Here is Chris's photo's of the Full Scale and 1/8th scale and some 1/10 scale hydro's. Been doing Unlimited races since the early 50's with my parants and I'll tell you the best is the Tri Cities to watch what ever you want to watch. Girl, hydro watching on the Kennewick side is second to none. 90-100 degree weather brings out the best in both.
http://cdenslow.smugmug.com/Hydroplane%20Racing
Anyone coming this way ? i have pit passes! Mike Ps read this from our daily news Small boats seem to be the right fit for Wright
By GORDON ENGELHARDT
, Courier & Press staff writer
464-7518 or
[email protected]
Thursday, June 28, 2007
IF YOU GO
THUNDER ON THE OHIO
Friday
Unlimited hydroplane practice, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; 12:20-2:30 p.m., 4:40-6 p.m.
Saturday
Unlimited hydroplane practice, 9:15-10 a.m.; practice and qualifications, 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m.; practice, 1:40-2:20 p.m; heat races 4:20 and 4:45 p.m .
Sunday
Unlimited practice and Thunder qualifying, 8-8:45 a.m.; heat races 10:35, 11 a.m.; 12:45, 1:20 p.m.; provisional 3:30 p.m.; final 5:10 p.m.
Dennis Wright learned more than a history lesson from Ed Cooper Jr.
"I grew up down the road from Ed (in Posey County)," Wright said. "I hung around his boat shop. Ed was always good for stories of My Gypsy, Bill Cantrell and Graham Heath when he was growing up and working on crews in Madison (Ind.). He had a number of childhood stories."
Cooper left Madison to attend the University of Evansville, later teaching Wright history and social studies at North Posey Junior High.
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"Even after high school, I looked up to Ed as a teacher and mentor," Wright said.
He may have caught the boat racing bug from Cooper, owner of the piston-powered U-3 Master Tire.
Wright will drive the Superior Miss, one of eight 2.5 Litre Stock class boats that will complement tthe unlimiteds in an American Boat Racing Association two-race mini points series at Thunder on the Ohio this weekend and the Indiana Governor's Cup July 6-8 at Madison.
Wright will drive the Superior Miss, one of eight 2.5 Litre Stock class boats that will complement tthe unlimiteds in an American Boat Racing Association two-race mini points series at Thunder on the Ohio this weekend and the Indiana Governor's Cup July 6-8 at Madison.
The 2.5 Litre Stock class uses Ford 2,300 cc Pinto engines from the 1970s, reaching speeds approaching 100 mph on the straightaways. They are 14-to-16 feet long, about half the size of the unlimiteds.
Driving such small and light crafts can get a litle hairy in racing conditions, said Wright, whose team is based in Mount Vernon, Ind. He lives in New Harmony and works as a mold design engineer in Evansville.
Evansville resident Tom Bergman, one of Wright's crew members in 2005, purchased his own boat, Team Hot Shot, in 2006 and drives as well. Like Wright, Bergman was a former student of Cooper's at North Posey Junior High.
Wright started building and racing radio controlled hydroplanes at the age of 14. He raced in numerous regonal races for more than 20 years, including Little Thunder.
As his hobby became more serious, he started attending and winning more races. He won the Sport 40 class points championship in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
He started racing the 2.5 Litres in 2005, winning the high point championship for the Marine Prop Riders, an inboard racing club in Detroit.
"I chose the 2.5 Litre class because it is reasonably economical
