Thousands at San Diego’s Bayfair Weekend of power boat racing on Mission Bay

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SAN DIEGO – The crown jewel of the powerful unlimited hydroplanes makes its return to town. Some of the fastest watercraft in the world are racing all weekend long on Mission Bay as part of the annual San Diego Bayfair.

Engines to turbines, turbines to speed. Crews go through a series of tests to get the unlimited hydroplanes ready for drivers like points leader Jimmy Shane. “With a few more adjustments we should be able to hit about 203 to 204mph on this race course. And that’s going pretty fast on the water.” unlimited

At top speeds, drivers are literally ‘hydroplaning’—racing on a cushion of air. It can be gut-wrenching as they spin out of turn and into a straight away. Shane says, “Just picture that feeling when you’re in an airplane and it’s accelerating down the runway and you get that first initial take-off and pressure down on you. Just picture that times about four.”

Racing fans like Kristen Reim got up close and personal. “Pretty cool. This is our first time in the pits. It’s crazy, it’s amazing. To see all the big cranes and boats up close.”

Driver Brian Perkins will be steering the U-21 All-Access unlimited hydroplane this weekend. It takes a crane to get his 7.000 pound craft into the water. Perkins is from Seattle but half the crew is from San Diego. “We really want to win here. Every team wants to win here but this is basically a home town race. So we want to do all we can and try to put the boat out front.”

Tom Anderson is crew chief for Graham’s two big red power boats. He says getting these machines to top speeds is a game of trial and error. “You’re playing with fuel loads weight and balance. It’s two different battles. We’re getting ready for qualifying which there is points for but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be the fastest in race water with other boats.”

The biggest race fan out here may be the best driver. As points leader, this is Jimmy Shane’ race to lose. He’s an aerospace engineer but says, “I build rockets during the day and in the summer time on the weekends, I get to race rockets on the water.”

Racing continues through Sunday with the championships.

http://www.cw6sandiego.com/thousands-expected-san-diegos-bayfair-weekend-power-boat-racing-mission-bay/

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/gold%20cup%202016/6O8A0855-001.jpg (http://s730.photobucket.com/user/ptrose/media/gold%20cup%202016/6O8A0855-001.jpg.html)

2016 Gold Cup Winner.

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Andrew Tate drove U-9 Realtrac to the top qualifying speed for the HomeStreet Bank Regatta on Mission Bay in San Diego. Tate’s best lap was 160.972 mph around the 2-1/2 mile oval course. Jimmy Shane, driving U-1 Miss HomeStreet, tried to match Tate’s speed but fell short. He averaged 159.900 mph. “I think the team’s happy. Crew chief Jeff Campbell said he thinks this is the first time the boat has turned a lap over 160 mph,” Tate observed. He was careful to avoid setting expectations too high, however. “The fastest boat doesn’t always win,” he said. “We proved that in Seattle.” That time, Shane was the fastest qualifier for the Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup in early August. Tate won the race however, holding off Shane in the final heat.

J. Michael Kelly, winner of the APBA Gold Cup two weeks ago in Detroit, was third fastest qualifier at 158.061 mph, at the wheel of U-5 Graham Trucking. He was followed by Cal Phipps in U-27 Dalton Industries, who averaged 156.813 mph. Next was Brian Perkins driving U-21 All Access Racing who averaged 153.722 mph. Jeff Bernard turned a lap of 149.422 mph aboard U-7 Graham Trucking II; Tom Thompson averaged 147.926 mph in U-11 Peters & May, and Kevin Eacrett’s best lap in U-99.9 Miss Rock was 141.783 mph.

Cal Phipps was back in the cockpit of Dalton Industries for the first time since a serious accident at the opening race of the 2016 season in Madison, Indiana, on July 3. Phipps escaped injury in the mishap, but the boat was heavily damaged. “It feels great,” he said about returning to action. “We have some work to do. We’re going to double check everything. Safety is first, before speed. We were a little sluggish.” A smile crept across his face and he added, “The crew may have turned it down a little so I can’t go too crazy just yet.”

The first set of preliminary heats will be held Saturday. Heat 1A, which will go at 4:45, has Miss HomeStreet, Peters & May, Graham Trucking, and Miss Rock. Heat 1B, scheduled for 5:15, will feature Dalton Industries, Realtrac, Graham Trucking II, and All Access Racing.

Additional preliminary heats will be held Sunday, with the winner-take-all final for the HomeStreet Bank trophy, at 4:30.

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Jimmy Shane, Miss HomeStreet win H-1 Unlimited hydros season title

Shane ended the five-race season with 8,095 points, ahead of J. Michael Kelly with 7,176.

By Seattle Times staff

Hydroplane driver Jimmy Shane and the Miss HomeStreet won the Bill Muncey Cup at the 2016 Bayfair on San Diego’s Mission Bay last weekend and also won this year’s H-1 Unlimited National Championship.

The championship was determined by total points earned throughout the season. Shane ended the five-race season with 8,095 points, ahead of J. Michael Kelly with 7,176.

Sunday’s win followed controversial and close competitions at the Columbia Cup in Tri-Cities, Seafair in Seattle and the Gold Cup in Detroit. Shane was second at Seafair.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” said Shane. “It’s been a great year of racing as a member of the HomeStreet team.”

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/jimmy-shane-miss-homestreet-win-h-1-unlimited-hydros-season-title/

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H1 HOMESTREET BANK BAYFAIR RESULTS
Mission Bay, San Diego
Length: 2.5 miles
RESULTS
Sunday, Sept. 18
FINAL HEAT
1. Jimmy Shane, U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank/Miss Madison, 149.198; 2. Andrew Tate, U-9 RealTrac Performance, 146.285; 3. J. Michael Kelly, U-5 Graham Trucking, 139.285; 4. Tom Thompson, U-11 Peters & May, 124.047; 5. Jeff Bernard, U-7 Graham Trucking II, 113.588*; Brian Perkins, U-21 All Access Equipment, DNF.
Fast Lap: Tate, No. 3, 152.062.
*-penalized one minute for jumping the gun.
PRELIMINARY HEATS
Saturday, Sept. 17
HEAT 1A
1. Kevin Eacret, U-99.9 KISW Miss Rock, 131.486; 2. J. Michael Kelly, U-5 Graham Trucking, 116.414*; 3. Jimmy Shane, U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, 111.255*; 4. Tom Thompson, U-11 Peters & May, 108.103*.
Fast Lap: Kelly, No. 2, 155.822.
*-penalized one lap for jumping the gun.
HEAT 1B
1. Andrew Tate, U-9 RealTrac Performance, 149.895; 2. Brian Perkins, U-21 All Access Equipment, 148.084; 3. Jeff Bernard, U-7 Graham Trucking II, 145.197*; Cal Phipps, U-27 Dalton Industries, DNF.
Fast Lap: Tate, No. 2, 154.093.
*-fined $200 for two N2 violations.
Sunday, Sept. 18
HEAT 2A
1. Andrew Tate, U-9 RealTrac Performance, 147.524; 2. J. Michael Kelly, U-5 Graham Trucking, 142.590*; 3. Tom Thompson, U-11 Peters & May, 133.443; Cal Phipps, U-27 Dalton Industries, DSQ.**
Fast Lap: Tate, No. 2, 149.536.
*-penalized 50 points and fined $250 for missing a buoy
**-disqualified for flagrant fuel violation.
HEAT 2B
1. Jimmy Shane, U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, 149.023; 2. Jeff Bernard, U-7 Graham Trucking II, 146.948; 3. Brian Perkins, U-21 All Access Equipment, 143.822.
Fast Lap: Shane, No. 2, 150.751.
HEAT 3A
1. Andrew Tate, U-9 RealTrac Performance, 153.571; 2. Jimmy Shane, U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, 151.567; 3. J. Michael Kelly, U-5 Graham Trucking, 132.655.
Fast Lap: Tate, No. 2, 154.753.
HEAT 3B
1. Jeff Bernard, U-7 Graham Trucking II, 134.784; 2. Brian Perkins, U-21 All Access Equipment, 112.167*; 3. Tom Thompson, U-11 Peters & May, NS.**
Fast Lap: Perkins, No. 2, 150.907.
*-penalized one minute for jumping the gun
**-penalized one minute for jumping the gun; fined $200 and penalized 225 points for flagrant violation.
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
BOATS
1. U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, 8,095; 2. U-5 Graham Trucking, 7,176; 3. U-9 Jones Racing, 5,862; 4. U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing, 5,542; 5. Graham Trucking II, 4,164; 6. U-11 Peters & May, 3,947; 7. U-27 Wiggins Racing, 3,199; 8. U-16 Oh Boy! Oberto, 2,290; 9. U-99.9 KISW Miss Rock, 1,785; 10. U-57 Spirit of Detroit, 900; 11. (tie) U-3 Go3Racing.com, 0; U-18 Bucket List Racing, 0.
DRIVERS
1. Jimmy Shane (1), 8,095; 2. J. Michael Kelly (5), 7,176; 3. Andrew Tate (9), 5,782; 4. Brian Perkins (21), 5,552; 5. Tom Thompson (11), 3,947; 6. Jeff Bernard (7), 4,164; 7. Jean Theoret (16), 2,290; 8. Jimmy King (3), 2,039; 9. Kevin Eacret (99.9), 1,785; 10. Cal Phipps (27), 1,160; 11. Corey Peabody (57), 450; 12. Dustin Echols (18), 0

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[Ratickle]

Hosed at the 6:40 mark!!:eek:

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