Jimmy Shane Tops Qualifying in Detroit
Friday afternoon, Jimmy Shane, driving his two-race-old, U-1 Miss HomeStreet H1 Unlimited hydroplane, qualified on top of the leader board on the six boat field during the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Gold Cup on Friday. Shane’s speed was a 162.256 mph average of two laps on the 2.72 mile Detroit River course, east of downtown Detroit.
“We ran about the same speed as last year, but we were running a bit more conservative this year, so that is a good sign”, Shane said
He said, “I wanted to show everyone what this new boat has in her. It gets light on its feet and it gets me through that corner like I have never gotten through the roostertail turn before,” he said.
Shane maneuvered the course with ease, but it wasn’t enough to break the course record set last year by Andrew Tate at 163.141 mph.
Andrew Tate gets air under the boat in front of DYC
Tate, a resident of nearby Walled Lake, Mich. posted the second fastest average with a speed of 157.636 mph.
“We can make some adjustments to the boat, but mainly we need adjustments in the cockpit. I am not totally thrilled with the performance of myself, the boat is fast as always but we are always looking for ways to go faster,” Tate said.
On Tate’s first qualifying run he became airborne in front of the Detroit Yacht Club and quickly settled the boat back to the water.
“We ran a 158 (mph) when we got hung up in the air (nearly blowing over) for a minute – I just have to be more consistent with my driving”, Tate said.
“I saw it coming when it was in my face,” Tate said about his near takeoff from the water.
Shane said Tate’s near blow-over sent a message to the other teams in the pits and said the “water conditions are a bit unpredictable here on the Detroit River.”
When asked about Shane’s speed and boat ride Tate said, “Jimmy obviously likes his new toy. It seem to be performing pretty well,” he said with a smile.
Shane is last year’s defending Gold Cup Champion.
Third top qualifier was Jimmy King from Wales, Michigan, driving the U-3 Roostertail. His two-lap average was 156.713 mph.
Tom Thompson in the U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool presents J&D’s had a faster average but the speed was negated after officials said he had a fuel flow violation. Their fourth position didn’t change but their official speed was 151.626 mph.
The U-440 Bucket List Racing driven by Dustin Echols was fifth fastest at a average of 140.462 mph, and Bert Henderson, driving the Detroit-based Spirit of Detroit rounded out the field of six with a speed 138.626 mph.
Preliminary heat racing begins on Saturday at 2:00 pm (EST) and continues until 4:40 pm
Gold Cup Qualifying Averages:
1) U-1 Miss HomeStreet, Jimmy Shane 162.256 mph
2) U-9 Delta Realtrac, Andrew Tate, 157.636 mph
3) U-3 The Roostertail, Jimmy King, 156.713 mph
4) U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool presents J&D’s, Tom Thompson 151.626 mph
5) U-440 Bucket List Racing, Dustin Echols, 140.462 mph
6) U-7 Spirit of Detroit, Bert Henderson, 138.626 mph
Jimmy Shane Tops Qualifying in Detroit
Friday afternoon, Jimmy Shane, driving his two-race-old, U-1 Miss HomeStreet H1 Unlimited hydroplane, qualified on top of the leader board on the six boat field during the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Gold Cup on Friday. Shane’s speed was a 162.256 mph average of two laps on the 2.72 mile Detroit River course, east of downtown Detroit.
“We ran about the same speed as last year, but we were running a bit more conservative this year, so that is a good sign”, Shane said
He said, “I wanted to show everyone what this new boat has in her. It gets light on its feet and it gets me through that corner like I have never gotten through the roostertail turn before,” he said.
Shane maneuvered the course with ease, but it wasn’t enough to break the course record set last year by Andrew Tate at 163.141 mph.
Andrew Tate gets air under the boat in front of DYC
Tate, a resident of nearby Walled Lake, Mich. posted the second fastest average with a speed of 157.636 mph.
“We can make some adjustments to the boat, but mainly we need adjustments in the cockpit. I am not totally thrilled with the performance of myself, the boat is fast as always but we are always looking for ways to go faster,” Tate said.
On Tate’s first qualifying run he became airborne in front of the Detroit Yacht Club and quickly settled the boat back to the water.
“We ran a 158 (mph) when we got hung up in the air (nearly blowing over) for a minute – I just have to be more consistent with my driving”, Tate said.
“I saw it coming when it was in my face,” Tate said about his near takeoff from the water.
Shane said Tate’s near blow-over sent a message to the other teams in the pits and said the “water conditions are a bit unpredictable here on the Detroit River.”
When asked about Shane’s speed and boat ride Tate said, “Jimmy obviously likes his new toy. It seem to be performing pretty well,” he said with a smile.
Shane is last year’s defending Gold Cup Champion.
Third top qualifier was Jimmy King from Wales, Michigan, driving the U-3 Roostertail. His two-lap average was 156.713 mph.
Tom Thompson in the U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool presents J&D’s had a faster average but the speed was negated after officials said he had a fuel flow violation. Their fourth position didn’t change but their official speed was 151.626 mph.
The U-440 Bucket List Racing driven by Dustin Echols was fifth fastest at a average of 140.462 mph, and Bert Henderson, driving the Detroit-based Spirit of Detroit rounded out the field of six with a speed 138.626 mph.
Preliminary heat racing begins on Saturday at 2:00 pm (EST) and continues until 4:40 pm
Gold Cup Qualifying Averages:
1) U-1 Miss HomeStreet, Jimmy Shane 162.256 mph
2) U-9 Delta Realtrac, Andrew Tate, 157.636 mph
3) U-3 The Roostertail, Jimmy King, 156.713 mph
4) U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool presents J&D’s, Tom Thompson 151.626 mph
5) U-440 Bucket List Racing, Dustin Echols, 140.462 mph
6) U-7 Spirit of Detroit, Bert Henderson, 138.626 mph