They’re Back! The U-3 Team Returns For Gold Cup
By Kirk Duncan
“I just want to work on my boat, race it and have fun doing it.”
That’s what Go3 Racing Owner Ed Cooper is saying these days.
The team officially announced this past Friday (July 17) it would return to the H1 Unlimited tour for the first time since the 2009 season.
Other than two laps in Madison in 2010, and a 2014 exhibition event in Evansville, Indiana, the team has not competed in an Unlimited race for the past six years.
The decision to race again came after months of conversations between new H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David and Cooper.
Ed Cooper
Those talks picked up again several days after the season-opening race in Madison, Indiana. Both sides finally mutually agreed on several points of contention in previous talks, and the return of the sport’s only piston powered Unlimited hydroplane was set.
In a nutshell, the new direction the sport appears to be taking, and a change in the H1 Unlimited leadership, was enough for Ed Cooper to think about returning to the tour.
The Gold Cup was also a great incentive for the 2003 winning owner to return to racing. The boat loves the Columbia River course in the Tri-Cities, and the fans love the boat.
It was a win-win all the way around.
Even though his boat was sitting in his Posey County, Indiana boat shop and not on the water each summer, Cooper was not idle.
Far from it.
Each day he would walk out his back door of his home, down the driveway to the shop and work. Work on everything hydroplane related.
He worked hard to improve his race team, especially his engine program.
All in all, he has 12 race ready Allison V-12 engines. More than triple what he has ever had going into a racing season.
Once the decision was made to make a return, the question of funding the program was the number one priority.
Sponsorship and where to get one and so late in the game was the biggest hurdle.
The former U-3 driver and four-time race winner, Mitch Evans led the sponsorship drive. Along with current crew member Rick Bowles, and a team of local folks in the Tri-Cities, all hit the trail diligently searching for sponsors.
In just one week, this newly formed team had secured a title sponsor and several associate sponsors to make the return of the Big Red ‘Turbinator’ a reality.
Coming on board is long time hydroplane fan in the Tri-Cities, Charlie Grigg, owner of the local Grigg Ace Hardware stores.
Grigg missed the sound of the piston engine, and when the opportunity came about to sponsor a team, he jumped at the chance as a title sponsor.
Ed Cooper’s Go3 Racing Team will be called Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware for the HAPO Gold Cup.
Jimmy King
Veteran driver Jimmy King returns to his familiar seat in the U-3, one he has held since 2005.
Also joining the team as associate sponsors for the Tri-Cities Gold Cup are Whispering Turbines, Evans Marine, Tri-Cities Insurance Professionals and many fans of the U-3 that donated via a GoFundMe account.
After a six-year hiatus from racing, the Go3 Racing Team and fans are ready just to have fun.
Just the way Ed Cooper wants it.
They’re Back! The U-3 Team Returns For Gold Cup
By Kirk Duncan
“I just want to work on my boat, race it and have fun doing it.”
That’s what Go3 Racing Owner Ed Cooper is saying these days.
The team officially announced this past Friday (July 17) it would return to the H1 Unlimited tour for the first time since the 2009 season.
Other than two laps in Madison in 2010, and a 2014 exhibition event in Evansville, Indiana, the team has not competed in an Unlimited race for the past six years.
The decision to race again came after months of conversations between new H1 Unlimited Chairman Steve David and Cooper.
Ed Cooper
Those talks picked up again several days after the season-opening race in Madison, Indiana. Both sides finally mutually agreed on several points of contention in previous talks, and the return of the sport’s only piston powered Unlimited hydroplane was set.
In a nutshell, the new direction the sport appears to be taking, and a change in the H1 Unlimited leadership, was enough for Ed Cooper to think about returning to the tour.
The Gold Cup was also a great incentive for the 2003 winning owner to return to racing. The boat loves the Columbia River course in the Tri-Cities, and the fans love the boat.
It was a win-win all the way around.
Even though his boat was sitting in his Posey County, Indiana boat shop and not on the water each summer, Cooper was not idle.
Far from it.
Each day he would walk out his back door of his home, down the driveway to the shop and work. Work on everything hydroplane related.
He worked hard to improve his race team, especially his engine program.
All in all, he has 12 race ready Allison V-12 engines. More than triple what he has ever had going into a racing season.
Once the decision was made to make a return, the question of funding the program was the number one priority.
Sponsorship and where to get one and so late in the game was the biggest hurdle.
The former U-3 driver and four-time race winner, Mitch Evans led the sponsorship drive. Along with current crew member Rick Bowles, and a team of local folks in the Tri-Cities, all hit the trail diligently searching for sponsors.
In just one week, this newly formed team had secured a title sponsor and several associate sponsors to make the return of the Big Red ‘Turbinator’ a reality.
Coming on board is long time hydroplane fan in the Tri-Cities, Charlie Grigg, owner of the local Grigg Ace Hardware stores.
Grigg missed the sound of the piston engine, and when the opportunity came about to sponsor a team, he jumped at the chance as a title sponsor.
Ed Cooper’s Go3 Racing Team will be called Griggs presents Miss Ace Hardware for the HAPO Gold Cup.
Jimmy King
Veteran driver Jimmy King returns to his familiar seat in the U-3, one he has held since 2005.
Also joining the team as associate sponsors for the Tri-Cities Gold Cup are Whispering Turbines, Evans Marine, Tri-Cities Insurance Professionals and many fans of the U-3 that donated via a GoFundMe account.
After a six-year hiatus from racing, the Go3 Racing Team and fans are ready just to have fun.
Just the way Ed Cooper wants it.