Series Set For 2014 Debut
2013 Champion Jimmy Shane will pilot
Oberto/Miss Madison in 2014
By this time next week, hydro fans around the world will have some answers to many of the questions that have filled conversations and internet chat rooms during the off-season.
Will the 2013 National High Point Champion Jimmy Shane step into the cockpit of the Oberto/Miss Madison and pick up where Steve David left off when he retired?
J. Michael Kelly
How fast will young veteran J. Michael Kelly be in Shane’s former ride, the Graham Trucking? Shane drove the boat to the 2013 championship in a tight battle with David. Kelly has looked very good in boats that did not handle as well as the Graham Trucking.
How much has crew chief Jeff Campbell and the Jones Racing team improved Jon Zimmerman’s ride, which showed consistency and good speed on the way to a fourth place finish in the final 2013 points? Campbell feels changes to the boat during the winter will make for even stronger qualifying and racing.
And will Erick Ellstrom’s new 96 Spirit of Qatar be ready for the season opener? That question was answered Monday when Ellstrom joined forces with Jones Racing in a pact that will rename Zimmerman’s boat the 9 Red Dot presents Spirit of Qatar 96 for the Madison race.
Jon Zimmerman
Ellstrom explained, “We are so close to ready it was tempting to try to make Madison, but in the long run we will be better off making sure we are ready when we go on the road and put the boat in the water.”
“We are fortunate to be able to team up with Jones Racing, added Ellstrom. “Jeff Campbell has done a great job with that boat and Jon is a much respected driver. I know they will represent us and Qatar very well.”
2013 was a big year for Shane. In addition to winning the team and driver championships, he got married, had a son with new wife Bianca (Bononcini) and moved across the country from Maryland to Covington, Washington, southeast of Seattle.
Shane knows he has big shoes to fill, stepping into the void left by the retirement of a driver who will go down in history as one the best ever in the sport as well as the sport’s most popular driver throughout an incredible career.
Shane got a taste of the Oberto/Miss Madison fans passion in appearances last week in Madison and was excited by the experience.
Cal Phipps
“It’s great to be on this side of all that passion!” he said. “I experienced it from the other side and this is a lot more fun.”
Shane added, “Joining a great team with some of the best people and equipment in the sport, as well as that huge passionate fan base, is every driver’s dream and I feel very fortunate to be the one with the opportunity.”
Shane expects a strong challenge from his former team and their new driver, saying the longer off season will allow them to be very well prepared and stronger than ever.
Ted Porter’s Graham Trucking team will be a two boat operation, with Cal Phipps getting the ride in the 7 Graham Trucking, a boat that is also a proven front runner.
Tom Thompson
Tom Thompson returns to the seat of Scott and Shannon Raney’s Peters & May sponsored 11. The team had a much more relaxed first quarter than in 2013, when they completed reconstruction of the race boat days before the first race. The more reasonable schedule has allowed the team to make a stronger start to the season and should lead to improved performance.
Greg and Brian O’Farrell return to the H1 circuit on a full time basis with the 21 GoFastTurnLeft Racing team. Veteran Brian Perkins will share the cockpit with 2013 H1 Rookie of the Year Jamie Nilsen. Nilsen will do the driving in Madison with Perkins taking over for the Detroit APBA Gold Cup.
Jay Leckrone and Denise Garl purchased the O’Farrel’s former hull and have done a nice job of getting the boat ready for the tour. Primary sponsorship will come from the DiJulio family of Seattle and the blue and green boat has been renumbered 12. The colors and number of the 12 Miss DiJulio have special meaning to fans of Seattle’s Super Bowl winning NFL team.
Mike Webster
The East Coast will be represented well on the H1 Tour again by Webster Racing of Reading, Pennsylvania. This is another team that had a much calmer off season compared to the winter of 2012-13 when they had to do a major rebuild on a badly broken race boat.
Driver Mike Webster posted the first heat victory of his unlimited driving career in 2013 and finished the season strong. The consistency and improved speed the team found during the season was encouraging and gives the team good reason for optimism.
The unlimited fleet will be on display outside the pit area on Thursday morning from 9am to noon, before beginning the move in a setup, giving fans a chance to see the boats, drivers and crews up close before they go racing. The cold pit area will also be open to the public on Friday from 10 am-noon.
 Brian Perkins |
 Jamie Nilsen |
 Greg Hopp |
Testing, qualifying and racing will be compressed into the weekend, with Heat 1A scheduled for 11am Sunday and the Indiana Governor’s Cup Final set to go at 4:05.
More information, wristbands and the complete schedule can be found at www.madisonregatta.com.
Series Set For 2014 Debut
2013 Champion Jimmy Shane will pilot
Oberto/Miss Madison in 2014
By this time next week, hydro fans around the world will have some answers to many of the questions that have filled conversations and internet chat rooms during the off-season.
Will the 2013 National High Point Champion Jimmy Shane step into the cockpit of the Oberto/Miss Madison and pick up where Steve David left off when he retired?
J. Michael Kelly
How fast will young veteran J. Michael Kelly be in Shane’s former ride, the Graham Trucking? Shane drove the boat to the 2013 championship in a tight battle with David. Kelly has looked very good in boats that did not handle as well as the Graham Trucking.
How much has crew chief Jeff Campbell and the Jones Racing team improved Jon Zimmerman’s ride, which showed consistency and good speed on the way to a fourth place finish in the final 2013 points? Campbell feels changes to the boat during the winter will make for even stronger qualifying and racing.
And will Erick Ellstrom’s new 96 Spirit of Qatar be ready for the season opener? That question was answered Monday when Ellstrom joined forces with Jones Racing in a pact that will rename Zimmerman’s boat the 9 Red Dot presents Spirit of Qatar 96 for the Madison race.
Jon Zimmerman
Ellstrom explained, “We are so close to ready it was tempting to try to make Madison, but in the long run we will be better off making sure we are ready when we go on the road and put the boat in the water.”
“We are fortunate to be able to team up with Jones Racing, added Ellstrom. “Jeff Campbell has done a great job with that boat and Jon is a much respected driver. I know they will represent us and Qatar very well.”
2013 was a big year for Shane. In addition to winning the team and driver championships, he got married, had a son with new wife Bianca (Bononcini) and moved across the country from Maryland to Covington, Washington, southeast of Seattle.
Shane knows he has big shoes to fill, stepping into the void left by the retirement of a driver who will go down in history as one the best ever in the sport as well as the sport’s most popular driver throughout an incredible career.
Shane got a taste of the Oberto/Miss Madison fans passion in appearances last week in Madison and was excited by the experience.
Cal Phipps
“It’s great to be on this side of all that passion!” he said. “I experienced it from the other side and this is a lot more fun.”
Shane added, “Joining a great team with some of the best people and equipment in the sport, as well as that huge passionate fan base, is every driver’s dream and I feel very fortunate to be the one with the opportunity.”
Shane expects a strong challenge from his former team and their new driver, saying the longer off season will allow them to be very well prepared and stronger than ever.
Ted Porter’s Graham Trucking team will be a two boat operation, with Cal Phipps getting the ride in the 7 Graham Trucking, a boat that is also a proven front runner.
Tom Thompson
Tom Thompson returns to the seat of Scott and Shannon Raney’s Peters & May sponsored 11. The team had a much more relaxed first quarter than in 2013, when they completed reconstruction of the race boat days before the first race. The more reasonable schedule has allowed the team to make a stronger start to the season and should lead to improved performance.
Greg and Brian O’Farrell return to the H1 circuit on a full time basis with the 21 GoFastTurnLeft Racing team. Veteran Brian Perkins will share the cockpit with 2013 H1 Rookie of the Year Jamie Nilsen. Nilsen will do the driving in Madison with Perkins taking over for the Detroit APBA Gold Cup.
Jay Leckrone and Denise Garl purchased the O’Farrel’s former hull and have done a nice job of getting the boat ready for the tour. Primary sponsorship will come from the DiJulio family of Seattle and the blue and green boat has been renumbered 12. The colors and number of the 12 Miss DiJulio have special meaning to fans of Seattle’s Super Bowl winning NFL team.
Mike Webster
The East Coast will be represented well on the H1 Tour again by Webster Racing of Reading, Pennsylvania. This is another team that had a much calmer off season compared to the winter of 2012-13 when they had to do a major rebuild on a badly broken race boat.
Driver Mike Webster posted the first heat victory of his unlimited driving career in 2013 and finished the season strong. The consistency and improved speed the team found during the season was encouraging and gives the team good reason for optimism.
The unlimited fleet will be on display outside the pit area on Thursday morning from 9am to noon, before beginning the move in a setup, giving fans a chance to see the boats, drivers and crews up close before they go racing. The cold pit area will also be open to the public on Friday from 10 am-noon.
|
Brian Perkins |
Jamie Nilsen |
Greg Hopp |
Testing, qualifying and racing will be compressed into the weekend, with Heat 1A scheduled for 11am Sunday and the Indiana Governor’s Cup Final set to go at 4:05.
More information, wristbands and the complete schedule can be found at www.madisonregatta.com.