Shane, Kelly and Perkins Win Gold Cup Prelims
Jimmy Shane (left) and J. Michael Kelly 9 (right) race past the historic Detroit Yacht Club in Heat 1A.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
The first day of racing at the 2014 Detroit APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River produced three different heat winners and thrilled the big Detroit crowd with great racing before disaster struck in Heat 2B.
The weekend racing started with the top three qualifiers grouped in Heat 1A and the draw produced spectacular racing on the the big 2.5 mile Gold Cup race course.
J. Michael Kelly maneuvered the 1 Graham Trucking to the inside before the start with top qualifier Jimmy Shane in the 6 Oberto in lane two and Jon Zimmerman in the 9 Red Dot/Spirit of Qatar on the outside.
Shane and Kelly in the Roostertail Turn on lap 1 of Heat 1A. Photo by Chris Denslow – H1.
Kelly took an early lead on the inside and came out of the first turn with Shane pulling up beside him as they accelerated to 200+ approaching the Detroit Yacht Club on the backstretch. The two battled side by side for two laps before Shane’s superior speed took him to the lead at the mid-way point of the heat.
The heat was a fast one with Shane averaging over 157 mph for the four laps and Kelly just under 156. Zimmerman finished third in his first race of the weekend.
Cal Phipps and Brian Perkins racing in Heat 2A.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
Brian Perkins led Heat 1B from start to finish in the 21 Miss All Deeby Dodge with local favorite Cal Phipps of Sterling Heights running second in the 7 Graham Trucking II. Mike Webster finished third in the 22 Auto Value/Webster Racing.
The draw for heat 2A and 2B separated Kelly and Shane. Kelly was drawn into 1A with Perkins, Webster and Greg Hopp in the 12 ServPro/Miss DiJulio. Hopp did not make a start and Kelly led the field across the start line in lane one and cruised to an easy victory. Perkins was second and Webster third.
Shane and the Oberto were joined in 2B by Zimmerman, Phipps and Tom Thompson in the 11 Peters and May, but the Peters and May did not make the start as the crew continued to chase mechanical issues.
When Shane put the Oberto in lane one, the disadvantage for Zimmerman on his right appeared to be insurmountable. But Zimmerman showed great boat speed and gave Shane a ferocious battle until disaster struck on the final lap.
Rescue crew with damaged 9 Team Red Dot/Spirit of Qatar.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
Shane and Zimmerman got the white flag at the start of lap four and headed into the big Belle Isle Bridge turn with Zimmerman still in hot pursuit of Shane. At the entrance to the turn, Zimmerman’s boat lifted off the water and did a complete 360 before landing right side up.
Zimmerman rode back to the pits with the H1 rescue team was not injured. Crew Chief Jeff Campbell and the rest of the Red Dot/Qatar team set about to assess damage to the boat.
Heat 2B was scored as completed with Shane taking the win and Phipps second.
Racing will resume Sunday with the running of Heat 3A at 11:00 am EDT with the Championship Final Heat slated for 4:30 pm.
Shane, Kelly and Perkins Win Gold Cup Prelims
Jimmy Shane (left) and J. Michael Kelly 9 (right) race past the historic Detroit Yacht Club in Heat 1A.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
The first day of racing at the 2014 Detroit APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River produced three different heat winners and thrilled the big Detroit crowd with great racing before disaster struck in Heat 2B.
The weekend racing started with the top three qualifiers grouped in Heat 1A and the draw produced spectacular racing on the the big 2.5 mile Gold Cup race course.
J. Michael Kelly maneuvered the 1 Graham Trucking to the inside before the start with top qualifier Jimmy Shane in the 6 Oberto in lane two and Jon Zimmerman in the 9 Red Dot/Spirit of Qatar on the outside.
Shane and Kelly in the Roostertail Turn on lap 1 of Heat 1A. Photo by Chris Denslow – H1.
Kelly took an early lead on the inside and came out of the first turn with Shane pulling up beside him as they accelerated to 200+ approaching the Detroit Yacht Club on the backstretch. The two battled side by side for two laps before Shane’s superior speed took him to the lead at the mid-way point of the heat.
The heat was a fast one with Shane averaging over 157 mph for the four laps and Kelly just under 156. Zimmerman finished third in his first race of the weekend.
Cal Phipps and Brian Perkins racing in Heat 2A.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
Brian Perkins led Heat 1B from start to finish in the 21 Miss All Deeby Dodge with local favorite Cal Phipps of Sterling Heights running second in the 7 Graham Trucking II. Mike Webster finished third in the 22 Auto Value/Webster Racing.
The draw for heat 2A and 2B separated Kelly and Shane. Kelly was drawn into 1A with Perkins, Webster and Greg Hopp in the 12 ServPro/Miss DiJulio. Hopp did not make a start and Kelly led the field across the start line in lane one and cruised to an easy victory. Perkins was second and Webster third.
Shane and the Oberto were joined in 2B by Zimmerman, Phipps and Tom Thompson in the 11 Peters and May, but the Peters and May did not make the start as the crew continued to chase mechanical issues.
When Shane put the Oberto in lane one, the disadvantage for Zimmerman on his right appeared to be insurmountable. But Zimmerman showed great boat speed and gave Shane a ferocious battle until disaster struck on the final lap.
Rescue crew with damaged 9 Team Red Dot/Spirit of Qatar.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
Shane and Zimmerman got the white flag at the start of lap four and headed into the big Belle Isle Bridge turn with Zimmerman still in hot pursuit of Shane. At the entrance to the turn, Zimmerman’s boat lifted off the water and did a complete 360 before landing right side up.
Zimmerman rode back to the pits with the H1 rescue team was not injured. Crew Chief Jeff Campbell and the rest of the Red Dot/Qatar team set about to assess damage to the boat.
Heat 2B was scored as completed with Shane taking the win and Phipps second.
Racing will resume Sunday with the running of Heat 3A at 11:00 am EDT with the Championship Final Heat slated for 4:30 pm.