H1 Unlimited has launched its new free mobile device application “H1 Unlimited” for Apple and Android. The new app is designed to connect hydroplane fans to the racing action with up-to-the-minute race updates and information during the 2018 H1 Hydroplane Racing Series.

     “This app will become a fan’s hydroplane heartbeat,” said Charlie Grooms, H1 Unlimited vice chairman. “It will be constantly up-dated from our events, so that a fan watching on the beach or half-way around the world has access to up-to-the-minute information.”

     The mobile app was designed for H1 by Walt Ottenad, who oversees onboard cameras, and other multi-media efforts for H1.

     “I’m excited to provide fans with this important tool to follow the sport,” said Ottenad. “The H1 app will provide fans an easier way to follow the sport and view results, team information, venue schedules, a large library of videos, and live streaming from the events.”                                Continued, click here...

After almost 50 years away, the unlimited hydroplanes will return to Guntersville Lake, Alabama, on June 22 to 24 for the Guntersville Lake Hydrofest. The event marks the return of unlimited racing there for the first time since 1969. Races were held Guntersville in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, and 1969.

       This year, the unlimiteds will be racing for the Southern Cup trophy while Grand Prix World hydroplanes will also enhance the event. The 2018 Hydrofest will be held at Browns Creek, with prime spectator viewing along Sunset Drive. Ticket  information

Guntersville residents excited to welcome hydroplane fans.

Ted Grange

We once again have a short season. Gone are the days of nine and 10 races in a year. Six seems to be the new normal. The good news is that we pick up a new “old” race site. The unlimiteds last raced in Guntersville, Alabama, in 1968 on scenic Lake Guntersville and after a fairly successful exhibition last season its finally time to race for real.
     The season opens at this new, old site on June 24. Things do look promising with good news of ticket sales on social media. Let’s just hope the event takes hold and can financially make it through the first couple of years to become a solid event on the calendar.

     The Gold Cup race in Detroit returns to its single-race status and says goodbye to the double dipping we saw last year with the addition of the President’s Cup. The format showed promise and maybe should be tried again in the near future. 

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Excitement is high as Guntersville prepares for the return of the unlimiteds, an event that hasn’t happened since the summer of 1969. As these hydroplanes race across the 69,000-acre reservoir in North Alabama, fans will witness some of the fastest water in the South. Guntersville is famous for setting world records and speed will be the name of the game at this summer event, which will kick off the H1 Unlimited season.

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by Brian “the Swami”  Anderson

      New race sites don’t come along often.

      Grange said H1 Unlimited is looking at an event on the East Coast. But, he hasn’t visited it yet, so that potential race wouldn’t happen for a few years.

      But, H1 Unlimited does have one new site this year in Guntersville, Alabama, where the Lake Guntersville HydroFest will take place June 22 to 24, becoming the season opener on the H1 Unlimited Racing Series schedule.                                                                                                                                        Continued, click here...

that smile, as the two drivers discovered something really good.                                        Continued, click here...

by Jeff Morrow

H1 Unlimited launches mobile app.

Jimmy Shane was driving the U-1 Miss HomeStreet on Lake Guntersville in Alabama last year during an exhibition run for what was then a potential race site for the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series. Shane looked at his speedometer and raised his eyebrows. When he got back to the pits, he looked at Cal Phipps, the driver of the U-27 Wiggins Racing boat, the other boat at the exhibition, and smiled. Phipps reciprocated

June 2018

A new race on the H1 Unlimited hydroplane circuit doesn’t happen
overnight. It doesn’t just magically appear on the schedule. It takes time and planning. And Ted Grange is the master planner. Grange is H1 Unlimited’s go-to guy, the sport’s race director, when it comes to working with people who want to put together a new race.

      Grange is retired and lives in Arizona. “I was a program manager
for United Airlines and US West,” he said. He also worked for American Medical Response. Grange is also a boat racing fan. “I have been (around hydroplanes) 65 years,” he said. “My uncle used to run the pits in Detroit.”

      As race director, it’s Grange’s job to work with race sites to make
sure things go as smoothly as possible. “Sunday night, after the races are done and people are gone, I’m still there,” he said. “I’m the first one there and the last one to leave.”

by Jeff Morrow

Faster-than-normal speeds expected at inaugural Guntersville HydroFest. 

In 1965, the winner was the Notre Dame with Bill Muncey driving.

Unlimited hydroplane racing returns to Guntersville.

The U-27 Wiggins Racing in the pits at Guntersville
during last year’s test session at the race site.

RETURN TO GUNTERSVILLE

What it took to get the race back on the circuit. 

Like a Phoenix, Guntersville Lake
HydroFest returns after 49 years.

 and other details can be found at https://www.marshallcountycvb.com.  

      Prior to 1963, unlimited hydroplanes were not unknown to the residents of Guntersville. In the spring of 1962, Roy Duby drove George Simon’s Miss U.S. 1 through the measured mile on the lake and set a world water speed record of 200.419 mph. The record was to hold up for 38 years.                  Continued, click here...

by Bob Senior

Swami Sez:
2018: Plodding along, slow and fast (thank goodness). 

The setting sun at Lake Guntersville State Park.

A fan’s “hydroplane heartbeat”