Deck2Deck.us: Fantasy Unlimited Hydroplane Racing

The sixth race of the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane tour will take place on beautiful Lake Coeur D’Alene as the world’s fastest race boats return to Idaho for the first time in 45 years. This weekend’s Diamond Cup is race number six, after high river levels forced the cancellation of July’s regatta in Madison, Indiana and shortened the schedule to seven races.

A full complement of ten unlimited hydroplanes is expected to appear this Labor Day weekend, and with four weeks off after Seafair, the fleet should be well prepared and finely tuned to put on a whale of a spectacle for hydro fanatics on holiday. The Diamond Cup course will closely resemble Seattle’s Ted Jones race course in its two-mile length and wide sweeping turns, and will attract similar crowds watching on the beach and from Coeur D’Alene’s finest pleasure craft and party barges along the log boom. Expect rough water and breathtaking Deck2Deck competition.

HydroDan’s Three 2 Think About:

Top Honors: The U-5 Graham Trucking and driver Jimmy Shane flat out beat Steven David and the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto in a clean race at Seafair in Seattle. David could not run down the speedy ex-Bud beer wagon hull from lane 4. Shane appears to have David’s number when he secures inside lane position. Although other boats are closing the gap, this one looks to be another two-boat duel.

In Transition: The 0010 U-100 Team Leland hull, which commenced the season as the team’s primary race boat, has been dry-docked following two consecutive blow-over accidents in Detroit and Tri-Cities. The 9899 hull that last saw action in Doha at the 2013 season opener has been refreshed and repainted, and will run with rookie driver David Warren at the wheel. This is not the week for a U-100 selection, if you were entertaining the idea.

Value Selection: If you have already used the top dogs to date (U-1, U-5, and U-95), you may want to consider selecting the U-37 Beacon Plumbing as your Coeur D’Alene fantasy pick. At the other lake courses this season, driver J. Michael Kelly attained a solid third in qualifying and a third place podium finish in the final heat in Sacramento. Then in Seattle, Kelly managed a fourth place finish in the final heat and two respectable second place heat finishes after not registering an official qualifying speed.

Any insider info on the U-22? Had an up and down season as far as points go. Do you expect a strong finish or fade out in the final two races?

Sorry GOT, I did not see this post until today. The 22 had a rough weekend mechanically in CDA. They are thrashing to get the motor and gear box ready for SD. The 11 may be a good selection if you have not used them yet as far as mid to lower tier boats.