George stratton hydroplane driver

Dead hydroplane racers memorial, coeur dalene, idaho. This will help your tires realign with the direction your vehicle is travelling and assist you in regaining steering control. List of fatal accidents in motorboat racing wikipedia. Capsule training all drivers and riders of inboard boats with restraint capsules are required to successfully complete an apba approved inboard capsule training program. During the morning test session, george stratton, 44, of las vegas, nv was in his u5 unlimited hydroplane and. The 44yearold unlimited hydroplane driver from seattle, who will be piloting the. But they also wear openface helmets, which no one does now in auto racing. The 2002 bill muncey cup that hanson won at san diego was destined to be something out of the ordinary. Death also competed on land, by driving in the usac formula vees from.

Stratton set five worldspeed records in flatbottom boats and won four. Wait to feel the tires reconnect with the surface of the road. Stratton still recalls the challenge of the late ted jones, who asked why stratton wasnt racing one of the biggest boats. It represents the product of over 100 years of evolution in race boat design and incorporates the most powerful engines, most advanced construction techniques and the best safety systems available in boat racing today.

During the morning test session, george stratton, 44, of las vegas, nv was in his u5 unlimited hydroplane and flipped coming out of the first corner of. What to do if your car hydroplanes defensive driving. Formed in 1998 by the late kim gregory and his wife debbie, usa racing partners burst onto the scene after purchasing the racing assets of competition specialties and began their winning tradition by taking the top spot in only their third race. Precision performance engineering, llc is the parent company of the u5u7 race team. Rookie george stratton in the u5 appian jeronimo and the new u28 new kid in town, driven by jerry hale, also made successful debuts at the mohave unlimited hydrofest. During the sunday morning test session george stratton had a fatal blowover. The hydroplane drivers wear oxygen masks, just like fighter pilots. The most exciting finish of a san diego unlimited hydroplane race is arguably the 1989 classic, which offered as its top prize the sports crown jewel, the apba gold cup. Health officials continue to stress the importance of social distancing to stem the virus spread.

Citgosupergard offshore team welcomes back veteran driver. Rookie stratton getting stronger webers usa racing partner teammate, the u5 lowreys presents jeronimo, is reaping the benefits of rookie unlimited driver george stratton s recent strong performances. Hours before unlimited hydroplane pilot dave villwock drove miss budweiser to its th san diego victory, driver george stratton, was killed in a singleboat blowover during the morning test session. Hydroplaning means loss of traction and sliding on a film of water. Rookie stratton getting stronger webers usa racing partner teammate, the u5 lowreys presents jeronimo, is reaping the benefits of rookie unlimited driver george strattons recent strong performances. Hydroplaning is caused by a combination of standing water on the road, car speed, and underinflated or wornout tires. Just a really cool pic of a great boat racer george stratton 07112018. In wet weather, drive at twothirds of your normal speed. Stratton was the only rookie unlimitedhydroplane driver racing in san diego, but he had raced boats for the past 20 years. Inactive during 2001 and 2002, mark returned for his final year of competition in 2003 with bill wursters llumar window film. The mark evans story hydroplane and raceboat museum. He easily beat gary steele and george stratton, who crossed the line in a virtual dead heat for second and third.

Wild fire, piloted by racer george stratton, had just crossed the finish line at. Stratton was the last driver to perish at the wheel of an unlimited hydroplane on san diegos mission bay, september 17, 2000. A hydroplane or hydro, or thunderboat is a fast motorboat, where the hull shape is such that at speed, the weight of the boat is supported by planing forces, rather than simple buoyancy a key aspect of hydroplanes is that they use the water they are on for lift rather than buoyancy, as well as for propulsion and steering. Hydroplane fatalities drivers and crewmen killed during unlimited hydroplane races and testing year driver site 1951 orth mathiot seattle, wa thom whittaker seattle 1961 bob hayward detroit, mi 1966 ron musson washington, d. May 01, 2019 although it may seem contradictory, gently turn your steering wheel in the direction your car is hydroplaning. Following sundays tragic death of wellrespected canadian hydroplane driver mathieu daoust of salaberrydevalleyfield, quebec, the hydroplane racing league expressed with great sadness its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the driver, to whom it will continue to provide support. Netto, crew chief lee lindgren and the entire 3c tric machine team on. Lv hydro driver killed in crash las vegas sun newspaper. Oct 21, 2011 the hydroplane drivers wear oxygen masks, just like fighter pilots. Although it may seem contradictory, gently turn your steering wheel in the direction your car is hydroplaning.

Lv hydro driver killed in crash las vegas sun news. The final heat of the apba gold cup unlimited hydroplane race was delayed for nearly four hours sunday because of choppy conditions on the detroit river. Seafair notebook driver survives blowover just fine. Stratton has raced an unlimitedlight hydroplane twice before in seattle, winning the 1996 race and placing second in 97. Freak accident kills hydroplane racer upi archives. Evans took the checkered flagand the columbia cupat a speed of 9.

Villwock set records for consecutive unlimited victories and broke the record for wins by a miss budweiser driver. Although he finally found a stable ride with the gale enterprises entry in 1970, he found himself chasing the miss budweiser for two seasons. Driver george stratton didnt offer any excuses for his actions that caused the wild fire to blow over yesterday at the molson dry thunderfest. Sep 18, 2000 unlimited hydroplane driver george stratton died sunday from injuries suffered when his u5 hydroplane flipped during a test run on san diegos mission bay. The duo holds all five 7litre speed records and competition titles simultaneously. A hydroplane or hydro, or thunderboat is a fast motorboat, where the hull shape is such that at speed, the weight of the boat is supported by planing forces, rather than simple buoyancy. He has also won national championships in virtually every other class of hydroplane racing. As motorboat racing is a dangerous sport, many individuals have been killed in crashes related to the sport, either in a race, in qualifying, in practice or a private testing session. Among those hoping the recent good weather holds for todays hampton cup regatta finals are grand national hydroplane owner bob latimore and rival owner driver brian reynolds. Indycar searching for solutions to prevent another death. Lvbased hydroplane makes strong showing las vegas sun news.

A key aspect of hydroplanes is that they use the water they are on for lift rather than buoyancy, as well as for propulsion and steering. We are a national champion grand prix hydroplane team based out of renton washington. In the two plus decades since the canopy mandate, there has been only one loss of life in an unlimited. San diego, ca dave villwock in the u1 miss budweiser won the seventh and last race of the budweiser unlimited hydroplane series at the ralphsfood4less bayfair bill muncey cup at. This craft, destroyed in a subsequent kilo run, has been replaced with a duplicate craft presently being outfitted. Stock images of grand prix hydroplane racing in the united states and canada. More than 15,000 race fans and dozens of unlimited hydroplane veterans were left shaking their heads in disbelief after stratton walked away from the spectacular crash in his unlimited light boat on. The general outlines of the room, and the more important. Munceys career was largely in limbo in the late 1960s. The series hasnt had a death since 2000 when george stratton flipped during a test run on san diegos mission bay and its been a couple years since there has been a blowover like villwocks. Gregory also fields the u10 hydroplane for driver mark weber. Babcock, seattle businessman, owner driver record 7 7litre, owner colonel bogey 280. Stratton is the same driver who survived a wild, 360degree flip in kelowna, b. Chuck thompsons fateful run 50 years later detroit free press.

Detroit the numbers flow like water from mark weber, a former driver of the miss budweiser unlimited hydroplane who holds 14 national and two world championships the boats will be doing 190. Memorial images of george stratton driver of krr, unlimited light, grand prix and unlimited hydroplane racing boats. Think you rae smartere than me at hydroplanes i dont think so i ma the smartest hydroplane person around i have followed this sport since i was born think you have what it takes to be brian perkins smart, dave villwock smart, bil muncey smart, or chip hanauer smart lets see how you cna do rookie. As motorboat racing is a dangerous sport, many individuals including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators have been killed in crashes related to the sport, either in a race, in qualifying, in practice or a private testing session. Hydroplane racers risk life, limb at up to 200 mph cbs. Hanson had seriously considered retirement from racing after the 2000 season, following the death of his friend george stratton at san diego. Awesome pic of champion hydroplane driver scott liddycoat at the wheel of the usa racing partners degree men h1 unlimited hydroplane. Among those hoping the recent good weather holds for todays hampton cup regatta finals are grand national hydroplane owner bob latimore and. To become fully qualified to race, the new driver must get signatures from four 4 qualified drivers in hisher class and at least one referee heshe has raced under. A modern unlimited hydroplane is the worlds fastest racing boat, capable of speeds in excess of 200 mph. Stratton scored his first preliminary heat victory and delivered a third place finish at the apba gold cup in detroit.

Boeing boat takes smooth ride it wasnt the fastest lap of the day on lake washington, but it might. The last unlimited driver to be killed in a flip was george stratton in 2000 in san diego. This could result in loss of control and steering ability, as your tires may lose contact with the pavement. The canopy truly is the greatest innovation in unlimited hydroplane racing, and the benefits of this innovation are felt at nearly every race. Feb 03, 2010 the first set of heats were run on saturday.

Unlimited hydroplane driver george stratton died sunday from injuries suffered when his u5 hydroplane flipped during a test run on san. The 7litre record 7 in action with ownerdriver george babcock driving. It is the sports first fatal accident in 18 years, and the first time a driver has died while racing in an unlimited hydroplane with an enclosed cockpit. Tires with low pressure can also cause hydroplaning. Members of an unlimited hydroplane boat series, along with safer. Unlimited hydroplane driver george stratton died sunday from injuries suffered when his u5 hydroplane flipped during a test run on san diegos mission bay. Apparently disqualified, after reaching the checkered flag first, was george stratton of las vegas, driving the wild fire.

During an unlimited career that lasted from 1970 to 1975, the eatonville, washington, resident won twelve out of thirtyfour races entered. Unlimited hydroplane driver george stratton died yesterday in san diego after flipping during a test run. Following sundays tragic death of wellrespected canadian hydroplane driver mathieu daoust of salaberrydevalleyfield, quebec, the hydroplane racing league expressed with great sadness its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the driver, to whom it will continue to provide support the hydroplane racing community lost a great one in veteran driver mathieu. When i was hired to drive the new atlas van lines, i was replacing perhaps the greatest hydroplane driver ever, bill muncey, after his death in mexico. George henley during his 1970 to 1975 career, henley won 12 out of 34 races entered, for a winning percentage of 0. Unlimitedhydroplane driver george stratton died yesterday in san diego after flipping during a test run. The boat would do a 360 degree barrelroll and come to rest upright with the hull and driver in fine conditition. George henley remembered hydroplane and raceboat museum. Chuck thompson detroit 1967 bill brow tampa, fl 1968 warner gardner. Beloved detroit racer remembered for great skills, fine character. Rookie george stratton was third in appian jeronimo. Weber knows loss in racing, his unlimited hydroplane teammate george stratton being killed in 2000 during a test run for the bill muncey cup on san diegos mission bay. Points are awarded for qualifying rank and finishing place in each heat of competition. Tom death pronounced deeth won three american power boat association gold cups and three the prince edward canadian gold cups.

Stratton, 44, had won his preliminary heat on saturday and was warming up with a practice run sunday morning when the accident occurred. The faster you drive in wet conditions, the more likely it is that your car will hydroplane. Villwock and the miss budweiser team lead the driver and boat standings with 6687 points, respectively. But it was las vegas new unlimited hydroplane, the u10 wild fire, that brought the most excitement to the bayfair, which concluded sunday before a crowd estimated at 80,000. Villwocks a great driver and hes got great equipment, said tate. We battled through the tough conditions but we were unable to catch the miss budweiser in the final. Oct 01, 2010 you cant call yourself a driver if you dont know these 7 secrets duration.

Stratton was in his first season driving the u5 appian jeronimo hydroplane for kim gregorys las vegasbased usa racing partners. Drivers and crewmen killed during unlimited hydroplane races and testing year driver site 1951 orth mathiot seattle, wa thom whittaker seattle. Indycar searching for solutions to prevent another death like dan. George henley, one of the top drivers of the 1970s, passed away on december 14, 2009, following a recent heart attack. With george woods driving, the harvey team won at san diego and also triumphed at miami, florida. In addition to being deaths first gold cup win, it was the first gold cup win for a turbocharged v12 allison aircraft engine, the first for a cabover unlimited hull, and the first gold cup win for miss us owner george simon, who had competed in unlimited hydroplane racing since 1953. New craft hopes to raise the competition speed record of 101. First limited inboard driver to average more than 100 mph in competition. Thunderboats get a makeover for the 21st century by alan boyle on august 4, 2017 at 6. Oberto took firstplace at both of the salt water unlimited races of 1988. Detroit the numbers flow like water from mark weber, a former driver of the miss budweiser unlimited hydroplane who holds 14 national and two world championships the.

But mike decided to continue in the cockpit a while longer. George stratton, who crashed in shallow water in san diego in 2000. U5 u7 u57 unlimited hydroplane race team home facebook. Stratton drove the u5 to a fifth place finish in the finals along with a second, third and fourth place finish in the preliminary heats. Member gulf marine racing hall of fame 100 mph club. The mike hanson story hydroplane and raceboat museum.