Madison Friday Morning
| July 6, 2007 | |
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MADISON, Indiana--It is official, the new Oh Boy! Oberto boat will be christened at 3 pm, Wednesday, June 27th at the judge's stand on the Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course on the Ohio River in the Madison Regatta Pit area.
Assuming water conditions are good, the boat will be in the pit area for photo's and the ceremony. Art Oberto and Larry Oberto along with Madison dignitaries will be in attendance. "We basically evaluated where the sport has gone and how the team has done. We feel confident in supplying them with new equipment," said Larry Oberto, sponsor representative of the Miss Madison team. " We want them to have a good raceboat--one that gives the driver the confidence to go as fast as he can without worrying about the consequences." No one is more upbeat about the new Oh Boy! Oberto hydroplane than driver Steve David. Steve has won won back-to-back National Driver Championships in 2005 and 2006 for the Oberto team and has no intention of resting on his laurels in 2007. "The City of Madison and Miss Madison, Inc., along with significant contribution of the Oberto Sausage Company, have built the most modern, leading edge Unlimited ever to hit the water," said David. "The new boat is over 600 pounds lighter than last year's hull. This will aid in lap times and top end as well as getting a preferential lane at the start. "It's also wider between the sponsons, which helps with acceleration and entry-to-exit times," added David. "It's built out of the most space age composites on earth, which means structural integrity and rough water readiness." The family of Larry and Art Oberto has sponsored a total of 11 Unlimited hydroplanes since 1975. The Obertos' Seattle-based meat products business is the oldest corporate sponsor in Unlimited racing today. The Miss Madison team is the oldest in the history of Unlimited racing. The citizens of Madison have had a boat in competition every year since 1961. Between 1961 and 2006, five hulls saw service as the "Floating Chamber of Commerce" for the picturesque Ohio River town. The sixth and newest standard bearer will make its competitive debut at the 2007 season-opener in Evansville, Indiana, on July 1 with David in the cockpit. This year, 2007, marks the 47th consecutive year of racing for the Miss Madison team...the eighth with sponsor Oh Boy! Oberto. "The new boat is clear evidence of the commitment of the town, its people, and our sponsor," said David. "You've given me the right team, the right leadership, and the right equipment." (A special thanks to Linda Lytle, Executive Director of the Madison Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, for organizing this event.) |
