H1 Unlimited Historian Fred Farley’s statistical recap shows fifteen hulls appeared at one time or another during the 2011 Air National Guard Series tour. Sixteen drivers made at least one legal start in a heat of competition. Two teams–the U-1 and the U-100–used back-up hulls.
 
Jeff Bernard’s 5 Graham Trucking team completed all 25 heats started for the only perfect season in that category. 

Results for the season -

For the purpose of this compilation, a boat is not considered to have finished a heat unless it has received points in that heat. An exception to this rule is participation in “Provisional Heats,” which do not award points but which help determine who is admitted to the Final Heat.
 

“Dash-For-Cash” heats are not included.

 **********

U-1 OH BOY! OBERTO/MISS MADISON

Driver: Steve David

Heats: 20
 
Finishes: 19

 

Percentage: .950
 
1st: 12
 
2nd: 3
 
3rd: 1
 
4th: 1
 
5th: 2
 
**********
 
U-5 GRAHAM TRUCKING

 

Driver: Jeff Bernard
 
Heats: 25
 
Finishes: 25

 

Percentage: 1.000
 
1st: 3
 
2nd: 11
 
3rd:  5
 
4th: 4
 
5th: 1
 
6th: 1
 
**********
 
U-7 VALKEN.COM

 

Driver: Scott Liddycoat
 
Heats: 25
 
Finishes: 23

 

Percentage: .920
 
1st: 5
 
2nd: 10
 
3rd: 6
 
4th: 1
 
5th: 0
 
6th: 1
 
**********
 
U-9/U-1 MISS VISIT TRI-CITIES.COM/OH BOY! OBERTO (back-up hull)

 

Driver: Jon Zimmerman
 
Heats: 10
 
Finishes: 9

 

Percentage: .900
 
1st: 0
 
2nd: 1
 
3rd: 2
 
4th: 6
 
**********
 
U-11 PETERS & MAY

 

Driver: J.W. Myers
 
Heats: 22
 
Finishes: 15

 

Percentage: .681
 
1st: 2
 
2nd: 1
 
3rd: 6
 
4th: 2
 
5th: 3
 
6th: 0
 
7th: 1
 
**********

 

U-17 MISS RED DOT

 

Drivers: Kip Brown & Cal Phipps

 

Heats: 24

 

Finishes: 22

 

Percentage: .916

 

1st: 8

 

2nd: 8

 

3rd: 3

 

4th: 1

 

5th: 2

 

**********

 

U-21 LAKERIDGE PAVING/ALBERT LEE APPLIANCE/TAPOUT-MUSCLEPHARM

 

Driver: Brian Perkins

 

Heats: 22

 

Finishes: 20

 

Percentage: .909

 

1st: 1

 

2nd: 5

 

3rd: 6

 

4th: 6

 

5th: 1

 

6th: 0

 

7th: 1

 

**********

 

U-22 MISS BROADWAY TAVERN/MATRIX SYSTEM/CAMPAIGN WSU/GREAT SCOTT

 

Driver: Mike Webster 

 

Heats: 15

 

Finishes: 6

 

Percentage: .400

 

1st: 0

 

2nd: 0

 

3rd: 4

 

4th: 2

 

**********

 

U-25 SUPERIOR RACING/JARVIS FIRE-WATER REPAIR/MISS 97ROCK/PROCRAFT WINDOWS

 

Drivers: Dr. Ken Muscatel & Ryan Mallow  

 

Heats: 12

 

Finishes: 7

 

Percentage: .583

 

1st: 0

 

2nd: 0

 

3rd: 1

 

4th: 2

 

5th: 4

 

**********

 

U-57 FORMULABOATS.COM

 

Drivers: Mark Evans & Jimmy Shane

 

Heats: 20

 

Finishes: 15

 

Percentage: .750

 

1st: 0

 

2nd: 1

 

3rd: 7

 

4th: 6

 

5th: 0

 

6th: 1

 

**********

 

U-88 DEGREE MEN

 

Driver: J. Michael Kelly

 

Heats: 24

 

Finishes: 21

 

1st: 3

 

2nd: 9

 

3rd: 2

 

4th: 3

 

5th: 3

 

6th: 0

 

7th: 1

 

**********

 

U-96 SPIRIT OF QATAR

 

Driver: Dave Villwock

 

Heats: 25

 

Finishes: 23

 

Percentage: .920

 

1st: 20

 

2nd: 1

 

3rd: 1

 

4th: 0

 

5th: 0

 

6th: 1

 

**********

 

U-99 MISS HAPO

 

Driver: Ryan Mallow

 

Heats: 3

 

Finishes: 0

 

Percentage: .000

 

**********

 

U-100 LELAND UNLIMITED/MISS AL DEEBY/MISS BEACON PLUMBING (original hull)

 

Driver: Greg Hopp

 

Heats: 14

 

Finishes: 12

 

Percentage: .857

 

1st: 1

 

2nd: 1

 

3rd: 4

 

4th: 4

 

5th: 2

 

**********

 

U-100 MIRAGE BOATS/LELAND UNLIMITED (replacement hull)

 

Driver: Greg Hopp

 

Heats: 8

 

Finishes: 8

 

Percentage: 1.000

 

1st: 0

 

2nd: 2

 

3rd: 3

 

4th: 0

 

5th: 3

 

 

H1 is collecting Fan nominations for the 2011 ANG Series FAN FAVORITE AWARD. The award can go to a team, owner, driver or any person or group chosen by the fans.

Nominate your favorite in an email to (Enable Javascript to see the email address).  Nominations also become votes.

Time for photogs to pick their favorite shots for the 2011 photo contest. The 3 categories are Professional Boat/Action Shot, Professional People Shot, and Fan Photograph. Fans can send in up to 2 photos of anything they’d like and the pro’s can send one boat/action and one people.

Email digital files to (Enable Javascript to see the email address) or mail a CD to P.O. Box 3694, Pasco, WA 99302. Call 877-783-RACE for questions. Entries will be printed out and displayed at the Awards Banquet where attendees will vote for their favorite. Winners will be announced at the banquet. Entries must be submitted by February 13th.

The Pro category includes anyone who was issued a blue photo vest during the season and team photographers.

A few tickets are still available for the H1 Unlimited 2011 Awards Banquet  Saturday  February 25^th at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle.  There will also be a no-host social gathering at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum Friday, February 24^th. 

H1 Unlimited’s annual meetings will take place at the same location Saturday, February 25th, with an H1 Board of Directors meeting slated for Sunday.

H1 has a special room rate at $139 per night.  For reservations CLICK HERE or call 1-888-627-8513

Click here for Banquet Registration

 

If you can’t make it in person, we will be streaming the event live beginning at 7:00PM PST:

Live stream by Ustream

 

AGENDA

Friday, February 24^th   

7:00 pm                        Informal Social (Open to Public)– Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

                                          5917 S. 196th St.   Kent, WA  98032          

 Saturday, February 25^th  

Elliot Bay Room – Open to Public

8:00 am                                Welcome – Sam Cole

8:30 am – 10:00 am        Marketing –  David Gatti, Canyon Marketing

10:00 am – 10:15 am      Break

10:15 am – 11:30 am        Sponsorship and ROI – Kristine Smutek, K16 Marketing

11:30 am – 1:00 pm          Lunch on own for attendees – Closed Board Meeting,

Vashon  Room

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm           Safety/Rule changes, Mike Noonan, H1 Chief  Referee

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm          Social Media and Websites –  Melissa A. Jurcan, Seafair

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm           Break

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm           Race Site Meeting (Closed to Public) – What’s expected for 2012

Elliot Bay Room

3:15 pm – 4:30 pm           Owner Meeting (Closed to Public) – What’s expected for 2012

Vashon Room

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm           Social Hour – Foyer outside Cascade Ballroom

6:30 p m                                Dinner – Cascade Ballroom

7:00 pm                                Award Program – Cascade Ballroom              

 Sunday, February 26^th  

7:30 am – 10:00 am         Closed H1 Executive Committee Meeting

 

In a career as an unlimited crewman dating back to 1972,  Tracy Bratvold built Rolls Royce Merlin and Griffon engines for teams like Circus Circus, Budweiser, Tide and Pringles.

With the dawn of the turbine era, Tracy became one of the sport’s premier turbine technicians and eventually grew his knowledge into a thriving family industry that supplies turbine power to a number of racing and other applications.

In 1989 Tracy and wife Cindi combined their love of the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana with the opportunity to start a business that would meet the growing need for turbine technology in racing and aviation.  In 1990, their company received FAA approval for turbine overhaul and repair and the shop outside of Hamilton, Montana began to grow.  Today, son Adam is the company’s lead turbine mechanic and is a familiar face on the Unlimited Hydroplane and Offshore circuits.

2011 was a Banner Year for Whispering Turbines as WTI engines powered the U96 to the 2011 H1 National Championship and the team’s  fourth consecutive Gold Cup in Detroit.  The Miss Geico Race Team won the World Championship for the 6^thyear (the last 3 with WTI engines) and Bill Tomlinson’s “My Way” set the Unofficial record for the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2011 at 208/223MPH.

Tomlinson’s impressive 208 mph pass can be seen in the video HERE.

Whispering Turbines customers are quick to sing the company’s praises, including – Erick Ellstrom, owner of the 96 Spirit of Qatar, who says, “Having campaigned now for 18 years one of the winningest H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes, I want to send out a big “Thank You” to Tracy and Adam Bratvold at Whispering Turbines, Inc. They have given us their continued support and have provided our race team with gas turbine engines that have powered us to several National and World Championships.  Since the inception of this race team, we have relied exclusively on WTI prepared engines.  Their expertise and knowledge of their product shows in the results that our team has achieved over the years.  WTI is the best in their field, and it shows by the engines they produce- dependable, gorgeous, fast engines!

 Scott Colton, manager of the Miss Geico offshore team says, “The World Champion Miss GEICO Race team has enjoyed tremendous success with its Whispering Turbines engines. These two T-53 703 turbine engines from Whispering Turbines that power Miss GEICO to speeds in excess of 200 mph have raced almost twenty (20) races in the harshest extreme salt water environments under the most difficult conditions and yet Miss GEICO continues to gobble up victories.  “We couldn’t be happier with our friends, Tracy and Adam Bratvold”, quips Marc Granet, driver. Gary Stray who oversees the Miss GEICO Race Team and has over 25 years in the marine racing industry concurs, “we are really pleased with the performance of our engines.” Heading into the World Championships Miss GEICO is seeking its sixth consecutive World Title. 

Mark Duffy of Central Copters in Bozeman, Montana adds, “I appreciate the great work that Tracy, Adam, and Crew have performed on my helicopter engines.  These days it’s hard to find the personalized service and attention to detail that Whispering Turbines provides.   I know that when the engine work is completed at their shop they have my best interest in mind, I appreciate that!”

John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats says, “I have been building and running turbine boats for well over 10 years now.  After dealing with a number of different turbine builders I have found Whispering Turbines to be the best built most dependable turbines on the market.  At the 2011 LOTO Shootout I had the privilege of running Bill Tomlinson’s “My Way” boat on the course for most of the day on the Sunday of the event with a pair of WTI T55 engines at nearly 3,000 HP each.  Run after run the Whispering Turbine engines pulled strong with unbelievable power accelerating the boat hard even at 223 mph.  Being able to run a boat as hard as we did that day and then driving it back on the trailer at the end of the day to go home without one issue with the engines is a testament to true build quality.  I would recommend Whispering Turbines for their absolute dedication to quality as well as their professionalism. 

And Bill Tomlinson adds, “I have owned four turbine powered cats over the last 15 years .Over that period I have dealt with a few other turbine shops with limited confidence.  The T 55s which are in the current “My Way” were built by Whispering Turbines and have run great. My first choice is always to deal with honest and fair people. Tracy and Adam are both and go the extra mile whether at their shop or if necessary at your location.”

After a successful taste of racing in three races this summer, Mike & Lori Jones are planning to make a full-time comeback to the Air National Guard H1 Unlimited Championship series in 2012.

 And they have big plans.

 Jon Zimmerman will drive the U-9 again next season, his first full-time ride in the unlimiteds. The 2010 H1 Unlimited Rookie of the Year, Zimmerman was the backup driver for Billy & Jane Schumacher’s U-37 that year, and drove three races for Jones Racing this year.

 “I’m excited about this opportunity,” Zimmerman said. “This hull is a great race boat and with the changes the team plans to make over the winter, I’m looking forward to being even more competitive next year.”

 Under crew chief Jeff Campbell – a former Miss Budweiser crew member who is bringing along four Bud veterans (Dave Arnold, Mike Campbell, Mike McIntosh and John Rice), for the 2012 team – the boat will get a new cockpit, a modern cowling, and adjustments to the ride surfaces over the offseason. The team is also in the market for a newer truck for the transportation and display of the boat and the team’s equipment.

 “The recent growth of the unlimited class has sparked a lot of renewed interest and enthusiasm for hydroplane racing, including our own” said Mike Jones. “More new sponsors are coming in, new races are being put together and the television coverage on Versus/NBC Sports has been highly successful.

 With all of the other work currently going on in the team’s boat shop, the team is also busy seeking a national sponsor for the 2012 season. For more information about the team’s sponsorship opportunities, contact marketing manager Nelson Holmberg ((Enable Javascript to see the email address)).

 Learn more about the team online at www.u9racing.com.

 

The winner of the 2011 Oryx Cup UIM World Championship was decided only after review of this video, which shows the U-1, U-96 & 88 had jumped the start by less than half a boat length.

The start clock is coordinated with the LED in the upper right of this video, where the LED lights when the countdown clock reaches “0.00 seconds” and the race begins.

This clip shows in real time, then slow motion, the U-1, U-96 & 88 crossing the starting line before the LED lights, indicating that they crossed the line before the race had begun:

Driver Scott Liddycoat completed a magical rookie season Saturday by capturing his first unlimited hydroplane victory during a controversial finish at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship. Liddycoat was declared the winner by officials after they reviewed film of the start and saw that drivers Steve David, Dave Villwock and J Michael Kelly had crossed the start line early. Those drivers were given a 1-minute penalty and Liddycoat got his first career victory on the H1 Unlimited tour. “It’s not the way I would have liked to win the first one but I’ll take it,” Liddycoat said. “This year has been unreal. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.”

 David and the Oh Boy! Oberto team thought they had won the Oryx Cup and were ready to celebrate their third race win of the season. But after a 45-minute delay for the awards ceremony, David was told of the penalty that would give second-place finisher Liddycoat the victory. David was upset by the ruling, noting that fans and television viewers left the race with the impression that the Oh Boy! Oberto had won. Instead they took fifth. “In a world championship race there is no excuse for that,” David said. “Qatar deserves better officiating than what we gave them today.”

 Although race officials initially said the start was legal, when they examined video of the start/finish buoy, David, Villwock and Kelly were more than half a boat length past. Drivers can’t pass the start line before the clock strikes zero. Adding to the problem was that the clock was not displayed on the shore. “When I looked at the picture, it was obvious,” said Mike Noonan, H1 Unlimited’s chief referee. “Three of the boats were at least half a boat length over or a little less.”

 H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole said they will look at procedures regarding official reviews at the start line. “It was a tough call but it was the right call,” Cole said. “We have to move on.”

Liddycoat had an up-and-down weekend before making the final. The team was docked points for a fuel violation during a heat Friday and were fighting to make the seven-boat final. But his luck turned Saturday when he edged Villwock for first place in day’s final heat, giving him enough points for the final. His luck continued when he got the inside lane and David and Villwock were on the outside. Because of the penalties, Graham Trucking driver Jeff Bernard went from fifth-place to second place on the podium. “We’ll take the second-place finish,” Bernard said. “But you would rather do it on the racecourse than see guys get penalized but that’s why we have rules.”

 Driver Greg Hopp, who was second to last to qualify for the final, finished third. Rookie driver Jimmy Shane was fourth in the Formulaboats.com boat. Villwock won three races and took home the driver and team national high points championship this season. He knew getting the outside lane in the final was going to be too difficult to overcome. “We were in trouble with the lane draw,” Villwock said. “We needed a little luck here or a crash or something to move us in a lane or two.”

 Liddycoat, who lives in Suffolk, Va., is the third different winner at the race in Doha, Qatar. Kelly won the first race in 2009 and Villwock captured last year’s Oryx Cup, which was founded by Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF). Liddycoat plans to celebrate an impressive season that should earn him rookie of the year honors. “It’s been a great year and this just topped it,” said Liddycoat, who drives the Ted Porter-owned Valken.com boat. “You couldn’t ask for a better ending.”

 Final Oryx Cup UIM Championships from Doha, Qatar

 Final

Place, Driver, Boat, Speed

1. Scott Liddycoat, Valken.com, 131.499 mph

2. Jeff Bernard, Graham Trucking, 120.143 mph

3. Greg Hopp, Mirageboats.com, 117.821 mph

4. Jimmy Shane, Formulaboats.com, 112.040 mph

5. Steve David, Oh Boy! Oberto, 110.376 mph

 

Saturday’s Heat Results

Heat 3A: 1. Dave Villwock, 2. Greg Hopp, 3. J. Michael Kelly.

Heat 3B: 1. Steve David, 2. Scott Liddycoat, 3. Jimmy Shane.

Heat 4A: 1. J. Michael Kelly, 2. Steve David, 3. Jeff Bernard.

Heat 4B: 1. Scott Liddycoat, 2. Dave Villwock, 3. Brian Perkins.

More than two dozen Army soldiers based in Doha, Qatar, are serving as volunteer crew members on H1 Unlimited teams competing at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championships.
Handling tasks from washing boats to swapping propellers, the soldiers are getting a first-hand look at the demands of getting a hydroplane ready to race. For many of the young men and women, it’s the first time they have seen an unlimited up close.
“With these high-powered engines, you can’t get better than that,” said soldier, Army Specialist Carlos Ramirez, who was raised in Phoenix, Ariz. “Now I’m interested in the sport, I’m definitely going to start following it.”
This is the first time H1 Unlimited has done an outreach program with the U.S. military bases in Doha. The program is a natural extension of its partnership with the Air National Guard, said H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole.
Cole brought the TapouT/Muscle Pharm boat to display at Camp As Sayliyah and asked if any soldiers would want to spend three days working with the teams. Base leaders handpicked 24 soldiers, who are putting in 10-hour days alongside the teams. Other volunteers are assisting H1 Unlimited officials with racecourse flags and getting the boats in and out of the water.

“The team owners are impressed at how hardworking and smart these men and women are,” Cole said. “We know we have the finest troops in the world. For the teams working beside them, it only reinforces that.”
TapouT/Muscle Pharm team owner Greg O’Farrell echoes Cole’s sentiments.
“It’s the start of a good friendship with these guys. We appreciate what they do for our country,” O’Farrell said. “They’re a pleasure to be around and we’re having a lot of fun with them.”
Army Specialist Nicole Hubbard was assisting the Oh Boy! Oberto crew and her main task was to deliver the black box that officials use to check for fuel flow and turbine over-speed violations. She spent some time talking with driver Steve David about what it’s like behind the wheel of a hydroplane.
“They (base commanders) didn’t tell us much coming into here,” Hubbard said. “Now that I’m here, I’m having a blast.”
Army Specialist Nohle Jensen was given the task of helping H1 Unlimited officials at the docks coordinating the boats going in and out of the water during testing and qualifying on Thursday.
“It’s unreal. I never grew up around boats and to see them go 150 mph—oh my gosh,” he said. “How expense these boats are is just unreal.”

Cole said they will do the volunteer program with the troops at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championships in 2012 set for November 15-17.
“Everyone is having such a good time, we can’t wait for next year,” he said.

Saturday, November 19th

Times are local at the race site. Doha time is GMT+3 (+8 EST)

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (12:00am-1:00am EST) Unlimited Testing

11:00 AM (3:00am EST) Heat 3A

11:20 AM (3:20am EST) Heat 3B

11:35 AM (3:35am EST) Podium Event for Winners 3A and 3B, Draw for 4A and 4B

12:45 PM (4:45am EST) Heat 4A

1:05 PM (5:05am EST) Heat 4B

3:00 PM (7:00am EST) Oryx Cup UIM World Championship

8:00 PM (12:00pm EST) Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation

Images by Chris Denslow