GO FAST TURN LEFT RACING
The Beast Unleashed Presents Miss Thriftway
GO FAST TURN LEFT RACING
The Beast Unleashed Presents Miss Thriftway
Gunnar O’ Farrell took the wheel of an Unlimited hydroplane in racing action for the first time in 2023, but he is no stranger to the sport or to the seat of the U-21. Gunnar began going to races at the age 6 with his family. By 8 years old he was in the hydroplane museum building an outboard boat. He started in outboard (Stock and pro classes) when he was 9 years old and drove for 6 years.
At 20, he decided to make the next step and move to the inboard class and drove in the 2.5 mod and stock classes. His career really accelerated in the inboard class, where in 2021 he won summer nationals.
In 2022, the O’Farrell family bought a 2.5 mod and has been restoring it. In 2022, Gunnar was given the opportunity to drive an Unlimited Hydroplane. He completed his 15 laps going over 130 mph and became a qualified Unlimited hydroplane driver. His fastest lap was 145.175 mph. Gunnar’s first race was at the 2023 APBA Gold Cup in Seattle, where he qualified at 145.572 MPH and competed in all four qualifying heats, but did not make the Final Heat.
In Gunnar’s off time he works for his family’s business as a CDL truck driver. He lives in Maple Valley, WA with his girlfriend Marina. In the summer he loves to race his boat and go fishing. In the winter, he enjoys skiing and snowmobiling.
Greg and Brian O’Farrell were born with boat racing in their genes. The father-son team represent the second and third generation within the family to have such a strong connection to hydroplane racing.
As a kid, Greg attended every Seafair, except for the year he was in boot camp. “I got hooked early. My father was friends with Willard Rhodes who owned the Thriftway team. Bill Muncey gave me a ride in Thriftway Too and there was no turning back!” As he built the very successful Lakeridge Paving Company, Greg couldn’t escape the lure of hydroplaning. In 2005, Lakeridge Paving sponsored a Fred Leland hull which was driven by Jeff Bernard. In front of a huge Seafair audience and on live television Miss Lakeridge Paving made news by passing Jeff’s uncle Terry Troxell who had just won the APBA Gold Cup.
Encouraged by the success of sponsoring a boat, Greg stepped up and bought two Leland hulls including “Lucky.” With Brian Perkins behind the wheel, the U-50 “Spirit of the Navy” made every final heat on the eastern circuit and the team garnered the respect of everyone in boat racing. The next move for Greg and Brian was to step up to a more competitive ride for 2010, so they purchased the U-21 from Kevin Aylesworth and Jeff Johnson. After a winter of tuning, the U-21 became a contender on the H1 Unlimited circuit.
Not content to sit back, Greg and Brian O’Farrell commissioned Dale Van Wierengen to build a “state-of-the-art” unlimited, debuting in 2012. While unlimited racing is a family activity for Greg and Brian O’Farrell, make no mistake, these two are intent on making it to the top of the sport.
Each year, Go Fast Turn Left Racing has improved, and finished 2nd place in the 2014 Detroit Gold Cup. But the next stop on the circuit proved to be a huge setback. While racing to make it into the Final Heat in Tri-Cities, driver Jamie Nielsen blew over the U-21, suffering major structural damage and retiring the boat for the remainder of the 2014 season. Go Fast Turn Left finished the season garnering points from the Schumacher Racing U-37 hull, renamed the U-21 for San Diego and Doha.
2024 sees the O’Farrells keeping it “all in the Family”, with Brian’s son Gunnar taking over the wheel from long-time driver Brian Perkins.
- Home Port: Maple Valley, WA
- Founded: 2007
- Primary Sponsor: Lakeridge Paving
- Engine: Lycoming T-55/L-7 Turbine
- Hull Built: 2019
- Length: 29′
- Width: 14′
- Weight: 6,500 lbs.
Our original crew has been making drinks for 30+ years now. Our favorite brand Monster Energy is about to turn 21.
We figured why not celebrate the big day by making an adult beverage. We hit delete on the energy blend, cut out the caffeine and ditched the sugar. Next we brewed up the smoothest tasting alcohol ever and blended it with our tried and true flavors.
The Beast is Unleashed! Great Taste, six point ‘oh my” percent alcohol and no sugar to weigh you down. Get ready to celebrate and don’t be afraid of the big bad beast.
Cheers!
Brian O’Farrell has been working on Unlimited Hydroplanes most of his adult life, and has been the Crew Chief of the U-60 operation since they began with their own boat is 2007.
NORTH BEND, WA
Brian Perkins has been a part of the Go Fast Turn Left race team since 2009 where he began his Unlimited Hydroplane racing career. After the 2019 season, Brian decided to step aside from his driving duties. He and his wife, Erin, are now busy with their commercial glass company in Seattle as well as keeping up with their two-year-old daughter.
Brian is looking forward to helping Gunnar O’Farrell this race season and seeing him behind the wheel of the U-60.
SAN DIEGO, CA
Rick joined the team in 2012 when his daughter Erin began dating Brian Perkins. Since then, he has been an asset to the team and primarily works on the engines and the setup of the boat. Rick currently owns a 1 liter that Gunnar drove for 3 years.
Rick enjoys spending time with his granddaughter and crewing on his daughter Eily’s drag car. He lives with his wife Dee and owns a Mercedes Benz repair shop in San Diego.
SAN DIEGO, CA
Russ joined the Go Fast Turn Left team in 2009 and his primary responsibility is helping the team with the propellers on race weekends. He will travel to the shop in Maple Valley to help with loading the truck and getting the boat ready for race weekends.
He lives with his wife Lisa and is a general contractor in San Diego.
SHORELINE, WA
Dave’s unlimited hydroplane racing involvement dates back to the early 90’s, crewing on numerous Unlimited hydroplanes teams. He has hands-on experience with most of the current fleet. In 2012 purchased a 1 liter modified inboard hydroplane and created Sweet Lemon Racing.
The experience of operating his boats let Dave utilize his skills in fabrication, repair, and boat setups on the U-60.
Dave lives with his son Lauren.
SHORELINE, WA
Randy began his motorsports career in road racing and working on stock cars. In the early 1990’s, he moved to Unlimited hydroplanes and has now crewed on around 15 different boats over the years. He joined the Go Fast Turn Left team in 2010 when they had the Navy boat and has been working on the computer and data systems ever since.
Randy works at Fluke Co. designing test and measurement systems.
MAPLE VALLEY, WA
Makenna has been going to boat races with her grandfather and dad since she was 7 years old. At the age of 10, her grandfather bought her an outboard and she raced for 5 years.
She lives with boyfriend Brent and their dog Rocky and works at Lakeridge Paving in operations. Outside of racing she loves to be on the lake, traveling or in the mountains.
BUCKLEY, WA
Marina grew up around boat racing. In 2007, her family starting racing in the Unlimited light hydroplanes and has crewed on few different teams in the Unlimited series. At the age of 16, she started racing 1 liters and now races for her family in 2.5 modified. Marina started dating Gunnar O’Farrell in 2019 and joined the U-60 team shortly after.
Marina graduated from Cal Maritime academy in 2021 and enjoys being adventurous outdoors and spending time with family.
NORTH BEND, WA
Brian Perkins has been a part of the Go Fast Turn Left race team since 2009 where he began his Unlimited Hydroplane racing career. After the 2019 season, Brian decided to step aside from his driving duties. He and his wife, Erin, are now busy with their commercial glass company in Seattle as well as keeping up with their two-year-old daughter.
Brian is looking forward to helping Gunnar O’Farrell this race season and seeing him behind the wheel of the U-21.
SAN DIEGO, CA
Rick joined the team in 2012 when his daughter Erin began dating Brian Perkins. Since then, he has been an asset to the team and primarily works on the engines and the setup of the boat. Rick currently owns a 1 liter that Gunnar drove for 3 years.
Rick enjoys spending time with his granddaughter and crewing on his daughter Eily’s drag car. He lives with his wife Dee and owns a Mercedes Benz repair shop in San Diego.
SAN DIEGO, CA
Russ joined the Go Fast Turn Left team in 2009 and his primary responsibility is helping the team with the propellers on race weekends. He will travel to the shop in Maple Valley to help with loading the truck and getting the boat ready for race weekends.
He lives with his wife Lisa and is a general contractor in San Diego.
SHORELINE, WA
Dave’s unlimited hydroplane racing involvement dates back to the early 90’s, crewing on numerous Unlimited hydroplanes teams. He has hands-on experience with most of the current fleet. In 2012 purchased a 1 liter modified inboard hydroplane and created Sweet Lemon Racing.
The experience of operating his boats let Dave utilize his skills in fabrication, repair, and boat setups on the U-21.
Dave lives with his son Lauren.
SHORELINE, WA
Randy began his motorsports career in road racing and working on stock cars. In the early 1990’s, he moved to Unlimited hydroplanes and has now crewed on around 15 different boats over the years. He joined the Go Fast Turn Left team in 2010 when they had the Navy boat and has been working on the computer and data systems ever since.
Randy works at Fluke Co. designing test and measurement systems.
MAPLE VALLEY, WA
Makenna has been going to boat races with her grandfather and dad since she was 7 years old. At the age of 10, her grandfather bought her an outboard and she raced for 5 years.
She lives with boyfriend Brent and their dog Rocky and works at Lakeridge Paving in operations. Outside of racing she loves to be on the lake, traveling or in the mountains.
BUCKLEY, WA
Marina grew up around boat racing. In 2007, her family starting racing in the Unlimited light hydroplanes and has crewed on few different teams in the Unlimited series. At the age of 16, she started racing 1 liters and now races for her family in 2.5 modified. Marina started dating Gunnar O’Farrell in 2019 and joined the U-21 team shortly after.
Marina graduated from Cal Maritime academy in 2021 and enjoys being adventurous outdoors and spending time with family.
The current U-60 was built in 2018 by the Go Fast, Turn Left team and carries hull number 2019-99.9.
