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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/thousand...ayfair-weekend-power-boat-racing-mission-bay/
2016 Gold Cup Winner.
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/thousand...ayfair-weekend-power-boat-racing-mission-bay/
2016 Gold Cup Winner.
