Tri-Cities Columbia Cup - Kennewick, WA July 26-28, 2013

[Serious News]

By Fred Farley – H1 Unlimited Historian

For 47 years, the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington have played host to “Water Racing’s Greatest Show,” the Unlimited hydroplanes–the Thunderboats of the racing world.

Since 1966, the mighty Unlimiteds have occupied center stage as the headline event for the annual Tri-City Water Follies celebration. The race was called the Atomic Cup in the early days but was renamed the Columbia Cup in 1976.

When the hydros first came to town to do competitive battle, the Columbia Park pit area was a wilderness dustbowl. It was a far cry from the modern well-developed recreational facility that it is today.

But the local Water Follies committee had years of experience in staging Limited hydroplane races at Sacajawea Park and had its act together. The 1966 Atomic Cup was an unqualified success, garnering rave reviews from fans, participants, and the media alike.

And from that day to this, the Tri-Cities regatta has been a mainstay on the Unlimited calendar and a highlight of the racing year.

The twelve boats that showed up for that first Atomic Cup had almost nothing in common with their modern counterparts. All were piston-powered and all but one used government surplus Allison or Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines, left over from World War II. (Jet turbine power in race boats was considered to be in the realm of science fiction in 1966.)

The hydroplanes themselves were rather narrow and quite box-shaped. The driver sat behind–rather than in front of–the engine in an open cockpit with no seat belt. (In the days before the F-16 safety canopy, it was believed that a driver had a better chance of surviving a serious accident if he were thrown clear of his boat.)

The modern Unlimiteds are wider and flatter and can corner much better and faster than the earlier designs.

The one thing that the boats of 1966 did have in common with those racing in 2013 was tremendous straightaway speed. Then as now, the sight of an Unlimited hydroplane at full throttle and with a roostertail of spray trailing behind it is the most awesome spectacle in all of motor sports.

The 1966 Atomic Cup proved to be the first-ever victory for MISS BUDWEISER team founder Bernie Little of Lakeland, Florida. (He went on to win a total of 134 prior to his death in 2003.) Little had been racing since 1963, but this was his initial trip to the winner’s circle. With Bill Brow driving, MISS BUDWEISER won all three heats at an average speed of 94.937 miles per hour.

Expected to compete -

# Boat Name Driver Hometown

1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David Lighthouse Pt. FL
5 Graham Trucking Jimmy Shane Havre de Grace, MD
9 Fox Plumbing & Heating Jon Zimmerman Maple Valley, WA
11 Peters & May Tom Thompson Cambridge, MD
14 Miss DiJulio Greg Hopp Lake Stevens, WA
21 Snoqualmie Casino Brian Perkins North Bend, WA
Jamie Nilsen Federal Way, WA
22 Webster Racing Mike Webster Reading, PA
37 Miss Beacon Plumbing J. Michael Kelly Bonney Lake, WA
57 FEDCO N. Mark Evans Chelan, WA
95 Spirit of Qatar Kip Brown Maple Valley, WA
100 Leland Unlimited Ryan Mallow Enumclaw, WA

H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series » Lamb-Weston Columbia Cup Up Next!

[Serious News]

With chief rival Jimmy Shane battling a fuel problem in the 5 Graham Trucking, Steve David outqualified the rest of the 11 boat field for the Lamb-Weston Columbia Cup in the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto, posting the best speed of the day at 158.766.

Shane finally got on the water late in the session and posted a speed of 151.399, but the defending Columbia Cup Champion had to settle for fifth place on the qualifying ladder.

Jon Zimmerman in the Fox Plumbing and Heating presents Team RedDot powered by Les Schwab Tires earned second place at 155.089 and the trophy for the longest name on the boat roster.

Third and fourth were Gold Cup Champion Kip Brown in the 95 Spirit of Qatar at 154.422 and J Michael Kelly in the 37 Miss Beacon Plumbing at 151.778.

A big Friday crowd experienced temperatures near the century mark and saw David win the Charter Business Dash for Cash in a three lap race with Zimmerman and Kelly, Tom Thompson in the 11 Peters & May and the 95 Spirit of Qatar with backup driver Jeff Bernard driving.

Racing begins Saturday with Heat 1A scheduled for 2:45pm.

Lamb Weston Columbia Cup Qualifying Results –

Number – Sponsor
Driver Speed Points



1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 158.766 100

9 Fox Plumbing presents Team RedDOT Jon Zimmerman 155.089 80

95 Spirit of Qatar Kip Brown 154.424 70

37 Miss Beacon Plumbing J. Michael Kelly 151.778 60

5 Graham Trucking Jimmy Shane 151.339 50

11 Peters & May Tommy Thompson 150.155 40

57 FEDCO Mark Evans 148.109 30

14 Miss DiJulio Greg Hopp 147.087 30

21 Go Fast, Turn Left Racing Brian Perkins 143.963 30


22 PayneWest driven by Mike Webster and 100 Leland Unlimited driven by Ryan Mallow did not qualify.

H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series » Oberto Tops Tri-Cities Qualifying

[Serious News]

Sunday, July 28th
7:30am Church Service
8:00am Testing All Boat Classes
10:00am Opening Ceremonies
10:20am Connell Oil H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2A
10:40am Atomic Screen Printing H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2B
11:00am Plumbers & Steam Fitters UA Local 598 Grand Prix West Hydroplane Heat 3
11:30am HAPO Air Show
1:15pm 1-Liter Hydroplane Final Heat
1:50pm Cascade Natural Gas H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3A
2:10pm Buffalo Brothers H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3B
2:30pm Plumbers & Steam Fitters UA Local 598 Grand Prix West Hydroplane Final
3:00pm H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Provisional Heat
3:30pm Legends Casino Vintage Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3
4:00pm Lamb Weston Columbia Cup H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Final
4:30pm Awards Ceremony Columbia Park Stage

[Serious News]

Livestream

Live Video from NBC Right Now - NBC Right Now/KNDO/KNDU Tri-Cities, Yakima, WA |

[poncho]

I forgot was planning on going this year. Tri Cities only 4hrs for me!!!

[Ratickle]

I forgot was planning on going this year. Tri Cities only 4hrs for me!!!

You better make Seafair!!

[poncho]

You better make Seafair!!

Going to try. Think its next weekend.

[Ratickle]

SEAFAIR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS


Friday, August 2, 2013

8:30 a.m. Gates Open
8:30 a.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Session

9:00 a.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Practice
9:30 a.m. Formula One PROP Tour Testing Session

10:40 a.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace
10:50 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection Fly Over

11:15 a.m. H1 Unlimited HydroplaneTesting Session
12:00 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Autograph Session
12:15 p.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
12:30 p.m. Lucas Oil Air Show

12:30 p.m. H1 Unlimited Autograph Session
12:45 p.m. Warbird Fly Over

12:50 p.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace

1:05 p.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team

1:30 p.m. Clay Lacy Lear 25

1:45 p.m. Patriots Jet Team Performance

2:30 p.m. Main Stage: Homewreckr
2:35 p.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
2:45 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying Session
4:00 p.m. Main Stage: U277
5:00 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Qualifying Session
6:00 p.m. Gates Close

Saturday, August 3, 2013


8:30 a.m. Gates Open
8:30 a.m. Formula One PROP Tour Testing Session
9:00 a.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Session

10:00 a.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Practice
10:05 a.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 1
10:20 a.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
10:30 a.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 2 presented by Graham Trucking
11:05 a.m. Warbird Fly Over
11:10 a.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace Demonstration
11:15 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection Fly Over

11:30 a.m. H1 Unlimited Autograph Session
11:35 a.m. Lucas Oil Air Show
11:45 a.m. Clay Lacy DC-2
11:50 a.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace Demonstration
12:00 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Autograph Session


12:05 p.m. Flying Heritage Collection Flyover
12:25 p.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team
12:30 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1A
12:50 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1B
1:10 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1C
1:30 p.m. Clay Lacy Lear 25
1:45 p.m. Patriots Jet Team Performance

2:10 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Practice
2:30 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 3 presented by Graham Trucking
2:30 p.m. Main Stage: Homewreckr
2:55 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 4 presented by Sicklesteel Crane

3:00 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Practice Competition Format
3:35 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 5
3:45 p.m. Main Stage: Payton Rector
4:35 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Session
5:00 p.m. Main Stage: Kalimba Band
6:00 p.m. Gates Close

Sunday, August 4, 2013


7:30 a.m. Gates Open
7:30 a.m. Admissions Gate: Performance by Upward Bound in the Fifth Dimension

8:30 a.m. Formula One PROP Tour Testing Session
9:15 a.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Session

10:00 a.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Warm Up
10:35 a.m. KCSO Helo Flag
10:40 a.m. Opening Ceremonies presented by Western Washington Hyundai Dealers Association
10:40 a.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace
10:45 a.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition

11:00 a.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Competition (Round of 16 and Elite 8)
11:00 a.m. Main Stage: Upward Bound in the Fifth Dimension

11:10 a.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2A
11:30 a.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2B
11:50 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection Fly Over
12:10 p.m. Lucas Oil Air Show
12:20 p.m. Warbird Fly Over
12:40 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3A presented by Tulalip Resort and Casino
1:00 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3B
1:15 p.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
1:25 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Semi Final
1:30 p.m. Clay Lacy Lear 25
1:45 p.m. Patriots Jet Team Performance
2:30 p.m. Formula One PROP Tour Heat 6 presented by Graham Trucking
2:30 p.m. Main Stage: Walking Papers

2:45 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Semi-Finals
2:45 p.m. Vintage Hydroplane Exhibition
3:05 p.m. H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Provisional Heat
3:15 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Finals
3:30 p.m. Flying Heritage Collection Fly Over
3:45 p.m. Main Stage: Payton Rector
3:50 p.m. Red Eagle Air Sports presented by PPG Aerospace

3:55 p.m. Hyperlite Wakeboard Experience Finals
4:00 p.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team
4:20 p.m. Graham Trucking Cup Formula One PROP Tour Final
4:45 p.m. Albert Lee Appliance Cup H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Final
5:00 p.m. Main Stage: Kalimba Band
5:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony
6:00 p.m. Gates Close

[Ratickle]

Oberto team has perfect Columbia Cup weekend

Published: July 29, 2013 Updated 19 hours ago

By Jeff Morrow — Tri-City Herald


One day after driving the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto to the 48th Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, Steve David called it a perfect weekend.

“Even though we got second in that third heat, that all was a process to learn for the final,” said David.

He was referring to Sunday’s heat 3A, in which Jimmy Shane in the 5 Graham Trucking got the inside lane at the start and held David off for the win.

“I didn’t nail that start,” admitted David. “Otherwise I think we could have won that heat too. If I’m outside of Jimmy, I can beat him as long as I can nail the start. He has to be inside of me to win.”

David praised the Oberto team, which worked hard all weekend to give him a fast raceboat.

“They just did work so hard,” he said. “We used every gearbox combination we have over the whole weekend. And they never complained once.”

While David loves to win in the Tri-Cities, he said this week’s Seafair race is incredibly important to the Oberto team.

The boat’s homeport is in Madison, Ind., but the team’s sponsor, Oberto, is based in Seattle.

And 85-year-old Art Oberto, the patriarch of the family, has rested up this past week so he can be in attendance.

“NASCAR has its Daytona, and IndyCar has its Indy 500,” said David. “The Tri-Cities is super important to Oberto. But Seattle is big to us.”

Lake Washington comes across as a tougher course than the Columbia River.

“Your track is faster, but really only turns 1 and 2 are tough,” David said. “Seattle is just rough. You have to be light to fly and be level.”

But Oberto has had success recently in Seattle.

“We’ve won three in a row, and four out of the last six,” he said.

The points race for the season is still pretty tight.

Unofficially, David and Oberto lead with 6,315 points coming out of the Columbia Cup.

Shane and Graham are next at 6,082.

In essence, Shane only lost 50 points after the weekend was done.

With three races remaining — Seattle, Coeur d’Alene and San Diego — things are still up in the air.

Read more here: Oberto team has perfect Columbia Cup weekend | Hydros: News | Tri-CityHerald.com

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