The team’s return to the 2010 Madison, Ind. Governor’s Cup marked the first year since Jean Theoret suffered a horrific crash in the first turn, almost losing his life. The team showed they could put the past behind them, qualifying third behind Dave Villwock (U-16 Spirit of Qatar) and Steve David (U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto) with J.W. Myers driving the U-37 Miss Peters & May. JW won two preliminary heats and a podium finish with a third place over all in the winner-take-all final.
At the following race in Detroit, J.W. Myers was the 4th fastest qualifier, but in preliminary Heat 1B, the U-16 Spirit of Qatar collided with the U-37 Miss Peters & May on lap 1 in the fourth turn. After a lap and a half, the skid fin let go, forcing Myers across J. Michael Kelly’s roostertail and eventually crashing the boat into sea wall in front of the famed Roostertail Restaurant.The boat was destroyed and Myers badly fractured his left foot in the crash.As a result, the team withdrew from the race.
The several week break between the crash at the Gold Cup and the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup allowed the team to borrow a back-up boat from Fred Leland, owner of Leland Racing and Shumacher Racing’s U-100 competitor.Replacement driver John Zimmerman qualified the newly painted loaner boat 10th at the fast 2-1/2 mile Columbia River race. He picked up two fourth place trophies and a 3rd place trophy in preliminary heat racing, finishing the final heat in sixth place.
After a week-and-a half break before the newly named Albert Lee Cup at Seafair, the team made several modifications to the backup boat.Myers foot surgery was a success and healing had begun.In the team’s hometown race, they were 10th on the qualifying ladder. Zimmerman drove the U-37 Miss Peters & Mayto one 4th place heat finish and two 5th’s and placed 6th in the winner-take-all final.
Despite the San Diego race not originally on the schedule, H1 Unlimited officials were able to get funding together to return to the popular Bayfair race on Mission Bay after a one year absence. Degree Men (a division of Unilever) sponsored the U-37 Schumacher Racing. With Zimmerman behind the wheel of freshly decaled boat, he qualified 10th. Zimmerman drove to two podium finishes in heat racing and finished 5th in the winner-take-all final.
The team hurried to continue to make modifications to the back-up boat before having to drive cross country to Jacksonville, Fla. – the departure point for a freighter sailing to the next race in Doha, Qatar.J.W. Myers returned to the cockpit of the U-37 Miss Peters & May.Myers qualified 9th out of ten boats but quickly returned to form, scoring three podium finishes out of four and placed 7th in the final race of the year.
Owners Jane and Billy Schumacher decided to make wholesale changes in the off-season, replacing crew chief Scott Raney. Due to contractual obligations, J.W. Myers left the team as well. Schumacher’s quickly decided Myers’ replacement is J. Michael Kelly, who drove the U-7 Graham Trucking entry.
Posted: March 20, 2011 at 6:07 am
J. Michael Kelly announced that he will drive the U-37 Billy Schumacher Racing entry in the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane series in 2011. Kelly, who resides in Bonney Lake, WA, has started 45 races during his six year career driving an unlimited hydroplane. The 31-year-old Kelly was named Rookie of the Year in 2004.
Last season Kelly placed 2nd in three winner-take-all finals, had six 1st-place preliminary heat victories, and 25 podium finishes. He finished third in National High Points behind the winingest active driver, Dave Villwock (U-96 Spirit of Qatar) and five-time driver champion Steve David (U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto).
For the past two seasons the veteran Kelly has driven the U-7 Graham Trucking and won the UIM World Championship trophy in 2009. Kelly said, “I am excited to join the Schumacher Racing team. In a relatively short period of time, Jane and Billy (Schumacher) have won the APBA Gold Cup, a World Championship and an Albert Lee Cup and that shows we have a very competitive team and they know how to win.”
The 2011 effort will mark the sixth year Schumacher Racing has competed in the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series.
“It will be exciting to have the newest boat on the circuit, combined with the leadership of Billy and some other seasoned professionals who have joined the U-37 team. I look forward to a very successful 2011 season,” Kelly said.
The team is currently building a new state-of-the-art race boat and is scheduled to have it completed prior to the first race —the Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup 4th of July weekend in Madison, Ind.
“It’s hard to leave a team after two years but sometimes you have to take risks. I embrace the thrill of adventure,” Kelly said. “And this will be some adventure!” He continued, “I would like to thank Ted Porter for allowing me to drive for him the past two seasons and wish him luck in his three race boat endeavor.”
“We’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with several great drivers and J. Michael is poised to help us build upon that tradition,” said Billy Schumacher, president of Schumacher Racing LLC. “He put up some impressive results and we look forward to building on his success this season while competing in the H1 Unlimited Series.”
Kelly began racing at age 7 in a small kneel-down type hydroplane with an outboard motor attached to the back of the boat. He scored many national championships along the way and still holds six world speed records in the outboard and inboard classes of racing.
A four-time inductee into the prestigious A.P.B.A. Hall of Champions, Kelly began his unlimited career driving for U-2 Jim Harvey Motorsports (2004-2005). He also drove for the U-13 Spirit of Detroit (2006-2008), and most recently, the U-7 Graham Trucking (2009-2010).
The 2011 H1 Unlimited series schedule will consist of 6 events beginning at the Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup, July 1-3, followed by the A.P.B.A. Gold Cup in Detroit on July 8-10; Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, July 29-31; Albert Lee Cup at Seafair, Aug 5-7; San Diego Bay Fair, Sept. 16-18 and the Oryx Cup/UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar Dec. 1-3.
SCHUMACHER RACING: Formed in 2006 by two-time Gold Cup trophy winner and three-time National Champion driver, Billy Schumacher and his wife Jane after they purchased the race team assets of Bill Wurster’s U-8 Racing. Based in the Seattle neighborhood of Magnolia, the team has four victories. Three in 2006 with Jean Theoret driving, including the Gold Cup Trophy and World Championship Trophy. The teams forth victory came back in 2008, again with Theoret driving. Schumacher Racing’s past drivers include: Jean Theoret (2006-2009), J.W. Myers (2009-2010), and Jon Zimmerman (2010).
20011 H1 UNLIMITED SERIES SCHEDULE:
July 1-3, Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup, Madison, Ind.
July 8-10, A.P.B.A. Gold Cup Trophy, Detroit, Mich.
July 29-31, Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, Kennewick, Wash.
Aug 5-7, Albert Lee Cup at Seafair, Seattle, Wash.
Sept. 16-18, Bayfair, San Diego, Calif.
Dec 1-3, Oryx Cup/UIM World Championship Race, Doha, Qatar.
Posted: March 18, 2011 at 7:12 am
