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Jean Theoret in the Ellstrom Racing's U-16 Oh Boy
Oberto, replete in 1975 Oh Boy Throwback livery, took Pole position at Tri
Cities with a lap of 160.000mph. (Image source: h1unlimited.com)
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Hurrah to Art Oberto for personally bringing the
Northwest's favourite Jerky boat back to the Stan Sayres pits...
Ro-Ro', here I go again, as the year's just
slipped away from Mwah, as your humble No Fenders scribe has been playing too
much lately, having totally missed the H1 Unlimiteds Second Act this season on
the Mighty Columbia last weekend, amongst other races around thou globe whilst
gallivanting at Mount Rainier via 'Enumscratch... (Enumclaw)
Hence, I totally missed thee memo regarding
Art Oberto's decision to personally pay for his 'lil Snasages company, who
Y'all may have heard that some Dude named Sherm' (Richard Sherman) of the Super
Bowl winning Seattle Seahawks has become their Pitchman, agreed to a two-race
dealio with a rival competitor this year.
Since when finally getting to listen to the
Tri Cities Herald HAPO Columbia Cup race recap on my NFB Newsline for The Blind
telephone service, which wasn't available until Tuesday, August 2nd, two days
afterwards, I originally thought it must be a mistake?
As the story noted how the U-16 Oh boy
Oberto; Huh? Jean "Jumpin' Jaques Flash" Theoret had collided with
the U-1 Home Street Bank's Jimmy Shane. For which any longtime Hydroplane Aficionado
knows that Shane and others, most notably H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David
have driven the Miss Madison, which for decades was the Oberto to multiple wins
and National High Points Championships.
Yet after Oberto announced its decision to
quit the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane racing at the conclusion of last year's
season finale at San Diego, Eric Ellstrom with help has struck an arrangement
to run the Oh Boy Oberto's Flag in 1970's Throwback livery with Jean Theoret at
the controls for the two Warshintonion' events, nee Tri Cities and Seattle -
whilst we can simply dream of this partnership lasting thru the season, and
perhaps beyond?
And like 'Ol 'R, aka Robin Miller says
"We need Hate;" Err "Hate's Good!" Not to mention
controversy, not only to stir up emotions, cause lots of Water Cooler chatter
and ultimately sell tickets. This year's Columbia Cup Hydro race was
Chock-O'block with that when the two aforementioned contestants collided during
the final heat's second lap!
Thus effectively gifting the win to J.
Michael Kelly and Graham Trucking who'd started the race behind in third place
before both combatants fell foul to 1-lap penalties.
All of which sets up a good 'Ol fashioned
Donnybrook just waiting to be waged between Theoret, Shane and Kelly, the
race's winner the past two years, while Shane won at Seattle in 2013,
ironically aboard the Graham Trucking and Theoret's won Seafair twice in
2005-06.
As this triumberant's gotta be the odds on
favourites for victory this Sunday at Lake Washington, since they seem a cut
above everyone else with their five combined victories, albeit Seafair's known
for surprise winners.
Surely it would be most shocking if second
fastest qualifier at Tri Cities, rookie Andrew Tate pulled a "Rabbit outta
thou Hat" in the patched-up U-9Les Schwab.
While a popular winner would be the U-99.9 Car Star powered KISW Miss
Rock, Freddy Leland's boat doesn't seem to have the speed, and ditto for the
U-21. With Thom Thompson being a Dark-horse pick...
Meanwhile, Seattle's Seafair Hydroplane race
is celebrating its momentous 65th anniversary, as notice how I didn't say
birthday 'cause I didn't want to conjure up any ideas of Senior Citizenry; Hya!
As the Unlimiteds first raced on the shores
of Lake Washington on August 4, 1951 during the era when the previous year's
Gold Cup winner's Yacht Club hosted the following year's event on its home
waters.
For which the East Coast was shocked by the
radical Slo Mo Shun's stunning Gold Cup victory at Detroit in 1950. As much of
the nation had NO clue of where the Emerald City was, being somewheres' far,
far away on the west coast!
As Lou Fageol, whom I've scribbled 'bout
previously regarding his connection to 'Ol Mother Speedway, some 'lil racin'
Oval track at thee corner of 16th & Georgetown, not only won the prestigious
Gold Cup convincingly for Stan Sayres and the Seattle Yacht Club in 1951, but
repeated in 1953 as co-driver and again in 1954.
As surely those rowdy Seafair Pirates R Mateys, have landed at Alki Beach by now, with the Blue Angels taking to the skies daily with their new No. 6 Opposing Solo pilot having been named earlier. As Navy Cmdr. Frank Weisser
, a previous Blues pilot between 2008-2010
returns to the fold.
And don't forget 'bout "Fat
Albert," the Blues support transport Aeroplane performing as usual over
Lake Washington, where the legendous Boeing Test Pilot Alvin Tex' Johnston once
famously barrel-rolled a Boeing Pre-Production Dash 80, forerunner of the
company's hugely successful 707 passenger jet not once, but twice to amazed
onlookers!
VIDEO: Tex Johnston on Barrel Roll
Another yearly tradition continues with Fleet
Week commencing upon the waters of Puget Sound, with the Canadian Royal Navy
and some Stars 'N Stripes "Schooners" offering public tours during
Seafair at selected waterfront piers.
SEAFAIR 2016
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST
No. Name Driver
U-1 Miss Home Street Jimmy Shane
U-3 Miss DiJulio Jimmy King
U-5 Graham Trucking J. Michael Kelly
U-7 Graham Trucking II Jeff Bernard
U-9 Les Schwab R-Andrew Tate
GBR.11 Miss Peters & May Thom Thompson
U-16 Oh Boy Oberto Jean Theoret
U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance Brian Perkins
U-99.9 Car Star Miss Rock Kevin Eacret
(R
= Rookie)
NOTES
The U-27 Dalton Industries which suffered a
'Mega Blowover accident at the season opener in Indiana when chasing eventual
winner Jimmy Shane for the victory while running second, apparently is still
being repaired and wasn't included in the Hulls listed for Seafair.
The U-18 Bucket List Racing Hydroplane which
failed to qualify at Tri Cities due to Gearbox issues, is rumoured to be a long
shot to race in Seafair this year...
Meanwhile the U-9 Les Schwab "Sound
Propeller" boat - for which I just had the unexpected pleasure of visiting
the Les Schwab store in Enumclaw, WA, home of some Roundy-round Taxicab driver
named Kasey Kahne; but I digress...
Ironically threw a prop! Uhm, sheared a blade
in Tri Cities, which their rookie chauffer immediately shutdown the Hydro's
blower, nee turbine, (Powerplant) but still suffered considerable damage to the
underside of the hull which has been repaired "Justin-time" for Seafair.
Now comes word that Sound Propeller Services will
continue on in its association this weekend with the U-9 Jones Racing squad as
it's presenting sponsor, with the boat being rebranded as the U-9 Sound Propeller Services presents Les Schwab
Tires.
As Sound Propeller Services is a local
Seattle company whose clients most notably include the fleet of television's
The Deadliest Catch.
And lastly, presumably local legend Chip
Hanauer, the sport's third winningest driver will once again handle the day
long television coverage on local CBS Affiliate KIRO7, anchored by The Voice of
the Seattle Seahawks, Steve :HOLY SMOKES!" Raible, as OH SHIT! It's almost
football time; Hut-Hut-Hut!
