2013 Diamond Cup at Coeur d'Alene
Jimmy Shane is Diamond Cup Champion
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
The juggernaut that is Jimmy Shane in the 5 Graham Trucking continued to roll – all the way to the top of the podium at the 2013 Coeur d’Alene Diamond cup.
The 28 year old new dad from Havre de Grace, Maryland made it two wins in a row, following up his win at the Albert Lee Cup at Seattle Seafair in early August with a dramatic victory in the Diamond Cup Championship Final as Unlimited Hydroplanes returned to Coeur d’Alene after an absence of 45 years.
driving Ted Porter’s 5 Graham Trucking.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
Shane used the inside advantage – secured before the start – to hold off a challenge from J. Michael Kelly in the 37 Miss Beacon Plumbing. After a review of the start, Kelly was ruled to have jumped the start clock. That set the Beacon driver back from second place to fifth and moved Steve David up to third in the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto.
David, one of the pre-race favorites, found himself in an outside lane at the start and back a bit from Shane and Kelly and was only able to move up to second on the water before the call on Kelly moved him up the final ladder.
URG’s 11 Peters & May.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
For Shane, who in the words of David, has become the “guy to beat in the Unlimited ranks,” it was a perfect weekend. First place in qualifying and four heat wins added 1700 points for the weekend and pretty much erased David’s lead in season high points.
On the awards stage, Shane said, “I just want to thank Ted Porter for letting me be a part of this great team. Rob Graham our sponsor was here and when we win for him it’s always special, and the crew that gave me such a great race boat. We knew it would be rough on the big lake and the winner would be the last man standing. I go out and drive as hard as I can and sometimes it works out.”
In a Sunday prelim, the Oberto lost a prop leaving the pit area and failed to score points giving Shane an opportunity to make up most of the advantage David had before the Diamond Cup in 2013 season high points. David’s 43 point lead Sunday night means the two are in a virtual tie. David said, “I think we are going to the final race of the season with the closest points race in history.”
and was fourth in the Final Heat at at the
Diamond Cup driving for Mark Evans if the 57 FEDCO.
Photo by Chris Denslow – H1
On returning to Coeur d’Alene after the long hiatus, David added, “What a great place for us to race. The city and the people have been great and you could not ask for a more beautiful setting.”
A strong weekend in the 95 Spirit of Qatar for Kip Brown put him third as he also benefited from the call on Kelly. Tom Thompson was fourth in the 11 Peters & May but recorded a fuel flow violation, moving rookie Jessie Robertson up to fourth in the 57 FEDCO.
Next stop for the H1 Unlimited Series will be on San Diego’s Mission Bay September 13-15.
Final order of finish for the 2013 Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup –
| Finish | Boat | Driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Graham Trucking | Jimmy Shane |
| 2 | 1 | Oh Boy! Oberto | Steve David |
| 3 | 95 | Spirit of Qatar | Kip Brown |
| 5 | 57 | FEDCO | Mark Evans |
| 6 | 37 | Miss Beacon Plumbing | J. Michael Kelly |
| DNF | 14 | Miss DiJulio | Greg Hopp |
| DSQ | 11 | Peters & May | Tommy Thompson |
September 1st, 2013
[H1 Unlimited]