Fans in Tri-Cities and Seattle Both Get a Heck of a Show
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September 2017 Fans in Tri-Cities and Seattle both get a heck of a show. Chris Denslow Andrew Tate in the U-9 Les Schwab Tires (left) is side by side with Jimmy Shane in the U-1 Miss HomeStreet and the two emerge from the final turn of the final heat in Seattle and make their run for the finish line. he race for the national the narrowest of margins. With a Fourth in the standings is a title couldn’t be closer. Only victory in Seattle and a third-place pleasant surprise, the U-11 Miss T354 points separate the top finish in the Tri-Cities, the team has DiJulio presents J&D’s. Tom three boats after the first two so far earned 3,274 points. Thompson has thrilled race fans points-earning races of the 2017 But, only 9 points behind is the with several deck-to-deck duels and season, indicating how close the U-12 Graham Trucking, driven by J. has collected 2,113 points. Another competition has been. Michael Kelly, who won the race in surprise is the U-99.9 Miss Rock in Also, while the fields have been the Tri-Cities and placed second in fifth place. smaller this year, with eight boats Seattle. Jimmy King and the U-3 Grigg’s showing up at both the Tri-Cities Third in the standings is the Ace Hardware also turned in a great and Seattle, more than half of the U-9 Les Schwab Tires, driven by last performance at the Tri-Cities, as boats in the pits at each site posed a year’s Rookie of the Year, Andrew did Brian Perkins in the U-21 Albert real chance of winning. Tate. While Tate has yet to stand on Lee Appliance in Seattle. Jimmy Shane in the three-time the podium after a race, he has been Look inside. You’ll find our defending national champion U-1 right in the thick of things and has detailed reports for both the Miss HomeStreet leads the pack by collected 2,920 points. Tri-Cities and Seattle events. IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE: 2 My $0.02 Worth by Andy Muntz 4 Tri-Cities Race Report 18 Around the Circuit by Chris Tracy 3 STEMacceleration 11 Seattle Race Report Andy Muntz My $0.02Editorial Comment Worth I had the privilege to do a little Look. I get it. I’m not saying work for H1 Unlimited at both the that everything is rosy. Having had Tri-Cities and Seattle races and, a hand in H1 Unlimited’s publicity We prefer that things will always through that experience, gained effort, I know that everybody remain the same and that what some valuable insight into a little of involved with the sport realizes that worked in the past will always work the inner workings of what goes on there are many problems desper- that way in the future. to publicize this sport. I also gained ately looking for solutions. But, I I’ve been in the business of some insight into what some fans also know that hydroplane racing media relations for over 40 years. seem not to understand. is not unique in that regard. Just I see every day how market forces Both races were spectacular. imagine what NASCAR thinks of have caused the media business to Although the number of boats was the fact that only 35,000 fans paid undergo dramatic changes in recent lower than any of us would like, to see this year’s Brickyard 400, at a years. I understand why TV stations the parity between the boats was speedway that holds 235,000. and newspapers don’t cover our greater than it has been for years. Change is happening, just as it sport like they did 50 years ago. More than half of the boats in the has for centuries. I also know that technology has pits had a very real chance of win- I recently overheard a conver- changed and why the boats use dif- ning. What’s more, the action on sation in which two people were ferent engines than they once did. the water reflected that. The fans bemoaning the fact that fewer kids No matter how hard we might saw several deck-to-deck battles at know how to read cursive writing. wish that the media covered racing both events. One of them cited that as an exam- like it did in those gloriouis days Yet, reading many of the ple of how our school system has in our memory, or that the engines comments in Facebook, one might failed. But I had to ask myself as I made as much noise, those days are get the impression that the writers listened, do these people light their gone and they aren’t likely to had been watching something homes with gas lamps? Do they still return. What’s more, things will be entirely different. Many people add and subtract using an abacus? different 50 years from now than were so intent on being a critic My point is, change will always they are today. and so busy looking for signs that be with us. And, because it’s The best way for the sport to the end is at hand that they missed uncertain, change is uncomfortable have a future, therefore, is to not some really positive things on the for many people. We tend not to resist the changes that will come, racecourse. like the unknown or the unfamiliar. but to embrace them. EDITOR: Andy Muntz ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Craig Fjarlie, Chris Tracy, Dick Sanders HYDROFILE EDITOR/WEBMASTER: Lon Erickson HISTORIAN: Bob Greenhow EDITORIAL BOARD: Clint Newman II, Bob Senior Unlimited NewsJournal, established in 1973, is published by Unlimiteds Unanimous, an enthusiast club interested in promoting and documenting the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing. Copyright © 2017, Unlimited NewsJournal. Reproduction or transmission in whole or part is not permitted without written approval of the Unlimited NewsJournal. EDITOR: Unlimited NewsJournal, 14313 Beverly Edmonds Road, Edmonds, WA 98026. Email: [email protected] Letters may be edited for clarity and space. 2 / UNLIMITED NEWSJOURNAL / September 2017 The Unlimited Racing Group launches an innovative non-profit partnership. Scott and Shannon Raney, the The U-11 team started a pilot could expand this program on a owners of the U-11 unlimited program last October when they larger scale, explained Shannon hydroplane, have announced the began working with students who Raney. formation of a non-profit organi- were interested in hands-on learn- Why unlimited hydroplane zation called STEMacceleration. ing opportunities while working racing? The sport provides par- Its mission, say the Raneys, is to on the U-11 race boat. After several ticipants with the opportunity to change the lives of students by months, the Raneys decided they learn at the intersection of STEM providing hands-on STEM inquiry were making a meaningful differ- concepts such as the science of learning opportunities using the ence in how that experience helped speed generation, the technology of power of the extreme sport of un- students implement what they troubleshooting, the engineering of limited hydroplane racing. learned to their school work. solutions (propulsion systems, elec- The term STEM stands for the “We started thinking about the trical systems, rigging design), and academic disciplines of science, program as a pilot and immediately the mathematics of computational technology, engineering, and math. started to brainstorm on how we thinking (measuring tools, impact of gear ratios, and fuel usage). For more information, con- tact Shannon Raney at Shannon@ We love to hear from our readers. u11racing.com. v We have unfortunately reached a dangerous life or death precipice for the sport and it is quite possible that unlimited racing may only carry on as a novelty catering to the few. We have to start thinking big picture Bartush purchases now. You have to put a marketable product in place and be able to pimp it the U-7 from Porter. to the masses. Production and dissemination. Stick with five races for five Detroit Unlimited Racing owner years until they actually work and start to pencil out. Quit wasting time Dave Bartush has announced the and resources pursuing additional sites and markets. The way to expand markets will be done through marketing and delivery of a superior product purchase of last year’s U-7 Graham into the home. Trucking II boat from Ted Porter of You have to be able to take complete charge of the production of the Decatur, Indiana. Earlier this year, event. Lots of cameras and live feeds being broadcast on your own stream- Porter sold his team’s other unlim- ing channel. If you can produce something worth watching you may be ited to Rob Graham, who is now able to attract networks to form partnerships and work with you, but we’ll campaigning the boat as the U-12 have to do all the initial work ourselves. More media interest will be gained as more people view this amazing sport. Graham Trucking. One reality is that if you do not have the right aerial shots, you will The boat was built as the Miss never be able to deliver a watchable product. Drones can deliver top-notch Budweiser in 1997 and during its ca- video feeds in broadcast quality. reer has collected 23 race victories Take control of the entire production. You’ll need young and aggressive and five national titles. It is com- kids who’ve never seen a boat in their life, but know how to deliver that story from coast to coast.