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!

    

The Tomaso Files: Can You Ever truly go back Home?

No Fenders Head Scribe Tomaso Ah-Waitin’ patiently to cross the river Styx during one of His infrequent trips back Home. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

And even so, it’ll never be like it was before. Or like it’s “Right Here, Right Now”

 

The morning after Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary ellen and Her faithful Hoond Hang 10’ Hilo were departing Bumfiddle’ Florence this past July, which seems an eternity now! I just happened to hear Heart’s Barracuda song being played on the Classic Oldies radio station I infrequently listen to.

 

As this immediately made me feel Homesick, as Heart was a Seattle icon for several decades, with Barracuda being one of their early signature songs of the mid-1970’s. Preceded by the initial Hit songs Magic Man and Crazy on You from their debut album Dreamboat Annie of 1975.

 

As these three songs, albeit Barracuda was released on Heart’s second album Little queen in 1977. Brought the Band the Attenzione of mainstream media, and their early initial commercial success during the late 1970’s

Then being  a teenager growing up in Seattle and marching in the All-City Marching Band that included participating in the annual Seafair Torchlight parade. I’ve clung to the memory that Seattle’s Memorial Stadium was sold out for three nights during I believe what would have been August. Since I now know that the Seafair Trophy Unlimites race was held on August 7, 1977…

 

As it’s Uber Funny how our minds play tricks upon us the older we become! And the longer we hold on to our contorted, cherished memories…

 

Since thanks to Al Gore’s wonderous invention, the All knowing Intrawoods’, nee internet. We’re able to go Wayback in History sometimes, sorta. And see just how convoluted our lifetime memories are!

 

Case-in-point is that instead, Heart was part of four bands playing for just one night at Memorial Stadium during the summer of 1977. When upon August 28, 1977 Heart, Foreigner, Tower of Power and Stephen Bishop all performed for that year’s Summer Sunday concert at the Seattle Center. Three weeks after that year’s Seafair Trophy race.

 

Two more interesting tidbits have surfaced during my brief research over the band’s history, for which I’ve always known features the Wilson sisters, Ann (lead vocals) and Nancy (vocals & rhythm guitar) of Bellevue’s Sammamish High School fame. Along with original lead guitarist and band founder Roger Fisher.

 

As I was Uber’ surprised that Heart’s Wickedpedia’ page denotes them originating in Vancouver, BC, Say What? Since although I suppose you could argue this is technically true. Since their debut album Dreamboat Annie was recorded in Vancouver, BC at what later became Mushroom Studios.

 

Nonetheless, Fisher and other original band members from 1967 until the Wilson sisters joined them in the early 1970’s originated from Bothell, Washington! As the band migrated to Vancouver following manager Mike Fisher’s desires to evade the Vietnam War Draft.

 

The other funny part was the “Back story” upon Heart’s Hit song Barracuda, for which over the years I’d heard rumblings eluding to, but had never been curious…

 

Reportedly the song stems from a controversial Advert that a Canadian Mushroom Records executive released without the band’s consent. Being the same debut album image of the two bare shouldered Wilson sisters with the provocative caption “It was only the First time”.

 

As Ann Wilson later claimed that Barracuda, that peaked at number eleven on the Top 100 Billboard charts stemmed from Her being so infuriated over a reporters questioning Her about Her lesbian relationship with Her sister Nancy, and wrote the song immediately afterwards!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M

 

But this story is supposed to be about going back home instead of the prolific Seattle rock band Heart…

 

While I realize it’s not a city or state’s responsibility ultimately to allow its inhabitants born there to live their entire life in said city. And it has been apparent to Mwah ever since the Viaduct was demolished and “Bertha” dug it’s replacement tunnel when not stuck underground for several months! That Seattle wishes to become the next San Francisco…

 

But its weord how six years later after leaving due to economic concerns, i.e.; yearly rent increases averaging 12-13 Freakin’ percent! I still find myself defending the city which some have called it a Shithole city! And others have recounted it’s reputation for being overrun by the Homeless, blah Blah Blah…

 

And whilst my Heart, Pun intended! Sill longs to be living back in Seattle or it’s suburbs. If I know of a young woman whom came from the South. Lived in Kent and had to return home since She couldn’t afford to live there with a good paying job. Then what hope do I realistically have as a 60yr old Blind person?

 

Quoting Captain McObvious’, I find myself routinely pondering how totally different my life would have been if I’d never lost my eyesight due to being born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, commonly known as RP in the Blind community following my Open Heart surgery. As lately I’ve been trying to figure out just how long have I truly been blind?

 

Yet as we All know, there are countless millions in far worse circumstances. Since regardless of your position upon the Genocide currently being inflicted in Gaza by the fine folks of the Boeing Company, who were ironically being touted for their sponsorship of all 75 years of Seafair during Sunday’s Unlimiteds race.

 

As it seems a tad bit surreal that The yearly Boeing Air show’s Headliner are the Navy’s Blue Angels flying Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets over some of “The Bluest Skies you’ve Ever Seen in Seattle”. While some 40,000+ civilians, mostly defenseless women and children have been killed!

 

Listening to the fantastic Deamon Copperhead book by Barbara Kingsolver about an orphaned boy in the South whose mother dies from overdosing on Oxycotton. I realize life is a struggle for almost everybody. And everyone has their personal battles  and “Deamons” to deal with, whether or not self inflicted.

 

Yet like Los Angeles is currently experiencing, having the highest percentage of 20yr olds leaving due to being unable to afford living there. And personally feeling like I’ve been priced out forever of my home city. And Now wondering about my current locale which has also been “Discovered”, Yikes!

 

As I wonder if Seattle’s in for a similar plight of Los Angeles and California’s  currently find themselves in? And will runs into the same issue of having no youth generation to service and support its elder population in the future?

 

Not to mention who will take care of those who cannot afford their monthly rent due to out of control inflation vs. the Disabled, Homeless and Senior population. And just where are the Homeless and displaced Migrants supposed to go? 

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: Three Promising Drivers Hoping to Make Waves

As I just Hope All three will be competing in the season’s final two events…

 

Two thirds of this year’s remaining H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Drivers are rookies, and thus unknown quantities for the moment. Whilst it’s unknown if the  other HotSchue’ will be behind the tiller at either of the two remaining races?

 

Bucket List Racing

U-40 Snuskitush Enterprises, Dustin Echols

U-440 Boitano Homes, (R) Brent Hall

Once again, I missed last year’s memo that Dustin Echols had replaced the Sport’s All-time winningest H1 Unlimited’s Driver Dave Villwock at San Diego.

 

And like all of the Big Boats Skippers’, Echols “CV” (Curriculum Vitae) is Chock-ablock full of lower division Championships…

 

As Dustin was the 2017 H1 Unlimited Rookie Of the Year, having qualified aboard the Bucket List Racing’s U-440 that year. Which I believe is the least powerful Unlimited in the Fleet due to it’s Lycoming t-53 turbine. Yet Dustin drove it skillfully to sixth place overall at season’s end.

 

As Echols has extensively driven the U-440 since then, along with team owner Kelly Stocklin’s name listed as Co-Skipper the past few years. With Echols going on Sabbatical last season in order to help His daughter Findley’s racing career…

 

Reportedly in 2020, Sharon and Kelly Stocklin bought the former U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing’s 2007 Lycoming T-55 turbine Hull, which became the team’s current U-40 Hydro’, originally driven by Dave Villwock.

 

Dustin Echols served notice to the entire Unlimited Fleet at the season opener Southern cup on Lake Guntersville by qualifying P1 with a stunning lap of 171.294mph!

 

As Echols lap was the fifth fastest in series history, and fastest in the two decades since Fuel-flow restrictions were mandated. Yet All of the seven Hydroplanes entered at Guntersville were fast due to the course featuring wider turns.

 

Then the following week at Madison, Indiana, Echols suffered a wild Barrel-rolling Blowover accident for which I’ve got no idea if the Minnowesqe team from Snohomish, WA can repair the damaged Hull in time for the two upcoming races?

 

Whilst I’m guessing Echols will take little solace in being classified third in the Governor’s Cup on accumulated points?

 

The U-440 Boitano Homes is the original Bucket List Racing Hull that began life with the Sport’s smallest turbine, a Lycoming T-53 unit. As I’m left guessing that this 2005 Hull was upgraded to turbine power in 2012, and then being rebuilt in 2015, albeit retaining said T-53 turbine.

 

Rookie Brent Hall is set to make His H1 Unlimited debut at this year’s Columbia Cup, and at Age 53, according to H1 Unlimited. The Seattle driver will make history as the Sport’s first ever African American to race an Unlimited Hydroplane.

 

Hall last raced Hydroplanes in the Grand Prix class in 2012. And finished second in the nation in last year’s F500 tunnel Boat class. Along with having extensive lower series experience.

 

Go Fast Turn Left Racing

U-60 The Beast Unleashed present Miss Thriftway, (R) Gunnar O’Farrell

In 2019, go Fast Turn Left Racing located in Maple valley, WA, and owned by Greg and Brian O’farrell reportedly raced a brand new Unlimited Hydroplane as the U-99.9 Carstars Miss rock, with Brian Perkins at it’s controls during that year’s controversial Seafair race.

 

Veteran Unlimited Skipper Perkins unfortunately Jumped the Start of the Seafair Cup Final and was assessed a One minute penalty. Which I believe saw the U-99.9 clasified seventh and last of the race…

 

As the Mis Rock of Seattle Radio Station KISW 99.9FM is a longtime staple of Warshington’ Unlimited Hydroplanes History. Thus I’m making the leap and Arse-suming that this year’s U-60 with rookie Skipper Gunnar O’Farrell at it’s controls is the same Hull?

 

Yes, on the surface it appears that the renamed U-60 is indeed the team’s 2019 Unlimited Hydroplane, which Gunnar qualified as an Unlimited driver aboard last year when completing the requisite 15-laps over 130mph. With gunnar’s fastest being a skosh over 145mph.

 

Gunnar has most recently been racing in the 2.5 Mod ‘n Stock Inboard class, where He won the 2021 summer Nationals.

 

Meanwhile the team’s set to make waves with the return of the famed Miss Thriftway name upon it’s Hull at this year’s Seafair gold Cup event. For which the press release claims is an All new 100% Carbon Composite Hydroplane that rookie Gunnar O’farrell set a top speed of 161-plus mph during testing at Tri-cities earlier this year.

 

As owner Greg O’Farrell has a past connection to the original Miss Thriftway When at Age 11, He was given the opportunity of a lifetime. When the legendous’ Mr. Unlimited’, aka Bill Muncey took the young boy out for a spin around the Lake Washington race course in Miss Thriftway II with Greg perched upon Muncey’s lap!

 

(R) Denotes Rookie Driver 

HYDROS: H1 Unlimited Roars onto Backstretch of 2023 Season

As Hopefully, the final two races won’t be as Wild ‘N Wooly as the first two!

 

It’s really Hard for me to discern if the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane series is still a popular event or just treading water these days? As how many of Y’all know that the 2023 season is already halfway done?

 

Since just mere days before the start of the season in Alabama. The series publicly responded to San Diego’s postponement of this year’s Bayfair regatta due to incurring steep increases in production costs. With the organizers of the long running event featuring the Bill Muncey Cup claiming they planned to return next year.

 

And although the series was hopeful of eight Unlimited Hydroplane boats showing up for the Lake Guntersville Southern Cup on June 25th, only seven Hydros made the trek to Alabama.

 

And whilst the series has a new Broadcast partner, being available on Speed Sports One Motorsports Network, whatever that is? I prefer just “watching”, Err listening to the final Heat via H1 Unlimited’s Youtube channel.

 

Yet unbeknownst to Mwah, this year’s Southern Cup Final Heat was cancelled due to inclement weather. Yet the Final began before the impending Thunderstorm arrived. But due to one of the competitors Flipping! The race was cancelled since Thunder ‘N Lightning would arrive shortly afterwares.  With the day’s winner being awarded on overall weekend points.

 

Next, with the Madison regatta just a week later, two Hydros’ failed to show due to damage that couldn’t be repaired in time to at least one of the participants. Meaning only five Big Boyz’ Hydroplane’s showed up at Madison’s Ohio river for the July 2nd event.

 

And then I “Rinsed, lathered and Repeated”. When a week later, Lightning struck twice! Since once again, I searched Youtube repeatedly in vain! As the Madison Governor’s cup final was also scratched due to inclement weather after another Blowover incident during the final Heat, before more bad weather was expected to arrive again…

 

And with that, the Unlimiteds roar down the Backstretch to the final two races in my former Home state of Washington, with Seattle’s Seafair race hosting this year’s APBA Gold cup event August 6th.

 

Hopefully the entire field of a promising nine Hulls will make the drive over to Eastern Warshington’ for the upcoming Tri-Cities Columbia  Cup on July 30th.  Since several teams are located in the Seattle Metropolitan area.

 

With the U-1 Miss HomeStreet, U-3 Miss Griggs Hardware, U-8 Beacon Electric, U-9 Beacon Plumbing, U-11 Legend Yacht Transport, U-21 Lakeridge Paving, U-40 Bucket List Racing, U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate and U-440 Boitano Homes All being listed as possible season entries upon the series official website.

 

Yeah, I know it’s been the HAPO Columbia Cup for a longtime now, but I prefer to think of the event in it’s more appropriate name of the Atomic Cup instead! With the race known by this moniker from it’s inception in 1966 thru 1972, due to it’s proximity of some place called Hanford. Where weapons grade Plutonium was made for the Manhattan project during World War II and thru the Cold War.

 

As the prestigious APBA Gold Cup event has been held at Tri-cities five times overall. With such luminaries as Dean Chenoweth, George Henley, Bill Muncey, Chip Hanauer and Jimmy Shane having won on the Mighty Columbia.

 

Meanwhile, Seattle has hosted the APBA Gold cup 14 times by my reckoning, the second most Post War following the Cup’s spiritual home of Detroit. Until either the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, since I cannot find an exact date when regulations changed.

 

As the Gold Cup race was then held at the previous year’s winner’s choice, ergo Home course. Seeing Seattle host the Gold Cup for five straight years between 1951-55, after Ted Jones and His revolutionary Miss Slo-Mo-Shun IV shocked the Boating world upon winning the 1950 event in Detroit With the Slo-Mo-Shun IV and V Hydroplanes capturing the next four Gold Cups!.

 

After returning to Detroit for 1956, Seattle held the event from 1957 to 1959. Then the race migrated to Las Vegas on Lake Mead, with no race being contested due to high winds.

 

Then firmly known as The “Jet City”, due to some ‘lil Aeroplane concern called Boeing. Seattle held the race in 1962, 1965 and 1967. Seven years later, and sandwiched between it’s Eastern neighbors Tri-Cities two events, the Gold Cup was back in Seattle for 1974.

 

The Gold Cup didn’t return to the shores of Lake Washington until 1981, and then hosted it’s penultimate race some Gory 38 years ago in 1985, Eureka!

 

Whilst Ye legendous’ Gold Cup didn’t return to Washington State overall for another three decades, before being held on the Columbia River at Tri-cities in 2015. Being the first time held in Eastern Washington since Gory 1984

 

As can my favourite Unlimited driver Andrew Tate add His name for a second time to match His father Mark’s two Gold Cup triumphs this August?

 

Or will Cory Peabody claim His second Gold Cup victory in-a-row? With teammate J. Michael Kelly saying not so fast Cory. I’m planning to win my second Gold Cup this year!

 

As these three Skipper’s are the only current Gold Cup winners in this year’s field. With three rookies looking to make the finals. Whilst I Don’t even want to contemplate what the “Over/Under” on how many Blowovers occur is?

 

While Don’t forget those fabulous Blue Angels precision Air show! When hopefully “The Bluest Skies You’ve ever Seen are in Seattle” won’t be obscured by Hazy Smoke from Forest Fires…