Back to the U-37 home page...

AIR GUARD HYDROPLANE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY DEGREE MEN SET FOR TAKEOFF IN SAN DIEGO’S MISSION BAY

U-37 Degree Men

SAN DIEGO (August 30, 2010) – H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes will return to Mission Bay September 17-19 for the Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men. H1 Unlimited drivers will embrace the thrill of adventure, racing deck to deck at more than 200 mph during the San Diego Bayfair festival.

A competitive eleven boat field is expected to be on Mission Bay for the three-day event with two veterans battling for the season high point title. Steve David, defending series high point champion and three time winner in 2010 piloting the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto is looking to build on his 506 point lead over 2010 Gold Cup Champion Dave Villwock in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar.

“As presenting sponsor, Degree Men is exited to bring H1’s adrenaline-fueled moments to the drivers and fans during this thrilling event,” said Ernie Hoover, Unilever US Customer Marketing Director – Personal Care. “Whether it’s working out in the gym, the office, or racing at 200 mph, Degree Men gives guys top sweat and odor protection allowing them to perform at their best.”

Beyond the presenting sponsor title, Degree Men is partnering with Schumacher Racing to field the U-37 in striking Degree Men livery. With two APBA Gold Cups and several National High Points Championships and Unlimited Hydroplane Drivers Titles on his resume, team owner and former racer Billy Schumacher embodies the spirit of Degree Men and knows how important it is to stay cool during those adrenaline-fueled moments.

U-37 Degree Men

In announcing the agreement which led to the return of the world’s fastest race boats to Bayfair after a one year absence, H1 Chairman Sam Cole commented, “This is a fantastic moment for our sport. Racing in San Diego’s Mission Bay with the Air National Guard as the race sponsor and Degree Men as the presenting sponsor makes this truly a world-class event for fans and competitors.”

Cole continued, “We’re honored and excited to be able to showcase our sport with these nationally known motorsports sponsors. We will be following the NASCAR Air Guard 400 on September 11 with the Air Guard Championship presented by Degree.”

“We’re thrilled to have H1 Unlimited returning to San Diego,” added Jeff Thomas, chairman of San Diego Bayfair’s Board of Directors. “We feel there is no better place than Mission Bay to admire the beauty and the speed of the hydroplanes. Racing fans are in for an action-packed three-day event.”

Former CEO and President of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Scott Carson and his wife Linda are also supporting the event financially in honor of American military serving in Afghanistan. The Carsons have a son-in-law currently serving there.

2008 Bayfair winner Jeff Bernard will return in the U-5 Formulaboats.com, currently in fifth place on the high points ladder. Bernard’s team mate J Michael Kelly, winner of the final event of 2009 is in second place driving the U-7 Graham Trucking with Brian Perkins in the U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance in third.

The automotive powered hydroplanes of the Grand Prix West series will also compete at Bayfair. The GPW boats were the featured class at Bayfair in 2009.

The Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men will be the fifth race on the H1 Unlimited 2010 circuit. Immediately following the event, the top ten boats in the fleet will be shipped to Doha, Qatar for the second running of the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship on Doha Bay November 19-21, which will conclude the season.

The Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men will be seen on the Versus Network on Saturday, October 16, and will be streamed live on the internet by Tampa Digital Studios. For more information on San Diego Bayfair, visit www.sandiegobayfair.org.

Posted: September 1, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Add a comment

Peters & May

Schumacher Racing/Miss Peters & May Have “Get it Done” Attitude

Effort Demonstrates Perfect Sponsor-Race Team Pairing

Split-second timing, quick decision making, strong relationships and a team that identifies resources, pulls together, and does “whatever it takes” to get the job done are important ingredients in both racing and in business.  Recently, with international shipping company, Peters & May USA and the Schumacher Racing U-37 Hydroplane team, these components demonstrated how a race team can reflect the philosophy and responsibility of its sponsor.

Miss Peters & May

Miss Peters & May

This year, Peters & May USA assumed title sponsorship of the Schumacher Racing U-37 Hydroplane for the 2010 race season. At the July Gold Cup race in Detroit, Peters & May USA Managing Director David Holley, watched in horror along with team owners Bill & Jane Schumacher, as their driver, J.W. Myers put the U-37 into a seawall at more than 100 mph (avoiding the rest of the race field and crowded pit area).  He suffered multiple fractures to his foot and shredded the forward sponsons all the way back to the cockpit.

“What happened after was so analogous to what we do in our business, I was stunned!” said Holley.  The Schumachers were able to capitalize on their reputation, relationships, experience and team to find solutions; in this case, a boat, a driver and getting everything race-ready in one week.”

After it was clear that Myers was not seriously injured, though “out of commission” for a time, Schumacher Racing was faced with a decision; and a split one at that, with Bill thinking the season was over, and Jane eager to find a way to keep racing. The team was solidly in Jane’s corner, and she used her sponsor’s influence to seal the deal. “Peters & May is a dynamic company with its heart in our race program. Dave Holley understands the business of boat racing,” she said, “He is an active and involved sponsor and expressed a desire to go forward.”

Holley marveled at how the relationships Schumacher Racing fostered over the years came to the fore. “Both Greg O’Farrell and Fred Leland — competitive team owners mind you – approached the Miss Peters & May crew with offers to lease us a hull.” Those offers, according to Jane Schumacher, were extended based as much on the team’s reputation as on the relationships. “These very generous offers were predicated on our reputation. Both Fred and Greg understood that our crew — led by Scott Raney — is so good they needn’t worry about having their equipment wrecked. In fact, the crew would likely make it better,” Schumacher said.

In the same way Peters & May uses its worldwide network of offices and affiliates to solve marine shipping logistics, the Schumacher Racing crew tapped long-time collaborators West Coast Collision Center and Prism Graphic to outfit, rig, paint and brand the “new” U-37, having it race-ready in time for the Tri-Cities race in Kennewick, WA July 23-25. Schumacher Racing also worked with team owner/driver Ken Muscatel to secure the services of veteran driver Jon Zimmerman for the remainder of the season.

Jon Zimmerman(l) & Scott Raney(r) accept the "Light it Up" award

Jon Zimmerman(l) & Scott Raney(r) accept the "Light it Up" award

The team was recognized for its efforts by Stream Light Flashlights with its “Light It Up” award that goes to the individual or team whose efforts result in a race’s “brightest moment.”

“It was inspiring to be a part of this herculean effort,” said Holley “Our race team responded in exactly the way our Peters & May team responds on a daily basis. We use our experience, relationships and expertise to deliver solutions to our customers. Fortunately, we do it without a horrific crash as the catalyst!”

Fort Lauderdale, FL: 954-315-3848
Chicago, IL: 847-437-2389

Inquiries@petersandmay.com

Posted: August 23, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Add a comment
Seahawks vs. Green Bay

Seahawks vs. Green Bay

Posted: August 21, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Add a comment
J-Dub in Roche Harbor

Roche Harbor

Posted: August 18, 2010 at 5:47 am
Add a comment
Posted: August 17, 2010 at 9:18 am
Add a comment

By Jim Riley

Special to The Seattle Times

Sam Cole, chairman of U1 Unlimited, feels good about the future of the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing despite the fact there were only four races in the United States this year and one in Qatar that will run Nov. 18-20.

“We have been weathering the recession like the rest of America,” Cole said. “I feel very positive about where we’re headed. I can see us racing on two or three continents in the next couple of years.”

Cole said financial troubles that nearly canceled races in both Seattle and Detroit hurt efforts to expand into new markets or returning to sites that have held races in the past.

“When you have your two oldest sites, Detroit and Seattle, having financial problems, it took away from looking for new sites,” Cole said. “This race was on edge until Albert Lee stepped up. You have to make sure your existing sites are up to snuff first.”

Cole expects five or six races in the U.S. next year and two or three new ones overseas.

“The one fact we can’t hide from is that we’ve raced in 45 different places in the last 25 years,” Cole said. “We have five or six places where it really works. Finding new sites in this day and age is challenging, but we now have international interest.”

Cole said they are in discussions with former sites in San Diego, Evansville and Washington, D.C., along with a couple of other new sites in the southeast United States.

“Unfortunately,” Cole said, “until you have a check, you don’t have a race.”

Cole said that any growth forthcoming will have to be done cautiously.

“We’re not an industry like NASCAR; at least 90 percent of the people on our teams are volunteers,” Cole said. “When you add races and travel internationally you really tax the vacation time of volunteers. We have to grow so that it’s a professional sport again with paid crews and paid people.”

Posted: August 16, 2010 at 10:14 am
Add a comment

Jon Zimmerman finished fifth in Heat 2A in Seattle. This clip includes the radio calls from Crew Chief Scott Raney

Posted: August 16, 2010 at 9:38 am
Add a comment

Jon Zimmerman grabbed a fifth place finish in this heat, taking the U-37 into the Consolation Heat to try and make it to the final. This clip contains radio calls from Crew Chief Scott Raney.

Posted: August 15, 2010 at 7:22 am
Add a comment

Jon Zimmerman won the Consolation Heat to gain entry into the Final Heat. This clip also contains the audio track with radio calls from Crew Chief Scott Raney.

Posted: August 13, 2010 at 10:47 am
Add a comment

Final Heat

Consolation

Heat 3B

Heat 3A

Heat 2B

Heat 2A

Heat 1B

Heat 1A

Posted: August 11, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Add a comment

2010 National High Points Standings (team)

Number – Boat Driver Points From Lead From Next
U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 6259 0 0
U-96 Ellstrom Racing Dave Villwock 5753 506 506
U-7 Formulaboats.com J Michael Kelly 5081 1178 672
U-21 Go Fast, Turn Left Brian Perkins 3450 2809 1631
U-5 Formulaboats.com Jeff Bernard 3291 2968 159
U-37 Schumacher Racing JW Myers 2648 3611 643
U-100 Leland Unlimited Greg Hopp 2600 3659 48
U-17 Our Gang Racing Kip Brown 2516 3743 84
U-13 Spirit of Detroit Cal Phipps 2276 3983 240
U-22 Webster Racing Mike Webster 2244 4015 32
U-25 Superior Racing Jon Zimmerman 1213 5046 1031
U-57 Formulaboats.com Mark Evans 962 5297 251

2010 National High Points Standings (driver)

Driver Number – Boat Points From Lead From Next
Steve David U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto 6259 0 0
Dave Villwock U-96 Ellstrom Racing 5753 506 506
J Michael Kelly U-7 Formulaboats.com 5081 1178 672
Brian Perkins U-21 Go Fast, Turn Left 3450 2809 1631
Jeff Bernard U-5 Formulaboats.com 3291 2968 159
Greg Hopp U-100 Leland Unlimited 2600 3659 691
Mike Webster U-22 Webster Racing 2244 4015 356
Cal Phipps U-13 Spirit of Detroit 2216 4043 28
Nate Brown U-17 Our Gang Racing 1891 4368 325
JW Myers U-37 Schumacher Racing 1380 4879 511
Jon Zimmerman U-37 Schumacher Racing 1268 4991 112
Ken Muscatel U-25 Superior Racing 789 5470 479
Kip Brown U-17 Our Gang Racing 625 5634 164
Mark Evans U-57 Formulaboats.com 551 5708 74
Jon Zimmerman U-25 Superior Racing 424 5835 127
Posted: August 9, 2010 at 8:43 am
Add a comment
Posted: August 9, 2010 at 7:14 am
Add a comment

Starting from the trailer position is always tough, but Jon Zimmerman kept the U-37 going, finishing in 6th place at Seafair and continuing our unbroken string of nine heat finishes in a row with the Leland hull.

Final heat at Seafair 2010

Final heat at Seafair 2010

Courtesy H1Unlimited:

Results for Heat Final

Finish Boat Driver Avg. Speed Points
1 U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 143.288 400
2 U-96 Spirit of Qatar Dave Villwock 142.714 300
3 U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance Brian Perkins 128.469 225
4 U-5 FormulaBoats.com Jeff Bernard 123.831 169
5 U-37 Miss Peters & May Jon Zimmerman 112.215 127
7 U-7 Graham Trucking J Michael Kelly 0 71
DNF U-100 Lays Kettle Cooked Greg Hopp 0 0

Accumulated Points

Number – Boat Driver Points
U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 1425
U-96 Spirit of Qatar Dave Villwock 1269
U-7 Graham Trucking J Michael Kelly 971
U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance Brian Perkins 889
U-5 FormulaBoats.com Jeff Bernard 821
U-100 Lays Kettle Cooked Greg Hopp 625
U-37 Miss Peters & May Jon Zimmerman 550
U-17 Miss Red Dot Kip Brown 545
U-57 Miss WA Truck Dispatch Mark Evans 521
U-13 Jillians Spirit of Detroit Cal Phipps 447
U-22 Matrix Systems Automotive Finishes Mike Webster 391
U-25 Car Pros Ken Muscatel 244

Accumulated Points with Qualifying

Number – Boat Driver Points
U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 1505
U-96 Spirit of Qatar Dave Villwock 1369
U-7 Graham Trucking J Michael Kelly 1021
U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance Brian Perkins 929
U-5 FormulaBoats.com Jeff Bernard 881
U-100 Lays Kettle Cooked Greg Hopp 695
U-37 Miss Peters & May Jon Zimmerman 580
U-17 Miss Red Dot Kip Brown 575
U-57 Miss WA Truck Dispatch Mark Evans 551
U-13 Jillians Spirit of Detroit Cal Phipps 477
U-22 Matrix Systems Automotive Finishes Mike Webster 421
U-25 Car Pros Ken Muscatel 244
Posted: August 8, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Add a comment
Posted: August 8, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Add a comment
Jon & JoAnne with the Seafair trophy...

Jon & JoAnne with the Seafair trophy...

Jon drove the pants off the U-37 with the fastest race laps he drove all weekend to claw his way into the final heat at Seafair.  Starting in Lane 2 against Kip Brown in the U-17 and N. Mark Evans in the U-57, he drove around both of them to bring one of the few bright spots of the weekend to the U-37 Miss Peters & May team…

...while son Jack races hydros in their back yard at home.

...while son Jack races hydros in their back yard at home.

Posted: August 8, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Add a comment

Lane 1: U-17
Lane 2: U-13
Lane 3: U-37
Lane 4: U-57
Lane 5: U-22

Posted: August 8, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Add a comment

Results:

1st: U-96
2nd: U-7
3rd: U-5
4th: U-21
5th: U-37
6th: U-13

Posted: August 8, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Add a comment

Kip Brown in the U-17 didn’t leave a lane for the U-37 coming into turn 1, forcing Jon into his roostertail. This clip shows pretty dramatically what happens inside the cockpit.

Posted: August 8, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Add a comment

Sunday started off badly, with damage to the U-37 as a result of Jon getting pinched by the U-17 in Turn 1 on the opening lap. The result was the loss of our main engine due to a broken turbine blade, damage to the rear wing, loss of the mirrors and loss of our onboard cameras.

Results:

1st: U-21
2nd: U-7
3rd: U-1
4th: U-96
5th: U-37
6th: U-17 (penalized for lane violation)

Posted: August 8, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Add a comment
Posted: August 8, 2010 at 10:19 am
Add a comment