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Anatomy of a hydroplane
"Airtrap," "nontrip," "skid fin," "tunnel,"
- did you ever wonder what all these technical terms mean? Whether you're
just curious, or a blossoming hydroplane fan, find out more about the
boat parts that allow these boats to fly across the water at its unbelievable
speed. Go
>>
Source: Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
Video
clips of Hydroplane races
The editor of this website has collected Video clips of some of the
important hydroplane races. Be sure to check out clip of the Slo-Mo-Shun
V during qualifying for the 1955 APBA Gold Cup on Lake Washington, Seattle,
shortly before flipping. Pilot Lou Fageol survived but never again drove
an unlimited. Original footage from a kinescope of a KING-TV live broadcast,
with Bill O'Mara calling the action. Go
>>
Source: LeslieField.com
Steve
Montgomery's Corner
Read Mr. Montgomery's (an ESPN announcer) answers to questions posed by
other hydroplane racing fans. You can ask him your own. Go
>>
Source: Hydros.org
The
Real Turbine Story
In 1984, the sport of hydroplane racing was totally changed by the arrival
of the turbine engine. Did you know that this first turbine engine was
over 11 feet long?!!! It dwarfed the rest of the boat -- which had to
weight a mighty 7500 pounds!. Today, turgine engines are 3 - 4 feet long
and boats can be in the 3000 pound range.
Go >>
Source: Russ's Hydroplane page
Grand
Prix Hydroplane 2001 Schedule
.Find out then the daredevils on H20 are racing around the U.S. and Canada.
Go
>>
Source: GrandPrix Hydroplane website
The
Unlimited Hydroplane Trivia Quiz
Think that you know everything about Hydroplane racing? Test yourself
with this trivia game. With 60 questions, it's sure to bring some new
trivia tidbit to your attention. Go
>>
Source: Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
World
Water Speed Records
People have strived to improve and test themselves and their boats for
a very long time. The first race that I found recorded took place in 1903!
The boats started out being constructed with cedar and canvas. Look over
the history of speed records. Bonus: A picture of Slo-mo-shun IV,
at speed on Lake Washington, July 7, 1952. Go
>>
Source: Russ's Hydroplane page
An
early [1902] powerboat race held at the Columbia Yacht Club Race Committee
Read this transcript from the New York Time written July 13th, 1902 to
get a sense of the earliest days of powerboat racing. Go
>>
Source: LeslieField.com
Motorsports
Hall of Fame -- Powerboat inductees
Read the driver bios of these power boaters
inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Go
>>
Source: Lake Champlain Sailing Center
Photos
and Artifacts from a hydro fanclub site
Unlimiteds Detroit is a hydro fanclub with a very decent website that
has lots of pictures. The coloring book is a fun touch. Get the coloring
book as a zip
file. Go
>>
Source: Detroit Unlimited
Pink
Panther II Racing Team
In a sport dominated by men, there are a number of women drivers. This
is the website of Valerie Liddycoat, driver of the Pink. Go
>>
Source: Pink Pather homepage
Region
4 Homepage
Region 4 of the APBA includes racers from N. Carolina to The District
of Washington. Perhaps the most interesting page is on Rescue Teams. Because
of the speed that drivers attain and the aggressive jockeying for position,
problems can happen. These
guys and gals get drivers out of trouble. Go
>>
Source: Region 4 homepage
Dreaming
about building your own boat?
You can buy boat plans and start off on your career as a race boat
driver.
Go >>
Source: Fralick Boats
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