Fans in front of Air Guard hydro in San Diego
Friday – 32nd Street Commissary of the San Diego Naval Base. (The biggest in the country) Then the East Village Padres Tailgate Party/Block Party with thousands of fans and finally move to Qualcomm Stadium for the big Tent Sale Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday – The first day of the Air Guard – Degree Men display boat’s busy ten day tour of the San Diego area started out just fine.
Lisa Martinez, the Degree Men rep for military retailers had done her job well and “Battery” Bob Rainwaters of the Formulaboats team had no problem getting the display boat through security and into position at the Navy’s Imperial Beach Helicopter base’s big commissary.
Then it was time to move to the big North Island Navy base.
As the display team approached the base at the North end of Coronado Island, they found themselves in the middle of a major lockdown.
A bomb threat had the military on high alert with traffic stopped and gridlocked and military and civilian police everywhere. No one was being allowed to get onto the base and it was impossible to get off the Island.
The Thursday afternoon display had to be aborted and it took some time to get the team and boat off the island.
Friday will be a big day beginning with an appearance at the Navy’s 32nd Street Naval Yard, one of the biggest bases in the country, followed by a huge party as the boat will be a featured attraction at the East Village Padres Tailgate Party, with streets blocked off in downtown San Diego.
The rest of the schedule –
Saturday and Sunday – A giant event at Qualcomm Stadium
Monday – Appearance at a Carl’s Jr honoring the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
Tuesday – Miramar Marine Corp Air Station
Wednesday – Camp Pendleton Marine Base
Thursday – Marine Corp Graduation and evening live broadcast from major sports bar.
Then into the Degree Men activation (display) area at the Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men at Bayfair on Mission Bay.
In the week following Bayfair, Bob and the boat will be in Fresno, San Jose and Sacramento making appearances for the Air National Guard.
(Courtesy H1Unlimited.com)
Posted: September 11, 2010 at 4:30 am in
2010.
AIR GUARD HYDROPLANE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY DEGREE MEN SET FOR TAKEOFF IN SAN DIEGO’S MISSION BAY
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.
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 in
2010.
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 in
2010.
Detroit 2009: Image by Chris Denslow
Tom Bertolini, president of the Detroit River Regatta Association and APBA Gold Cup Race Director says the decision has been made and the event is a go for the scheduled dates, July 9-11.
“We are still not where we need to be financially,” said Bertolini. “But with the support we have received from contributors like the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club members and friends and others in the Detroit business community, we are going to move forward with the confidence that we can raise the additional funding we need.”
Bertolini stressed the need to continue the fund raising effort saying, “We don’t want the community to think our decision to go ahead with the event means we have all the money we need. Our search for sponsorship dollars will be more critical than ever now.” Continue Reading…
Posted: May 16, 2010 at 7:59 pm in
Detroit.
SEATTLE — Seafair announced on Wednesday the sponsors for the annual hydroplane races and air show.Albert Lee Appliance will headline the 2010 Albert Lee Cup at Seafair and The Boeing Company takes the title sponsorship position of the Boeing Air Show at Seafair.
“The commitment from Boeing and Albert Lee ensures that Seattleites will continue to enjoy the best summertime entertainment in the Northwest,” said President & CEO of Seafair, Beth Knox.Albert Lee Appliance made a three-year commitment to the Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Race title sponsorship.Albert Lee Appliance also currently sponsors the U-21 Unlimited Hydroplane driven by Brian Perkins.The Boeing Company has been the presenting sponsor of the Air Show since 2003 and a partner of Seafair since 1950.In addition, Duke Moscrip, the owner of Duke Chowder House Restaurants, announced last Wednesday that he would make a $40,000 donation to help bridge a funding gap that put this year’s Seafair hydroplane races in jeopardy.
Watch KIRO-TV’s story
Watch KOMO-TV’s story
Posted: April 29, 2010 at 6:32 am in
Seattle.
Duke Moscrip
Visit Duke’s Chowderhouse
Duke Moscrip grew up in the Seattle area with the roar of the hydroplanes serving as the soundtrack of his youth.
So when he read on Tuesday of a dispute that was threatening to jeopardize this year’s Seafair race, the owner of the Duke’s Chowder House restaurant chain decided to take matters in his own hands.
Wednesday, Moscrip announced that he will donate $40,000 to make up the difference between what Seafair had offered boat owners and what it had given in the past.
“It would have been a shame to not have the race after 60 years,” Moscrip said during a news conference at his restaurant on Lake Union. “It’s part of Seattle, and we don’t need to lose anything more. We lost the Sonics, and that was embarrassing. We don’t need any more black eyes.”
Sam Cole, chairman of H1, the organizing body for the unlimited hydroplane circuit, said the offer would be accepted, and Beth Knox, president of Seafair said racing will go on as planned.
“Unlimited racing at Seafair will definitely take place,” she said. “It’s a huge relief. Obviously, it’s a sensitive and difficult topic for many. A lot of folks would have been disappointed to not have the unlimiteds.”
Boat owners Ken Muscatel and Billy and Jane Schumacher said they anticipated the deal being accepted by other owners.
“This is what we needed,” said Jane Schumacher of the U-37 team. “It’s great to see Seattle get behind this.”
Continue Reading…
Posted: April 22, 2010 at 5:00 am in
2010.
David Bryant - Tri-Cities 2007
The entire U-37 team sends its condolences to David Bryant’s wife & family on hearing the news that Dave and Australian driver Brian McKosker were killed in separate accidents in Australia on Easter Sunday (story below).
David was in Australia to drive Dean Barry’s “She’s the Culprit” in the Taree Aquatic Power Boat Club’s Easter Classic on the Manning River. The boat was a Blown Alcohol Division (BAD) open cockpit flat bottom.
David was thrown out of the boat when it rolled over at an estimated 135 MPH. CPR was preformed at the race course. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
David drove the U-10 Gregory Racing hydroplane during the 2007 and 2008 ABRA Unlimited racing seasons, and was named 2007 ABRA Rookie of the Year.
Continue Reading…
Posted: April 4, 2010 at 6:20 am in
2010.
H1 Unlimited's coverage of the U-37 website
H1 Unlimited has featured the U-37 website in their review of the internet presence of the teams competing in the 2010 H1 Unlimited season , commenting that it “raises the bar in terms of layout and content.”
U-37.com was voted “H1 Unlimited Website of the Year” for 2009.
Thanks to H1 Unlimited and their webmaster, Steve Montgomery for the mention and recognition of the hundreds of hours that are required to produce any of the H1 Unlimited team websites.
Posted: April 4, 2010 at 5:55 am in
2010.
 US Ambassador to Qatar - Joseph LeBaron |
|
 Ambassador LeBaron's letter to Sam Cole |
U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, Joseph LeBaron sent this letter to H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole expressing his appreciation to the organization and the teams for their outstanding contribution to international sports diplomacy.
Posted: March 7, 2010 at 1:24 pm in
2010.
Billy & Jane Schumacher accept H1 Unlimited "Website of the Year" award from Sam Cole
When the 2009 season annual awards were presented at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas Saturday evening, Steve David and the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto race team spent a lot of time on stage. David was honored as the 2009 Driver’s High Point Champion, and his team received the Martini & Rossi trophy representing the National High Point Championship.
Also, the U-1 crew was presented the 2009 Crew of the Year award and Bob Hughes was honored as Owner of the Year. Oberto received the Sponsor of the Year trophy as well as the 2009 Marketing Award and Boat Sponsor of the Year.
The Qatar Marine Sports Federation, producers of the very successful Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar received the award for Race Site of the Year and QMSF PR director Neil Perkins and television producer Peter Butler were honored for their contributions to the event.
H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole thanked the owners and drivers for the part they played in a very successful season. Cole told the crowd that the success of the first Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar had created interest on four continents and would lead to more international expansion of the series.
Other award winners were:
Continue Reading…
Posted: March 7, 2010 at 8:43 am in
2010.
San Diego’s Bayfair could see some big changes this year including the potential return of the Unlimited hydroplanes and the addition of a major poker run.
The annual event, which takes place Sept. 17-19, has seen its attendance decline in recent years and organizers hope the changes will bring race fans back to Mission Bay. Also in the works is a one-hour television show based on the weekend.
Although a final contract hasn’t been signed, H1 Unlimited is expected to return to San Diego after a one-year hiatus, said Brett Seber, a member of the Board of Governors for Thunderboats Unlimited of San Diego, which puts on the event.
“The (contract) numbers worked out, so I feel very comfortable that it’s going to happen,” Seber said.
In addition to the Unlimited hydroplanes, Bayfair is expected to have tunnel boats, Unlimited Lights and offshore races. But Seber is looking forward to the addition of a poker run, which is being organized by Desert Storm promoter Jim Nichols.
The poker-run event is expected to include a Puttin’ on the Wish event Thursday after the boats take over a section of Paradise Point. Nichols said they will have a fun run Friday and on Saturday they will run north to Oceanside. The biggest treat for the poker runners is that they will get a chance to run the 2 1/2-mile Unlimited course as part of the opening festivities.
Still up in the air is whether the drag boats will return to the event. Seber said they have had discussions with the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series but so far nothing has been worked out.
“We really want to turn it into a festival based around the water,” Seber said. “We’re excited with the direction it’s heading.”—Gregg Mansfield
(courtesy Powerboat magazine)
Posted: March 2, 2010 at 5:13 pm in
San Diego.
Gustavo Bahia de Almeida, Executive Director of GHB International Sports Management and Aquactividade Servicos Nautiocos LDA of Brazil is working with H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole to make unlimited racing part of Brazilia’s 50 Anos Celebration.
Continue Reading…
Posted: February 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm in
2010.
