Spring Boat Shop Tour – 5
T-6 (foreground) unwrapped by Josh and Danny. Ready for new 2012 vinyl. T-5 will be a backup.
In the Decatur, Indiana home home of the Porter family’s Precision Performance, LLC Racing Team, final preparations are being made to campaign the team’s newest boat, the former Budweiser T-6, on the 2012 Air National Guard H1 Unlimited Hydroplane tour.
Jimmy Shane of Havre de Grace, Maryland will get his first full-time driving assignment in the Unlimited ranks.
Jimmy Shane in his new custom fit driver's seat.
Faced with the decision whether to run last year’s 5 Graham Trucking or 7 Valken.com hull as the primary race boat in 2012, Ted Porter tells us, “We chose to run the T6 because it is the newest of the two hulls. Both boats are highly competitive, so either boat would have been the right choice. The T6 likes to get up and dance over the water so Jimmy will enjoy the ride.”
This means that Jimmy Shane’s new ride will be the same boat that carried Scott Liddycoat to Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 as the all black Valken.com.
Daryl getting air bottles ready for racing.
During the off season, the team made changes to the shoes and runners to help with handling and acceleration out of the turns. They also added to the number of gear combinations they will have available for changing conditions.
The team’s big inventory of propellers was made race ready and turbine engines were rebuilt and serviced by Screaming Turbines Ltd. The cockpit boasts a new driver’s seat, custom fit to Shane during a trip to the shop.
Goober in the engine well - installing a turbine.
The team plans to have both boats in the pit area, with the T5 at each race as a back-up boat should the need arise. Both boats will have the 5 Graham Trucking design on them. The T5 will have the 2011 design and the T6 will have the new 2012 design.
When asked about the choice of Shane, one of the country’s most successful inboard racers, as the team’s new driver, Porter told us. “Jimmy has been awesome to have on the team. Since 2007 Jimmy has been our back-up driver. He hits the starts right on time and drives as aggressively as the equipment we give him to drive. In Doha 2011 we were holding him back to guarantee finishing and he still placed 4th.”
Turbines and gear boxes are ready to go.
“Jimmy has an amazing easy-going personality, “Porter continued. “He’s talented as a boat builder and can repair anything that breaks. This is the first season Jimmy will get to run a Bud boat on a course larger than Celina. His driving ability and positive attitude will take our team to new heights. He will be an awesome spokesperson for Graham Trucking as well.”
In 2011, Team Porter had three boats at every race and one of the biggest operations in the history of the sport.
T-5 will keep the 2011 Graham Trucking color scheme and assume a backup role.
The third boat, 57 Formulaboats.com was sold to Mark and Mitch Evans of Chelan, Washington but will continue to represent the Porter family’s Formula Boat company on the circuit.
Having successfully run a multi-boat operation since entering the sport, the ability to concentrate resources and man power on one race boat could make this a team and boat to watch in 2012.
Spring Boat Shop Tour – 5
T-6 (foreground) unwrapped by Josh and Danny. Ready for new 2012 vinyl. T-5 will be a backup.
In the Decatur, Indiana home home of the Porter family’s Precision Performance, LLC Racing Team, final preparations are being made to campaign the team’s newest boat, the former Budweiser T-6, on the 2012 Air National Guard H1 Unlimited Hydroplane tour.
Jimmy Shane of Havre de Grace, Maryland will get his first full-time driving assignment in the Unlimited ranks.
Jimmy Shane in his new custom fit driver's seat.
Faced with the decision whether to run last year’s 5 Graham Trucking or 7 Valken.com hull as the primary race boat in 2012, Ted Porter tells us, “We chose to run the T6 because it is the newest of the two hulls. Both boats are highly competitive, so either boat would have been the right choice. The T6 likes to get up and dance over the water so Jimmy will enjoy the ride.”
This means that Jimmy Shane’s new ride will be the same boat that carried Scott Liddycoat to Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 as the all black Valken.com.
Daryl getting air bottles ready for racing.
During the off season, the team made changes to the shoes and runners to help with handling and acceleration out of the turns. They also added to the number of gear combinations they will have available for changing conditions.
The team’s big inventory of propellers was made race ready and turbine engines were rebuilt and serviced by Screaming Turbines Ltd. The cockpit boasts a new driver’s seat, custom fit to Shane during a trip to the shop.
Goober in the engine well - installing a turbine.
The team plans to have both boats in the pit area, with the T5 at each race as a back-up boat should the need arise. Both boats will have the 5 Graham Trucking design on them. The T5 will have the 2011 design and the T6 will have the new 2012 design.
When asked about the choice of Shane, one of the country’s most successful inboard racers, as the team’s new driver, Porter told us. “Jimmy has been awesome to have on the team. Since 2007 Jimmy has been our back-up driver. He hits the starts right on time and drives as aggressively as the equipment we give him to drive. In Doha 2011 we were holding him back to guarantee finishing and he still placed 4th.”
Turbines and gear boxes are ready to go.
“Jimmy has an amazing easy-going personality, “Porter continued. “He’s talented as a boat builder and can repair anything that breaks. This is the first season Jimmy will get to run a Bud boat on a course larger than Celina. His driving ability and positive attitude will take our team to new heights. He will be an awesome spokesperson for Graham Trucking as well.”
In 2011, Team Porter had three boats at every race and one of the biggest operations in the history of the sport.
T-5 will keep the 2011 Graham Trucking color scheme and assume a backup role.
The third boat, 57 Formulaboats.com was sold to Mark and Mitch Evans of Chelan, Washington but will continue to represent the Porter family’s Formula Boat company on the circuit.
Having successfully run a multi-boat operation since entering the sport, the ability to concentrate resources and man power on one race boat could make this a team and boat to watch in 2012.