1987 | George Simon

From 1953 through 1976, George Simon and Miss US Unlimited hydroplanes were familiar sights at the APBA Gold Cup and other Unlimited races. His innovative designs first appeared on various Miss US hulls and power plants.

Perhaps Simon won his most outstanding honor in 1962 at Guntersville AL. Roy Duby piloted the Miss US I through the one-mile straightaway at an average speed of 200.419 MPH, a new record for a propeller-driven boat. Simon's pioneering work in hull design won him the 1976 APBA Gold Cup.

In 1963 he won a landmark tax case against the IRS, which validated Unlimited racing as a legitimate business expense. The decision opened the door for national sponsorship.