Driver: Steven David – Lighthouse, FL
Home Port:Madison, IN
2010 Finish: 1 (9,444)
2010 Podium Finishes: 6
The wily Steven David returns in 2011 as a three-peat National Champion behind the wheel of the City of Madison’s jerky-powered hull, The Oh Boy! Oberto (0706). David and the Miss Madison team again managed to hold off and edge Team Ellstrom for the 2010 National Championship. To the delight of the Oberto sausage company, the Jerky Boat swept the State of Washington races with Seafair Trophy and Columbia Cup wins. The Oberto also captured an Indiana Governor’s Cup on her Ohio River home waters of Madison, Indiana. You can always count on the preparedness of the Oh Boy! Oberto as crew chief Mike “Boat Doctor” Hanson once again will have the hull dialed for competition in 2011.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 2
This boat will again run Deck2Deck with the Spirit of Qatar this season. Two regatta wins likely with up to three a possibility. A sure fantasy play in 2011.
July 5th Update: Due to the damage sustained during the collision with the U-96 during the Final Heatof the Madison Regatta, the three time defending champion hull will be out along with its veteran pilot. Mike and Lori Jones’ U-9 hull has been leased and Jon Zimmerman has been signed as the relief driver. This is a capable hull with a capable driver. May be a fantasy surprise in Detroit.
Driver: Jeff Bernard – Kent, WA
Home Port: Decatur, IN
2010 Finish: 4 (5,574)
2010 Podium Finishes: 1
During the 2010 season young gun Jeff Bernard never seemed to fully recover from the blow over accident that ended his 2009 campaign. After wining two races in 2009, Bernard and Team Formula did not place better than their third place finish at the Columbia Cup in 2010. Although the performance of U-5 (0001) suffered and took a step back, do not count out this former Budweiser Beer Wagon in 2011. With the departure of teammate J. Michael Kelly to Team Schumacher, expect the U-5 to be bolstered by additional focus as Bernard’s campaign will likely overshadow that of his new rookie teammate.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 3
Expect a bounce back season for young Bernard in 2011. Three podium finishes at a minimum. A sure fantasy play in 2011.
Driver: Scott Liddycoat – Suffolk, VA
Home Port: Decatur, IN
2010 Finish: 3 (8,207) with Driver J. Michael Kelly
2010 Podium Finishes: 5
The departure of J. Michael Kelly to Team Schumacher adds a layer of mystery to the U-7 campaign for 2011. There is no question that the U-7 (9712) is a premium hull with enough beans to run with anybody on the circuit — Kelly has proved this over the past two seasons. The question is: How long will it take the rookie shoe to learn the ways of the unlimited ranks and master chauffeuring a three-ton monster at 200 mph? Liddycoat is accomplished in smaller classes, and as Allen and Kelly have proven, it may not take long for the U-7 to contend should everything fall into place.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 8
As Liddycoat grows more comfortable in the cockpit the U-7 will be a solid late-season selection.
Driver: Jon Zimmerman
HomePort: WA
2010 Finish: Did not race
2010 Podium Finishes: N/A
July 27 Update: The U-9 will run in Tri-Cities as the Miss VisitTri-Cities.com with Jon Zimmerman at the controls. Zimmerman was an impressive relief driver for Schumacher Racing in 2010 and already has seat time this year in the U-9 when it ran as the Miss Madison in the Detroit Gold Cup. Look for a steady performance by Zimmerman, but do not expect miracles from this older hull which faces stiff competition from faster and more modern boats.
July 5 Update: The U-9 has been leased by the Miss Madison team and will run as the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto in Detroit and maybe for the foreseeable future.
Preseason report: It is rumored that the U-9 has intentions to race in the great State of Washington in 2011 after a year’s hiatus. Driver assignment is unknown at this time. It will be great to see the U-9 as a field filler but it is not a viable fantasy choice this season.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 13
Likely a fantasy pass in 2011.
Driver: JW Myers – Burien, WA
Home Port: Edmonds, WA
2010 Finish: N/A – new team
2010 Podium Finishes: N/A
Veteran crew chief Scott Raney and veteran chauffeur J.W. Myers step out on their own as new co-owners in the sport with the purchase of a Ron Jones Jr.-crafted hull (0010), raced for the previous two seasons by Dr. Ken Muscatel. The hull has not displayed much promise as the U-25, but look for Raney and crew to extract more performance and speed out of it with the spirited backing of David Holley and Peters & May. Remember, it was Raney that transformed the Leland-designed U-37 relief boat a season ago into a consistent performer.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 5
After early teething, the team’s performance should steadily improve. Should have a substantial chance at a couple mid-to-late season podium finishes.
Driver: Cal Phipps — Sterling Heights, MI
Home Port: Detroit MI
2010 Finish: 11 (2,306)
2010 Podium Finishes: 0
The Spirit of Detroit returns to the circuit in 2011 again with Cal Phipps behind the wheel. Phipps acclimated himself well to Unlimited racing in 2010 and should only improve in 2011. It is unknown at this time which of the team’s two hulls it will campaign. However, either boat offers its own unique set of challenges. Initially constructed in 1987, the former Winston Eagle (8700) would be the oldest hull in the fleet, while the former Trendwest hull would likely be the most ill-handling. They just don’t have enough beans to run with the fastest and second tier boats in the fleet.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 14
Although this team has had success in the recent past (Gold Cup win in 2005), the team has become a field-filler type entry and is likely a fantasy pass in 2011.
UPDATE: It appears the team will sit out the 2011 season.
Drivers: Kip Brown and Nate Brown – Preston, WA
Home Port: Preston, WA
2010 Finish: 8 (3,161)
2010 Podium Finishes: 0
This team, led by veteran racer Nate Brown, again showed a great deal of inconsistency in 2010. The team suffered mechanical gremlins that beached them at the Madison and San Diego events. As expected, when the veteran Nate Brown was behind the wheel, boat performance appeared to improve over that of the younger and less-experienced Kip Brown. Their best finish in 2010 was a fourth place in Tri-Cities with Nate chauffeuring. At that Columbia Cup race, the boat was also the third top qualifier just behind the U-1 and U-96. It appears the Kip will handle most of the driving except for Detroit where Cal Phipps and Nate Brown will share the cockpit of the U-17 (0717).
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 7
This boat makes strides each season. With some consistency this team could be a Top 5 national boat in 2011. A definite potential fantasy selection.
Driver: Brian Perkins – Maple Valley, WA
Home Port: Maple Valley, WA
2010 Finish: 5 (4,894)
2010 Podium Finishes: 1
The acquisition of the former San Diego-based Freedom Racing hull transformed the Go Fast Turn Left Racing team. The operation went from a lower mid-pack boat in 2009 without the speed to compete for wins to an upper mid-pack boat with competition-level speed in 2010. Look for the U-21 (0721) to build on their solid effort put forth last season. The team’s three heat wins and 5th place national finish are building blocks for the future. Perkins appears to be headed for a long and consistent career, but will he break through for race wins?
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 6
Perkins has a boat he can win with. The return of the fight for lanes may help Perkins pick off better-equipped drivers in 2011. Look for one or two podium finishes. A solid fantasy selection in 2011.
July 5 Update: Team is busy in Go3 Shop in Evansville repairing damage from the incident with a rescue sled.
Driver: Mike Webster – Reading, PA
Home Port: Reading, PA
2010 Finish: 7 (3,183)
2010 Podium Finishes: 0
After two years spent toiling at the back of the pack with “Tubby” (9703), the Websters have procured the Oh Boy! Oberto backup hull for the 2011 campaign. The last time the (8806) Madison hull raced was the 2007 season where it was highly competitive with veteran racer Steven David at the controls. Although the U-22 team performance should improve with the “new” hull, do not expect the boat to be highly competitive as Webster still is in the orientation phase of his unlimited career. Expect the 22 to again race conservatively and toward the rear of the pack.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 11
Not enough where it counts. A fantasy pass in 2011.
Driver: Dr. Ken Muscatel – Seattle, WA
Home Port: Seattle, WA
2010 Finish: 10 (2,550) with former U-25
A late addition to the fleet, Dr. Ken returns to the cockpit in 2011 and will race a leased hull, Greg O’Farrell’s former U-48. The popular Good Doctor is no stranger to the role of racing an aging and obsolete hull and chasing the pack. This hull has not raced since 2009 and with its last-minute entry, there will not be time for the considerable off-season upgrades or work that might improve its performance. It’s great to have the Doctor back, but it will be another long and challenging season for Superior Racing.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 12
No speed and little time to prepare. This team is an absolute fantasy pass.
July 5 Update: Heading to Detroit without even getting wet in Madison.
Driver: N. Mark Evans – Chelan, WA
Home Port: Decatur, IN
2010 Finish: 12 (1,383)
2010 Podium Finishes: 0
After a seven-year absence Mark Evans returned to the unlimited ranks in the third Precision Performance entry. The U-57 was a back marker for much of the year but did manage to muster a 6th place finish in San Diego in 2010. The team made off-season upgrades and performance should improve. Despite the capabilities of veteran racer N. Mark Evans it is hard to imagine that this third-string hull will have enough coal in the engine room to compete for wins.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 10.
Not enough where it counts. Likely a fantasy pass in 2011.
Driver: J. Michael Kelly – Puyallup, WA
Home Port: Seattle, WA
2010 Finish: 6 (4,295) Former Hull as U-37
2010 Podium Finishes: 1
After parting ways with crew chief Scott Raney, Driver J-Dub Myers and Sponsor Peters and May, Billy and Jane Schumacher return in 2011 with established hot shoe J. Michael Kelly at the wheel of a new and soon-to-be-completed Ron Jones Jr. hull (1188). Veteran Jim Harvey has also been brought into the fold as General Manager to oversee the boat operation. The Schumacher camp will be racing under the banner of a new primary sponsor in Degree for Men. I expect this team, after sorting out the new boat, to be at the heels, if not right with the Oberto and the Spirit of Qatar by season’s end.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 4.
After early teething, this team will have a legitimate chance in any race. Look for Kelly to have multiple podium finishes with a regatta win a possibility. A sure late-season fantasy play in 2011.
Driver: Dave Villwock – Auburn, WA
Home Port: Ballard, WA
2010 Finish: 2 (9,053)
2010 Podium Finishes: 4
After being edged by the Oberto by a mere 235 points in 2009, The Spirit of Qatar, with the backing of His Excellency Sheikh Hassan, finished only 391 shy of the Oberto in 2010. Although the elusive Martini & Rossi Trophy escaped Team Ellstrom yet again, Dave Villwock did win three races, bringing home a Gold Cup, a Bill Muncey Cup, and a UIM World Championship. With that final victory of the season in Doha, Villwock tied legendary driver Bill Muncey at the top of the all-time win list at 62. the Spirit of Qatar (0116) should again be one of, if not the most thoroughly prepared boat on the water in 2011 as the Ellstroms seek to regain the U-1 designation that has eluded them since 2007.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 1
Look for a hot start from Dave Villwock and the Spirit of Qatar as win 63 is within their grasp. Three or four regatta wins are likely. A sure fantasy play in 2011.
July 5 Update: Ellstrom team claims damage from Madison will be repaired in time to run for the Gold Cup.
Driver: Ryan Mallow
Home Port: Kirkland, WA
2010 Finish: N/A
2010 Podium Finishes: N/A
Fred Leland will campaign a second hull (last season’s U-100) in Tri-Cities, the Miss HAPO Credit Union. Driver Ryan Mallow is getting his first shot in an unlimited hydroplane at the Columbia Cup. Mallow is the primary driver for Tom Eckenberg’s GP-19 boat.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 14
While the Leland Navy possesses champion hulls, Mallow will be required to run the U-99 in the trailer position as he gets qualified to drive an unlimited. A fantasy pass until Mallow gains more experience.
Driver: Greg Hopp – Snohomish, WA
Home Port: Kirkland, WA
2010 Finish: 9 (3,030)
2010 Podium Finishes: 0
Expect to see the former “dust buster” hull Hopp tested at Lake Samamish campaigned this season in-lieu of the hull run the previous couple seasons (9899). Under the guidance of veteran crew chief Jim Harvey, the Leland entry showed improvement in 2010. The U-100 posted a respectable fourth place finish at Detroit’s Gold Cup and was third fastest qualifier at both Seattle and Detroit. Unfortunately for Team Leland, the talented Jim Harvey has taken his services to the U-88 team. Veteran Greg Hopp will again drive for Leland in 2011. Hopp, a plenty capable and aggressive driver, still seeks his first unlimited victory after debuting in 1999.
HydroDan says: Preseason Rank – 9
Unfortunately this will not be the year for Hopps’s first win, but this “new” boat may be capable of a few final heat appearances after it gets sorted out. A potential darkhorse fantasy selection.
