Need for Speed: Kent’s Bernard in the Unlimited ranks
by HEIDI SANDERS, Kent Reporter Reporter, Schools, Education, Sports
Hydroplane racing is in Jeff Bernard’s blood. So, it’s no surprise the pilot of the U-7 Graham Trucking boat feels at home at high speeds on the water.
The fourth-generation driver followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, uncles Mark and Mike Weber and stepfather Terry Troxell, who all raced, when he started racing powerboats at the age of 9.
“Nine is the earliest you can start,” the 32-year-old said. “I started testing when I was 8 years old.”
And he’s been racing ever since.
“We do it just about every week,” Bernard said. “We race in the inboard category, too, when we’re not doing unlimited. Just about every weekend we are racing something somewhere.”
His wife, Christabelle, and 3-year-old daughter, Blakely, travel to the races to cheer Bernard on.
The Allen Park, Mich., native, who now lives in the Kent area, began his unlimited career driving Fred Leland’s U-99 Lakeridge Paving at the racing at Seafair in 2005. He joined Team Porter Racing in 2006 and piloted the U-5 Miss Formulaboats.com hydroplane until 2011.
“We parted ways after the 2011 season,” he said. “I drove for a couple of other teams here or there.”
Need for Speed: Kent’s Bernard in the Unlimited ranks
by HEIDI SANDERS, Kent Reporter Reporter, Schools, Education, Sports
Hydroplane racing is in Jeff Bernard’s blood. So, it’s no surprise the pilot of the U-7 Graham Trucking boat feels at home at high speeds on the water.
The fourth-generation driver followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, uncles Mark and Mike Weber and stepfather Terry Troxell, who all raced, when he started racing powerboats at the age of 9.
“Nine is the earliest you can start,” the 32-year-old said. “I started testing when I was 8 years old.”
And he’s been racing ever since.
“We do it just about every week,” Bernard said. “We race in the inboard category, too, when we’re not doing unlimited. Just about every weekend we are racing something somewhere.”
His wife, Christabelle, and 3-year-old daughter, Blakely, travel to the races to cheer Bernard on.
The Allen Park, Mich., native, who now lives in the Kent area, began his unlimited career driving Fred Leland’s U-99 Lakeridge Paving at the racing at Seafair in 2005. He joined Team Porter Racing in 2006 and piloted the U-5 Miss Formulaboats.com hydroplane until 2011.
“We parted ways after the 2011 season,” he said. “I drove for a couple of other teams here or there.”