

The photo on the right depicts Tim Ramsey hard at work in the shop. The shot was provided by our good friends at www.madisoncamerunning.com. (Click the photo for the full size shot!)

Weekend offers team time to work on back-up parts
January 10th, 2004 shop update...

After last weekend's success story (getting the frames back in the boat and all that entails), this weekend we were able to turn our attention to finalizing our back-up set of frames and doublers. It was a Saturday filled with metal fabrication and 2004 season preparation. As we've mentioned previously, the team is dedicated to doing the work over the winter (building a full set of back-up parts) in an effort to save themselves a round the clock effort should the boat be damaged on the road.

Our working group here in the shop is about to grow by two! Larry Hanson arrived on Monday and Tim Ramsey should join us later this week. Both bring a wealth of expertise to the shop adding to our already talented crew. Already working hard this weekend were Richard, Eric, Harry, Cindy and Chris.

Frames return to the hull as the team looks toward turning the boat
January 3rd, 2004 shop update...

Over the weekend Richard, John, Eric, Harry and Cindy completed one significant phase of Miss Madison’s rear rebuild. Following a couple hours of work, we are pleased to report that the frames are back in the boat! They are "glued, screwed and secure". This achievement clears the way for the team to flip the boat and start some serious work on the underbelly of the hull. That flip could happen as soon as the upcoming weekend.

The Miss Madison team gathers to celebrate Christmas
Those of you who've followed results from the Madison Regatta over the last few years will recognize the name Bello's Pizza. The restaurant has been a regular unlimited hydroplane sponsor traditionally supporting Mike and Lori Jones' U-9 racing team. Always willing to help the Miss Madison team as well, Bello's Pizza, on Tuesday night, played host to the Miss Madison team Christmas party!

Loaded with pizza, team members and Christmas cheer, the Miss Madison racing family listened to music, watched the 1999 Gold Cup (reliving Chip Hanauer's victory that year), then watched the 2001 Madison Regatta (which the team won before a hometown crowd). The party kicked off at 6:30 PM and ran past 11:00 PM.

Owner Representative Bob Hughes spoke and Team Manager Charlie Grooms was there chatting with friends and racing family. Former team members Doug Shepherd and Greg Brethold joined the current crew in celebrating the holiday. Also spotted were Wayne "Bull" Griffith, Pat "Snake" Furnish, Eric Bell, Richard Dunn, John Ashby, Cindy Moore, David Shirley, David Riley and our good friend Harry Olsen from Indianapolis.

From our family to yours... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Checking in with team...
December 20, 2003 shop update...

This weekend can best be described as a "glue delay" weekend. The holidays are approaching, postal services are slowing and chemicals used to create the glue didn't arrive as scheduled. As soon as the shipment arrives, the frames will be placed, glued into the transom and the rebuild will continue. In anticipation of upcoming activity, motor parts were washed and cleaned. Prep work became the goal of the day. It was a good relaxed Saturday with Cindy, John, Richard and Eric on hand.

Since it was a fairly quiet weekend, we thought we would share a photo update...

Paying a visit to the Madison team shop
December 13, 2003 shop update...

Miss Madison has returned from a warm reception in the annual Madison Christmas Parade to settle in for a season of snow, cold weather and continued hull repairs. She's back onto the boards which keep the hull near ground level and green paper, which made the hull presentable for the parade, still covers the sponson holes. The canopy is back over the cockpit as well.

The main focus of this weekend's work was the back bottom. The crew was busy preparing the transom area (the same area previously damaged and repaired while in Seattle) cleaning it up with acetone and preparing the glue mix that holds the hull together. Once the glue was ready, the bottom sprang into place. A series of screws helped secure everything.

Next up... The team will probably work toward replacing the structural frames that hold the back of the boat together. It may be Christmas season, but in the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto / Miss Madison team shop, this crew of elves are boat building.

Spotted in the shop on Saturday: Eric Bell, Richard Dunn, John Ashby, Cindy Moore, Harry from Indianapolis and Travis Johnson. Passing through and saying hello were Bull, Snake, Bill Hayworth and Bob Wolfschlag. When you're working around the 6 shop, everyone eventually stops in to say hello.

Madison Christmas Parade
December 8, 2003 update...

The U-6 Miss Madison may be in a state of off-season repair as the team tears the boat apart and puts it back together in anticipation of the 2004 season, but that didn't prevent the crew from pulling off a small Christmas miracle late last week. It's interesting what a little tape, some creative hull work and a dedicated crew can do in a hurry. Thanks to their efforts, Miss Madison was able to take part in Saturday's Christmas Parade through downtown Madison. The annual parade, sponsored by the Madison Business & Professional Association, began at 10:30 a.m. at Main and Mill streets and traveled east to Jefferson Street. More than 80 groups participated in the event which ushered in Christmas excitement for many. Happy Holidays!

Getting organized!
November 15, 2003 shop update...

The team took a bit of time away from the day to day hull work this weekend to regroup and get things organized around the shop. Surveying parts on hand, working with the battery systems and getting a feel for what can be used next season and what should be set aside was the order of business today. Charlie Grooms was on hand this weekend. Also working away in the shop were Eric Bell, Travis Johnson, John Ashby, Cindy Moore and a couple team friends from Indianapolis (Harry and his son).

Checking in with the Madison team shop!
November 8, 2003 shop update...

Work continues as the team looks toward the 2004 season. Currently the team is working its way through fabrication and mending the U-6. The team is doing double work in many areas fabricating the parts needed for the current repair and a solid second set so, when damage occurs, the repair time will be minimal. The team may travel with close to an entire extra bottom of the boat in 2004. Extra effort now might save the team a days work on the road.

The bottom of the back of the boat is back in place. Doublers are being mounted to the fames and team members are up to their elbows in Hysol, aka the glue that holds the 6 together.

Crew chief Eric Bell was hard at work with Richard Dunn, Travis Johnson and Cindy Moore. John Ashby was also on hand helping for a time.

Here's a quick look at the latest shop photos featuring frames, brackets, a look at the engine compartment, spare parts and an extra bottom...

Art Oberto Inducted Into The Hydroplane Hall of Fame
King County Journal -- July 31, 2003

"Art Oberto made a name for himself as head of the Oberto Sausage Co., which has its headquarters in Kent.

But Oberto, who at 75 still serves as chairman of the board, is more than just a highly successful sausage maker.

He's also a longtime fan and supporter of unlimited hydroplane racing. Since 1975, the Oberto family has sponsored 10 unlimited hydroplanes and has three victories to its credit, two in 1988 (at Miami and San Diego) with driver George Woods and one in 2001 with driver Steve David at Madison, Ind.

Oberto's support hasn't gone unnoticed. Last year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Hydroprop Awards Banquet.

Today, he's being inducted into the Hydroplane Hall of Fame."

Read the full article:
http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/138994

Take a walk around the U-6!

Wish you were in Madison, Indiana taking a closer look at the
U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto / Miss Madison in the shop?

We can't take you there, but we can offer the next best thing!
The graphic on the left offers a peak at a new QuickTime video
that literally takes you for a walk around the 6.

See the hull. Hear the sounds of the shop.
The next best thing to being there!

The file is just a little over 4 meg in size.
For ease of use and a smooth video presentation,
we ask that you right click on this link, select "save as"
or "save target as" and save the video to your desktop.

Once saved, just open the file and enjoy the show!

Checking in with the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto / Miss Madison
October 25, 2003 shop visit...

We visited the shop for a few hours today talking with assistant crew chief Eric Bell, crew member Richard Dunn and others helping work on the U-6. As you can see from the photo gallery below, the 6 is about a foot and a half off the floor (just enough room to slide under as needed) and the team is hard at work repairing the damage encountered in San Diego. When the prop broke, it shook much of the back of the boat, tearing through the boat from the prop to the engine. The first order of business this winter is to return the hull to race ready condition. At this time we're basically rebuilding returning to the point where we were when we entered San Diego's Mission Bay. Helping Eric and Richard today were Chris Gryder, Travis Johnson and John Ashby. John was fighting his way through hysol around the shaft log. Travis and Chris were fabricating replacement sections of the boat. Click any photo for the full size shot...

Members of the Miss Madison team go racing in Louisville, KY
The U-6 Miss Madison display hull (pictured left) welcomed fans at the gates of Louisville Water Front Park during the recent Roar on the River race in Louisville, KY. The weekend featured several inboard classes along with a full APBA Vintage event!

The APBA Vintage and Historic Division is the part-time home of U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison's own Bill and Judy Fisk. The Fisk's brought their vintage Irishman GP-317 and ran it during throughout the weekend.

Sure enough, where you find one Miss Madison team member, you will usually find more. Soon Bill and Judy were joined by Randy Doughty, Randy's son Shawn, Richard Dunn, Chuck and Cindy Moore along with David Shirley. Each of these individuals work with the Miss Madison team and some were more than excited to become vintage crew members for the weekend. What followed was a fun weekend, start to finish. Here are some photos from the informal gathering!

Looking for more coverage from the event? Click here to check out the recent Hydro-Prop gallery and even more photos can be found on the Roostertails website.

More on the recent Miss Madison Charity Golf Scramble
10/14/03 - For more on the recent Miss Madison Charity Golf Scramble, be sure to visit the October 10th Madison Courier story on the event titled "98 complete in Miss Madison Golf Scramble". Click here to read the story on-line. Winners of the 32nd annual scramble were: Roger Heady, Mark Andrew, Ralph Lionetti, Linda Rusk, Bob Rusk, Miss Madison President Bob Hughes, Don Ashley and Alvin Heller, winner of the annual Crooked Stick Award.

Miss Madison Charity Golf Scramble
10/09/03 - We wanted to take a moment and offer our thanks to everyone who took part in the 2003 Miss Madison Charity Golf Scramble. The Charity Scramble took place last Sunday (October 5th, 2003) at Madison’s Sunrise Golf Course. Sponsored by Clifty Engineering and offering up $2,375 in prizes (awarded in merchandise certificates from the Sunrise Pro Shop), all entry fees from the Scramble went to benefit the U-6 Miss Madison Racing Team. The 32nd annual Miss Madison Golf Tournament attracted 98 participants with each golfer paying an entry fee of $50. We hope everyone had a great time and we offer our sincere thanks to everyone who came out and supported the team!