Team Profile: Precision Performance Engineering Racing

The U-57 became the third entry from owner Ted Porter’s PPE, LLC unlimited fleet at the Tri-Cities Water Follies in July, 2010. The U-57 Formulaboats.com competed in Seattle and San Diego events in 2010. In San Diego, the U-57 made history when it joined the team’s U-5 and U-7 in the Final Heat. It marked the first time in Unlimited competition that 3 entries from one team successfully competed in a Final Heat.

The U-57 is set to compete in the 2011 season led by veteran driver, N. Mark Evans. Mark brings his experience and enthusiasm to the entire team. Off season modifications to the Lucero hull will improve the overall performance of the boat. The crew is led by Crew Chief, John Walcker.

In 2011, PPE, LLC introduces its New Driver Development Program which will center around the U-57. Mark Evans will mentor NDDP driver, Bianca Bononcini. Bianca will shadow team operations, run laps in the U-57 to gain experience and qualify as an Unlimited driver with the goal of running competition laps when she is ready.

Owner: Precision Performance, LLC

Ted Porter entered the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing as a sponsor of Chad Sanderson’s U-5 in 2005.  In 2006, Ted stepped up to owner in a big way by purchasing all the assets of U-5 Racing as well as 2 championship hydroplanes and much of the remaining Miss Budweiser equipment from the family of Bernie Little.  Precision Performance Engineering, LLC was formed as the parent company for the race team based in Ted’s hometown of Decatur, Indiana.  Ted made the decision to campaign both boats numbering them U-5 and U-7 with both carrying the Formulaboats.com name.

Born in Decatur, Indiana and a lifelong resident, Ted grew up around boats in the family boat manufacturing business, Formula Boats by Thunderbird Products, and boating remains an important part of his life. Ted is active in the family business as part owner and VP Human Resources. His love of water and water born sports is what drew him to Unlimited Hydroplane racing.  Ted lives on the family’s horse farm near Decatur with his wife Emily and their sons Danny 23, Chris 21, and Josh 15.  Most family weekends are occupied with horseback riding, lake boating, or boat racing related activities.

THE TEAM:

The U-5/U-7 Racing team won the National High Points Championship in their first year of competition.  Never before in the history of the sport had a rookie team, rookie driver, and a rookie crew chief won this highest honor.  In 2008 the U-5/U-7 Racing team won more races and heats than any other team on the unlimited hydroplane racing circuit.  In 2009, the U-7 captured the U.I.M. World Championship for the team.  In 2010, the team expanded to 3 with the addition of the U-57, becoming the first team to enter and place 3 boats in a final heat in San Diego, California.

For 2011, the team is with preparing for a successful season with a truly powerful force of drivers, new additions to the crew, fresh turbines, gearboxes and propellers.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

2006 Regates de Valleyfield winner (U-7, Mike Allen)

2006 National High Points Champion (U-7)

2008 Indiana Governors Cup winner & 2008 Bill Muncey Cup winner (U-5, Jeff Bernard)

2009 Thunder on the Ohio winner and 2^nd place (U-5, Jeff Bernard; U-7 J. Michael Kelly)

2009 Oryx Cup & UIM World Champion (U-7, J. Michael Kelly)

2010 Owner of the Year

Crew Chief: John Walcker

John Walcker grew up in the Seattle area where the “hydros were the king”.  He became involved in hydroplane racing in the early 1990s and credits Mark and Mitch Evans among those who got him involved in the sport.  Mitch took him for a ride in an unlimited hydroplane and John was hooked.  John became a member of the U-3 Cooper Racing team in 1994 through 2010 where in addition to crew duties, he helped construct 2 boats for the team.

John came onboard with PPE, LLC in 2010 when the U-57 joined the PPE fleet assisting the crew in several capacities with primary responsibility for propellers.  In 2011, John steps into the role of Crew Chief for the U-57 and driver N. Mark Evans.

Professionally, John is a Navy veteran where he served as an aviation electrician.  He is a builder/developer and operated the Caravel Resort, Grandview on the Lake in Chelan, Washington for 26 years.  He is involved in APBA Region 10 racing serving as Race Director for the Norm Evans Memorial Hydrofest since its beginning in the early 1990s.

John lives in Chelan, Washington with his wife Sue.  They have a daughter Jennifer, married to Tony Nelmida and granddaughter Lilly.

Team Manager: Mark Hooton

Mark Hooton is entering his fourth season as Team Manager of Precision Performance Engineering, L.L.C.’s U-5, U-7 & U-57 unlimited hydroplane racing team.

A life-long fan of the sport, Hooton began working with the U-2 Primestar team in 1997 and has held various crew positions with increasing responsibility since that time.  He also covered the sport for Unlimiteds Detroit and the Unlimited NewsJournal as a writer and photographer.  He joined PPE, LLC on the U-7 FormulaBoats.com crew in 2006 and moved to the U-5 in 2007 prior to stepping up to Team Manager in 2008.

Under Mark’s leadership, the team was named the 2008 H1 Unlimited Crew of the Year and recorded 4 race victories including the 2009 U.I.M. World Championship.  In 2010, Hooton managed the expansion of the team from 2 boats to 3.

Hooton brings management experience from 26 years at General Motors, where he has been involved in Product Engineering, Purchasing, Supplier Quality and Program Management.  He is currently leading purchasing activities for crossover vehicles, mid-size trucks and commercial vehicles.  Mark attended Hillsdale College and received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Central Michigan University.

Hooton states, “Leading the team at PPE, LLC has given me the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented, diverse group. I appreciate their commitment and dedication.  The 3 boat Crews come together from points across the country at the start of the season and quickly bond into One Team with a common goal. Having these boats running at the front of the fleet is what we all work together to achieve.”