Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 605 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 5:38 pm: | |
I'm not skillful enough to post pictures, but by the looks of these (especially The Blue Blaster) I wish I was somewhere near the Roostertail turn earlier today...... www.abrahydroplanes.com/index. cfm?page=2006-detroit-friday |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 10321 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236
| Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 5:44 pm: | |
I'm posting a few pics on my blog, http://www.sof8mile.blogspot.c om right now. I'll try and upload tons more to my flickr account, linked on the page, sometime this weekend. As it stands, it looks like I may be watching from the water this Sunday, so I'll take tons more pictures. |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 606 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 7:55 pm: | |
Did you get to see the Atlas, and was the Budwiser on the water? I understand they are going to "race" each other.... |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 607 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 9:58 pm: | |
Answered my own question. The fan site www.unlimitedsdetroit.com has pictures of both boats. |
Drm Member Username: Drm
Post Number: 1018 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.255.239.23
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:06 am: | |
Thanks for the pictures. I'll be living at the water's edge the rest of the weekend. This is one of the events that makes summertime in Detroit great and one, unfortunately, that too many of us take forgranted. |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 10325 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:48 am: | |
Agreed DRM. Watching these babies come hauling ass at speeds near 200 mph is a sight to see! I heard lap averages in the 155-159 mph range yesterday. While not completely filled, I'd say the stands were probably about 60-70% filled. |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 608 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 5:17 pm: | |
I feel sorry (I think) for Dave Bartush and the U-13 team. The guys at Detroit Unlimited Racing spent all winter fully rebuilding their 18 year hull, missed the first three events then didn't pass tech inspection at their "home" circuit. According to posters on the yahoo site Unlimiteds On Down, they came in 700 lb. underweight. So much for the defending Gold Cup champion..... |
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield
Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.69.137.36
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 5:35 pm: | |
I have not seen a race on the River since the mid-60's. Just joined Detroityes. Live in VA now. ESPN / FOX SPORTS don't even have a link for the Thunderboats, but poker and whatever is included. I found the appropriate sites for the limited exposure they get now. Winterwonderland.com started an unlimited hydroplane blog. Saw many weekday qualifications in the late 50's thru the 60's and of course ALL the races on Sundays. Cheap ($0) seats behind the Florist Shop on Jefferson were our groups seats. Can't imagine 150+ average speeds. '65 or so 110 tops in qualifying. Many Gale, Bardhal, Such Crust, US, Madison, Pay n' Pak, Maverick, Atlas, Thriftway, Chrysler Crew, and sad Supertest memories to mention a few. Looking for whatever I can find in the media or forum regarding the event this weekend. Thanx |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 609 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 7:33 pm: | |
14509Glefield.... Try these: www.abrahydroplanes.com is the website for The American Boatracing Association, the governing body of Unlimited racing. The site is good on information, especially on raceday, but real clunky to use. www.thunderboats.org is the site for Seattle's Hydroplane And Race Boat Museum. I mentioned the Rolls powered Atlas Van Lines and The Griffon powered Miss Budweiser being in Detroit this weekend. These guys saved and rebuilt them. They also have a link to.... Unlimiteds On Down, a very well attended and well informed Yahoo discussion group that's about as informative as it gets. All 3 sites have link pages that will lead you to a zillion other hydroplane based pages. Hope that helps. I'm still trying to swallow the idea of Dr. Ken Muscatel the "clubhouse" leader in the U-2.25 after the first day of racing..... |
Rjk Member Username: Rjk
Post Number: 405 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.145.5
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 8:28 pm: | |
What has the attendance for this race been like on Belle Isle? I use to watch the race from BI (Early 90's) and it was jammed with people, but attendance on the Island really seemed to twindle in the mid 90's to the point where it was only a fraction of what it was in the early 90's and earlier. |
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield
Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.69.137.27
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 8:39 pm: | |
Thank you for the....additional sites! Got them cued. Read Saturday's results...Can you still go behind the "Florist Shop"? Memories. Thanx |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 10329 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 11:08 pm: | |
Long live piston power! |
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm
Post Number: 610 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 7:08 am: | |
Couple more info places.... www.hydroinsider.com is a page from a Tri-Cities, WA TV station that is very consistant in its coverage. Also, do a search for The Tri-Cities Hearld newspaper. I don't have the site handy, but as the circuit swings out west, they cover it like a blanket..... |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1417 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 7:23 am: | |
Gold Cup coverage from the Detroit papers: Golden day for Theoret : Canadian 1st non-American to win event since 1938 http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPO RTS18/607170343/1066/SPORTS GOLD CUP NOTEBOOK: Holy smoke! Thick haze, pesky buoys create drama http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060717/SPO RTS18/607170342/1066/SPORTS Canadian overcomes boat damage to take title : Theoret loses cowling and wing, but wins final race http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/S PORTS03/607170347/1004/SPORTS Check out the link to the Photo Gallery too! Defending champion puts up no fight : Miss Spirit of Detroit's boat never even hits the water after arriving on scene under weight http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/S PORTS03/607170348/1004/SPORTS |
Gannon
Member Username: Gannon
Post Number: 6151 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 70.214.177.24
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 9:38 am: | |
quote:Long live piston power!
I've said for years that this isn't so much a Thunderfest as a Whizzfest...those jet engines don't make the same thunder the piston-powered ones did. |
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield
Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.69.139.7
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:02 pm: | |
Gannon and Supersport....unfortunately the last race (s) I ever saw were, 68 or so. Could here them from Outer Drive and Chalmers on a calm or windy day. Guess the sport goes on, but the ROAR ain't there. Very disheartened...to see your comments (albeit..probably true). Guess I am just missing speed, roostertails and the Bob-Lo Boat....Thanx |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2453 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.150
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:32 pm: | |
14509glenfield... you forgot Miss Pepsi! (Or was that "Pepsi Miss"?) |