H1 Unlimited Awards Banquet Honors Best of 2015

IMG_7354_resizeSEATTLE— A crowd of more than 225 hydroplane fans packed the Pacific Science Center Saturday night (February 20th) for the annual H1 Unlimited Awards Banquet to honor the best in the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing for the 2015 season.

The annual awards banquet is where H1 recognizes not only the achievements of the drivers that fly these magnificent boats at over 200 mph but also the outstanding sponsors, race sites, media outlets, crew members and volunteers that make this sport the fastest on the water.

“Tonight we are honoring those individuals who do so much for our sport,” said H1 Chairman Steve David. “The racing was magnificent, maybe the most competitive racing we have seen in our history, but to put on a great show, we need to honor and thank all those who made this possible.”

Jimmy Shane and the U-1 Oberto team took home top honors. Shane and the Oberto team were recognized for winning their second consecutive High Point Championship while Oberto’s Larry Hanson was named Crew Chief of the Year.

“This is a big night for the Miss Madison Racing Team,” said David. “Not only are we honoring this team for their outstanding 2015 season, it is a great way to honor Art Oberto, ending a 40-plus year run of sponsoring an unlimited hydroplane on the H1 national circuit, and then have this team use this banquet to announce HomeStreet Bank officially as their national sponsor for 2016.”

The top three national high point drivers and teams were also honored. J.Michael Kelly and the Graham Trucking team were second place honorees with Cal Phipps and the Dalton Industries team taking the third spot.

The U-27 Dalton Industries (Wiggins Racing) team also took home the honor for Crew of the Year and Milt and Charlie Wiggins were named as Team Owner of the Year.

Also receiving honors for their performance on the national circuit in 2015 was the U-100 Leland Racing team with the Chairman’s Award and its driver Kevin Eacret named H1 Unlimited Rookie of the Year.

The 2016 season gets underway on the Ohio River July 1 through 3 with the Madison (Ind.) Regatta.

–H1–

H1 UNLIMITED AWARD WINNERS FOR 2015

Crew of the Year: U-27 Dalton Industries (Wiggins Racing)

Owner of the Year: Milt & Charley Wiggins

H1 Official of the Year: Steve Peterson

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Eacret

Crew Chief of the Year: Larry Hanson

Race Site of the Year: Tri-Cities Water Follies & HAPO Gold Cup

Sponsor of the Year: UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest

H1 Outstanding Contribution: Walt Ottenad

Chairman’s Award: Detroit Riverfront Events (Mark Weber, Doug Bernstein, Bruce Madej)

Chairman’s Award: H1 Staff of Volunteers

Chairman’s Award: U-100 Leland Unlimited

Steve Montgomery Award for Media Excellence: Jeff Morrow, Tri-Cities Herald

Steve Montgomery Award for Media Excellence: Scott Sistek entire KOMO-TV news desk

Vic Nelawake Volunteer of the Year Award: Tommy Levitt, UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest

Pro-Action Photo: Chris Denslow

Pro-People Photo: James Crisp

Fan Photo: Tim Johnson

Season High Points 3rd Place Driver: Cal Phipps

Season High Points 3rd Place Team: U-27 Dalton Industries

Season High Points 2nd Place Driver: J. Michael Kelly

Season High Points 2nd Place Team: U-5 Graham Trucking

National Champion Team – U-1 Oberto

National Champion Driver – Jimmy Shane

Published On: February 22nd, 2016Categories: Series News, Madison

H1 Unlimited Awards Banquet Honors Best of 2015

IMG_7354_resizeSEATTLE— A crowd of more than 225 hydroplane fans packed the Pacific Science Center Saturday night (February 20th) for the annual H1 Unlimited Awards Banquet to honor the best in the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing for the 2015 season.

The annual awards banquet is where H1 recognizes not only the achievements of the drivers that fly these magnificent boats at over 200 mph but also the outstanding sponsors, race sites, media outlets, crew members and volunteers that make this sport the fastest on the water.

“Tonight we are honoring those individuals who do so much for our sport,” said H1 Chairman Steve David. “The racing was magnificent, maybe the most competitive racing we have seen in our history, but to put on a great show, we need to honor and thank all those who made this possible.”

Jimmy Shane and the U-1 Oberto team took home top honors. Shane and the Oberto team were recognized for winning their second consecutive High Point Championship while Oberto’s Larry Hanson was named Crew Chief of the Year.

“This is a big night for the Miss Madison Racing Team,” said David. “Not only are we honoring this team for their outstanding 2015 season, it is a great way to honor Art Oberto, ending a 40-plus year run of sponsoring an unlimited hydroplane on the H1 national circuit, and then have this team use this banquet to announce HomeStreet Bank officially as their national sponsor for 2016.”

The top three national high point drivers and teams were also honored. J.Michael Kelly and the Graham Trucking team were second place honorees with Cal Phipps and the Dalton Industries team taking the third spot.

The U-27 Dalton Industries (Wiggins Racing) team also took home the honor for Crew of the Year and Milt and Charlie Wiggins were named as Team Owner of the Year.

Also receiving honors for their performance on the national circuit in 2015 was the U-100 Leland Racing team with the Chairman’s Award and its driver Kevin Eacret named H1 Unlimited Rookie of the Year.

The 2016 season gets underway on the Ohio River July 1 through 3 with the Madison (Ind.) Regatta.

–H1–

H1 UNLIMITED AWARD WINNERS FOR 2015

Crew of the Year: U-27 Dalton Industries (Wiggins Racing)

Owner of the Year: Milt & Charley Wiggins

H1 Official of the Year: Steve Peterson

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Eacret

Crew Chief of the Year: Larry Hanson

Race Site of the Year: Tri-Cities Water Follies & HAPO Gold Cup

Sponsor of the Year: UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest

H1 Outstanding Contribution: Walt Ottenad

Chairman’s Award: Detroit Riverfront Events (Mark Weber, Doug Bernstein, Bruce Madej)

Chairman’s Award: H1 Staff of Volunteers

Chairman’s Award: U-100 Leland Unlimited

Steve Montgomery Award for Media Excellence: Jeff Morrow, Tri-Cities Herald

Steve Montgomery Award for Media Excellence: Scott Sistek entire KOMO-TV news desk

Vic Nelawake Volunteer of the Year Award: Tommy Levitt, UAW-GM Spirit of Detroit Hydrofest

Pro-Action Photo: Chris Denslow

Pro-People Photo: James Crisp

Fan Photo: Tim Johnson

Season High Points 3rd Place Driver: Cal Phipps

Season High Points 3rd Place Team: U-27 Dalton Industries

Season High Points 2nd Place Driver: J. Michael Kelly

Season High Points 2nd Place Team: U-5 Graham Trucking

National Champion Team – U-1 Oberto

National Champion Driver – Jimmy Shane

Published On: February 22nd, 2016Categories: Series News, Madison