Written by Jason Johnson Wednesday, 29 May 2013 15:07
A day after announcing it would be campaigning the rebuilt Miss Budweiser T4 hull at this weekend’s H1 Unlimited race on California’s Folsom Lake near Sacramento, the U-11 Peters & May team released some more news.
The team, which is owned by Unlimited Racing Group, has a new ambassador for the 2013 season—Seattle musician Duff McKagan. Best known for playing in the bands Guns ’n’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and Loaded, McKagan was a VIP guest for last year’s Seattle Seafair race where he met Dave Holley, CEO of Peters & May.
Written by Jason Johnson Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:20
Boat racing fans in Michigan City, Ind., can't wait to see the offshore teams come back to town in August for the Great Lakes Super Boat Grand Prix. Photo by Paul Kemiel
It had to be more than five years ago now, but the conversation is still vivid. Photographer Paul Kemiel called with some “very exciting” news to share, at least according to him. Kemiel, who has been shooting boat racing for more than 30 years, informed me that his hometown of Michigan City, Ind., would be hosting an offshore race in the summer of 2009—early August to be more precise. He sounded animated and passionate about the potential turnout by both race boats and spectators.
Not quite sure how a race in Lake Michigan off the Indiana shoreline would be received, I agreed to share the news with our readers and asked Kemiel if he would provide post-race coverage of the Super Boat International (SBI) event for Powerboat magazine. He ended up writing a great article that tied in his personal connection with the event’s successful debut and the impact it had on the local economy.
Kemiel, the event’s official photographer, is as excited today about the fifth annual SBI Great Lakes Super Boat Grand Prix coming up in early August as he was back then. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be covering an offshore race in his own hometown. Outside of the economic stimulus a long weekend of offshore racing brings to the community—Kemiel said it was estimated between $6 and $7 million last year—the best part is that the Hoosier State, more specifically the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau (LPCCVB), proved it could put on a good show. Not only has the event delivered hundreds of thousands of spectators to Washington Park Beach for the racing, boat parade and Taste of Michigan City block party, it has also become a favorite among many racers.
Written by Matt Trulio Wednesday, 29 May 2013 08:51
Building on the solid success of its 34 CCX center console model, Sunsation Performance Boats of Algonac, Mich., is planning to add a 28- to 30-footer. Like its larger sibling, the new performance-oriented model will maximize cabin space in the console. Development will begin in the fall, according to Joe Schaldenbrand, who co-owns the company with his brother, Wayne.
“We’ll offer it with either a single outboard or twins, maybe one 300-hp outboard or twin 250s,” said Schaldenbrand.
To compliment its successful 34-footer, Sunsation will offer at 28 to 30-foot performance-oriented center console.
Written by Jason Johnson Tuesday, 28 May 2013 13:09
After an accident in Doha, Qatar, in February, the U-11 Peters & May team agreed to a deal with Schumacher Racing to purchase the former Miss Budweiser T4 hull, which was damaged “beyond repair” at the 2010 Detroit Gold Cup. Since then, the team has been cranking away on a complete rebuild of the legendary hydroplane and plans to debut the rebuilt T4 hull at the second race of the 2013 H1 Unlimited season in Sacramento this weekend.
After a crash at the 2010 Detroit Gold Cup, it was assumed that the T4 hull would never race again. Photo courtesy Peters & MayAccording to a press release, plans are also in place to rebuild the previous U-11 UIM record-holding boat (read the story) damaged in Doha and keep it as a backup hull.
“In Doha we came to the conclusion that our previous hull was severely damaged and due to the schedule would not be back in the USA until the end of April,” said Scott Raney, co-owner and crew chief of the U-11 team. “That simply did not leave us enough time to get her prepared for the second race of the season so we had a discussion with Dave Holley (CEO of Peters & May) and unanimously decided to take on the challenge of bringing T4 back to her former glory.”
Read more: U-11 Peters & May to Campaign Rebuilt Miss Budweiser
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