Jimmy Shane Wins Dramatic Bayfair Final
The official H1 start line camera shows Jimmy Shane (left) and Steve David (right) as the red light comes on indicating the start clock is at 00:00.
Sunday morning dawned on San Diego’s Mission Bay with major questions to be answered on the final day of racing in the 2013 H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Season.
Could Jimmy Shane make it three wins in a row in the 5 Graham Trucking, following up his victories at Seattle in early August and Coeur d’Alene Labor Day Weekend? And would the 63 point lead in 2013 season standings that Steve David carried into the Sunday heats driving the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto still be there at the end of the day, giving the retiring veteran his seventh driver’s championship?
The previous frame shows the boats reaching the line – the light has not come on yet.
The day started well for David in the Oberto, racing Shane in Heat 2A and finishing first, adding 100 points to his high points lead. The two held serve the rest of the day. David won again in 3A and Shane took the checkers in 3B. With David’s lead at 163 points going into the final, he only needed a second place finish in the Final Heat to take the season championship. Kip Brown was the other Sunday prelim winner driving the 95 Spirit of Qatar.
The final heat provided more drama. Before the start, David moved from lane 2 to lane 1 in front of Shane, who got high in the air going through the Oberto roostertail. From that point, David led all five laps on the water. But a review of the start showed he had “jumped the gun,” crossing the line at the start too soon. The one lap penalty moved David to the back of the field before penalties during tech inspection moved him up to fourth.
Jimmy Shane celebrates the Bayfair win and the 2013 High Point Championship.
Shane took the checkered flag as the winner of the 2013 San Diego Bayfair and the difference in points between first and fourth also gave him the 2013 driver and team championship.
Shane called the feeling unbelievable, saying, “This has just been an incredible experience driving for this team. I always know I can drive the boat as hard as I need to because they are going to have everything working right.”
Shane also thanked his owner Ted Porter and sponsor Rob Graham for being what he termed, “The best owner and sponsor a driver could have.”
Shane told the crowd at the awards stage to, “Get used to seeing me here. This is the best place in the world for a boat race and I will be coming back every year for a long time.
After a fuel flow violation disqualified Brown in the final, Tom Thompson was second on the podium in the 11 Peters & May with Greg Hopp third in 14 Miss DiJulio.
It was a disappointing finish for David, who on Friday announced he was retiring after 44 years of boat racing; the last thirteen years spent driving for the community owned Oh Boy! Oberto Miss Madison Race Team. David won the driver’s high point championship in six of those years and filled the trophy room in the Madison boat shop with dozens of heat and event trophies.
David was quick to praise the 28 year old Shane, saying, “I have known Jimmy since he was born and I am really proud that young guns like him have come along. They are great people and great drivers and I am confident with the future of the sport in their hands.”
Jimmy Shane Wins Dramatic Bayfair Final
The official H1 start line camera shows Jimmy Shane (left) and Steve David (right) as the red light comes on indicating the start clock is at 00:00.
Sunday morning dawned on San Diego’s Mission Bay with major questions to be answered on the final day of racing in the 2013 H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Season.
Could Jimmy Shane make it three wins in a row in the 5 Graham Trucking, following up his victories at Seattle in early August and Coeur d’Alene Labor Day Weekend? And would the 63 point lead in 2013 season standings that Steve David carried into the Sunday heats driving the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto still be there at the end of the day, giving the retiring veteran his seventh driver’s championship?
The previous frame shows the boats reaching the line – the light has not come on yet.
The day started well for David in the Oberto, racing Shane in Heat 2A and finishing first, adding 100 points to his high points lead. The two held serve the rest of the day. David won again in 3A and Shane took the checkers in 3B. With David’s lead at 163 points going into the final, he only needed a second place finish in the Final Heat to take the season championship. Kip Brown was the other Sunday prelim winner driving the 95 Spirit of Qatar.
The final heat provided more drama. Before the start, David moved from lane 2 to lane 1 in front of Shane, who got high in the air going through the Oberto roostertail. From that point, David led all five laps on the water. But a review of the start showed he had “jumped the gun,” crossing the line at the start too soon. The one lap penalty moved David to the back of the field before penalties during tech inspection moved him up to fourth.
Jimmy Shane celebrates the Bayfair win and the 2013 High Point Championship.
Shane took the checkered flag as the winner of the 2013 San Diego Bayfair and the difference in points between first and fourth also gave him the 2013 driver and team championship.
Shane called the feeling unbelievable, saying, “This has just been an incredible experience driving for this team. I always know I can drive the boat as hard as I need to because they are going to have everything working right.”
Shane also thanked his owner Ted Porter and sponsor Rob Graham for being what he termed, “The best owner and sponsor a driver could have.”
Shane told the crowd at the awards stage to, “Get used to seeing me here. This is the best place in the world for a boat race and I will be coming back every year for a long time.
After a fuel flow violation disqualified Brown in the final, Tom Thompson was second on the podium in the 11 Peters & May with Greg Hopp third in 14 Miss DiJulio.
It was a disappointing finish for David, who on Friday announced he was retiring after 44 years of boat racing; the last thirteen years spent driving for the community owned Oh Boy! Oberto Miss Madison Race Team. David won the driver’s high point championship in six of those years and filled the trophy room in the Madison boat shop with dozens of heat and event trophies.
David was quick to praise the 28 year old Shane, saying, “I have known Jimmy since he was born and I am really proud that young guns like him have come along. They are great people and great drivers and I am confident with the future of the sport in their hands.”