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View Full Version : Madison Regatta 2015 Schedule, ESPN Live Link, Updates



Serious News
06-08-2015, 09:22 PM
The weekend of July 3 – 5 marks the 65th Anniversary of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing in Madison, Indiana and race fans will be here watching up to eleven unlimited hydroplanes vie for the Indiana Governor’s Cup, the first stop on the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series schedule.

Local fans are eagerly awaiting the battles among these thundering 200-mph-plus competitors to cheer on the hometown team (reigning Gold Cup and H1 Unlimited Driver’s and High Points Champion) Jimmy Shane and the U-1 Oberto / Miss Madison go against a strong field of contenders which includes the defending Indiana Governor’s Cup winner in the U-5 Graham Trucking team out of Decatur, Indiana with J. Michael Kelly driving. Will there be a new contender that races to the front of the pack? With so many teams within a couple of mph of each other, you never know who might be lifting the Indiana Governor’s Cup trophy at the end of the weekend. Up to eleven of the world’s fastest race boats are ready to race deck-to-deck along the Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course with qualifying set for Friday, and multiple heats scheduled for Saturday & Sunday leading up to the coveted Indiana Governor’s Cup final heat set for 5:30pm on Sunday, July 5th. Madison is one of four race sites on the 2015 H1 Unlimited calendar.

Testing and Qualifying occur on Friday, July 3rd with the popular “Pole Position” Unlimited Qualifications set between 4:00pm – 5:00pm. Saturday, July 4th brings more testing in the morning, a driver’s autograph session midday, with the first sets of unlimited heat racing starting at 4:00pm with more heat racing all day Sunday, July 5th, leading up to the final heat for the Indiana Governor’s Cup at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). Unlimited Heat Sponsors for this year’s Madison Regatta include Clifty Engineering & Tool Company & Morgan Foods with Official Product Sponsors of the event being Budweiser (Official Beer), Papa John’s Pizza (Official Pizza), Thomas Family Winery (Official Wine & Cider Provider), and Toyota (Official Car).

BRAND NEW to the 2015 race schedule are the Grand Prix West hydroplanes making their debut at the Madison Regatta. You do not want to miss the thundering power of their big block, methanol powered engines that will shake the riverfront! The GPW’s will be testing on Friday, July 3rd with 2 sets of heat action starting at 11:10am Saturday, July 4th with the finals set for 2:40pm on Sunday, July 5th.

A very popular event occurring at night on Saturday, July 4th is the Fireworks Spectacular, co-sponsored by the American Legion Post No. 9, the City of Madison Indiana & the Jefferson County Board of Tourism. The same company that conducts the world famous “Thunder Over Louisville” will be back and one thing is for sure, music will fill your ears this year!

While talking about entertainment, the Music on the River program kicks-off on Wednesday, July 1 – 8:00pm to 11:00pm, and on Thursday, July 2 – 5:00pm to 12:00am. Music continues Friday, July 3 – 5:00pm to 12:00am and also on Saturday, July 4 – 5:00pm to 12:00am. The City Stage at Fireman’s Park will be the staging place for all of the music programs. Co-Sponsors of the Music on the River program include Arvin Sango, Big O Tires & Northside Liquors.

The Music on the River program for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday require a Madison Regatta admission wristband or a $5.00 limited-edition, collectible race boat button that can be bought at the gate. Each night includes a different collectible button used for admission. Saturday night activities are free of charge.

More activities during Regatta Weekend include the River Valley Financial Bank Madison Regatta Parade, two days of air shows by aerobatic pilot Brett Hunter sponsored by Grote Industries with a twilight air show Saturday evening before the fireworks, the driver’s autograph sessions on Saturday & Sunday, food and commercial vendors, and much more! Some notable vendor displays will be the Oberto Beef Jerky, Toyota, and the Papa John’s Pizza Mobile Kitchen.

Admission Wristbands to the Madison Regatta are $25.00 each and can be purchased by calling the Regatta office at 812-274-0400, visiting www.madisonregatta.com (click on Race Passes), or at any one of the Entrance Gates during the event. An admission wristband is required for daytime access to Vaughn Drive and the riverfront from 6 a.m. Friday, July 3 until after the final race on Sunday, July 5. Children 10 and under are free. Special seating for viewing the 2015 Madison Regatta includes a VIP Tent area, Hospitality Tent area, Tarp Space areas, and RV Parking to name a few. Pit Tours, sponsored by Comfort Inn of Madison, will be conducted on Friday and Saturday, while Cold Pit Passes can be bought for $20.00. Collector edition 65th Anniversary Madison Regatta race programs will be available at $6.00 to keep as a souvenir and make sure to get your Official Madison Regatta Merchandise located in front of the Regatta Office all weekend long.

For more information on the activities, race and event schedules, sponsors, merchandise, pricing and ticket information, and much more, call the Regatta office at 812-274-0400 or visit www.madisonregatta.com.

2015 Indiana Governor’s Cup
Madison Regatta Race Schedule
All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
*Times subject to change

FRIDAY, JULY 3RD
8:00am River Closes / Race Course Setup / Finalize Pit And Course Setup
9:30am Driver’s Meeting
9:30am Safety & Rescue meeting / Divers walk-thru
10:00am – 4:00pm Comfort Inn Pit Tours
10:30am – 10:40am Opening Ceremonies
10:45am – 12:00pm Grand Prix West Testing
12:00pm – 1:00pm River Opens
1:00pm River Closes
1:00pm – 3:00pm Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Only, No Qualifications
3:20pm – 4:00pm Grand Prix West Testing
4:00pm – 5:00pm “Pole Position” Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifications
5:15pm River Opens
5:30pm H&M Bay Inc. & Steinhardt Heating & Air Conditioning and
Family present the Fastest Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifier Award
5:00pm – 12:00am Music on the River, co-sponsored by Arvin Sango & Big O Tires at
Fireman's Park on the Riverfront (See Event Schedule for list of
bands)
7:00pm River Valley Financial Bank Madison Regatta Parade on Main St.
*Note for Friday, July 3rd: Daytime access to the Madison Regatta is a Regatta admission wristband. For Friday’s Music on the River event: Friday’s special $5.00 vintage button sold
at the gates or a Regatta admission wristband is required. The Parade is free to enjoy.

SATURDAY, JULY 4TH
7:00am River Closes / Race Course Setup / Finalize Course Setup
8:00am – 9:00am Driver’s Meeting
9:00am – 4:00pm Comfort Inn Pit Tours
9:00am – 10:15am Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:30am – 10:45am Opening Ceremonies
10:45am – 11:00am Grote Industries Air Show w/ aerobatic pilot Brett Hunter
11:10am – 12:00pm Grand Prix West Heat 1
12:00pm – 1:00pm River Opens
12:15pm – 1:00pm Driver’s Autograph Session #1
1:00pm River Closes
1:30pm – 2:30pm Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
2:45pm – 3:15pm Grand Prix West Heat 2
4:00pm – 4:20pm Clifty Engineering & Tool Company Unlimited Heat 1A
4:30pm – 4:50pm Morgan Foods Unlimited Heat 1B
5:00pm – 5:20pm Unlimited Heat 1C
5:30pm River Opens
5:40pm Awards Ceremony at Judge’s Stand for Unlimited Heat Winners
5:00pm – 12:00am Music on the River, co-sponsored by Arvin Sango & Big O Tires at
Fireman's Park on the Riverfront (See Event Schedule for list of
bands)
8:00pm River Closes for Air Show & Fireworks
8:30pm Grote Industries Twilight Air Show w/ aerobatic pilot Brett Hunter
Approx 10:00pm Fireworks Spectacular, Co-Sponsored by American Legion Post #9,
the City of Madison Indiana & Jefferson County Board of Tourism
*Note for Saturday, July 4th: Daytime access to the Madison Regatta is a Regatta admission
wristband. Saturday night’s Music on the River event (after Heat 1C has concluded), Twilight Air Show and Fireworks are free to enjoy.
**River Opens Following Conclusion of Fireworks Display

SUNDAY, JULY 5TH
8:00am River Closes / Race Course Setup / Finalize Setup
8:00am Drivers Physical
8:30am Safety & Rescue Meeting / Divers walk-thru
9:00am – 9:30am Chapel Services
9:00am – 10:00am Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:20am – 10:40am Opening Ceremonies
11:00am – 11:20am Grote Industries Air Show w/ aerobatic pilot Brett Hunter
11:30am – 12:30pm River Opens
11:45am – 12:30pm Driver’s Autograph Session #2
12:30pm River Closes
12:40pm – 1:00pm Grand Prix West Testing
1:10pm – 1:30pm American Legion Post #9 Unlimited Heat 2A
1:40pm – 2:00pm Budweiser Unlimited Heat 2B
2:10pm – 2:30pm Unlimited Heat 2C
2:35pm Awards Ceremony at Judge’s Stand for Heat Winners
2:40pm – 3:20pm Grand Prix West Finals
3:30pm – 3:50pm Mary Heitz Memorial Unlimited Heat 3A
4:00pm – 4:20pm Active Military & Veterans Unlimited Heat 3B
4:30pm – 4:50pm Unlimited Heat 3C
4:55pm Awards Ceremony at Judge’s Stand for Heat Winners
5:00pm – 5:20pm Grote Industries Air Show w/ aerobatic pilot Brett Hunter
5:30pm The Indiana Governor’s Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Race
5:45pm River Opens
6:15pm Indiana Governor’s Cup Awards Presentation at the Judge’s Stand
*Note for Sunday, July 5th: Daytime access to the Madison Regatta is a Regatta admission wristband.

Serious News
06-13-2015, 10:49 AM
Regatta air show flies into paperwork snafu
David Campbell, Courier Staff Writer

A mainstay of Madison Regatta weekend, the air show, appears to be in doubt, the organization announced at its weekly general membership meeting on Wednesday.

The problem cropped up when it was discovered, due to a miscommunication, that the proper forms for the air show had not been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration or Homeland Security. Those forms are supposed to be submitted 90 days in advance of the event and were not filed until Monday.

Matt True, who handled the forms for the Regatta in years past but has taken a step back this year, stepped up last week in an attempt to solve the issue. He has talked with government officials and believes that the event will happen.

“Right now the air show is, well, it’s up in the air,” True told the membership. “We’ve submitted the forms and they seem willing to work with us. But we just have to wait and see.”

Brett Hunter, a stunt pilot from the Cincinnati area, has brought his acrobatic show to the Regatta each of the last several years. According to True, he is still committed to perform at Madison this year.

Another major issue that still needs to be resolved is the lack of contestants for all three of its youth pageants, which will kick off the Madison Regatta Festival on Saturday, June 27.

Pageant chairperson Kim True said that the Little Miss, Miss Preteen and Miss Teen pageants each need contestants. As a result, the application deadline has been put back and the Regatta is waiving the late fee.

Applications for the three events will be accepted until Saturday, June 20. Applications can be obtained at the Regatta office on Vaughn Drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily or on the website, www.madisonregatta.com.

Other than the air show and youth pageants, few other problems were reported by Regatta members as they prepare for the 66th annual event.

“We’re three weeks out and everything seems ready to go,” Madison Regatta President Jeff Chandler said. “Any headaches, like the air show, need to be dealt with quickly and we’ll get that solved. And we’ll keep on keepin’ on.”

In other business:

• A new area for RV and camping has been opened up along the Ohio River by the Regatta. Those spots are available on Vaughn Drive and south of Vaughn and are available by calling the Regatta at (812) 274-0400.

• The Madison Regatta held its annual officer elections last week for next year’s race.

Dan Cole was elected vice-president and will serve under president Joe Hertz for the 2016 race. Cole will then serve as president for the 2017 event.

Chandler, the current president, was elected treasurer, a position he held for several years prior to his selection as vice-president. Brevin Gaw was elected as race chairman and Mike Stucker as assistant race chairman. Carolyn Fischer (secretary) and Kim Washer (festival chair) were re-elected to their current positions.

In addition, four new members of the board of directors were elected to serve four-year terms: Beth Campbell, Michael Heitz, Ricky Highman and Tommy Lowry.

• The Regatta is still taking applications for event staff. Those applications can be picked up at the Regatta office on Vaughn Drive.

• The next Madison Regatta general membership meeting will be held next Wednesday at the VFW Post 1969 at 7 p.m.

Serious News
06-27-2015, 12:14 AM
The quaint city of Madison, Ind., a town of a little more than 12,000 people, will once again welcome over 40,000 people to town for the 2015 Madison Regatta from July 3 thru July 5.

What many of those 40,000 regatta attendees might not recognize is that the event is possible due to the efforts of an entirely unpaid staff of volunteers. From the admissions gates to the entertainment on the riverfront to the cranes to the very fuel powering the Unlimited Hydroplanes happens because a hardworking volunteer of Madison Regatta, Inc. This organization works solely for the love of their community and the sport of hydroplane racing. The volunteers show the wide appeal of hydroplane racing and give a glimpse into the traditional hometown feel of the Madison race.

The current run of Madison Regattas began in 1949, and the volunteers of Madison Regatta, Inc. have been there from the beginning. The first few races were exhibitions that would have one or two Unlimited Hydroplanes and a fleet of smaller boats, but the race soon grew up in a big way. In 1954 Phil Cole, The Madison Courier sports editor along with the legendary Bill Cantrell, driver and team manager for Joe Schoenith’s Gale Enterprises team, invited Schoenith to bring two of his Gale boats to run a few exhibition laps on the Ohio River. Unbeknownst to Schoenith, however, was that two more Unlimited boats, the My Sweetie Dora, and the Miss Cadillac, were also in town and planned to take part as well. The trick concocted by Phil Cole and Bill Cantrell meant that the exhibition was now a full-fledged APBA Unlimited points race, as there were enough hydroplanes starting the race to make the event official. Every year since 1954, with the exception of 2013 when the high water forced the cancellation of the event, the small town on the Ohio River has hosted the “big leagues” of hydroplane racing.

This incredible run of events, however, wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers behind it. In the early years of the Regatta, volunteers would pass around a bucket to fans along the riverfront to make contributions to cover the event’s expenses. As expenses increased, so did the need to charge admission. As the Regatta became the marquee event for Madison, soon there was the desire to create events outside of the boat race. The early success of the Unlimited Hydroplane races led to the weeklong festival of events that takes place today. The festival now includes a fireworks show, a Friday night parade, a bed race, an RC model hydroplane regatta, with more events being added. Today, nearly 40 volunteers ensure that all of this runs smoothly.

Sitting down and talking with a few of these Regatta volunteers, the passion for the Regatta and hydroplane racing has developed into largely a family affair. Many current volunteers also had parents and in some cases grandparents who were or still are volunteers of the Madison Regatta. Some of them come simply to be involved, but the passion among all members is clear.

With so much passion and tradition among the volunteers, it is no surprise that many cherished memories have been collected along the way. Some are not surprising, such as the hometown and community owned Miss Madison winning the Gold Cup in 1971 and following it up with hometown wins in 2001, 2010, and 2011.

John Knoble, who is a four-time Madison Regatta President and volunteer since 1967, shared a rather amusing story in which in one year he was assisting the late Wilbur ‘Wib’ Heitz with the old starting clock. Knoble was standing in front of the clock when the cannon malfunctioned and went off in his face. He was rushed to the hospital but was able to make a quick recovery, and the story became legendary among members of the Regatta. For his contributions to the Regatta and the community, John Knoble was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1988, an honorary award given to people in the state of Indiana, by then-Indiana Governor Robert Orr.

A current Madison Regatta takes a form similar to that of a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Reports are read; motions are discussed and voted on, board members are elected, etc. It’s at these meetings that one truly gains an appreciation for how much work it takes to stage such a large event. Volunteers come from all walks of life, but all share a similar passion for putting on the best show possible.

There are high hopes for another successful regatta in 2015. The volunteers and fans are eager for the return of big block of the Grand Prix boats. The 12′ wide, 24′ long hull, 1300+ HP powered by big-block automotive engines with a top speed of 170 MPH will be racing in Madison for the first time in more than 30 years. There was an expressed need for a “second show” on the water, and it seems that the Grand Prix boats are more than capable of filling that role.

There are also hopes for further expansion of the Regatta and a desire to draw more volunteers. Incoming Madison Regatta president Dan Cole mentioned a desire to draw millennials to the Regatta and the sport as a whole. Brent Thacker, a third generation volunteer who helps organize the Regatta music festival, says the Regatta needs “new blood” and hopes to see more people volunteer.

Working as a volunteer with the Madison Regatta and the H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes is highly infectious. The volunteers enjoy the camaraderie, and the new volunteers will help keep this great Madison, Ind. tradition alive for the next 60-years.

To become a Madison Regatta volunteer, call 812-274-0400 or email the organization at info@madisonregatta.com.

Story by Aaron Lynch


June 23rd, 2015

http://www.h1unlimited.com/2015/06/volunteers-power-the-madison-regatta/

Serious News
06-27-2015, 11:37 PM
MADISON, Ind. —Madison Regatta fans will be able to camp along the Ohio River for the first time in decades during next month's hydroplane races.

Regatta organizers say campsites will be available on both sides of the Madison-Milton Bridge during the July 3-5 races.

The Madison Courier reports that organizers expect the 60 riverside spots costing $100 each to go quickly in the city about 40 miles northeast of Louisville.

Madison Regatta Treasurer Crystal McHargue says fans will have a chance from the campsites for up-close looks as the boats go by.

This season's race course has been extended to 2.5 miles and will run beneath the bridge, with the camping area situated as the boats begin their run down the front stretch.

http://www.wlky.com/news/Camping-returning-to-Madison-Regatta-for-1st-time-in-decades/33711232

Serious News
06-29-2015, 01:16 AM
Regatta officials watching Ohio River closely; taking steps to avoid a repeat of 2013 washout

Madison Regatta officials are closely monitoring the Ohio River this week, which is once again threatening the annual event.



The river was measured at a depth of 26.9 feet as of 8:45 p.m. Thursday at Markland Dam — roughly 27 miles upriver of Madison. The National Weather Service’s Hydrologic Projection Service forecasts that the river will drop another foot by this morning before making a steady climb to 33.7 feet by Tuesday evening.

The depth at Madison can be no more than 29 feet in order to provide enough room in the pit area for boats, trailers, equipment and rescue personnel. Any more than that and the Regatta simply can’t happen.

Regatta President Jeff Chandler said that he and his staff are in constant contact with Markland Dam and are confident that the river will drop quickly enough to allow for racing next weekend.

“It’s a wait and see right now. We’re still eight days out and if you noticed that when it last came up this week, within 24 hours it went down about six feet,” Chandler said Thursday afternoon at the Regatta office on Vaughn Drive. “We’re going to get a bubble, we’re going to get a rise over the weekend and hopefully it’ll start going back down.”

The Ohio River rose high enough to cancel the event two years ago, eventually flooding over the entire pit area. It was the first time high water had ever canceled the event, and just the third time in the past 43 years that high water forced a change in the schedule. The 1972 race was moved to mid-week due to high water and the 1998 event was run on Labor Day weekend.

The question right now is how high will the river get, when will it crest and how fast will it drop. The river typically drops two to three feet a day once it crests meaning that an early crest will give the Regatta more time to adjust.

Crystal McHargue, a former Regatta president and current treasurer and office manager for the organization, has been in contact with Markland on a daily basis and said that the she has been told that the computer models are not exactly accurate in this case.

“Markland told me that it is impossible to forecast the river further than three days out, so even though the computer says it will be nearly 34 feet on Tuesday it’s hard to tell beyond Saturday what it will actually do,” McHargue said. “Markland thinks the river will crest on Monday and they have been told by dams further up the river that some are thinking a Sunday crest. If it crests on Monday we’ll have no problems.”

Because of the issues from two years ago, Chandler said that the Regatta has a contingency plan in place in case high water threatens the event again. A staging area is being set up in the parking lot at the foot of Jefferson Street in order to store all equipment that is needed in the pits. The Regatta has also secured more personnel than usual to help with setup.

“We’re going to have all of our equipment down at Jefferson and as soon as the river drops, we’ll rush down there and start setting up,” Chandler said. “With the added people, once we start setting up we should be able to get it all done in one day, maybe even half-a-day.”

At 29 feet, there would not be enough room in the pits for the race team’s trucks. As a result, contingency plans are already being made to park those trucks on Vaughn Drive behind the Judges Stand if necessary.

“It’s something that we talked about two years ago and we’re prepared to do that if we need to,” Chandler said of parking the trucks on Vaughn. “It actually might work out pretty well that way. The fans really got a kick out of it the last time we did it.”

Chandler also said that the Regatta is prepared to cancel testing and qualifying on Friday in order to set up the pits if needed. In that scenario, the Regatta will revert to a two-day event like a year ago.

With all of those plans in place, all Regatta officials can do now is wait and see if the “bubble” passes quickly and allows for normal racing plans or if the race will have to be called for a second time in three years. Chandler said that it is just one of the hazards of running a race on the river.

“The last few years have been up and a down. Last year was a really good year, the year before we got rained out and the year before it was hotter than all get-out,” Chandler said. “You can’t plan for a tropical storm and you can’t plan for the rain like we had this morning.

“You’re not going to tame the river and you never will. It’s an outdoor event and it comes and goes with what happens with Mother Nature. You can’t control it.”

http://madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Regatta-officials-watching-Ohio-River-closely-taking-steps-to-avoid-a-repeat-of-2013-washout/185/974/91206

Serious News
07-01-2015, 10:07 PM
Crest Expected Today?
High water could cost Regatta Friday, but weekend looking good for racing

Wednesday, July 01, 2015 3:03 PM

“The projections have it cresting tomorrow and then a substantial drop after that. The worst case scenario is that it may affect some of the racing on Friday, but other than that, if we get everything set, Saturday and Sunday is definitely a go.” Madison Regatta President Jeff Chandler

Recent heavy rain has the Ohio River on the rise once again, but Madison Regatta officials are confident there will be a race this weekend.

Regatta President Jeff Chandler said on Tuesday that high water may force cancellation of any on-water activity Friday, but the forecast looks good for Saturday and Sunday.

“The projections have it cresting tomorrow and then a substantial drop after that,” said Chandler from the Regatta office along the Ohio River as heavy rain and hail pelted downtown Madison. “The worst case scenario is that it may affect some of the racing on Friday, but other than that, if we get everything set, Saturday and Sunday is definitely a go.”

The heavy storms that hit the Ohio River valley on Tuesday caused a steep rise in the river, which was at 33.92 feet as of 9:45 p.m. Monday night. Projections from the National Weather Service have the river cresting at 34 feet this afternoon with a steep drop thereafter.

But those models had not yet taken into account the quick rise so the crest could now be higher. How much higher and when the crest will take place should be better known today.

Barring a crest later in the week, racing on Saturday and Sunday should not be affected. Once the Ohio River begins to recede, the drop should come quickly and the NWS projects the river to be at 25 feet by Saturday morning.

Regatta officials have long said that 29 feet is the highest the river can reach and still leave enough room in the pit area for boats, cranes and other equipment. Chandler said he expects the river to be well below that.

“Talking to Markland (Dam), they have told us that it could be in the mid- to low-20s this weekend,” Chandler said of the depth. “To me, 20 to 22 feet is perfect but I’ll take anything from 25 feet on down.”

Because of the slope of the shoreline, one and one-half feet of water depth is equivalent to about three extra feet of space in the pit area. That means a drop of five feet adds nearly 10 feet of space in the pits.

In a normal year, the Regatta would have already started setup of the pit area with installation of docks and the risers for the cranes. All of that equipment was in the pits on Monday and crews were just waiting for the drop to take place so they can begin setting up.

“As soon as the river gets low enough, we’ll be in there setting up,” Chandler said. “(Pit chairman) Mike Stucker and his group do a great job and they’ll have those pits ready quickly. I’d say with as many people as we have working on it, we might be able to do it in as few as six hours.”

Chandler said that when the docks are set, they will be placed according to where the drop is expected to go and not at the current water level.

“They may be in the water for a day but when the river drops, they’ll be right where they’re supposed to be,” Chandler said.

The first testing session on Friday is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. with the Unlimiteds and Grand Prix West series taking turns on the water throughout the day. The first set of Unlimited racing is not scheduled until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

http://www.madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Crest-Expected-Today-/185/974/91305

Serious News
07-02-2015, 08:04 PM
Bridge back for Madison Regatta

With the completion of the new Milton-Madison Bridge in the fall, the 65th annual Madison Regatta will return to its former picturesque and iconic scene of racing under the bridge and its former 2.5-mile distance – and plenty of people are thrilled about it.

During construction, the race was shortened to 1.6 miles, causing sharper and more dangerous turns on the Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course. Due to safety concerns, the hydroplane boats weren't allowed to race under the bridge.

"These boats are so big," said Joe Hertz, media chairman for the event. "With the 1 2/3-mile course, the race was very tough."

With the tighter course, wrecks on the course became more prevalent.

In 2011 on the third lap of a heat race, two boats – driven by Steve David and Dave Villwock – collided, prematurely ending final-day racing.

David, who has retired as a driver, now is the commissioner of H1 Unlimited Hyrdoplanes.

With the longer course, David said the boats will be able to go faster and safer. He said the average speeds should be in the 160s.

"By not having the turns so tight, it's just going to be a lot faster," he said. "You were running into those turns so quickly and then hitting your own wake."

• High waters: Because of high waters passing along the Ohio River near Madison, the Regatta has canceled H1 Unlimited and Grand Prix West Hydroplane qualifications for Friday. The rest of the race schedule is unchanged, according to race officials.

"We are most concerned about our race fans who, in many cases, are traveling great distances without the benefit of up-to-date information regarding our schedule," said Jeff Chandler, Madison Regatta president.

Joe Hertz, media chairman of the Madison Regatta, said there wasn't time to set up the pits for Friday's qualifications. He said the pits, including large cranes to lift the boats in and out of the water, should be in place Saturday morning.

Back in 2013, the entire race schedule was canceled because of extremely high water in Madison. It was the first complete cancellation in the race's 63-year history. In 1998, the race was moved to the fall because of high water in the spring.

• This year's schedule: This year's heat racing will begin Saturday at 11:10 a.m. with the Grand Prix West Hydroplanes. The H1 Unlimited Hyrdoplane heats will begin at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, heat will racing will begin at 1:10 p.m. The Grand Prix West finals at be at 2:40 p.m. The Indiana Governor's Cup H1 Unlimited Hydroplane race will be at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday's finals will be available live on ESPN3.

• Admission: General admission wristbands are $25; cold pit passes, $20; VIP passes, $160; VIP passes for children, $60; primitive camping, $100. For the first time in years, camping is returning to the Regatta.

For additional information, visit madisonregatta.com or call (812) 274-0400.

• Grand Prix West debuts: Joining the Unlimited Hyrdoplanes, the methanol-powered Grand Prix West hydroplanes will make their first stop in Madison.

"These boats will bring a ton of noise to Madison," David said.

In all, nine Grand Prix West boats will be coming to Madision from Washington and Idaho.

"Madison is such a strong magnet for them to come that far," David said. "It's legendary here. Madison is our Talladega."

• Miss Madison: The Oberto Sausage Company, sponsor of the Miss Madison boat for the last 15 years, announced it will sponsor the boat just one more season. During its association with Oberto, Miss Madison won 17 races and five national points titles. After 40 years as sponsor with hydroplanes, Oberto is refocusing its brand.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2015/07/02/milton-madison-bridge-bridge-back-for-madison-regatta/29634935/

Serious News
07-03-2015, 08:01 PM
Regatta springs into action as Ohio River begins to fall
‘We’re Going Racing’
David Campbell, Courier Staff Writer

The Ohio River water level is going down and all things appear to be falling into place for the 65th running of the Indiana Governor’s Cup this weekend in Madison.

High water canceled all on-water activity scheduled for today and shifted some of today’s events into tomorrow’s program but race officials are confident that boats will be on the water by Saturday afternoon.

“I’ve said all along that if that ramp is clear, we can go racing,” H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David said on Thursday, referring to the West Street ramp into the pits. “It looks clear to me. We’ll put boats up the ramp and on Vaughn Drive if we have to. We’re going racing.”

The latest river forecast from the National Weather Service had the river level at 32.34 feet at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, a drop of more than two feet since the crest on Wednesday afternoon. While the river was rising slightly as of Thursday night, it was still projected to drop to 29 feet by Saturday morning and 25 feet by Sunday morning.

There was enough space in the pits on Thursday that crews had room to begin the setup process. Risers used to level the crane positions were put into place — albiet underneath the water — and docks were assembled ready to be floated into place.

Once the river drops a few more feet, Regatta crews will finish the setup process and are hopeful of placing boats in the pit area this afternoon. A depth of 29 feet has long been considered the “magic number” for allowing enough room in the pits for boats, safety equipment and an eight-foot fire and emergency lane.

As of Thursday night, Saturday’s race schedule had not yet been altered. The first testing session is scheduled for 9 a.m. with the Grand Prix West running its first competition heat at 11:10 a.m. but those are likely to change. Unlimited Heat 1A is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.

Once racing does begin, fans should be treated to some of the closest competition the sport has seen in recent years. Local favorite Jimmy Shane won both the APBA Gold Cup and the National High Points Championship last season in his first season aboard the U-1 Oberto/Miss Madison, but J. Michael Kelly won four of the six races last season, including the Governor’s Cup at Madison at the wheel of the U-5 Graham Trucking.

Shane, along with sponsor Art Oberto, were honored Thursday night in a celebration at The Boneyard Grill with Shane being presented a commemorative Gold Cup championship ring by teammate Jimmy Gilbert on behalf of Miss Madison Racing.

“This is literally a childhood dream come true,” Shane said. “I never imagined as a kid that I would win the Gold Cup and I never thought it would be driving the Miss Madison. I love driving for this town and I can’t imagine driving for anybody else.”

Shane’s debut aboard the Miss M at Madison in 2014 was almost a perfect story. After posting the fastest speed in qualifying he won all three preliminary heats in dominating fashion and was in perfect position to win the final until he jumped the starting gun with Kelly cruising to the win.

“It’s disappointing to the fans and the team,” Shane said. “This race means so much to the community. I got a little ahead of myself on the start. I should’ve feathered it a little bit.

“We won the high point championship, the Gold Cup and another race in ’14, but to win the Madison Regatta with the hometown fans watching would be a special day for our team and the community of Madison, Ind.”

This season marks Shane’s fourth as a full-time driver and he is already off to an historic start. His eight career wins are currently 20th all-time and the third by any driver since 2000 behind only Dave Villwock (38) and Steve David (15). He leads all active drivers in wins, winning percentage (.320), podium percentage (.560), heat wins (47) and heat winning percentage (.480).

Kelly had a breakout campaign in his return to owner Ted Porter’s team. The longest-tenured driver on the circuit, Kelly has five career wins and is well-poised to win his first national championship. He is the only active driver to have won at Madison.

Shane and Kelly are not the only drivers who could have big weekends. Jean Theoret marks his first return to Madison since his horrific 2009 crash and will steer the much improved U-96 Miss Elam Plus into action.

Theoret, who has six wins on his resume including the 2006 Gold Cup, was away from the sport for five years before subbing for the injured Kip Brown aboard the U-96 late last season. He will be the primary driver this year.

Scott Liddycoat takes over the helm of the U-9 Team RedDot from the retired Jon Zimmerman and is poised for his own breakout season. Zimmerman steered the RedDot to three runner-up finishes last season.

Madison’s Bill Cantrell Race Course returns to 2.5 miles this year, making it one of the more unusual courses on the circuit. The course features not only the tightest two corners in the sport, but the longest straightaways as well.

“The tight turns, the really long straightaways, that’s setting the Oberto boat up for a really good weekend,” Shane said. “We have a lot of straightaway speed, the boat is really fast and takes corners very well. I think we’re going to be putting ourselves in a very good position with the setup for the race. I think this will be a really good start to the season for the Miss Madison Racing Team.”


A list of Unlimited hydroplanes, drivers, owners and hometowns expected to compete in the H1 Unlimited Series season opening Madison Regatta.

No., Boat, Driver, Hometown, Owner, Hometown

U-1, Oberto/Miss Madison, Jimmy Shane, Covington, Wash., City of Madison, Ind.
U-5, Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly, Bonney Lake, Wash., Ted Porter, Decatur, Ind.
U-7, Graham Trucking II, Jessie Robertson, West Seattle, Wash., Ted Porter, Decatur, Ind.
U-9, Team RedDot, Scott Liddycoat, Suffolk, Virg., Mike & Lori Jones, Seattle, Wash.
U-11, Peters & May, Tom Thompson, Cambridge, Md., Scott & Shannon Raney, Edmonds, Wash.
U-12, Miss DiJulio, Patrick Sankuer Jr., New Baltimore, Mich., Jay Leckrone & Denise Garl, Burien, Wash.
U-18, Bucket List Racing, Kelly Stocklin, Edmonds, Wash., Kelly Stocklin, Edmonds, Wash.
U-22, Webster Racing, Mike Webster, Reading, Pa., Steve & Sue Webster, Reading, Pa.
U-27, Dalton Industries, Cal Phipps, Sterling Heights, Mich., Milt & Charley Wiggins, Gadsden, Ala.
U-96, Ellstrom Elam Plus, Jean Theoretm Maple Grove, Que., Erick Ellstrom, Ballard, Wash.
U-100, Leland Unlimited, Kevin Eacrett, Snohomish, Wash., Stacy Briseno, Woodinville, Wash.

http://www.madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Regatta-springs-into-action-as-Ohio-River-begins-to-fall/185/974/91369

Serious News
07-05-2015, 09:10 AM
Jerry Hopp wins Grand Prix West final as Madison Regatta shifts all H1 Unlimited action to Sunday
David Campbell, Courier Staff Writer

A long day on the river paid off in a big way for Jerry Hopp, who claimed the Grand Prix West event at the Madison Regatta on Saturday.

Hopp drove his GP-15 Super Shine Auto Detailing to a dominating win in the final heat, taking the lead on lap one when Dustin Echols’ GP-55 FatBoyz went dead at the entrance of turn two. Hopp blew by the stricken FatBoyz and never looked back.

“This is really great,” said Hopp. “I really like the town of Madison. I spent two months here filming the movie and had raced here with the Unlimiteds since 1984. It’s a great place to come back to and a great place to win a race.”

Hopp, 67, needed to only hold off his son, Greg, whose GP-12 Dan Cole Sells Cars recovered from a broken propeller in an earlier heat to start the final from the trailing position. The younger Hopp worked his way through the field and ended up finishing second.

“I’m thrilled. The crew really worked hard to get this boat back together,” Greg Hopp said. “I don’t like losing but if I have to lose, it might as well be to my dad.”

The Grand Prix West series ended up staging three heats of racing on the day, an almost Herculean effort considering the circumstances. High water did not allow the pits to be set until mid-morning and H1 Unlimited and Madison Regatta officials made the decision to set just the GPW boats Saturday and hold all H1 action until Sunday.

The GPW boats finally made it onto the water around 2 p.m. but the drivers quickly ran into debris problems. One boat sustained a cracked sponson and a chip in its skid fin before officials decided to delay racing for another four hours to allow the debris to clear.

The water cleared enough for the GPWs to run two more heats, but debris still caused damage to two other boats.

“This Ohio River is super difficult. This was the first time I’ve been on it and it was everything I had heard it was and more,” said third-place finisher Rob Holt, driver of the GP-74 Riverboat Inn. “Obviously there was some debris out in the water. I was actually out on the boat after the first heat and we just had to do whatever we can to put on a good show for the city of Madison. This was just great. The parade was the most amazing thing I’ve ever been apart of. We did everything we could.”

After two weeks of watching river forecasts, Regatta officials were just happy to get a chance to put some racing action on the water. Now, the plan is to have a full day of H1 Unlimited action on Sunday ending with the Indiana Governor’s Cup.

The GPW boats will be pulled out of the pits Saturday night with the H1 boats moving in Sunday morning starting at 6 a.m. The first test session is scheduled for 8 a.m. with the first heat of racing at 11 a.m.

“We’re going to do everything we can to put on a great show for you tomorrow,” H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David told the fans. “If everything works out, it’ll be a great day.”

http://www.madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Jerry-Hopp-wins-Grand-Prix-West-final-as-Madison-Regatta-shifts-all-H1-Unlimited-action-to-Sunday-/18/289/91404

Serious News
07-05-2015, 09:12 AM
Floating debris slows competition on day one of Madison Regatta

MADISON, Ind. – The Madison Regatta, as per usual, is at the mercy of Mother Nature, whether it be heavy rain and flooding or simply debris floating down the Ohio River.

Natural conditions again are wreaking havoc in the event in the 65th year of its existence.

Two years ago with rain and high waters, the entire race schedule was canceled for the first time in the Regatta's history.

This time around, the H1 Unlimited boats — the main attraction — all will race on Sunday.

On Saturday, officials hoped to get a full slate of racing from the Grand Prix West automotive-powered boats.

The Grand Prix West boats, most coming from the Seattle, Washington area, were making their first appearance in Madison.

In the first Grand Prix West heat race, the GP-3 Grant Racing boat incurred some body damage, due to floating debris on the Kentucky side of the river. The first heat was won by G-15 Hopp Racing, driven by Jerry Hopp.

Because of the floating debris — coming north from the Kentucky River tributary near Carrollton — there was a four-hour intermission between the first and second heat races.

The boats finally got back on the river as officials moved the course closer to the Indiana banks, away from the debris.

In the second heat race, all three drivers — Rob Hall, Jerry Hopp and Dave Warren — were disqualified after driving outside of the designated course.

In the finals, Hopp battled the conditions and outlasted Greg Hopp, his son, for top honors. Hall finished third.

Jerry Hopp said racing on the Ohio River is always rough.

"(The debris) got a lot better (after the delay)," he said. "It really cleaned up for us. But turn one is always rough on this river."

Regatta officials believe all of the floating debris should be clear of Madison by Sunday morning.

•Sunday's slate

Due to logistics and limited space in the pits, all H1 Unlimited racing was moved to Sunday.

The full day of H1 Unlimited racing could be interesting since four of the 11 drivers have never been on the Ohio River — Jesse Robertson (U-7), Patrick Sankuer (U-12), Kelly Stocklin (U-18) and Kevin Eacret (U-100).

Jimmy Shane, who drives Oberto Miss Madison, said it will make for an exciting final day of racing.

"We're all here and we're all ready to go," Shane said. "If we cram everything into tomorrow (Sunday), it's going to be a great racing weekend for the fans. It will be action-packed because we'll run four heats tomorrow. It will be a busy, busy day."

Shane and Miss Madison won the the H1 Unlimited points race last year but didn't win the Madison Regatta a year ago after jumping the start of the race in the finals.

"This is the biggest race for our team," Shane said. "Last year, we came so close — within 18 inches after jumping the gun. We're going to put ourselves in the best position for the finals and bring it home for all the fans."

Sunday's revised scheduled will include three sets of heat races, beginning at 11 a.m. The Indiana Governor's Cup final is set for 6:30 p.m.

Sunday's races will be available on ESPN3.com.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2015/07/04/floating-debris-slows-competition-day-one-madison-regatta/29721171/

Serious News
07-05-2015, 10:17 AM
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/channel/espn3#type/upcoming/league/H1+Unlimited/sport/hydroplane+racing/

11:00 AM Today

Serious News
07-05-2015, 10:27 AM
From the pits Saturday!! They were having to change props while standing in the water with the boats on the trailers!!

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Misc%20and%20Personal%20Boats/IMG_01401.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/ptrose/media/Misc%20and%20Personal%20Boats/IMG_01401.jpg.html)

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Misc%20and%20Personal%20Boats/IMG_01411.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/ptrose/media/Misc%20and%20Personal%20Boats/IMG_01411.jpg.html)

Serious News
07-05-2015, 01:59 PM
Looks like 4 boats have agreed to race in Unlimited, starting soon. The rest have withdrawn because of the debris in the river from the high water.

Serious News
07-07-2015, 11:56 PM
Regatta fought the river and the fans won
David Campbell, Courier Sportswriter

Tuesday, July 07, 2015 3:01 PM

Not this time.

For the second time in three years, Madison Regatta officials went to war against the Ohio River for control of the Wild Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course. Two years ago, rising water forced a cancellation of the event for the first time in its 65-year history.

With its collective backs against the wall this year, the Regatta put forth an exhausting effort to fit boats like a jigsaw puzzle into a small pit area and sweep debris from the river well enough to put on a race.

More than half of the teams wanted no part in racing under such adverse conditions and only five boats were willing to brave the debris-laden river. But in the end, three Grand Prix West heats were contested on Saturday and five Unlimited heats were run on Sunday and that was a win as far as Madison Regatta officials were concerned.

“It was a long weekend and we pulled it off but I tell you one thing, we have one hell of a pit crew,” Madison Regatta President Jeff Chandler said after the race. “They worked their butts off to get the pits ready and they’re still working their butts off to get boats out of here. They’re the hardest working people down there and they got everything done that we needed done.”

Regatta officials knew a week ago that they would be in for a long race weekend, and the Ohio River gave them very little leeway.

While the river did indeed drop to 29 feet by Saturday, it didn’t get any lower thanks to heavy rains throughout Kentucky. The result was a narrow band of boat ramp for use as a pit area.

The decision was made by the Regatta and H1 Unlimited to scrap the Unlimited racing program on Saturday and instead, load the seven Grand Prix West boats into the pits and put on three heats of racing.

“The Grand Prix boats really saved us,” Chandler said. “They put on a heck of a show and ran when we needed to them. I’m not sure what we would have done without them.”

Any hopes of staging a full day of racing on Sunday was dashed after band of debris began flowing down the Kentucky side of the river. Eventually the decision was made to cancel the official race, and put on a non-points event and make the best out of the situation for fans.

“Our pit crew went to sleep about two this morning and woke up around five,” Chandler said. “I know they’re tired, but hearing those fans cheer today, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what it’s about, bringing satisfaction to the fans and putting something on the water and making it worthwhile to come to the Regatta.”

Two years ago, Madison Regatta officials vowed to continue to battle in the aftermath of their first-ever cancellation. Now, Chandler said they can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they won this battle.

“Old Man River didn’t work with us. He fought us all weekend long,” Chandler said. “But I think we got the best of it today because we got them out there and we gave a show and it was a real good show.

“It was a struggle again but this time we won.”

http://madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/Regatta-fought-the-river-and-the-fans-won/185/974/91437

Serious News
07-08-2015, 07:22 PM
H1 teams weighed pros and cons of racing Sunday
Rob Lafary

H1 Unlimited’s ability to shift gears on the fly and the willingness of five Unlimited hydroplane teams to risk equipment — and possibly their drivers’ safety — helped salvage for fans what was looking like another gloomy Madison Regatta last weekend.

High water throughout the event interrupted all activity on Thursday and Friday and cost much of Saturday’s program with the exception of the show put on by the Grand Prix West hydroplane series that was making its first trip to Madison.

Hoping the GPWs could bridge the action gap for fans until Sunday, when the Ohio River was expected to fall to suitable race conditions for the H1 series, the Madison Regatta instead was rewarded with a steady flow of drift and debris on Sunday, providing even more treacherous race conditions for the big Unlimiteds.

But while six of the 11 H1 Unlimited teams elected to play it safe and sit on the shoreline or head home, five teams stayed put, launched their boats into the murky water and delivered an exciting race-filled afternoon to salvage the Madison Regatta for yet another year and sending fans home a little more happy.

“Mother Nature did its thing and we had to do ours and we were going to make the best of it,” Oberto/Miss Madison President Charlie Grooms said Sunday on the team’s decision to race in such dangerous conditions. “From our perspective there was no choice. We came here to run and run where we can and as much as we can. That’s how we learn and that’s how we’ve made this team the champions that they are. We don’t play what-ifs. If the officials say it’s safe to race then we’re going to be out there.”

Grooms wasn’t the only member of a championship team who felt that way. Ted Porter gambled big time by sending both of his Graham Trucking boats into the fray. But as an Indiana-based team — like the Miss Madison — Porter said his team wasn’t about to let down its home state.

“We came to Madison to run,” Porter said shortly after U-7 Graham Trucking driver Jesse Robertson finished second to Miss Madison’s Jimmy Shane in Heat 1A. “Our teams are from Indiana, we’ve got a great sponsor in Rob Graham that we didn’t want to disappoint and we just wanted to come out here and put on a great show. Plus, a setting like this gives us some great practice for the Gold Cup. I was one of those that went out and checked the debris in the morning. The first trip out was dicey but the second time out an hour later it had cleared up quite a bit and I knew if that trend continued then we could race.

“We’re here to have fun and to put on a good show,” Porter added.

Porter’s other driver, defending Governor’s Cup champion J. Michael Kelly, ended up having a lot of fun by repeating as the race champion.

After sitting around watching the river Friday and Saturday, Kelly expressed his joy over just being able to race on Sunday and delivered a shot that was fully intended for the six teams who remained on their trailers.

“That’s their fault for not going out there,” Kelly said after steering the U-5 Graham Trucking I to the championship. “We had a good time. I know our team is happy we decided to put the boats out there. I understand why we waited as long as we did. The first few heats that we ran, the conditions were pretty good. But in the final, there was a ton of debris. But luckily none of us hit any of it because it could have really caused serious damage. You didn’t realize it was that bad from the Indiana side, but it was pretty bad out there.”

The two Graham Trucking boats and Oberto/Miss Madison were joined on the water Sunday by the U-11 Peters & May and the U-12 Miss DiJulio, who thought the benefits of competing outweighed the risks. The opportunity to put their boats through the pace and give their drivers more experience was too good to pass up.

“Some teams volunteered to stick around and race and we were more than happy to,” U-11 co-owner Shannon Raney said. “It had been a very long winter and we did a lot of work on the boat and really wanted to hit the water. It was just as hard for us as it was hard for the fans to stand around and wait so we really wanted to come down here and get the boat out on the water.”

“Once we saw the debris settle down then we were ready to go,” U-12 co-owner Jay Leckrone said. “I grew up in this area of the country and I’ve been coming here since I was five years old. It’s one of my favorite places to race and I wanted our boat to be out there. Our driver, Patrick Sankuer Jr., this is his first time driving a big boat and we wanted him getting used to it. A situation like this ... it’s a good situation for a new driver to get some valuable experience.”

But for more established teams operating without sponsorships or on a tight budget, the risks were just too high. An unfriendly encounter with debris in a boat traveling in excess of 150 mph could very well result in $100,000 worth of repairs so the risks outweighed the rewards.

U-22 Webster Racing driver Mike Webster said just one incident with debris could very easily put his family-owned team out of commission the rest of the season and break their budget in the process.

“It was a tough decision for us to make this weekend,” Webster said as his crew loaded up the trailer Sunday afternoon. “I went out a couple times in the morning, saw the debris and knew we would be taking a big risk. With the way our finances are right now we needed to make sure we keep ourselves in contention the entire season. As much as I want to come out and really support this race, we just had to look at the bigger picture. It’s probably just not worth that risk to us with the next race in a couple of weeks. We have to make sure our boat is going to be able to run.”

Cal Phipps, a former U-7 Graham Trucking driver who now steers for the completely new Alabama-based U-27 Wiggins Racing team, agreed with Webster’s assessment of the financial risks, but said his team’s decision was not based on that. For Wiggins Racing, the thought of going straight into competition with a new boat and new driver without any time for testing and on uncertain waters was just too risky with the rest of the season — including the APBA Gold Cup — coming up starting later this month.

“We haven’t run this boat yet,” Phipps said as his team sat on Vaughn Drive during the races. “We are pretty close to Alabama and we’ve got a week to travel and we’ve only two guys on the crew that can work the next two weeks. We wanted to run the boat, we wanted to test the boat, but we aren’t that familiar with the boat.

“We wanted to run a few laps, come back, check the steering and things and talk about it. With the format they had today that just wasn’t going to work out,” Phipps said. “They were wanting to go right into heats and we were uncomfortable with that. We want to be ready for Tri-Cities.

“We really wanted to get out here at Madison, we really love this course, but we just couldn’t do it.”

One thing all the teams agree on — whether they competed Sunday or sat the race out — is the fact that since no H1 high points were awarded at Madison — H1 declared it a non-points race — the final four races of the 2015 take on even more importance.

Making a strong showing in the standings and keeping boats in tip-top shape — especially with the Gold Cup looming in just 18 days — is now huge in the championship picture.

“Very crucial,” Raney said after watching the U-11 fail to finish Heat 1B due to a broken throttle cable. “Going into the Gold Cup it’s going to be so crucial. It’s great to come out here and run before then. The Gold Cup is like our Super Bowl. Everybody wants their name on that trophy.”
http://madisoncourier.com/Content/Sports/Sports/Article/H1-teams-weighed-pros-and-cons-of-racing-Sunday/18/289/91466

Serious News
07-12-2015, 10:36 AM
Graham Trucking reigns supreme in Madison Regatta

MADISON, Ind. – The 65th annual Madison Regatta certainly didn't go according to plan.

Race officials battled high waters and floating debris on the Ohio River the entire weekend, leading to postponements and reshuffling of schedules.

The boats finally got on the river Sunday afternoon, though.

"It was very, very scary," said Joe Hertz, media chairman for the Regatta, referring to getting the event going.

In the long-awaited final — reduced from five laps to three — J. Michael Kelly, driving the U-5 Graham Trucking boat, won for the second straight year as he dominated the final.

Kelly — who recorded the fastest time of 144.7 mph on the first lap of the final as he took control — captured the Indiana Governor's Cup for the sixth time.

"I'm really glad we got in the water today," said Kelly. "It was tight racing and some boats got some air. I think there was some excitement."

The hometown boat, U-1 Oberto Miss Madison, was a distant second. Jesse Robertson, driving the U-7 Graham Trucking boat, was third in his first trip on the Ohio River.

The entire schedule of main attractions — the H1 Unlimited boats — was pushed back to Sunday.

By the time Sunday morning rolled around, only five of the 11 H1 Unlimited boat decided to take part in the abbreviated one-day slate.

"I know our team is happy we decided to put the boat in the water," Kelly said. "For the conditions, I understand why we waited as long as we did. In the heats, the conditions were pretty good. In that final, there was a ton of debris. Luckily, none of us hit any of it because it could really cause some serious damage."

Jimmy Shane, driver of Oberto Miss Madison, said Kelly was hard to catch after he grabbed the lead on the first lap.

Although the Miss Madison boat is losing its main sponsor at the end of the season, Shane said he will remain in the boat.

"I am part of the Miss Madison family," he said. "I will be here as long as they want me. No matter what name is on that boat, I will be racing that boat."

Because of limited participation, the four heats were limited to two and three boats.

In the first heat, U-1 Oberto Miss Madison led throughout and held off U-7 Graham Trucking.

"It is a little lumpy, which is pretty common for the Ohio River," Shane said after the first heat. "I didn't see anything (debris)."

In the second heat, U-7 Graham Trucking easily cruised to the win over U-12 Miss DiJulio. The U-11 Peters & May boat stalled in the water and did not finish.

"It felt good to (finally) get out there," said Kelly, who drives the U-7.

In the third heat, Shane and Oberto Miss Madison trailed most of the way and then rallied past U-7 Graham Trucking in the final lap and won by a boat length.

In the final heat, U-11 Peters & May regrouped and held off U-7 Graham Trucking.

Because of debris, race officials opted for a series of two- and three-boat shootouts instead of the usual four-boat heat races.

All five of the boats advanced to the final.

Steve David, chairman of the H1 Unlimited, put a positive twist on a difficult weekend.

"We have been discussing for many years a way to race on smaller bodies of water," David said. "With the amount of debris in the water, this gives us an opportunity to test a three-lap shootout format.

"This format will open up other possibilities for new race site on the H1 circuit."

The formatted Madison Regatta — the first race in the H1 Unlimited season — will not count toward the national points race.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2015/07/05/graham-trucking-reigns-supreme-madison-regatta/29746111/

Serious News
07-12-2015, 09:08 PM
Graham Trucking wins hydroplane exhibition in Indiana

The Ohio River never turned into a raceable venue this weekend for unlimited hydroplanes. While the water level went down for Sunday, the Rrver continued to be full of large-sized debris, which made it impossible to hold a full-fledged race.

Instead, the organizers decided to run two- and three-boat exhibitions throughout the day, culminating in a five-lap final. Since the racing was only an exhibition, only five of the 10 boats on hand participated. Luckily for Edmonds hydroplane fans, both our hydroplanes with local roots — the Miss Peters and May and the Graham Trucking II, driven by former Edmonds resident Jesse Robertson — were chosen to participate. Also running was the Oberto hydroplane, the Graham Trucking I and the Miss DiJulio.

The first heat of the day featured the Oberto and Robertson in the Graham Trucking II. The Oberto got the inside, which is a shorter way around the course, and was able to hold off the Graham Trucking II for all three laps. The second heat featured the Graham Trucking I, the Miss DiJulio and our local Miss Peters and May. Unfortunately, since there was no test time whatsoever, there was a mechanical malfunction in our local hydroplane and it was unable to finish. Leaving the victory to the Graham Trucking with the Miss DiJulio finishing second.

In the second round of heats,the Oberto faced off against the Graham Trucking I. It was a close race for all three laps but ultimately the Oberto got the victory. Then our two local favorites faced off in heat 2B along with the Miss DiJulio. Tom Thompson got the inside lane and brought the Miss Peters and May home in first place, followed closely by Robertson in the Graham Trucking II.

All five boats that had competed then got together for a winner-take-all final heat. The Oberto and the Graham Trucking I led the field the entire way, with J. Michael Kelly bringing the Graham Trucking home first and Jimmy Shane second in the Oberto. Robertson got third place with the Graham Trucking II, followed by the Miss DiJulio. Our local Miss Peters and May fell victim to the debris on the course and destroyed the propeller just before crossing the starting line.

The next race on the circuit will be in three weeks in the Tri-Cities ,Wash. In the past there has been intermediate stop in Detroit before heading this way, but this year the Detroit race has been moved to late August.

Follow the entire year of hydroplane racing here on My Edmonds News.

— By Harry Gatjens

http://myedmondsnews.com/2015/07/graham-trucking-wins-hydroplane-exhibition-in-indiana/