Foust ‘n Quiet!

Where’s Richard Rawlings and those Gas Monkey garage Monkeys when Yuhs need them, eh?

 

The “big” news is that Tanner Foust joins H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes Livestream Broadcast team this year, as co-host alongside Brad Luce. As Foust, a four times Rallycross Champion. Along with two Formula Drift titles, multiple X Games medals and being part of BBC America’s U.S. Top Gear trio. Has been brought in to help Amp up the Livestream Hydroplanes broadcast…

 

Unfortunately I could never hear Tanner or Brad (Luce) the entire Freakin’ weekend at Lake Guntersville. Can You Hear Me Now H1 Unlimited?

 

But first off, let’s review H1 Unlimited’s pathetic reporting upon it’s website. As they may be the fastest boats on water, but you’d be hard pressed to know who All of the Playah’s are?

 

No surprise that Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate served notice during Tri-Cities testing in May with a top speed of 163mph plus, with six teams testing. Yet not surprisingly, only four of the day’s six runners are mentioned. With Gunnar O’Farrell’s spectacular Blow-over aboard the U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Hydro’. Along with mentioning Cory Peabody behind the tiller of the U-9 Beacon Plumbing and Jamie Nielsen skippering the U-11 Flav-R-Pac. But no mention on the other two mystery Hulls or any of the actual testing speeds…

 

Thus, with this usual lack of information, I purposely skipped Friday’s Hydrofest action. Which it behooves Mwah that H1 Unlimited cannot post a daily report at the end of each day, Say What? As this is a common practice for IndyCar, NASCAR, Formula 1, IMSA, etc.

 

Then on Saturday, I tried a few times to listen to the Livestream both via H1 Unlimited’s website and Youtube directly with zilch, nada, nothing during the morning, Groan!

 

That afternoon I vainly  attempted the same ridiculous rinse, lather, repeat process of trying to get a functioning Livestream, complete with sound. Check-Check, One-Two-testing…

 

Then when the Big Boyz’ should have been racing, after jacking up my sound level a ridiculous 40 levels, What the Flock! I suddenly could hear two announcers calling some sort of “Junior” stock race-boat race, before the announcer began repeatedly calling for a red flag!

 

As one of the boats had blown over! Noting how the driver and throttle-man sat side-by-side, Err shoulder-to-shoulder with helmets, life vests and separate oxygen supply. And with the boat upside down in the drink’, they shouldn’t even get wet when exiting thru the cutout escape hatch on the bottom of the boat; unless the roof, presumably canopy was impacted and damaged…

 

With said red flag deployed and not knowing what support series this was? Or how long until the Big Boyz’, nee Unlimited Hydroplanes would appear, I logged off for the day.

 

Having subsequently learned this was the Offshore Super Stock class, with Team Bermuda S-25 having experienced that Blow-over, with both of the boat’s occupants safely recovered and escaping unharmed before the safety boats arrived…

 

Sunday morning I tried again in vain, since I couldn’t get any sound, i.e.; anybody talking on the “live”Youtube stream, after having jacked up the volume a ridiculous 30 levels, Urgh! During what should have been Heat 3.

 

Didn’t even bother trying again at 11:00AM (Pacific) before trying one final time that afternoon to tune-in to the finals, chirp-Chirp, Bueller?

 

Logged on at 2:20PM and first got a garbled soundtrack before a litany of instrumental rock songs, for which I’d Arse-sumed at least the finals would be on time, beginning at 2:30PM? But the music just kept playing. So I closed the browser and tried logging into the H1 Unlimited Lake Guntersville Sunday “live” feed again. As somewhere between 2:35-39PM the page claimed a whopping 766 people were currently watching. Which then jumped up to 785 after I refreshed and searched again on Youtube for a current live stream feed. But nothing! As I did this again a few more times before noticing at 2:52PM Thar were a staggering 813 people watching, Woo-Hoo! Since by this point I was pretty fed up, and finally gave up in disgust around3:05PM, Sigh!

 

Some three plus hours later, and not sure what I was looking for? I checked the H1 Unlimited website one more time before logging off and Shazam! Sunday evening I finally learned thanks to their pathetic lack of information, Urgh!

 

That basically the weekend had been a Bust, with the majority of the Unlimited action being scrubbed due to inclement weather. But why should we have to wait until Sunday evening to learn that both Saturday and Sunday’s action has been cancelled?

 

Saturday morning’s Heat-1A saw four boat take the green flag, i.e.; Tate, (U-91) Peabody, (U-9) Villwock (U-27) and Nielsen. (U-11) And although Nielsen got the jump upon the field, Villwock lost control and had a major Blow-over, which also damaged Peabody’s Hydroplane from being watered down! Plus being damaged by debris from Villwock’s Hydro, Aye Karumba!

 

Then high winds and an afternoon thunderstorm curtailed any further activity, before high winds all day Sunday cancelled any further competition. Which if H1 Unlimited had their act together, at the very least would have put up a quick note informing us of this, so I wouldn’t have spent two days wasting my time trying to listen to their pathetic Livestream!

 

BWR Racing said that the U-27 Miss Apollo will compete at this weekend’s Madison Regatta, presumably in the backup Hull known as “Sharkey”, the Hull Tate drove in 2023.

 

Whilst the U-6 Miss Madison struggled mightily at Guntersville with engine problems all weekend and never got its rookie skipper Brian Kennedy qualified. But presumably will have better luck this weekend at its home event, the 75th anniversary of the Madison Regatta.

 

For which I’d like to think that H1 Unlimited’s Livestream service will be better this weekend? And it would really be nice if they could also tell me what radio station is broadcasting the event? Meaning I could probably actually Hear what’ going on race-wise, without having to Jack U-P my volume an El Stupidio 40 levels, Oh Never Mind! 

HYDROS: The 2025 Season Spools up in Earnest

Although a fifth’s of Thar season’s already over. And I feel like I need a fifth after a most disjointed weekend of trying to follow along…

 

This coming fourth ‘O July weekend sees the H1 Unlimited series contesting Thar’ second race of the 2025 season at Madison, Indiana

 

The season began nearly one month ago at the Guntersville Hydrofest, June 8th on Lake Guntersville, Alabama. With the remainder of the five events as follows: July 6th Madison Regatta at Madison, Indiana.

 

Then a three race west coast swing, including the traditional Warshington’ back-to-back “Double”, i.e.; July 27th Tri-Cities Water Follies at Kennewick on the Mighty Columbia, nee Columbia River.

 

Followed a week later on Lake Washington  August 3rd at Seattle’s Seafair, presumably replete with the legendous’ Blue Angels, unless somebody’s spent too much upon His 79th birthday’s military parade and had to cut their funding?

 

The season concludes on September 14th at Bayfair’s Mission Bay, with the Bill Muncey Cup in San Diego, CA.

 

This year’s Tri-Cities Water Follies commemorates the 60th anniversary of this event and will host this year’s prestigious APBA Gold Cup race. With the Gold Cup being the oldest American trophy, beginning with it’s 1904 inaugural event

 

Like every offseason, much movement has occurred in the top Dawgs’ Unlimited Hydroplanes fleet. As Dustin Echols has decided to retire from competition, leaving the U-40 devoid of a driver.

 

And with Sharon and Kelly Stockton, longtime owners of Bucket List Racing and the U-40’s main sponsor Flav-R-Pac moving onto the U-11’s flanks as its new primary sponsor, Y’all have to wonder the status of the U-40 Bucket List Racing Unlimited Hydroplane this season.

 

Once again, the H1 Unlimited website has suffered another compressor stall, since I couldn’t find anything on its apathetic website about the seismic shift of the competing teams landscape…

 

According to the Madison Courier, Miss Madison Racing which had gotten itself into hefty financial debt due to it’s 2018 sponsorship agreement with Home Street Bank. With the former Miss Budweiser Tukwila race shop becoming an albatross around its neck due to the hefty mortgage, has led to Miss Madison president Charlie Grooms selling the entire assets of the championship winning team! Having just won their twelfth championship last year…

Seattle’s Bruce Ratchford, the founder and proprietor of Apollo Mechanical, who not only became Seafair’s title sponsor last year. When the Apollo Mechanical Cup joined Seafair for its 75th anniversary.  Also sponsored the U-27 Miss Apollo last season. With the newly created race team stepping up with the acquisition of Miss Madison Racing’s two Unlimited Hydroplane Hulls. Along with adding the U-27 to its fleet.

 

Thus, defending APBA National High Points Drivers Champion Andrew Tate has become teammate this season with Dave Villwock. With Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate and Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo for the new BWR Racing team, forming a new powerhouse race team to challenge Strong Racing…

 

Initially, I Arse-sumed BWR Racing would be run out of the former Miss Madison Tukwila race shop. Although re-reading the Madison Courier story, it notes that the entire Tukwila inventory was sold, making me wonder if the building wasn’t included?

 

As Grooms and four other Board members of Miss Madison Racing Inc have been fired over this travesty, with the immediate future of the team unknown.

 

Yet H1 Unlimited blissfully reported in February, that Miss Madison racing Inc had sold one of it’s Hulls to eric Christensen over the winter. Who’ll compete aboard the U-2 this season, driving for His newly founded Christensen Racing team. Making me wonder just how many Hulls did Miss Madison Racing own?

 

Christensen clamed they’d have the U-2 Fraternal Order of Eagles and Albert lee Appliance Hydroplane ready for May’s Spring training event on the Columbia River, but the race boat, based out of Buckley, WA didn’t appear at Guntersville. Making me wonder if this will just be another west coast partial season Hydroplane?

 

A la the U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing Hydroplane, that Gunnar O’Farrell dramatically flipped during testing in Pasco this May! Although the team’s confident they’ll be ready in time for the Water Follies event.

 

Meanwhile, following the sale of Miss Madison Racing’s assets to BWR Racing, the series notes that in conjunction with representatives of Marshall County Tourism and Sport, the Madison Regatta and Miss Madison Racing, the team will attempt competing in the season’s first two East coast races, i.e.; Guntersville and Madison.

 

Subsequently, Miss Madison Racing announced that rookie skipper Brandon Kennedy will be at the tiller of it’s U-6 Hydroplane, as the organization regroups and hopefully secures it’s long term future. AS I’d like to think the team can rebound and return to a full season campaign in the near future…

 

Cannot say I’m overly impressed by only six Unlimited Big Boyz’ Boats showing up at Guntersville, but think we’ve had worse. As I tend to recall some of the races having a paltry four Hulls. But with the cloud hanging over the storied Miss Madison operation right now, guess I should see this as a good thing overall.

 

Another interesting side note is that Bruce Ratchford has joined forces with Darrel Strong, owner of Strong Racing, the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane’s other two boat team owner in Hydrotown Racing Inc.

 

As Hydrotown Racing Inc was created in 2023 to promote and market the Unlimited Hydroplanes, while apparently APBA is the sport’s governing body thru its ABRA association.

 

Yet Hydrotown Racing’s got a long way to go towards marketing and promoting the sport properly! Especially if Guntersville is their media template for success…

 

Whilst opining for nine Unlimited Hydroplanes competing in the Gold Cup and Seafair this summer. I think the best will be eight Hulls, since the U-6 Miss Madison is slated to run just the first two races. Meaning it will be Strong Racing vs. BWR Racing this season jousting for the National High Points Championship titles. 

HYDROS: San Diego’s Gold cup Finale becomes Unlimiteds “Rubber” Match

As who’ll take home the prestigious APBA Gold Cup this Year?

 

This weekend’s Bayfair Cup on the bill Muncey Sand diego Mission Bay’s season finale will decide this year’s Nathonal High Points champion. Along with whom gets bragging rights over the winter’s offseason for winning the prestigious APBA Gold cup. As I’d like to Arse-sume that All eight Unlimited Hulls that participated at Seattle will make the trip south down Interstate Freeway I-5…

 

I say rubber match because I’mthinking that’s what this final race has become between the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate of Andrew Tate vs. the two Strong Racing Hulls; the defending champion J. Michael Kelly in the U-1 Beacon Electric and the U-9 Beacon Plumbing with Cory Peabody at it’s tiller.

 

The season’s two main protagonists have been Tate and Peabody, who seemed destined for an epic showdown on Lake Washington in the winner take All Seafair Apollo Mechanical cup final this August.

 

As I did manage to listen to All seven Heats from Seattle both days via a very sketchy Youtube channel livestream. Even though Saturday saw their pit reporter’s transmissions completely garbled or non-existan. Along with having to Jack up the volume ridiculously in order to barely hear colour commentator John Walters…

 

Saturday’s preliminary Heats saw Tate win Heat 1A, followed by Peabody winning Heat 1B. While the best race of the day for Mwah was Dustin Echols impressive victory in Heat 2A! Being His and the U-40 Flav-R-Pac’s first Heat victory of the season, winning ahead of J. Michael Kelly!

 

Heat 2B pitted Tate against Peabody. As Peabody claimed the inside lane-1 and subsequently “motored” away from Tate, who finished second.

 

Sunday’s Heat 3A saw Tate win convincingly from the inside lane-1. And when asked about it afterwards during the winner’s interview bluntly said: We got Beat! When asked why He’d run inside on lane-1; referring to Heat 2B.

 

As John Walters, whose also an H1 Unlimited Inspector said that He’d noticed that the U-91 was running a different Skid Fin today in order to get better “Bite” off the corners on Seattle’s relatively short, tight 2.0-mile race course.

 

While later in the day, Walters mentioned an interesting factoid. Stating that today’s modern three bladed propellers used are made from castings. And last only 100 minutes! Before becoming doorstops or knickknacks…

 

Then lead announcer Brad Luce chimed in that years ago Nate Brown had proclaimed to Him: “Thin is Fast, but Doesn’t last!” Regarding an Unlimited Hydroplane’s propeller’s lifespan. With Walters noting that every single time the blade hits the water it bends…

 

Heat 3B saw Peabody ultimately victorious, albeit being pushed hard by teammate Kelly in a resurgent U-1 after an overnight engine change. With the Strong Racing duo finishing 1-2…

 

Meanwhile, leave it to John Walters, who won the sport’s very first race with a turbine engine in 1982, driving the Pride of Pay ‘n Pak during the H1 Unlimiteds pathetic Seafair livestream broadcast. Casually mentioning that Jim Lucero, the sport’s winningest Crew chief had died earlier this year. With Walters saying “We lost a Good One”. With Lucero taking the chequord Flag at age 77, just six days after Ron Jones Jr. death.

 

Huh, how come I haven’t read a word about this on H1 Unlimiteds webpage? Oh yeah, that’s the same (lame) site that not only couldn’t post stories during race weekends. But failed to post a race report of Sunday’s Apollo Columbia Cup in Tri-Cities at All!

 

Hmm, why did it take me until Tuesday morning after Seafair to find the race report Hidden on the website’s innocuous results tab! Only after I started huntin’ and peckin’ around their pathetic website! Whilst I still haven’t been able to locate a current National High Points championship points standings tally anywhere on the web, Urgh!

 

Brad (Luce) also asked Walters how driver’s felt after causing their team’s to have to rebuild their boat?  In regards to J. Michael Kelly feeling bad after His narly Blowover at Tri-cities the week prior!

 

Walters mused, Jim (Lucero) would say, “What did you do to it John? It was perfect when it left the dock”.

 

As Lucero won a record 69 races as the Sport’s winningest Crew Chief, including ten APBA Gold cups and eight National High Points championships before retiring in 1998.

 

Luce and Walters salivated over how they expected four boats to be gunning for lane-1 in the finals! And then during the Milling period before the new “Score Up” at 1:15 before the start. Luce said is that the U-1, U-9 and U-91 All together in the south turn? As we’ll keep an eye upon that triumvirate! Before Luce said that Kelly had bailed from the Argie-Bargey before exclaiming that Tate had gone Dead in the water!

 

Kelly got a legal start ahead of the rest of the field before Peabody was battling for the lead on the outside, with the two Beacon Hydros’ going Mano e Mano! With Kelly getting His first W’ of the season and Peabody second, with Tate a dejected fifth! Having never recovered from His dust-up with Peabody before the start…

 

Then the Officials ruled that Peabody had encroached upon Tate during the start and handed Him a one minute time penalty, with Kelly still being the winner. Now followed by Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 Miss Mercurys coffee second. Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo third and Tate fourth. With Dustin Echols fifth, the U-35 of Gunnar O’Farrell sixth and Peabody relegated to seventh.

 

Now I’m not suggesting this, but after waiting and waiting, and still Ah-Waitin’ to hear the post race drivers interviews which never happened, Urgh! As I really wanted to hear Tate’s assessment over what happened?

 

My mind sprung to having recently read an old interview with Ron Jones Jr. where He mentions rebuilding the Miss Circus Circus that burned in Hawaii for Steve Woomer as a “Truck” Boat. And whomever was driving it? His sole task was to crash into Mark Evans to prevent Him from winning the National High Points Championship, Youza!

 

And although I’m not implying this happened in Seattle, since I think Peabody was still chasing Tate for the championship at that point; but why do we live in such a conspiracy laden society these days?

 

Especially when one of the Strong Racing Hulls won at Seafair; being J. Michael Kelly’s second win in-a-row. With the Miss Madison Racing website stating that Tate substained damage during said milling period. Which obviously would have been caused by Peabody in the U-9!

 

Yet Andrew Tate and the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate lead the National High Points Championship by 949 points, which represents two first place and nearly fifth place finish in Heat points! With Tate having two wins vs. Peabody and Kelly having one apiece. Making you believe that this triumvirate are the odds-on favourites for winning the Gold Cup this Sunday in San Diego.

 

As I’m firmly rootin’ for my Numero Uno Skipper Andrew Tate to seek His revenge upon Strong Racing at Mission Bay this Sunday. And claiming His second Gold cup victory enroute to His second High Points championship title!

    

Without The Jones Family, their would be No Seafair!

As this trio of Jones Designers, built some of the Sports most famous boats…

 

You never know when Father Time’s going to ask you to “Bring your Torch”. As Ron Jones Jr. died at the relatively young age of 67 this past April 24th. With “JR” being the third generation of revolutionary Unlimited Hydroplane designers and builders of these unique racing boats.

 

Ron Jones Jr’s Grandfather, Tudor Owen “Ted” Jones shocked the Boating world when driving His radical “three-pointer” Unlimited Hydroplane to win the 1950 APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, Michigan. During an era when the winning Yacht Club got to Host the following year’s Gold Cup event.

 

As Ted Jones was the first to successfully employ the skimming technique of an Unlimited running with it’s propeller only partially submerged and skimming the water on it’s two sponsons, when He designed the Slo-Mo-Shun IV for Stan Sayres in 1949. And with this boat’s superiority, the sport would never look back!

 

As Ted Jones Slo-Mo-Shun IV and V Hydroplanes would dominate Unlimited racing for a five year stretch. Winning the gold Cup between 1950-54. Before

Lou Fageol spectacularly barrel-rolled the Slo-Mo-Shun V during Gold Cup qualifying on Lake Washington in 1955!

 

Miraculously Fageol survived this backwards flip some fifty-feet in the air, albeit forcing His retirement from boath racing! Which ended the Slo-Mo-Shun’s dynasty, before owner Stanley Sayres died of a Heart attack in 1956.

 

Having regaled Y’all Wayback’ many Moons ago with Lou fageol’s connection to Mother Speedway in the following No Fenders yarn…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2015/09/hydros-drivers-with-speedway-connections.html

 

As Ted Jones designed and built Unlimited Hydroplanes with such legendary names as Miss Thriftway, Miss Century 21, Miss Wahoo and the Hawaii Kai III. Being just a few of the names that saw Ted’s boats win a staggering 75 major races, 14 APBA Gold Cups and ten consecutive National High Points Championships between 1950-66, according to former Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Fred Farley.

 

While Ted is also credited with spotting a promising driver named Bill Muncey, who went onto become one of the sport’s legends…

 

Although Ted’s most famous Hull arguably has to be the Green Dragon, His 1962 Miss Bardahl. Which won the National High Points Championship and Gold Cup three consecutive years in-a-row between 1963-65. Which was also Ted’s last “Hands On” Hull He was involved in, before retiring from racing.

 

Ted Jones died at the age of 90 on January 9, 2000.

 

Ron Jones Sr. was brought-in over the winter of 1962 to fine tune the Miss Bardahl’s sponsons, with obviously dramatic effects. Before taking over the reigns from His father, ironically having built the 1958 championship winning Miss Bardahl His father designed.

 

This was the first Unlimited He built, whilst ultimately building over 500 estimated boats of all classes, including some two dozen plus Unlimiteds during His lifetime.

 

Ron had been chomping at the bit to design a Cabover Hydroplane, with the driver’s cockpit being placed ahead of the engine. Which Ole Bardahl let Him do for the 1966 season. Yet sadly, thru no fault of His own. Ron Munsen lost His life when the boat threw a propeller and dove to the bottom of the Potomac river, killing Munsen instantly. The sport’s darkest day, when three drivers met their maker during that year’s Presidents Cup in Washington DC.

 

Yet Senior would be vindicated when Tom D’Eath and the Miss US, a Cabover “Picklefork” design of His won the 1976 Gold Cup, for which every winner since has driven this same forward cockpit design…

 

The elder Ron was the Designer of two legendary Unlimited Hulls. First what was known as the “Winged Wonder”, the 1973 Pride of Pay n Pak, which won 22 races enroute to the National High Points Championship between 1973-75.

 

And my All-time Numero Uno Unlimited, the 1980 Miss Budweiser Griffon! Which also won 22 races and was basically unstoppable between 1980-84. With it’s only major blemish being Dean Chenoweth’s death at Tri-cities in 1982.

 

Senior was also responsible for implementing the now de riggour cockpit canopies following the death of Chenoweth. Which was first used successfully on what was known as the “bubble Bud”. The team’s third and final version of it’s legendous’ Rolls Royce Griffon Hulls.

 

As new “bud Man” driver Jimmy Kropfield was the first to compete in a enclosed cockpit raceboat in 1985. Although the Bubble Bud’s canopy was actually composed from vacuum-formed plexiglass and opened skywards, pivoting forwards vs. traditional F-16 canopy style.

 

As this ushered in the now long ago mandatory use of surplus F-16 canopies. Which Ron Sr. introduced on the first turbine powered Miss Budweiser and 7/11 Unlimiteds in 1986.

 

Ron Jones Sr. died at age 84 on January 19, 2017.

 

Ron Jones Jr’s accomplishments were a little harder to discern initially. Other than He spent the majority of His lifetime working on boats until His last project, the U-88 Unlimited in 2011. Having been diagnosed with Stage-4 emphysema and COPD, due to a genetics disorder described as Alpha-1 Anti-Tryplsin I believe.

 

Ron Jr. began working in the family’s boat building business in earnest during High School, when He would cut and prepare all of the wooden parts used in the building of Unlimited Hydroplance. With His Grandfather Ted being the Shop Foreman. Before His Dad Ron Jones Sr. introduced the widespread application of aluminum honeycomb composite to Unlimited Hydroplanes, first upon the 1973 Pride of Pay n Pak.

 

JR worked on all aspects of building Unlimiteds for His Pop’s Ron Jones Marine business, including the implementation of the F-16 enclosed cockpit canopies and migration to turbine power…

 

JR met and apparently interacted with Dave Villwock prior to His being chip Hanauer’s Crew Chief upon the Miss Circus Circus, before His Driving career began. And worked with Scott Pierce and the Evans brothers Mark and Mitch amongst other drivers.

 

As JR rebuilt the Hull that previously was the Miller American Beer wagon of 1985, which began life as the ’84 Atlas Van Lines Hull in 1984. Becoming the brand new from the waterline up U-50 American Spirit in 1992.

 

Ron Jones Jr. also was a team owner three different times. The first being the building of the Coors Dry in less than 60 days! Which rookie driver Villwock, making His Unlimiteds debut won first time out at San Diego in 1992! With JR noting this two wing boat was seeing a top speed of 218mph in Hawaii!

 

JR also rebuilt the former Miss Circus Circus after it caught on fire in Hawaii, which ran with a triple rear wing. Although villwock destroyed both boats in ’93 and Rone Jr. and Villwock split under bitter terms. While JR’s final ownership was in a not so enjoyable partnership with Dr. Ken Muscatel

 

As thanks to the ingenuity of All three generations of Jones, the sport of Unlimited Hydroplanes would have never been the same without them! 

Seafair Sunday: The Hydros race for All the Marbles

Although it’s just the Apollo Mechanical Cup. And they’ll have to wait another month for the Gold Cup in San Diego…

 

As noted, this Sunday celebrates Seattle’s 75th Anniversary of its summer’s Seafair celebration, culminated by the running of the Unlimiteds on Lake Washington’s traditional Ted Jones race course.

 

As I never thought I’d be leaving the Emerald City and moving to Florence, Oregon in the summer of 2018! And it’s Uber’ Sad that the official H1 Unlimited website is as pathetic today as it was six years ago, Sigh! When I relied on it to tell me who’d won that year’s Seafair trophy race…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2018/12/hydros-discouraging-lack-of-local-news.html

 

Arse-sumedly the same eight Unlimited Hulls will be racing thru the legendous’ Seattle log boom’s rollers on Lake Washington today. For which I may even try “watching”, err listening to via H1 Unlimited’s livestream, provided the volume is adequate and the action’s actually live?

 

As the only question was whether or not the U-12 Graham Trucking and the U-60 The Beast Unleashed would be joining the party in Tri-Cities? But Heavens forbid that the H1 Unlimited website would tell us in a timely manner, Urgh!

 

Since as of Sunday during the entire day’s Columbia Cup event, which I did manage to listen to via their livestream which only required twenty levels of volume adjustment, Ack! Uhm, Speak U-P sonny! Thar was nothin’ on the H1 Unlimited website eluding to the weekend’s preceding’s…

 

And as of the following Tuesday morning, still Don’t have a Freakin’ race report on their website; Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot, Roger that!

 

Thus tuning in for Heat-3A east of the mountains, I learned there were only a total of five Unlimiteds racing Sunday, Say What? With the local radio announcer noting there had been some attrition.

 

Thus three boats took to the water for Heat-3A with the winner being Cory Peabody in the U-9 Beacon Plumbing. With Dustin Echols in the U-40 flav-R-Pac finishing second. While Jamie Nilsen drove straight back to the pits before the start with an unspecified problem in the U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee.

 

Heat-3B saw a paltry two boats competing, with Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman real Estate toying with Gunnar O’Farrill in the U-35 Gutters by Keith presents Boitano Homes Hydroplane. With gunnar racing for the first time this year in what I believe is only His second ever Big boats race.

 

Tate let Gunnar have some fun before He said See Ya starting lap two, easily winning. Setting up for what seemed like a showdown between Tate and Peabody in the day’s final.

 

Finally learned during a Sunday interview with Bobby King that the U-12 Graham Trucking had made the trip, but had been washed down in a preliminary Heat and was finished for the day.

 

Even more amazing was hearing the recap of J. Michael Kelly in the U-1 Beacon electric having apparently hit a roller during Saturday’s Heat 1A, trying to correct. Then being Hit by teammate Peabody’s roostertail before seeing sky, and ultimately landing upside-down in a Blow-over accident!

 

But what about the U-27 Miss Apollos with Dave Villwock?

 

Thus, All of the Pundits were claiming it was Andrew Tate in the Miss Goodman Real Estate U-91’s race to lose. As Tate had won the season’s first two races in Guntersville and Madison, Indiana, and leading the National High Points championship arguably was the boat to beat!

 

Yet cory Peabody, Skipper of the U-9 said not so fast Y’all! And after apparently playing a game of “Chicken” with Tate, pulled into the preferred Lane-2 with Tate stuck outside in Lane-3.

 

Nilsen had the inside Lane-1 which had been “pinching” drivers with the water’s chop and placement of buoys on the reconfigured 2.0-mile course. Having to modify the original 2.5-mile course due to low water constraints on the Columbia River.

 

Hence Peabody charged into the lead and never looked back during the five laps final Heat. With Nilsen and Dustin Echols scrapping over second place while Tate fell back to fourth.

 

Tate then made it three boats side-by-side, before  powering thru the middle to finish runner-up with Echols holding onto third. Nilsen was eventually DQ’ed (Disqualified) and O’Farrill who’d finished fifth, was classified fourth.

 

Thus Peabody gave the Hometown team Strong Racing it’s third victory in four Columbia cups since the team’s inception. Along with Peabody going back-to-back, i.e.; 2023-24. Along with His maiden Unlimited win on the Columbia in 2021.

 

While obviously, the team will attempt to get J. Michael Kelly’s U-1 Beacon Electric repaired in time for Seafair. Although I’ve got zero clue how extensive the damage is?

 

Peabody and Kelly arguably are Tate’s “Strongest” challengers. And you’d have to say are the three fastest Hulls currently. Whilst  who knows what Dave Villwock and the U-27 Miss Apollo can do in this year’s Apollo Mechanical Cup?

 

Having finally learned during the “five to the Five” O’clock News livestream radio simocast Sunday afternoon that the U-27 had been involved in a somewhat scary incident with Bobby King earlier Sunday!

 

Whilst I finally learn on Monday morning that Villwock had become the sport’s oldest winner of a Heat race at age 70 when winning the resumed Heat-1A after Kelly’s Blow-over. But apparently failed to qualify for the final Heat? Which makes absolutely no sense to Mwah! Unless there’s no longer a “trailer” boat making up six Hulls in the Final Heat?

 

Fighting to be one of the “Big Four” Boats arguably is the U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee with Skipper Jamie Nilsen, whose title sponsor is located in Bellevue, Washington and sells Organic Coffee.

 

The bottom half of the flotilla, albeit steadily improving. Driving a Helluva race in Tri-cities where He was consistently fast is the U-40 with Dustin Echols at the tiller. gaining Echols the nod over our final two Pretendahs’, due to their lack of participation.

 

And even though Gunnar’s got the newer U-35 Hull vs. rookie driver bobby King’s U-12 entry, you’d have to say both boats are a “wash”, due to their driver’s inexperience and lack of racing in the Big leagues.

 

While Tate is my Numero Uno driver and I hope He wins. I’d also like to “See” Jamie Nilsen in the Miss Mercurys Coffee win Thar Debutante Unlimited victory! As Nilsen’s an underrated driver who’s been knocking at the door for years now…

Although after Dustin Echols super impressive Heat 2A win yesterday from lane 3. It would be the ultimate Cinderella story if the U-40 Flav-R Pac pulled off a mighty upset today!

HYDROS: The “Jet city” celebrates seafair’s 75th Anniversary

Although as Y’all know? Boeing’s taking a mighty shellacking right now! And I’m sure Seattle would have preferred me using it’s other moniker, the “Emerald city” instead…

 

Until perusing H1 Unlimited’s fairly annoying website earlier this summer in order to find out it’s limited schedule. I first learned that this year’s Seafair regatta, with it’s ever changing name was celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

 

Naturally this made me flash back to my childhood, growing up on the somewhat sleepy streets of Seattle. That even today, every August I still harbour fleeting memories of the thrill of Seafair as a Wee lad’. And the tradition of young boys towing cutout wooden planks, usually plywood fashioned in the shape of a front engine Hydroplane by string behind their bicycles through their neighborhoods.

 

Although for Mwah, this was always entertaining since we lived on one of Seattle’s rare, remaining cobblestone streets!

 

Having previously scribbled about these plywood “planks”, and the surrounding Hydroplane mania here upon No Fenders in the link below…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2018/08/hydro-mania-turf-thundreboats.html

 

Having grown up in the era of the pre-turbine’s, today’s Hydro’s just don’t have the same lustrous sound or notoriety to me name wise or in spirit, as the turbine whoosh has long since replaced those glorious open cockpit, front engine and subsequent Cabover rear engine World War II surplus V-12 Allison and Rolls Royce Merlin powered monstrosities known as the “Blue Blaster” and the “Beer Wagon,” dueling for supremacy opposite of the finger piers of the Stan Sayre’s pits, where Miss Budweiser, Atlas Van Lines and the Pride of Pay ‘N Pak all left their indelible mark  as Seafair victor’s, Gold Cup winners and National High Points Champions.

 

As luminary drivers like Bill Muncey and Dean Chenoweth immediately come to mind, not to mention Mickey Remund, Jim Kropfield, Tom D’Eath and local hero Chip Hanauer to name a few.

 

While everybody fought to beat the sport’s Kingpin owner Bernie Little and His dominant Miss Bud! During a time When yearly contestants named the Squire Shop, Miss Rock (KISW 99.9FM), Oh Boy Oberto and Miss Madison were local Fan favourites…

 

And thus, although I no longer live in the Jet city. Seafair always signals to Mwah the zenith of summer in the Pacific Northwest.

 

As the annual Seafair Hydroplane Regatta on Lake Washington, for which I enjoy remembering as the Fat Albert Cup in deference to a past title sponsor – when it was the Albert Lee Appliance Cup. Caps a month long’s celebration of events including the landing of the Seafair Pirates on alki Beach. The Torchlight Parade and the piece de la resistance, the fabulous Blue Angels. For which I first witnessed Wayback’ when they flew the Douglas A-4 Skyhawks before upgrading to the McDonald Douglas F/A-18 Hornets at the end of 1986, their 40th Anniversary season.

 

Boeing was then awarded a $12 million contract to upgrade the “blues” to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, which they began performing in in 2020.

 

Presumably still flying out of Boeing Field in Seattle, which triggers another memory of when yearly, I and my co-workers got to witness them up close and personal from behind the flight lines chain link fence!

 

Not to mention their transport plane that carries support personnel and spare parts is aptly nicknamed Fat Albert…

 

Whilst in its heyday, I fondly recall the Goodyear Blimp making its yearly trek to Seattle during the 1970’s and being stationed at the Sand Point Naval Air Base. Which I witnessed in earnest two summers while practicing as a member of Seattle’s All-city Marching Band.

 

Seafair ’77, which apparently was then simply known as the Seafair Trophy race stands out for several reasons now some 47 years later. Most notably for the death of the Squire Shop’s Jerry Bangs during Heat 1A. As Bangs death would pave the way for Chip Hanauer to truly make His mark as one of the sport’s All-time greatest Unlimited Hydroplane drivers.

 

As I’ve just rediscovered the fantastic Hydroplane History website, and watched my first video from it’s cavernous archives, which Y’all can watch below. But beware, the video clocks in at 24mins…

 

https://hydroplanehistory.com/races/1977_seafair_trophy_video_1977_seafair_trophy.html

 

As it’s hard to believe that its taken me nearly some fifty odd years to learn which of two years Seafair races is so idyllically burned into Thy memory banks. When that dastardly Pride of Pay ‘n Pak beat the Miss Budweiser by mere feet during the 1973 UIM World Final Seafair Trophy race. Being perhaps a boat length or less distance, Aye Karumba!

 

As I tend to recall that The Seattle times headline the following day proclaimed that the Miss Budweiser would have won if the race had been a further 100 yard, Yikes!

 

Yet instead, I lost to my pops tomas Senor who was a Pay ‘n Pak fan. Whilst I was rooting  for the Miss Budweiser, with the legendary Dean Chenoweth at it’s tiller. And losing the bet, had to wash the family car, Urgh!

 

Fast forwarding  some four plus decades, into the 21st century. I must confess I further lost my admiration for the sport of Unlimited Hydroplanes and Seafair upon the local CBS affiliate KIRO7 pulling the plug upon its yearly tradition of day long live Hydroplane coverage in 2017! Which little did I know, would be the final Seafair event I “watched” live from the Emerald City. Which I scribbled about here upon No Fenders seven years ago. Hmm, what’s that ‘Ol saying about Seven year Itch, Eh?

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2017/08/hydros-hot-air-hazy-skies-blanket.html 

HYDROS: Guntersville Gunk, How to Not “Spool-up” your Sport!

As apparently the H1 Unlimited website got Washed Down by it’s own Roostertail!

 

Yeah, Y’all are probably Ah-Waitin’ my riveting thoughts upon IndyCar’s first Hybrid race at Mid-Ohio. Whilst the verdict’s still out upon this weekend’s Double Header at Iowa…

 

Although Marshall Pruett has a very good multi-part article titled Racer’s inside look at IndyCar’s going Hybrid worth reading. Along with Honda Racing’s HRC US Youtube channel having a four part series upon the hybridization of the 2.2-litre engines.

 

Yet I simply cannot “Back-time” All of my countless stories here upon No Fenders. And surely the hybrid Energy Recovery System (ERS) debut have been covered Ad Nausea, El Correctomundo?

 

Instead, I’m still fuming over the egregious disregard the sports official website showed while failing to adequately promote their languishing sport during its season’s opening round! Cough-cough, Sputter! Think I must be dipping below the 80mph Planing rule…

 

What’s that? You say that rule has been abolished? But where have I read about it? As guess I must be having a Fuel Flow violation, Righto? Or getting ready to Blow a Gasket!

 

So I realize in this day and age of Unlimited – Pun intended, amount of sporting choices for our entertainment. I suppose one cannot gripe about the pathetic quality of live streaming choices offered, Eh?

 

As may be I’m Cornfuzed? But when the website’s link says Play, wouldn’t you think that would show you what’s happening in real time, instead of taking you to that morning’s “Canned” coverage instead?

 

I spent the entire weekend, not to mention previous weekday’s trying to figure out why every single time I went to H1Unlimited.com and perused either their Homepage or News tab, Crickets!

 

As their latest news article was about this year’s APBA Gold Cup moving to San Diego. Topped by the Guntersville Livestream web page. Which listed all of the day’s Heat races start times. But Didn’t show them live when I clicked on play Bastardoes!

 

Now you’d think that H1 Unlimited would want to get out front of it’s audience and be in Lane-1, the preferred lane when it comes to promoting their sport, wouldn’t Yuhs?

 

But No, they failed to publish one single article about the Guntersville Hydrofest, i.e.; pre-race or daily race results recaps thru the entire weekend, or as of Monday, July 1st; the last time I checkd their website, WTF!

 

Not to mention their livestream option not being Live! As I sat thru I dunno, 5-8 minutes of their “Canned” opening montage before realizing it wasn’t live, but the beginning of Sunday morning’s coverage after I’d tried tuning in around 2:22PM Pacific for the live 4:30 Central time Final Heat…

 

Thus scrambling Ah-Mighty’ to the Intrawoods and searching vainly for the H1 Unlimited Youtube channel. I managed to locate the “live” Sunday afternoon selection, clicked on it and Wallah!

 

Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate was leading handily on the end of lap-3. Meaning I’d missed the All important start and how the race had unfolded, Urgh!

 

Not to mention the sound quality was Horrendous, and I needed to Jack up the volume some 18+ notches, since my volume increases in levels of two…

 

Thus I sat Thar bewildered over why H1 Unlimited’s livestream coverage and overall coverage of the season opening race from Guntersville was so G-Damn’ Pathetic!

 

As I listened to Tate win presumably? Since Thar still wasn’t official word on the H1 Unlimited website that Tate and His Hull had passed Post-tech inspection.

 

As the battle for second was far more thrilling, with Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 Miss Mercurys coffee holding off J. Michael Kelly in the U-1 Beacon electric. With Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo fourth and the last name mentioned being Dustin Echols in the U-40 Bucket List Racing Hydroplane…

 

Thus I was left Ah-Wonderin’ if only five Unlimited Hydroplanes had made the trip to Guntersville? And what had happened to cory Peabody’s U-9 Beacon Plumbing and the U-6 Miss Madison with Dylan Runn at its tiller?

 

As it shouldn’t be this difficult to discern how many Unlimited Hydroplanes are competing and what Hull and Driver combos they are?

 

As it only took about a half hour's time Sunday evening following the race. Listening to another pathetic sound quality “Canned” Youtube episode with the volume Jacked up thirty levels to be able to barely Hear the two announcers slowly reeling off the six Hydroplanes competing from the Friday Youtube episode.

 

Which was interrupted by the lead announcer getting all glassy-eyed over the glorious sounds of a piston powered “Open Stack” Merlin engine! As two of the vintage Miss US Thunderboats’, with an WWII Allison powered V-12 trailing close behind warmed up the crowd for Friday testing…

 

As I finally discovered that just the two Strong Racing Hydros’, the U-1 & U-9 were present. Along with the U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee, U-27 Miss Apollo, U-40 Bucket List Racing and the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate.

 

As this totally contradicted with the previous PR “Puff” piece article about the completely brand new Miss Apollo Hydro’ making it’s debut at Tri-Cities.

 

And then low and behold. When I decided to visit the H1 Unlimited website on Wednesday afternoon, July 3rd, Holy Typewritten Words Batman! The website suddenly had Tate wins at Guntersville posted the day prior. Not to mention having back-filled the other day’s events with post-dated stories…

 

Although there’s still no explanation on the season’s new rule changes, or why there’s only a single Miss Madison entry, go figure!

 

As come on H1 Unlimited, get your Act together! As they may be the fastest Boats on water, But your website coverage sure Ain’t Fast! 

The Hydros’ are Back!

Can Andrew Tate topple J. Michael Kelly from His Championship perch?

 

Once again, it’s time to spool up the Turbines. And even better yet, H1 Unlimited has announced a robust six race schedule.

 

This year’s calendar sees the “Fastest Boats on H2O” commencing with this weekend’s Guntersville Lake Hydrofest in Alabama. (June 30) Followed by stops at Madison, Indiana (July 7) Tri-Cities, Washington, (July 28) Seattle, (August 4)APBA Gold Cup – Detroit, Michigan  (August 25) and San Diego. (September 15)

 

2024 Preliminary line-up

U-1 Miss Beacon electric, J. Micael Kelly

U-6 Miss Madison, Dylan Runn

U-9 Beacon Plumbing, Corey Peabody

U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee, Jamie Nilsen

U-12 Graham Trucking Racing, R-Bobby King

U-27 Miss Apollo, Dave Villwock

U-40 Flag-R-Pac, Dustin Echols

U-60 The Beast Unleashed, Gunnar O’Farrell

U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate, Andrew Tate

 

As not sure of how many of these nine Hulls will show up for the season opening Guntersville Hydrofest?

 

Interestingly, bobby King, whom I believe is an Unlimited rookie, is the son of Jerry King, who mans the tiller of the U-3 Miss Griggs. The lone, remaining piston powered raceboat on the Unlimited circuit.

 

With no word on which races the U-3 Ace Hardware presents Miss Griggs will attend…

 

While apparently the sports winningest driver Dave Villwock simply cannot stay away from behind the keyboard of an Unlimited Hydroplane. As the elder statesman climbs aboard the Miss Apollo, run by Charlie Wiggins of Alabama. Although I cannot tell if this brand new fully composite Hull will campaign the entire season or not? Since you’d think they’d want to participate in their Home race. Even though the press release implies they won’t break cover until the two Washington races of Tri-cities and Seattle.

 

Meanwhile the remainder of the fleet returns intact with last year’s driver line-ups unchanged. With just some of the boats names changing due to sponsorship changes., most notably the U-11.

Update

On June 23rd, just five days before the 2024 H1 Unlimited season begins, the APBA announced that the storied 114th Gold Cup race would be held at San Diego’s Bayfair 2.5-mile course on September 15th, celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary.

 

As the event had been scheduled tentatively in Detroit for August 25th, subject to approval, which obviously didn’t happen.

 

Therefore, this year’s 2024 H1 Unlimited season shrinks to a total of five races, with a six weeks layoff between Seattle’s Seafair and San Diego’s season finale gold Cup event.

 

Whilst I still have no idea how many Unlimited Hydroplanes will contest this week’s Lake Guntersville Hydrofest…