H1 Unlimited

Last updated
H1 Unlimited
H1 Unlimited.png
Category Unlimited hydroplane racing
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Inaugural season1946
Drivers10
Teams9
Engine suppliers Lycoming Engines
Drivers' champion Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Shane
Teams' champion Flag of the United States.svg Miss HomeStreet
Official website www.h1unlimited.com
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

H1 Unlimited is an American Unlimited Hydroplane racing league that is sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA). Until 2009, the series was known as ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane, in turn renamed from APBA Unlimited Hydroplane in 2004. The H1 Unlimited season typically runs from July through September, consisting of five races.

Contents

A hydroplane (or hydro, or thunderboat) is a type of motorboat used exclusively for racing. A unique characteristic of hydroplanes is that they only use the water they are on for propulsion and steering and not for flotation—when going at full speed they are primarily held aloft by a principle of fluid dynamics known as "planing," with only a fraction of their hull touching the water.

History

The unlimited hydroplane racing series was founded in 1946 when the unlimited class of boats was allowed to compete following World War II and the subsequent availability of surplus aircraft engines. It had been disbanded in 1922 in favor of the newly introduced "Gold Cup Class." [1]

The world's first sanctioned unlimited hydroplane race was held 120 years ago in 1903 in Ireland at Queenstown, and was very modest by later race standards. That race was won by Dorothy Levitt, driving an 11-meter (35 ft) boat, powered by a 56-kilowatt (75 hp) Napier engine, at an average speed of 31.4 km/h (19.5 mph). [2]

The boats were initially restricted to engines of a maximum of 10.24 liters (625 cu in), later increased to 12.00 liters (732 cu in). Hulls with "steps" or "shingles" on the underside were prohibited. [1]

One reason for the rule change was to end the domination of its star driver, Gar Wood, who had won five consecutive Gold Cups from 1917. One win in 1920 in his twin Liberty L-12 powered Miss America, averaged 113.317 km/h (70.412 mph) in the 48 km (30 mi) race over an 8 km (5 mi) course and set a race record that stood until 1946. "King Gar" had entered fifteen Gold Cup heats during those pinnacle years. He finished first twelve times and second three times. Throughout the years, only two boats showed up to challenge Miss America; one of those was piloted by George Wood, Gar's younger brother, in Miss Chicago. Another reason for the rule change was to make racing more affordable. [1]

In 1929, the 725 cu in (11.88 L) Class was introduced by the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association (MVPBA). The majority of these boats were powered by Hispano-Suiza 8 aircraft engines or Curtiss OX-5s. These boats were popular in the Southern and Midwestern US, but did not attract the media attention that the expensive and exotic-looking Gold Cup Class counterparts had. [3]

In 1946 after the hiatus due to the war, the MVPBA was absorbed into the APBA, [4] and as a result the 725s and the Gold Cups merged to become the APBA Unlimited Class. [3]

Following the protest-ridden 1956 APBA Gold Cup at Detroit, which took 85 days to settle, the Unlimited Class severed all but nominal ties with the APBA. In 1957, the Unlimited Racing Commission (URC) was formed. In the 1990s, the URC was renamed the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association (UHRA). [5] In 2001, HYDRO-PROP, Inc., bought the licensing rights to the Unlimited Class from the APBA and managed the unlimited class through the 2004 racing season. [5] The American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) was formed in 2005 [5] and was renamed H1 Unlimited in 2009. [6]

The turbine engine was first used in competition by the U-95 "Whiz-per" in 1974, which sank that August at Seattle. [7] [8] [9] The next entrant with turbine power was the Pay 'n Pak in 1980 on the Columbia River at Tri-Cities, [9] but it flipped 2½ times in a test run prior to the Sunday heats. [10] [11] It was the sole turbine again the following year, [12] [13] but through the 1980s, the turbine gradually displaced piston power. [14] [15] [16]

Today

First turn after the race started at Seafair during the final race. Seafair 2017 Final First Turn .jpg
First turn after the race started at Seafair during the final race.

The H1 Unlimited class is sanctioned by APBA, [17] its governing body in North America and UIM, its international body.

Unlimited Hydroplanes are fast boats capable of more than 320 km/h (200 mph) on the straights and running average lap speeds of 209–266 km/h (130–165 mph). They are 8.5–9.1 m (28–30 ft) in length and weigh a minimum of 3,060 kg (6,750 lb).

The modern turbine-powered unlimited hydroplane is derived from the 3-point prop-riding hydroplanes of the 1950s. These were the first boats to ride on a cushion of air trapped between "sponsons" mounted on the sides of the front of the boat, and the bottom half of the propeller, which were all that touched the water.

They were called "Unlimited" because they were the only class of boat racing the APBA that had no restrictions on the displacement size of their piston engines. The designation Unlimited has stayed with the class in the turbine era, even though there are restrictions on the turbine engine and its fuel.

Almost all the H1 Unlimited hydroplanes are powered by Lycoming T55 turbine engines, [18] originally used in Chinook helicopters. The U-440 of the Bucket List Racing Team runs a T-53 turbine. As of 2022, the U-3 Go3 Racing is the only piston powered boat in the fleet, powered by a twin turbocharged Allison V-12. [19]

Past National High Point Champions

Since 1946, the National High Point Championships are awarded to the team and to the driver with the most points at the end of the season. The Martini & Rossi National Champion Perpetual Trophy was first awarded in 1959, [20] and the Bill Muncey Trophy was first awarded in 2007. [21]

Martini & Rossi National Champion Perpetual Trophy

for Season High Point Team

YearTeamEngineOwnerWins
1946G-13 Tempo VI16-cylinder Miller engine [22] Guy Lombardo 1
1947Miss Peps VWalt Dossin
Roy Dossin
Russell Dossin		3
1948Such CrustJack Schafer, Sr.2
1949My SweetieEd Gregory
Ed Schoenherr
Horace Dodge, Jr.		4
1950My SweetieHorace Dodge, Jr.2
1951Miss PepsiWalt Dossin
Roy Dossin		4
1952Miss PepsiWalt Dossin
Roy Dossin		3
1953Gale IIJoe Schoenith1
1954 Gale V Joe Schoenith4
1955 Gale V Joe Schoenith1
1956Shanty IBill Waggoner3
1957Hawaii Kai III Edgar Kaiser 5
1958 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 3
1959MaverickBill Waggoner5
1960 Miss Thriftway Willard Rhodes4
1961Miss Century 21Willard Rhodes4
1962Miss Century 21Willard Rhodes5
1963 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 3
1964 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 4
1965 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 4
1966 Tahoe Miss Bill Harrah 4
1967 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 6
1968 Miss Bardahl Ole Bardahl 4
1969 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Merlin Bernie Little
Tom Friedkin		4
1970 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Merlin Bernie Little
Tom Friedkin		4
1971 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Merlin Bernie Little
Tom Friedkin		2
1972Atlas Van LinesJoe Schoenith6
1973 Pay 'n Pak Rolls-Royce MerlinDave Heerensperger4
1974Pay 'n PakRolls-Royce MerlinDave Heerensperger7
1975Pay 'n PakRolls-Royce MerlinDave Heerensperger5
1976Atlas Van LinesRolls-Royce Merlin Bill Muncey 5
1977 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Merlin Bernie Little 3
1978Atlas Van LinesRolls-Royce Merlin Bill Muncey 6
1979Atlas Van LinesRolls-Royce Merlin Bill Muncey 7
1980 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Griffon Bernie Little 5
1981 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Griffon Bernie Little 6
1982Atlas Van LinesRolls-Royce MerlinFran Muncey5
1983Atlas Van LinesRolls-Royce MerlinFran Muncey
Jim Lucero		3
1984 Miss Budweiser Rolls-Royce Griffon Bernie Little 6
1985Miller American Lycoming T55 Fran Muncey
Jim Lucero		5
1986 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 3
1987 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 5
1988 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 4
1989 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 4
1990Miss Circus CircusLycoming T55Bill Bennett6
1991 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 4
1992 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 7
1993 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 7
1994 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 4
1995 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 5
1996PICO American DreamLycoming T55Fred Leland6
1997 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 6
1998 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 8
1999 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 8
2000 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55 Bernie Little 6
2001 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55-L7C Bernie Little 1
2002 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55-L7C Bernie Little 3
2003 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55-L7CJoe Little2
2004 Miss Budweiser Lycoming T55-L7CJoe Little5
2005Miss Elam PlusLycoming T55-L7CErick Ellstrom3
2006Miss Formulaboats.com IILycoming T55-L7CTed Porter1
2007Miss Elam PlusLycoming T55-L7CErick Ellstrom4
2008 Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 1
2009 Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 1
2010 Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 3
2011 Spirit of QatarLycoming T55-L7CMarine Technologies3
2012 Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 2
2013Graham TruckingLycoming T55-L7CTeam Porter Racing4
2014 Oberto Beef Jerky Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 2
2015 Oberto Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 3
2016 HomeStreet Bank Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 3
2017 HomeStreet Bank Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 3
2018Jones RacingLycoming T55-L7CMichael and Lori Jones5
2019 HomeStreet Bank Lycoming T55-L7C City of Madison 2
2021HomeStreet BankLycoming T55-L7CCity of Madison1
2022HomeStreet BankLycoming T55-L7CCity of Madison5
Bill Muncey Trophy for the Season High Point Champion Driver
YearDriverMachineWins
1946 Guy Lombardo Tempo VI

1

1947Danny FosterMiss Peps V3
1948Dan ArenaSuch Crust2
1949Bill SteadMy Sweetie4
1950Danny FosterSuch Crust
Delphine X		2
1951Chuck ThompsonMiss Pepsi4
1952Chuck ThompsonMiss Pepsi3
1953Lee SchoenithGale II1
1954Lee Schoenith Gale V 4
1955Lee Schoenith Gale V 1
1956Russ SchleehShanty I3
1957Jack RegasHawaii Kai III5
1958Mira Slovak Miss Bardahl 3
1959Bill SteadMaverick5
1960 Bill Muncey Miss Thriftway 4
1961 Bill Muncey Miss Century 214
1962 Bill Muncey Miss Century 215
1963 Bill Cantrell Gale V 0
1964 Ron Musson Miss Bardahl 4
1965 Ron Musson Miss Bardahl 4
1966Mira Slovak Tahoe Miss 4
1967Billy Schumacher Miss Bardahl 6
1968Billy Schumacher Miss Bardahl 4
1969Bill Sterett, Sr. Miss Budweiser 4
1970 Dean Chenoweth Miss Budweiser 4
1971 Dean Chenoweth Miss Budweiser 2
1972 Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines6
1973Mickey RemundPay 'n Pak4
1974George HenleyPay 'n Pak7
1975Billy SchumacherWeisfield's2
1977Mickey Remund Miss Budweiser 3
1976 Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines5
1978 Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines6
1979 Bill Muncey Atlas Van Lines7
1980 Dean Chenoweth Miss Budweiser 5
1981 Dean Chenoweth Miss Budweiser 6
1982 Chip Hanauer Atlas Van Lines5
1983 Chip Hanauer Atlas Van Lines3
1984Jim Kropfeld Miss Budweiser 6
1985 Chip Hanauer Miller American5
1986Jim Kropfeld Miss Budweiser 3
1987Jim Kropfeld Miss Budweiser 5
1988 Tom D'Eath Miss Budweiser 4
1989 Chip Hanauer Miss Circus Circus3
1990 Chip Hanauer Miss Circus Circus6
1991Mark TateWinston Eagle
Oh Boy! Oberto		3
1992 Chip Hanauer Miss Budweiser 7
1993 Chip Hanauer Miss Budweiser 7
1994Mark TateSmokin' Joe's2
1995Mark TateSmokin' Joe's4
1996Dave VillwockPICO American Dream6
1997Mark TateClose Call1
1998 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 8
1999 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 8
2000 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 6
2001 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 1
2002 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 3
2003 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 2
2004 Dave Villwock Miss Budweiser 5
2005Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 1
2006Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 0
2007Dave VillwockMiss Elam Plus4
2008Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 1
2009 Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 1
2010 Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 3
2011 Dave VillwockSpirit of Qatar3
2012Steve David Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 2
2013Jimmy ShaneGraham Trucking4
2014Jimmy Shane Oh Boy! Oberto (Miss Madison) 2
2015Jimmy Shane Oberto 3
2016Jimmy Shane HomeStreet Bank 3
2017Jimmy Shane HomeStreet Bank 2
2018Andrew TateJones Racing5
2019Jimmy Shane HomeStreet Bank 2
2021J. Michael KellyMiss Tri-Cities2
2022Jimmy ShaneHomeStreet Bank5

Standing All-Time Competition and Qualifying Speed Records

Source: [23]

RecordSpeedDriverBoatLocationYear
Qualifying173.384 mphDave VillwockMiss BudweiserSan Diego1999
Competition Lap166.221 mphSteve DavidMiss T-PlusPearl Harbor, HI1992
Heat Avg161.712 mphMark TateWinston EagleSan Diego1993
Race Avg156.830 mphMark TateClose CallPearl Harbor, HI1997

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydroplane racing</span>

Hydroplane racing is a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes and rivers. It is a popular spectator sport in several countries.

Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer is the third most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 11 times and was the driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser, in the early to mid-1990s. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1995 as their youngest inductee. In 2005, he was inducted into the International Motorized Vehicles Hall of Fame. In 1991, he temporarily left the waters for auto racing only to return a season later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Madison</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Muncey</span>

William Edward Muncey was an American hydroplane racing legend from Detroit, Michigan. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and hydroplane historian Dan Cowie described Muncey as "without question, the greatest hydroplane racer in history." Muncey was nicknamed "Mr. Unlimited" and won 62 races, which was the most races in the history of the sport until Dave Villwock broke his record in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder on the Ohio</span> Hydroplane boat race

Thunder on the Ohio was a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Regatta</span>

The Indiana Governor's Cup is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually on Independence Day weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture released in 2005, titled Madison which starred actor Jim Caviezel.The Regatta was part of the APBA Gold Cup in 1979, 1980. 2019, & will be contested in 2021.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seafair Cup</span> Hydroplane boat race on Lake Washington in Seattle

The Seafair Cup, is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually in late July and early August on Lake Washington in Seattle, Washington. The race is the main attraction of the annual Seafair festival. Seattle has hosted the Seafair Cup consecutively since 1951. The event was part of the APBA Gold Cup for the following years: 1951 to 1955, 1957 to 1959, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1974, 1981, and 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oryx Cup</span>

The Oryx Cup is a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season. The race was held in November in Doha Bay on the Persian Gulf in Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar. From 2009-2014, the Oryx Cup was designated as the host for the UIM World Championship.

The 2009 H1 Unlimited season is the fifty fourth running of the H1 Unlimited series for unlimited hydroplane, jointly sanctioned by APBA, its governing body in North America and UIM, its international body. It is the first season to run under its new name.

The 2010 H1 Unlimited season was the fifty-fifth running of the H1 Unlimited series for unlimited hydroplanes, jointly sanctioned by APBA, its governing body in North America and UIM, its international body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Chenoweth</span>

Dean Alan Chenoweth was an American hydroplane racing pilot. Known for piloting the famous Miss Budweiser boat and the winner of four American Power Boat Association Gold Cups, he was killed at age 44 in a racing accident on the Columbia River.

The 2015 H1 Unlimited season is the sixtieth running of the H1 Unlimited series for unlimited hydroplanes, sanctioned by the APBA. It will be the first time since 2009 that the series will have no sanctioning from the UIM.

The APBA Gold Cup is an American hydroplane boat race, named for the American Power Boat Association. It is now run as part of the H1 Unlimited season. First run in 1904, it is the oldest trophy in motorsports.

Miss Thriftway was an unlimited hydroplane in the 1950s and 1960s.

The 2016 H1 Unlimited season is the sixty-first running of the H1 Unlimited series for unlimited hydroplanes, sanctioned by the APBA.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Gold Cup Class Revisited". Lesliefield.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  2. ↑ "Thunderboats..the craft they call unlimited" Popular Mechanics, June 1976, pp. 61-63.
  3. 1 2 Archived July 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "It's A Wonder - Page 1". Vintageraceboatshop.com. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  5. 1 2 3 "Unlimited Hydros - Back on Track". thunderboats.ning.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  6. ↑ American Boat Racing Association changes its name to H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Unveils new international brand – Auburn Reporter
  7. ↑ "Pak rates Gold Cup boat pick". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 4, 1974. p. 2, sports.
  8. ↑ "Pay 'n Pak wins rugged Gold Cup". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 5, 1974. p. 13.
  9. 1 2 "Pay 'N Pak will sport experimental engine". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). July 25, 1980. p. 28.
  10. ↑ "Flip: Pay 'N Pak's 2½ somersaults electrify hydro race crowd". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). July 28, 1980. p. 17.
  11. ↑ "Race goes to Muncey; Pak flips". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. July 28, 1980. p. 22.
  12. ↑ "Chenoweth top qualifier in Miss Bud". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 25, 1981. p. 17.
  13. ↑ Blanchette, John (July 27, 1981). "Hanauer's the hydro champ". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 13.
  14. ↑ Lee, Greg (July 27, 1985). "Quietly riding wave of the future". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 15.
  15. ↑ Bunch, Jeff (July 25, 1987). "When you say Bud, you've said it all". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. B1.
  16. ↑ Bunch, Jeff (July 30, 1988). "Wet, wild and very dangerous". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. B1.
  17. ↑ "Unlimited | American Power Boat Association". www.apba.org. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  18. ↑ "Six hydroplanes set to rip-up the aqua oval on Lake Guntersville". H1 Unlimited. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  19. ↑ "2015 Teams". H1 Unlimited. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  20. ↑ "Historic Martini & Rossi Trophy to be presented to National Champion". NBC Right Now. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  21. ↑ "New Trophy Honors Bill Muncey". thunderboats.ning.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  22. ↑ "Tempo VI - The Gold Cup Champion". thunderboats.ning.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  23. ↑ 2021 Hydro Record Book and Statistics. Edmonds, WA: Unlimited NewsJournal. 2021. p. 36.
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