Seafair Weekend featuring the Albert Lee Appliance Cup – 66th Running

Information provided by Gary Dougherty for boats entered in the 2016 race

(Number, Boat Name, Driver, Owner)

U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank, Jimmy Shane, City of Madison, IN

• HomeStreet Bank began sponsoring hydroplanes last year in Seattle. They sponsored Ed Cooper’s piston-powered U-3 at three regattas last year before taking over the sponsorship for the City of Madison, IN owned boat. Last year in Seattle they won heat 1-B with Jimmy King driving and finished fourth in the final.
• Driver Jimmy Shane won the 2013 Seafair race in the Graham Trucking, finished second in 2012 and nabbed a third in 2014. Shane crossed the finish-line in front last year, but was later disqualified for lane encroachment and placed sixth. Shane has won nine heats on Lake Washington (2012-2015). Shane first qualified at Seafair in 2007 driving the U-1 Formulaboats.com II.
• The City of Madison, IN has won the Seattle race four times (2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012). In the 13 Seafair races under the Oh Boy! Oberto sponsorship, they piled up four wins, three seconds and four thirds. The U-6 Miss Madison’s first podium finish on Lake Washington was a third in 1964 with Buddy Byers steering. The Madison team was top qualifier in 2013 and 2014 Albert Lee Cups.

U-3 Miss DiJulio, Jimmy King, Ed Cooper, Jr.

• The DiJulio family has sponsored a boat on Seafair weekend the past four years. Their best Seafair heat finish to date is a third done twice. They have yet to qualify for a final.
• Driver Jimmy King first qualified on Lake Washington in 1996 driving the U-8 Lynnwood Honda/Graham Trucking. He finished all three prelims and ended up sixth in the final. King has won three heats in the past 10 years – 2006, 2009 and 2015.
• The Cooper’s (G3 Racing) best Seattle finish was a second in 2009 with King behind the wheel. The winner was the U-16 Miss E-Lam Plus with Dave Villwock driving. The piston-powered boat was second on the qualifying ladder in 2003 – Toyota of Kirkland (Mitch Evans) at 153.166 mph and 2005 – Toyota of Kirkland (King) 146.908 mph.

 U-5 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly, Ted Porter

• The Graham Trucking (Sponsor and owner of Graham Trucking: Robert Graham) has won the past three Albert Lee Cups and was second the year before in 2012. In 2015 they were promoted to the top spot after the disqualification of the Oberto. Mr. Graham’s first Seafair appearance was in 1997 with the U-98 boat driven by Jerry Hopp who qualified at 142.416 mph. Ended up sixth in the final after two third-place finishes in preliminary heats.
• Driver J. Michael Kelly has won the past two Albert Lee Cups. Drivers to win at least three straight – Bill Muncey (1977-1980) Dave Villwock (1998-2000) & (2002-2004) and Steve David (2010-2012). Kelly also finished third in 2007 driving the U-13 Miss Car Pros. Kelly first qualified on the Ted Jones race course in 2004 driving the U-2 Graham Trucking.
• Owner Ted Porter has collected three Seafair titles (2013-2015). Porter’s boats were second in 2011 (Valken.com) and 2012 (Graham Trucking). Best qualifying position is a second – 2006 (153.201 mph) and 2008 (154.615 mph).

U-7 Graham Trucking II, Jeff Bernard, Ted Porter

• See above for sponsor Graham Trucking.
• Driver Jeff Bernard has one podium finish on Lake Washington – a third in 2008 driving the U-5 Formulaboats.com. Bernard’s first appearance at Seattle was in 2005 driving the U-99.9 Miss Lakeridge Paving. He won the consolation heat and finished fifth in the final. Bernard won two prelim heats in 2007 and has three heat wins in Seattle.
• See above for owner Ted Porter.

U-9 Sound Propeller Services Presents Les Schwab Tires, Andrew Tate, Jones Racing (Lori & Mike Jones)

• Les Schwab Tires has two Seafair podium finishes: Second in 2014 and a third in 2015.
• Andrew Tate opened some eyes last weekend in the Tri-Cities when he qualified second fastest at 159.337 mph. His father Mark Tate raced many times on the Ted Jones racecourse and ended his career with four runner-up finishes. 1991 (Winston Eagle), 1992 (Winston Eagle), 1996 (Smokin’ Joe’s) and 1997 (Close Call).
• Mike & Lori Jones best Seafair finish was second in 2000 with the U-9 Miss Go Bowling (Mike Hanson) and also in 2014 with Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT (Jon Zimmerman). They also checked in third in the 2001 Seafair final with the U-9 Skyway Park Bowl & Casino (Hanson) and last year with driver Scott Liddycoat in the Les Schwab Tires-Team RedDOT . They first owned a boat in 1994 which was sponsored by International News. The Jones’ best Seafair qualifying spot was a second in 2014 with a 152.219 mph lap.

U-11 Peters & May, Tom Thompson, Unlimited Racing Group (Scott & Shannon Raney)

• Peters and May sponsored their first boat (Billy Schumacher’s U-37) in 2010 and won the consolation heat and finished sixth in the final. They started sponsoring the U-11 in 2011.
• Driver Tom Thompson has competed three times at the Seattle race all in the Peters & May. Thompson’s best Seafair qualifying speed is 140.487 mph in 2013.
• The Unlimited Racing Group started racing at Seafair in 2011. J.W. Myers qualified the boat in 2011 fifth fastest at 146.564 mph. They placed seventh in the 2014 Albert Lee Appliance Cup.

U-16 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jean Theoret, Ellstrom Family

• As a sponsor, the Oberto’s first podium finish in Seattle was a third in 1987 with rookie George Woods, Jr. driving. Top three finishes on the Lake Washington when teamed up with the Madison, IN-owned boat 2003-2015: 3-3-3-2-1-2-x-1-1-1-2-3-x. The pepperoni-powered boat made the show for the first time on Lake Washington in 1977 (free admission). Bill Wurster bettered the 90 mph qualifying speed at 91.371. Wurster didn’t finish either of the preliminary heats.
• Driver Jean Theoret captured back-to-back Seafair regattas in 2005-2006. It was his first two appearances on Lake Washington. His 2005 win came in Bill Wurster’s U-8 Llumar Window Film and he also took the checkered flag the following year in Billy Schumacher’s U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing.
• The Ellstrom family Miss E-Lam Plus has won three Seafair regattas: 2001, 2008 and 2009. They have racked up four seconds (2002, 2005, 2010 and 2015) and five thirds (2000, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013). From 2000-2015 (16 races) they have 12 top three finishes. They have been Seattle’s top qualifier an amazing 11 times: 2002 (Nate Brown), 2004 (Terry Troxell), 2005-2012 (Dave Villwock) and 2015 (Jean Theoret).

U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance, Brian Perkins, Greg and Brian O’Farrell

• Miss Albert Lee finished third in 2010 final. They first sponsored a Seattle boat in 2008.
• Brian Perkins best Seattle finish is a third in the 2010. He won a thrilling heat 3-A in 2011 averaging 135.742 mph, U-37 Degree Men averaged 135.184.
• Greg and Brian O’Farrell contested their first Seafair race in 2007 with the U-48 Miss Lakeridge Paving. Their boat qualified at 146.368 mph in 2010 with Perkins at the controls. They took heat 2-A in thrilling fashion averaging 136.322 mph, edging the Graham Trucking (134.654 mph). They made the podium with a third-place effort.

U-99.9 CARSTAR/KISW/Miss Rock, Kevin Eacret, Leland Unlimited

• Welcome back to the KISW/Miss Rock sponsorship! They sponsored two third-place boats in Seattle – 1992 with Nate Brown driving and 1995 (Mark Evans at the controls). KISW/Miss Rock’s first sponsored a boat in 1980. Brian Keogh did not qualify for the Seafair race. The Rock boat qualified for the 1981 Sea Galley APBA Gold Cup on Lake Washington at 105.779 mph (Bob Miller steering). Did not finish in any of the 6-lap heats around the 2½ mile course.
• Kevin Eacret finished all three heats last year at the Albert Lee Cup – 4^th, 5^th and 4^th. He did not qualify for the final.
• The late Fred Leland (Leland Unlimited) won this race three times – 1994 (American Dream, Dave Villwock), 1996 (PICO American Dream, Villwock) and 1997 (PICO American Dream, Mark Evans). They were also second in 1998 (Evans) & 1999 (Greg Hopp).

DRIVERS IN RACE

Seafair Heat Wins – Jean Theoret, 11; Jimmy Shane, 9; J. Michael Kelly, 8: Jeff Bernard, 3; Jimmy King, 3; Brian Perkins 2

Seafair Race Wins — Kelly (2-2014, 2015), Theoret (2- 2005, 2006), Shane (1-2013)

Career Race Wins – Shane, 12; Kelly, 6; Theoret, 6

OWNER/BOAT NAMES TO WIN AT LEAST THREE STRAIGHT IN SEATTLE

4 – Stanley Sayres (1951-1954) – Slo-mo-shun IV & V

4 – Muncey Enterprises (1977-1980) – Atlas Van Lines

3 – David Heerensperger (1973-1975) – Pay ’n Pak

3 – City of Madison, IN (2010-2012) – Oh Boy! Oberto

3 – Ted Porter (2013-2015) – Graham Trucking