2011 Sacramento Exhibition

Sacramento Exhibition: A Capitol Idea!

by Lon Erickson

After a 44 year absence, unlimited hydroplanes returned to the beautiful Folsom Lake just outside of Sacramento, California. The ANG H1 Series brought four unlimiteds to stage an exhibition September 8th. The U-11 Peters & May, U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing, 88 Degree Men, and U-100 “Leland Unlimited” (#9899) were on hand to show an estimated crowd of about 1,000 people what they have been missing. Local community leaders headed up by Peter McDermott, media, H1 officials, curious spectators and fans alike came out to watch the four boats put on a show under sunny skies. The boats ran on a temporary 2-mile course based out of the Granite Bay Recreation area.

The four teams were scheduled to run two-boat sessions over several hours.. The U-21, wearing new sponsor graphics of TapouT, a major mixed martial arts company, and the U-11 Peters & May were first on the water but when Brian Perkins and TapouT suffered from fuel flow issues, they didn’t get a chance to run with J.W. Myers in Peters & May. U-11 owner Scott Raney said,” This is a beautiful race site, we have a fairly large turnout and it is exciting Peters & May went out and made a very nice first run.

The 88 Degree Men with J. Michael Kelly and the U-100, with Ryan Mallow filling in for Greg Hopp, hit the lake for a second round of exhibition laps. To round out the day, all four boats were to run an “exhibition race” but the fuel flow issues continued for Brian Perkins in the U-21 TapouT boat and he was left to watch from his boat just offshore.

The three remaining boats put on a great show for the crowd with the U-11 leading them across the finish line, followed by the 88 Degree Men and the U-100 Leland Unlimited. U-11 driver J.W. Myers said afterwards, “The water conditions were great, and the course was really nice as well.”

“The last time this type of boat raced here was in 1967,” media representative Peter McDermott said. “We’d like to do a national event in May for the kickoff of the entire series.” McDermott said having the event at Folsom Lake has the potential to pump millions into the local economy. “This event could bring in excess of $5 million to this community in a week,” he said. “We just need the people to be behind it.”

The Air National Guard hydroplanes and their exhibition were well received, drivers and teams praised the facilities, and there are high hopes for a full scale event in May of 2012. Before heading to San Diego, all four boats have stops around the Sacramento area doing displays, generating awareness, and promoting the ANG H1 series.

[Reprinted from Unlimited NewsJournal, September 2011]