Team Stats
60
Race entered
0
Race wins
10
Heat wins
9
Podiums
0
Championships
0
Gold Cup
Biography
Gunnar O’Farrell
Date birth
18/01/1998
Place of birth
Washington
Social media
Driver Stats
Gunnar O’Farrell took the wheel of an Unlimited hydroplane in racing action for the first time in 2023, but he is no stranger to the sport or to the seat of the U-21. Gunnar began going to races at the age 6 with his family. By 8 years old he was in the hydroplane museum building an outboard boat. He started in outboard (Stock and pro classes) when he was 9 years old and drove for 6 years.
At 20, he decided to make the next step and move to the inboard class and drove in the 2.5 mod and stock classes. His career really accelerated in the inboard class, where in 2021 he won summer nationals.
In 2022, the O’Farrell family bought a 2.5 mod and has been restoring it. In 2022, Gunnar was given the opportunity to drive an Unlimited Hydroplane. He completed his 15 laps going over 130 mph and became a qualified Unlimited hydroplane driver. His fastest lap was 145.175 mph. Gunnar’s first race was at the 2023 APBA Gold Cup in Seattle, where he qualified at 145.572 MPH and competed in all four qualifying heats, but did not make the Final Heat.
Career Results
| YEAR | EVENT NAME | FINISH | U# | BOAT NAME | OWNER |
| 2024 | 2024 Apollo Mechanical Cup | 6th | U-35 | Boitano Homes | Go Fast Turn Left Racing |
| 2024 | Apollo Columbia Cup | 4th | U-35 | Boitano Homes | Go Fast Turn Left Racing |
| 2024 | Preseason Test | TEST | U-21 | Go Fast Turn Left Racing | Go Fast Turn Left Racing |
| 2023 | HomeStreet Bank APBA Gold Cup | 7th | U-60 | Miss Thriftway | Go Fast Turn Left Racing |
| 2022 | Pre-Season Test (TC) | TEST | U-21 | Lakeridge Paving | Go Fast Turn Left Racing |
Hull details
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Hull Stats
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Hull # 2018-01 - Career Results
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Team Profile
Bruce Ratchford
Owner
Description Bruce
Michael Hanson
Crew Chief
Michael Hanson has a long history as a hydroplane racer, crew chief and builder. He first qualified as an Unlimited class driver in 1986 driving Fred Leland’s U-100. He moved to Ritchie Sutphen’s U-66 Sutphen Spirit in 1988, but when the team disbanded mid-season due to a crash, he became available to drive for Miss Madison Racing. Michael was with Miss Madison as driver from that time until 1998. He had one win driving Miss Madison at San Diego in 1993. In unprecedented fashion, Michael drove from trailer position at the start of the race to take the win. He then collected 3 additional unlimited victories. As back-up driver for an injured Chip Hanauer, he drove Miss Budweiser to victory at the 1994 Texas Hydrofest. After moving to Jones Racing in 1999, he won the 2001 APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River and the 2002 Bill Muncey Cup in San Diego. After a request from then Miss Madison, Inc. Chairman, Bob Hughes, Michael returned to Miss Madison Racing in 2004 as Crew Chief. With the Oberto sponsorship and a new Miss Madison hull in 2007, he led the team to numerous victories and 4 National Championships before his departure following the 2013 season. In 2018, Michael along with his brother, Larry, led the completion of building the team’s new racing hull introduced in Tri-Cities, WA in August of that year. Michael returned as Crew Chief in 2019, adding National Championships in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024. Michael lives in Bonney Lake, WA with his wife, Tonya. They have two grown children, Trevor and Aubrey, who have worked alongside their Dad on hydroplane crews throughout the years.
Photos & videos
