H1 Unlimited Teams Excited about Return to Sacramento

ByJason Johnson

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For the first time in nearly five decades, the Unlimited hydroplanes will return to racing action on Folsom Lake in Sacramento. As part of the Big Wake Weekend (May 31-June 2), the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series will open its 2013 U.S. Tour—the season started in February in Doha, Qatar—at Granite Bay on Folsom Lake.

The last time the Unlimited hydroplanes appeared on the lake was 46 years ago, and the winner of that event was current Miss Beacon Plumbing owner Billy Schumacher. It’s quite obvious that the Unlimited teams are excited about starting and finishing the U.S. legs of the tour in California as the series national championship takes place at San Diego Bayfair just two weeks after another new race on the schedule, the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup in Idaho over Labor Day weekend.

“We’re really looking forward to getting out to Sacramento and seeing how the event comes together,” said Steve David, the defending high points champion and driver of the Oh Boy! Oberto race boat. “I’ve heard good things about the promoters and everything they have planned around the event. Obviously I’ve never raced there, so I’m looking forward to it from that standpoint as well.  I think all the teams are excited.

“We’re all going to very busy because our boats won’t be back from Qatar until April,” added David, who holds a small points lead after finishing third in the 2013 Oryx Cup UIM World Championship final on Doha Bay in February. “We’re in good shape—we have a motor to rebuild—but other teams have a lot more work to do. They’ll all make it though. Overall, we’re excited about the entire domestic schedule. It’s a nice, tight schedule, which should make for some competitive racing.”

Along with the return of the 200-plus-mph hydroplanes, the Big Wake Weekend powered by Toyota features American Power Boat Association racing action from super stock, crackerboxes, stock hydros, SST-45s and even the vintage-themed California Speedboat Association. The three-day water sports celebration also includes the Hyperlite Experience—wakeboarding’s foremost presentation and show—as well as exciting exhibitions, themed beer gardens, quality concessions and midway entertainment.