As I just Hope All three will be competing in the
season’s final two events…
Two thirds of this year’s remaining H1 Unlimited
Hydroplane Drivers are rookies, and thus unknown quantities for the moment.
Whilst it’s unknown if the other
HotSchue’ will be behind the tiller at either of the two remaining races?
Bucket List Racing
U-40 Snuskitush Enterprises,
Dustin Echols
U-440 Boitano Homes, (R) Brent Hall
Once again, I missed last year’s memo that
Dustin Echols had replaced the Sport’s All-time winningest H1 Unlimited’s
Driver Dave Villwock at San Diego.
And like all of the Big Boats Skippers’, Echols
“CV” (Curriculum Vitae) is Chock-ablock full of lower division Championships…
As Dustin was the 2017 H1 Unlimited Rookie Of
the Year, having qualified aboard the Bucket List Racing’s U-440 that year.
Which I believe is the least powerful Unlimited in the Fleet due to it’s
Lycoming t-53 turbine. Yet Dustin drove it skillfully to sixth place overall at
season’s end.
As Echols has extensively driven the U-440 since
then, along with team owner Kelly Stocklin’s name listed as Co-Skipper the past
few years. With Echols going on Sabbatical last season in order to help His
daughter Findley’s racing career…
Reportedly in 2020, Sharon and Kelly Stocklin
bought the former U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing’s 2007 Lycoming T-55 turbine
Hull, which became the team’s current U-40 Hydro’, originally driven by Dave
Villwock.
Dustin Echols served notice to the entire
Unlimited Fleet at the season opener Southern cup on Lake Guntersville by
qualifying P1 with a stunning lap of 171.294mph!
As Echols lap was the fifth fastest in series
history, and fastest in the two decades since Fuel-flow restrictions were
mandated. Yet All of the seven Hydroplanes entered at Guntersville were fast
due to the course featuring wider turns.
Then the following week at Madison, Indiana, Echols
suffered a wild Barrel-rolling Blowover accident for which I’ve got no idea if
the Minnowesqe team from Snohomish, WA can repair the damaged Hull in time for
the two upcoming races?
Whilst I’m guessing Echols will take little
solace in being classified third in the Governor’s Cup on accumulated points?
The U-440 Boitano Homes is the original Bucket List
Racing Hull that began life with the Sport’s smallest turbine, a Lycoming T-53
unit. As I’m left guessing that this 2005 Hull was upgraded to turbine power in
2012, and then being rebuilt in 2015, albeit retaining said T-53 turbine.
Rookie Brent Hall is set to make His H1
Unlimited debut at this year’s Columbia Cup, and at Age 53, according to H1
Unlimited. The Seattle driver will make history as the Sport’s first ever
African American to race an Unlimited Hydroplane.
Hall last raced Hydroplanes in the Grand Prix
class in 2012. And finished second in the nation in last year’s F500 tunnel
Boat class. Along with having extensive lower series experience.
Go Fast Turn Left Racing
U-60 The Beast Unleashed present
Miss Thriftway, (R) Gunnar O’Farrell
In 2019, go Fast Turn Left Racing located in
Maple valley, WA, and owned by Greg and Brian O’farrell reportedly raced a brand
new Unlimited Hydroplane as the U-99.9 Carstars Miss rock, with Brian Perkins
at it’s controls during that year’s controversial Seafair race.
Veteran Unlimited Skipper Perkins unfortunately
Jumped the Start of the Seafair Cup Final and was assessed a One minute penalty.
Which I believe saw the U-99.9 clasified seventh and last of the race…
As the Mis Rock of Seattle Radio Station KISW 99.9FM
is a longtime staple of Warshington’ Unlimited Hydroplanes History. Thus I’m
making the leap and Arse-suming that this year’s U-60 with rookie Skipper
Gunnar O’Farrell at it’s controls is the same Hull?
Yes, on the surface it appears that the renamed
U-60 is indeed the team’s 2019 Unlimited Hydroplane, which Gunnar qualified as
an Unlimited driver aboard last year when completing the requisite 15-laps over
130mph. With gunnar’s fastest being a skosh over 145mph.
Gunnar has most recently been racing in the 2.5
Mod ‘n Stock Inboard class, where He won the 2021 summer Nationals.
Meanwhile the team’s set to make waves with the
return of the famed Miss Thriftway name upon it’s Hull at this year’s Seafair
gold Cup event. For which the press release claims is an All new 100% Carbon
Composite Hydroplane that rookie Gunnar O’farrell set a top speed of 161-plus
mph during testing at Tri-cities earlier this year.
As owner Greg O’Farrell has a past connection
to the original Miss Thriftway When at Age 11, He was given the opportunity of
a lifetime. When the legendous’ Mr. Unlimited’, aka Bill Muncey took the young
boy out for a spin around the Lake Washington race course in Miss Thriftway II
with Greg perched upon Muncey’s lap!
(R) Denotes Rookie Driver
