HydroFile
Lon Erickson
With the H1 Unlimited fleet recently back in the U.S., returning from the 2010 Doha Oryx Cup, the race team news has been relatively quiet, with the major exceptions of the U-37 Schumacher Racing Team and the newly formed U-11 Unlimited Racing Group.
The H1 Fleet was delayed in the journey returning from Doha, Qatar. Before reaching the Suez Canal, there was a major change of plans with the Hoegh Autoliner-Alliance St. Louis, and the vessel was acquired by the U.S. military for use in transport of other equipment. Peters & May then made changes in the shipping of the fleet. The H1 fleet transferred to the vessel Alliance Beaumont, continued thru the Suez Canal and completed its trans-Atlantic journey, arriving in Jacksonville, FL. on Feb. 17th. The boats and equipment have gone through inspection, customs, and cleared for their respective journey back to each team’s home race shop. Now the regular off-season prep work begins for the upcoming 2011 season.
U-1. The display Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison has been on display in Louisville and coming up in Indianapolis. The U-6 back-up hull #8806 has been in the Madison shop recently getting some updates and attention.
U-5. Ted Porter’s PPE, LLC team has their display boats hitting the U.S. boat show circuit, representing Formula Boats.com, AirGuard, Peters & May Racing, and H1 Unlimited. They are appearing at boat shows throughout the months of Jan., Feb, & March
U-11. Thebiggest development of this winter came with the formation of a new racing team, the U-11 Unlimited Racing Group (URG). The new team is owned by Scott and Shannon Raney along with driver J.W. Myers. With guidance from Dave Bender, a former champion boat racer and President of a large international aerospace and defense electronics company. URG has assembled an experienced team, located a state of the art facility, and is finalizing the acquisition of a hull they plan to be competitive with in the upcoming season. They has secured Peters & May as their title sponsor, along with several key associate sponsors that were previously with Scott Raney’s former team.
U-22. Webster Racing has kept busy during the off-season working on a Peters & May sponsored SST Formula class tunnel hull to compete in the APR Superleague Circuit, as the unlimited schedule allows. That tunnel hull will be on display for the Miami Boat Show in February.
U-37. The other big off-season development, even before the H1 fleet returned from Doha, was the major shakeup with Billy Schumacher Racing. Mid-January Crew Chief Scott Raney was released from the team, with owners Billy and Jane Schumacher citing they didn’t agree with his leadership style and, “decided to go another direction”. Pyro posted later that, “Today ends the U8/37 chapter in my life, won some races with my friends; had some tough times together also. Really excited about my next Grand Adventure!”
With the future of Schumacher Racing uncertain, it was reported on the H1 Unlimited website that a new crew chief and driver would be announced in the near future and they are moving ahead with plans for a new boat for 2011. As the week of U-37 team developments came out, it was learned that J.W. Myers was made aware of his status with the team after seeing it posted on the H1 Unlimited website. Subsequently, due to contractual arrangements, driver Myers also left the team and the majority of the crew resigned from Schumacher Racing, citing philosophical differences. The next day Dave Holley/Peters & May Racing announced they would no longer be sponsoring the U-37 team for the upcoming season; however the company will continue its involvement with H1 as a series and team sponsor. Additionally, long time sponsor Chuck Pepka of RCS/Renton Coil Spring released a press announcement withdrawing his sponsorship of the team and noting, “The owners Billy and Jane Schumacher do not meet the moral and ethical standards of RCS in the management of the team”
The U-37 website has not had any updated news posted or any press releases from Billy & Jane Schumacher concerning any developments or announcements on the 2011 season.
On another unrelated note concerning Schumacher Racing, there is a complaint filed in the King County Superior Court system involving former sponsor Beacon Plumbing/Bill Cahill and Billy Schumacher Racing. This complaint involves sponsorship agreements and the details made for a timeframe starting back in late 2006/early 2007 up through a yet to be determined ending date. The disposition of this case has not been decided upon.
Dave Holley, Managing Director/President of Peters & May USA, has announced a greater involvement in motor sports and boat racing throughout many different classes. They will still be involved with H1 Unlimited as a series sponsor, exclusive logistics carrier for the H1 fleet, QMSF, and involved as title sponsor for the newly formed U-11 Unlimited Racing Group. Peters & May Racing has provided their sponsorships to H1 Unlimited, offshore racing, outboards(including J.W. Myers and Jamie Nilson), Formula class tunnel boats, ERCU/Radio control hydroplane club, GASS(Great American Stockcar Series) shipping & logistics provider, the 5 liter inboard hydro campaigned by Jeff Bernard & Kip Brown, and other classes of racing.
H1 Unlimited Annual Meetings and Awards Banquet are scheduled for February 25-26 @ The Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. As reported last month, H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole made an early announcement of the 2011 season schedule. Included in that schedule was a date of Aug. 26-28. At this point, there has been no further information coming from H1 concerning that date, location, or other additional races. There have been numerous posts on-line in forums, blogs, websites, and social networking sites speculating on many different scenarios for new sponsors, race sites, team developments for 2011. It is anticipated that more 2011 news will come out of the annual meetings in Las Vegas. One significant update is to the 2011 H1 Unlimited Rulebook regarding revisions to qualifying, on-board cameras, and starting procedures including “fight for lanes”. Look for more details to be outlined in upcoming editions of the UNJ.
At this point in time, the 2011 season schedule opens with the Madison Regatta July 1-3, followed by the Detroit APBA Gold Cup July 8-10, Tri-Cities Columbia Cup July 29-31, Seattle Seafair August 5-7, San Diego Sept. 16-18, and concludes in Doha-Qatar December 1-3
The H1 Fleet was delayed in the journey returning from Doha, Qatar. Before reaching the Suez Canal, there was a major change of plans with the Hoegh Autoliner-Alliance St. Louis, and the vessel was acquired by the U.S. military for use in transport of other equipment. Peters & May then made changes in the shipping of the fleet. The H1 fleet transferred to the vessel Alliance Beaumont, continued thru the Suez Canal and completed its trans-Atlantic journey, arriving in Jacksonville, FL. on Feb. 17th. The boats and equipment have gone through inspection, customs, and cleared for their respective journey back to each team’s home race shop. Now the regular off-season prep work begins for the upcoming 2011 season.
U-1. The display Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison has been on display in Louisville and coming up in Indianapolis. The U-6 back-up hull #8806 has been in the Madison shop recently getting some updates and attention.
U-5. Ted Porter’s PPE, LLC team has their display boats hitting the U.S. boat show circuit, representing Formula Boats.com, AirGuard, Peters & May Racing, and H1 Unlimited. They are appearing at boat shows throughout the months of Jan., Feb, & March
U-11. Thebiggest development of this winter came with the formation of a new racing team, the U-11 Unlimited Racing Group (URG). The new team is owned by Scott and Shannon Raney along with driver J.W. Myers. With guidance from Dave Bender, a former champion boat racer and President of a large international aerospace and defense electronics company. URG has assembled an experienced team, located a state of the art facility, and is finalizing the acquisition of a hull they plan to be competitive with in the upcoming season. They has secured Peters & May as their title sponsor, along with several key associate sponsors that were previously with Scott Raney’s former team.
U-22. Webster Racing has kept busy during the off-season working on a Peters & May sponsored SST Formula class tunnel hull to compete in the APR Superleague Circuit, as the unlimited schedule allows. That tunnel hull will be on display for the Miami Boat Show in February.
U-37. The other big off-season development, even before the H1 fleet returned from Doha, was the major shakeup with Billy Schumacher Racing. Mid-January Crew Chief Scott Raney was released from the team, with owners Billy and Jane Schumacher citing they didn’t agree with his leadership style and, “decided to go another direction”. Pyro posted later that, “Today ends the U8/37 chapter in my life, won some races with my friends; had some tough times together also. Really excited about my next Grand Adventure!”
With the future of Schumacher Racing uncertain, it was reported on the H1 Unlimited website that a new crew chief and driver would be announced in the near future and they are moving ahead with plans for a new boat for 2011. As the week of U-37 team developments came out, it was learned that J.W. Myers was made aware of his status with the team after seeing it posted on the H1 Unlimited website. Subsequently, due to contractual arrangements, driver Myers also left the team and the majority of the crew resigned from Schumacher Racing, citing philosophical differences. The next day Dave Holley/Peters & May Racing announced they would no longer be sponsoring the U-37 team for the upcoming season; however the company will continue its involvement with H1 as a series and team sponsor. Additionally, long time sponsor Chuck Pepka of RCS/Renton Coil Spring released a press announcement withdrawing his sponsorship of the team and noting, “The owners Billy and Jane Schumacher do not meet the moral and ethical standards of RCS in the management of the team”
The U-37 website has not had any updated news posted or any press releases from Billy & Jane Schumacher concerning any developments or announcements on the 2011 season.
On another unrelated note concerning Schumacher Racing, there is a complaint filed in the King County Superior Court system involving former sponsor Beacon Plumbing/Bill Cahill and Billy Schumacher Racing. This complaint involves sponsorship agreements and the details made for a timeframe starting back in late 2006/early 2007 up through a yet to be determined ending date. The disposition of this case has not been decided upon.
Dave Holley, Managing Director/President of Peters & May USA, has announced a greater involvement in motor sports and boat racing throughout many different classes. They will still be involved with H1 Unlimited as a series sponsor, exclusive logistics carrier for the H1 fleet, QMSF, and involved as title sponsor for the newly formed U-11 Unlimited Racing Group. Peters & May Racing has provided their sponsorships to H1 Unlimited, offshore racing, outboards(including J.W. Myers and Jamie Nilson), Formula class tunnel boats, ERCU/Radio control hydroplane club, GASS(Great American Stockcar Series) shipping & logistics provider, the 5 liter inboard hydro campaigned by Jeff Bernard & Kip Brown, and other classes of racing.
H1 Unlimited Annual Meetings and Awards Banquet are scheduled for February 25-26 @ The Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. As reported last month, H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole made an early announcement of the 2011 season schedule. Included in that schedule was a date of Aug. 26-28. At this point, there has been no further information coming from H1 concerning that date, location, or other additional races. There have been numerous posts on-line in forums, blogs, websites, and social networking sites speculating on many different scenarios for new sponsors, race sites, team developments for 2011. It is anticipated that more 2011 news will come out of the annual meetings in Las Vegas. One significant update is to the 2011 H1 Unlimited Rulebook regarding revisions to qualifying, on-board cameras, and starting procedures including “fight for lanes”. Look for more details to be outlined in upcoming editions of the UNJ.
At this point in time, the 2011 season schedule opens with the Madison Regatta July 1-3, followed by the Detroit APBA Gold Cup July 8-10, Tri-Cities Columbia Cup July 29-31, Seattle Seafair August 5-7, San Diego Sept. 16-18, and concludes in Doha-Qatar December 1-3
