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12.12.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 11 - The clear is going on!
More in the photo gallery
12.10.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 9-10 - All the artwork is finished and ready for clear coat on Thursday.
More in the photo gallery
12.8.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 8 - The finishing touches before shooting clear tomorrow.
More in the photo gallery
12.6.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 7 - The paint scheme is coming together and should be finished and ready for clear by Tuesday.
DAY 6 - Let the flames begin!!!!
DAY 5 - More colors, hmmm....
More in the photo gallery
12.3.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 4 - the flag is almost finished.
DAY 3 - it is starting to take shape
More in the photo gallery
12.1.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 2
More in the photo gallery
11.30.09 - Off-season Updates
DAY 1 - Shockwave Racing is getting a new look for the 2010 Grand Prix Season follow our website to see the changes.
More in the photo gallery
11.30.09 - Grand Prix News
Blown-Gasoline-Carbureted Motor a Success
The test of the blown-gasoline-carbureted motor when off better than expected. On a very cool day with a little wind Hopp Racing Team tested the gasoline motor out in their GP-15 Region 10 Hi-Point championship hull. The boat was run 3 times and accelerated very well and hit a top speed of 140mph (225km/h). The course used was the small inboard course that is used at the Chelan Inboard races approximately a 1 mile oval.
Greg said that the boat is as fast as any of the UL boats, naturally aspired or blown. The boat just "Got with the program". A very good entry level set-up for teams wanting to join the top boats in the country and run a supercharged motor. He thinks the gas blower motor was quite a bit louder than the methanol motor. Everyone on the beach agreed.
The boat engine, Big Walley, was built under APBA Grand Prix engine option #1. A 468ci engine with 9 to 1 compression, a 6-71 supercharger running at 112% of crank speed, twin carbs running 114 Trick racing gas. We estimate the power at about 1,000 HP+. The engine "Started like a Chevy" said Greg. Pump the throttle twice and hit the starter. A lot easier to start than the blown alcohol motor. It ran like a dream, pulled got and had plenty of power on the top end.
Any teams wanting more information on the setup and tune spec's we used including the boat computer run reads outs contact Jerry Hopp Hopp Racing owner. I will be more than happy to share the information with you.
- Jerry Hopp
It works!! The Graham Trucking-Happy Go Lucky-PumpTech of Hopp racing took to chilly Lake Chelan this weekend. The temperature got down to 35 degrees It's safe to say the only thing "Hot" was the coffee, and Ed Trihey's latest engine adventure. How about a gasoline fueled dual carb, blower motor! Greg Hopp took the "Yellow Rocket" to 140 mph on his last of 3 testing periods proving this much talked about engine program is the way to go for any race team looking to go "Blower Boat" without the expense and hassle of converting to Methanol. You get the engine. You hook up your oil, gasoline, and water. Start it, and go racing. It works!! Thanks to Tom Long of PumpTech for bringing the company boom truck. John Walcker for getting us everything we needed (Including some terrific chicken). Scott Pierce, Mark and Mitch Evans also added to the festivities. A very cold day, with a very "HOT" result.
11.30.09 - Grand Prix History
GRAND PRIX: IN THE BEGINNING
By Fred Farley
Grand Prix Class hydroplane racing has long been considered the epitome of automotive-powered inboard racing.
The sight and sound of these magnificent boats with their souped-up V-8 engines at full song is an experience like no other in motor sports.
Grand Prix boats began making their presence felt on the Canadian Boating Federation (CBF) circuit in the 1960s. There was a considerable fleet of them in and around Valleyfield, Quebec. The GPs were an outgrowth of the old 7-Litre Class that rose to prominence in the late 1940s.
Nicknamed "The Big Iron," these boats were a minimum of 20 feet in length with engines of up to 500 cubic inches in piston displacement. Many were supercharged and any kind of fuel was permitted.
An early star of Canadian Grand Prix racing was the legendary Art Asbury. Driving Aubert Brillant's Chrysler-hemi-powered CANADIANA GRAND PRIX, Asbury set a UIM world straightaway record of 153.746 miles per hour in 1965 at Beloil, Quebec.
The American Power Boat Association (APBA) first took notice of the Grand Prix phenomenon in 1974. The GPs made their United States debut on the narrow Scioto River at Columbus, Ohio. The original winner of a non-Canadian GP race was Larry Lauterbach, driving John Stauffer's EDELWEISS, designed and built by Larry's father Henry Lauterbach of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Lauterbach hulls dominated the first few years of Grand Prix racing in the United States. In addition to EDELWEISS, such notable Lauterbach entries included the likes of LAUTERBACH SPECIAL, GOLDEN NUGGET, DEEPWATER SPECIAL, BOOMERANG, ADVANCE UNITED, HEAVY HAULER, and EL CONDOR.
No one ever complained about the quality of workmanship on a Lauterbach hull! These boats were built strong to last long! And they loved horsepower! These were conventional hulls with the driver sitting behind--rather than ahead of--the engine well.
At a time when the sport in general was changing over to cabover--or forward-cockpit--hulls, popularized by Ron Jones, Sr., the old-style Lauterbach hulls remained surprisingly competitive.
Some of the biggest names in boat racing associated with Grand Prix racing in the early days. Many of these made reputations for themselves in Unlimited hydroplanes as well. These included Larry Lauterbach, Chip Hanauer, Tom D'Eath, Jim Kropfeld, Howie Benns, John Prevost, Ron Snyder, and Terry Turner.
The class received its first major league shot in the arm in 1977 at Detroit, where they performed before an audience of a quarter million. The Spirit Of Detroit Association (SODA) invited the GPs to be the co-feature together with the Unlimiteds. This came about largely through the efforts of SODA board member John Love. Love had attended several Canadian Grand Prix races with his friend Tom D'Eath and was impressed with the competitiveness of the Grand Prix Class.
Love soon became GP Chairman for APBA. Nicknamed "The Boy Commissioner," John did much to smooth out the differences between the APBA and CBF factions of Grand Prix. No longer were conflicting race dates assigned to the detriment of all. More teams from both countries began patronizing each others races.
Terry Turner won the first Detroit GP race with LAUTERBACH SPECIAL. This was the first time that the Unlimited Class and the Grand Prix Class had ever occupied the same pit area with each other. It would not be the last. Turner defeated such formidable challengers as Stover Hire in MOONSHOT, New Zealand Champion Peter Knight in GONE HEAVY, "crown/clown prince" Jules LeBouef in BOOMERANG, and Bill Hodge in LONG GONE.
Turner and the Chevy-powered LAUTERBACH SPECIAL likewise won the GP race at Dayton, Ohio, and went on to claim the Grand Prix Class National High Point Championship in 1977. They had stiff opposition from the Ron Jones-designed LONG GONE, which won that year's Guadalahara, Mexico, and Mexico City, Mexico, Grand Prix races.
The Chrysler hemi-powered LONG GONE emerged as season points champion in 1978. LAUTERBACH SPECIAL, co-driven by Chip Hanauer and Tom D'Eath, was back on top in 1979.
Perhaps the most eloquent showcase of Grand Prix racing in the early days of the class was the GP Nationals on the Ohio River at Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1979. Hanauer and LAUTERBACH SPECIAL, owned by Don Ryan, reeled off three first places in as many heats to claim the title.
The start of the Final Championship Heat was close with four boats pouring into the tight first turn together. LAUTERBACH SPECIAL and DEEPWATER TOO with Tom Baker duked it out down the backstretch with Baker keeping the pressure on Hanauer until hull damage forced the DEEPWATER entry out of the race.
Marty Niles stayed in contention with OLYMPIAD but was disqualified for missing a marker. Tom "Butch" Kropfeld and GOLDEN NUGGET took runner-up, and Bill Hodge finished third with LONG GONE.
Defending champion Larry Lauterbach, who had captured the 1978 GP Nationals at the Minneapolis Aquatennial Regatta, never recovered from a late start with PEANUT and managed only a fourth in the furious competition, ahead of Ty Cobb in FLYIN' LOW and 62-year-old Paul Bauer in BIG KAT-N-NAN V.
Hanauer posted heat times of 100.334, 94.467, and 99.938 in the Bellingham, Washington-based entry. Fastest heat of the day went to Baker and DEEPWATER TOO who did 101.930 in the 2-B section. Hodge and LONG GONE also cleared the century mark with a 100.649 reading in 1-B.
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Grand Prix boats of today have little in common with their predecessors of yesteryear. A modern GP craft is a technological marvel with a cabover configuration and an aircraft-style safety canopy.
A 1970s GP was, more often than not, a beefed-up 7-Litre with the driver sitting behind the engine in an open cockpit.
Given the increasing number of active boats in recent years, the Grand Prix clan's best sale point is an individual heat of racing, where the level of competition can be absolutely incredible--hardcore, auto-powered race boating at its gut-wrenching best.
Some of the finest inboard teams in the world are flocking to join "The Big Iron." The real winners, the fans, eagerly await the results.
11.11.09 - 2009 Season Recap
With the 2009 season behind us, we as a team have a lot to be thankful for and even more to look foreword to next year. We started off the year In Moses Lake Washington with a GP Race. Our first heat was just to blow the cobwebs off and get used to the boat again. We finished in second and decided try a new propeller for the second heat. The prop felt great and the boat speed was up in the second head but coming out of turn two, the propeller shaft broke and we lost our new propeller. We put our race setup in for Sunday and won the heat race and the final heat for the weekend. We had the GP power flying in Moses!
Phoenix Arizona was the next stop on the schedule and the first race for the “G” series. We met up with East coast favorite Marty Wolfe and several West Coast boats for a showdown in the desert. Firebird Lake has very unique water conditions and we struggle to get the boat to handle. We had all of the horsepower we needed but I couldn’t get the boat to go straight. Marty was fighting the same problem but he was able to overcome and win Phoenix. We finished second and scored the first points of the year for the Thunderboat class.
Out next race was a GP race in Issaquah Washington. This race had some of the fastest boats on the west coast and it was going to be a battle. It the first heat, I stole the inside lane from Greg Hopp and led wire to wire to win the first heat. We noticed after that heat that we had a crack in our prop so we had to go with a different setup for the second heat. In the next heat I nailed the start and led the field through turn one. The GP17 stretched out her lead and won by over a roostertail. The third heat went the same way and we were ready for the final. I maneuvered into lane one before the start of the final and got a good start. At the exit of turn one I saw the GP 19 come through a roostertail and dart right in front of me. I felt the boats hit and the next thing I know I am dead in the water sitting in a boat that is torn to pieces.
The team work feverishly to repair the boat for the next race. The entire team worked every spare minute to rebuild or repair virtually every inch of the boat. With the help of three machinist and hundreds of man hours, we were able to pull off a miracle and not miss any races the boat left the shop headed for South Dakota with the primer still wet but at least we made it.
Chamberlain South Dakota was our next race and this was the second race for the “G” boats. This was the first race of the “Series within a series” which was a series designed to increase boat count by increasing payout to teams. The first time out on the water we raced Cal Phipps driving the “G-10”. I was able to get a good start and get out front early. I knew that Cal is fast and I had to stay out front. The GP-17 lead wire to wire to take the win. This was the first time the boat ran after being completely rebuilt and the team couldn’t have been happier. The second heat started out the same way but while leading, our engine burnt a valve and I had to shut it down. The team worked feverishly to perform a “quick fix and we were lowered into the water a short time later. Just before the final heat, the team learned that the Wiggins hydroplane wouldn’t be able to answer the call and it would be a two boat shootout. It was the G-17 against the G-329 of Dave Warren. Dave and I nailed the start and we were side by side for several laps before I pulled ahead to take the win.
10.03.09 - Chelan, WA Photo Update
Photos from the GP race at Lake Chelan, WA have been added to the photo gallery
9.19-20.09 - RACE UPDATE - San Diego, CA
Sun. 12pm - Shockwave racing had a fantastic 3rd heat. Dustin was able to capture lane one and nail his start on the way to a first place finish. No major adjustments are being made just the usual post race go-through. The final should be around 4pm pacific time and the winner of the Westport series will be decided. We would like to thank Roostertail racing GP-329, Renegade GP-93, Wiggins racing GP-10 and Tempo GP-13 for their participation in the series within a series.
Sat. 6pm - The team had a much better 2nd heat. With a prop change and tune up Dustin was able to capture a first. However he was penalized for an improper crossing of the course and was issued a 1 minute penalty. Regardless the team couldn't be more excited about it and look forward to tomorrows action. And way to go UW Huskies!!!
Sat. 12pm - The team has had a tough weekend already with an engine swap before racing action even begun. Friday was a testing session for the GP-17 and we had one ok run and on the 2nd run the engine let go. The crew worked late into the evening changing the motor out in preparation for racing on saturday. In the 1st heat today, Dustin, Marty and Cal put on an amazing show, in what was the most exciting heat so far today! Dustin elected to back out of it when some gauges were reading high and save the motor for later heats. However he was able to hold on for a 3rd place with Marty and Cal finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. Dick Lynchtook 4th and Dave Warren did not start. We have another heat coming up later this afternoon and a full day of racing tomorrow. It was also announced today that we clinched high points for the 2009 racing year. Congratulations to the entire team!!!
9.2.09 - September Update
Well Evansville wasn’t the best race for the 17 team but we are regrouping for San Diego. In Evansville, two small problems came and it bit us. In the first heat, I started on the outside and nailed the start. As we headed through turn 1, I passed the GP93 on the outside and set my sights on Greg Hopp. At the end of the first lap, I noticed the engine starting to loose power so I backed off of the throttle and brought it back to the pits. We later found we broke a couple of rocker arms. We put in another engine for the final but during the warm up, the throttle cable linkage broke. It is unfortunate that a fifty cent part kept us from winning in Evansville but we are locked and loaded for San Diego. The GP’s will have a strong showing on mission bay with up to eight boats possible. The team is finishing up triple checking all of the equipment before we get on the road.
8.30.09 - Photo Update
Photos from the races in Silverdale, WA and Evansville, IN have been added to the photo gallery.
8.22-23.09 - RACE UPDATE - Evansville, IN
Sun. 9am- Quite a bit cooler then yesterday however the water is fast! The team made all the needed adjustments yesterday including a prop change, we are race ready. First heat is at 11:45 right after the 2nd unlimited heat.
Sat. 12am- If there is a better place to watch a race then Evansville I don't know what it is. The pits are set up specifically for boat racing and are tiered which make watching the race ideal. The team has spent the morning making the boat ready for the first testing session. Things look good on all fronts including the weather. Its overcast with intermittent sunbreaks and warm, in the upper 70's.
Sat. 9am- Not much is happening today just testing and qualifying, but here are some pictures of the G-17's new "paint job" and the crew in the pits in Evansville.
8.10.09 - August Update
The boat is back at the shop and some minor repairs have been completed. The team has been going through the boat and all of the systems completing general maintenance. Our next race will be in Silverdale Washington on August 15-16. I am very excited to head back to Silverdale to race there as a “G” boat. We should have three or four boats to put on a great show for the fans. The following weekend The Shockwave team heads to Evansville Indiana for a huge GP race. This race will showcase the fastest Grandprix hydroplanes in the world. I expect the fastest teams from the east coast to race head to head with the fastest teams from the west coast. This is going to be an event you don’t want to miss. After Evansville, The GP 17 heads back to Washington State to compete on the Columbia River in Pateros. This is a very fun and well run race with great viewing for spectators. With three races back to back, the Shockwave team is double checking all of our equipment so we can keep this winning season alive. See you in Silverdale!
8.04.09 - Photo/Website Update
Pictures from Polson, MT and Chamberlain, SD have been added to the photo gallery and the Results, Standings, and Schedule pages have been updated.
7.25.09 - Flathead Lake Victory!
THE THUNDER BOATS GO TO SCENIC FLATHEAD LAKE
The 2nd annual Radio Waves Regatta proved to be a challenge, with high altitude and warm weather four boats answered the call. G-13 Dick Lynch experienced mechanical problems and had to return to the dock prior to the start of the first heat, this left 3 boats barreling into the first turn. When the water settled it was G17 Dustin Echols in first, G10 Cal Phipps in 2nd and G329 David Warren in 3rd.
The second heat of the weekend, had Cal Phipps in the Wiggins G10 nailing the start, beating the G17 to the first turn, the Wiggins, Alabama entry never looked backed finishing first in the Thunder Boat heat 2, G17 in second and G329 finishing in 3rd.
Sunday donned high winds and hot weather, not the best conditions for hydroplane racing. The first heat of the day had the G10 going against the G17, this scenario has replayed itself over the last 6 heats going back to last weekend in Chamberlain South Dakota, these boats are both very fast and it is always a battle, which gives the fans some exciting racing, the G17 was able to get to the finish line first.
And now the final with winds continuing to pick up and the smaller classes on wind delay the Thunder Boats were lowered into the water for their final heat, the G13 after working all day Saturday and Sunday morning was able to answer the call, along with the G10 and G1 7 the conditions were questionable at best which had everyone in G17 camp a little nervous, when the green flag fell 3 Thunderboats roared across the starting line, this heat was something to see, with 20 mile an hour winds and white caps on the race course Phipps and Echols went after it neck and neck with neither one of them giving an inch. full throttle thunder the boats were dancing across the windswept Montana race course in the end it was the G17 pulling out the victory, which was in doubt until the last turn in the last lap.
7.15.09 - Chamberlain Victory!
The boat was fast, the repairs to the 17 were successful with 2 heat wins and first overall for the weekend, David Warren in the Shade Vineyards/Blockhead Machine G-329 continues to make great strides of improvements, he is getting faster every time out. The Wiggins G-10 is a first calss team with a fast boat. We would like to thank the people of South Dakota for their hospitality, this is a first class race site.
7.10.09 - Headed to SD!
South Dakota, here we come! The GP-17 is rebuilt, ready to race and as we speak, almost to Chamberlain. I can’t say enough about how the entire team came together over the past three weeks to completely rebuild our boat. I am amazed that we pulled it off and we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. We had three different machinists working on building hardware and the team working 17 hour days in the shop. Did we get tired and burned out? Yes, but we got tons of e-mails and letters from fans throughout South Dakota asking if the Shockwave team would be there and we wouldn’t disappoint. This was a major bonding project for our team. We learned new skills and are all more familiar with the boat. We incorporated new technology into the parts of the boat and we will be faster than ever. Thanks to everyone for all of the words of encouragement and see you at the races!
7.08.09 - Repair Photos - Week 4
Shockwave Racing is in the final stages of repairs and are still hoping to get done in time for Chamberlain South Dakota in 4 days. We have approximatley 12 hours to finish all repairs, intall everything and fire the engine up, to leave Wednesday morning to make the 1400 mile trek.
Check out the rest of the pictures in the photo gallery
7.07.09 - Repair Photos - Week 3
The Shockwave Team has quite a bit of damage to repair from the June 8th accident. The list of damage is extensive: canard linkage, new canard wing, new port sponson tip and deck, spar wing, rudder bracket, 10' of non trip and deck, starboard frames where stearing pulled through, new cowling, new blower (ingested carbon fiber from cowling), engine rebuild (bent crank and two rods), rudder, shaft, prop, canopy latch. Here are some pictures of the progress from week 3 of the rebuild.
We would like to give our thanks to Dale Vanwieregen for building our hull pieces and Ed Preston and our devoted crew for all the extra time they hae put in to get er' done, also to Capital Machine in Olympia and Dave Villwock and Kelly Stocklin for getting all the hardware done for us.
Check out the rest of the pictures in the photo gallery
6.25.09 - Accident Video Added
A video of the Tastin n' Racing accident involving the G-17 and G-19 has been added to the multi-media page.
Here is a link to some pictures of the accident taken by Geoff Wyler. They show Dustin in lane 1, Greg in lane 2 and Ryan in lane 3 and Ryan going through Greg's roostertail heading toward the shoreline and the aftermath of him coming out of the roostertail into Dustin.
6.17.09 - Repair Photos - Week 1-2
Photos of the repair work on the G/GP-17 have been posted in the photo gallery
6.10.09 - RACE RECAP - Tastin' and Racin' - Issaquah, Washington
The weekend started off well with two heat wins on Saturday. We broke some parts but the team had everything ready to go for Sunday. The first heat on Sunday was a thriller. I got out to an early lead but Greg Hopp and Ryan Mallow were close behind. Greg was having canard problems all weekend long and Ryan was having a hard time getting his boat to straighten out coming out of the turns. For the final heat I just wanted to go out and finish so we would win for the weekend. I found myself a little early at the start but I had lane one. Greg was in lane two as he passed me heading into turn one. At the exit to the turn, I had Greg’s roostertail to my right and I was holding the boat on the buoys. Right then, The GP-19 came through Greg’s roostertail and I hit him at a 45 degree angle and flew over the top of the boat. My boat flew over the 19 then stuffed into the water. The GP-17 has some major damage but we will get it repaired. I am very sore a day after the accident but I am thankful for all of the safety devices that worked properly. I am also thankful for the quick response by Region 10 rescue to help get me out of the boat. We will have the mighty GP-17 back on the water as soon as possible.
Dustin Echols
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
6.06-07.09 - RACE UPDATE - Tastin' and Racin' - Issaquah, Washington
Sun. 1:30 - Wow what a heat!!! All 5 boats made the start and Shockwave racing ran away with the win with a hard charging GP-19 in second and GP- 15 in third. The 18 and the 329 were both DNF's but appear to be making strides in their programs as they both were DNS and scratch for both heats, respectively yesterday. We have a few things to check out before the final at 5pm today and by the way, if you're in western Washington and can't make it to the lake, tune your tv to King 5 at 5 to watch our final live!
Sat. Wrap Up - Shockwave had a very successful day however it was not without problems. We broke a prop after each heat and discovered a bent shaft after the second heat. All GP teams seemed to suffer some sort of mechanical difficulty yesterday. Hopps ran well both heats but broke their canard wing. The GP-19 never made a start and blew their motor after the 2nd heat and had to swap it out. The GP-18 also never made a start and various mechanical problems are hampering them and unfortunately the GP-329 never hit the water. Hopefully all teams were able to solve their issues and will put in for a great day of racing.
Sat. 3:42 - Well after LOTS of waiting we were able to run our first heat. Dustin and the Shockwave racing took first followed by Greg Hopp in the 15. Unfortunately both Kip Brown and Ryan Mallow weren't able to make the start but will hopefully work out any bugs before our next heat. We are up against a 6pm curfew so we hope to get all heats in before then..
Sat. 2:00 - The weather has decided to cooperate and it is cloudy but warm. There will be 5 boats in the GP heat of the day. So far there has been lots of exciting racing action and the GP heat heat should be no different. Look for more updates after the heat!.
5.20.09 - Shockwave Goes to School
On Friday May 15th Shockwave Racing went to Stevens Elementary in Aberdeen Washington for Courtney Thurman's Show and Tell.
Ed Preston busy answering questions from "How fast does it go?" to "What is the pounds per square inch on the top of the canard wing at full speed?" (No kidding a 5th grader asked that)
The school was great to work with, the administrators let Courtney and her sister Caitlyn handout autograph cards to the kids and teachers, as classes were let out one at a time to view the boat. This picture shows Dustin signing autographs, by the time we were finished, Courtney and Caitlyn passed out over a 1000 autograph cards.
We were lucky as it was warm with an abundance of sunshine, this can be a rarity for Aberdeen in May.
Our 2 Heroes for the day standing on the trailer, Courtney on right, Caitlyn on left with one of the classes at Stevens Elementary School.. Shockwave Racing wants to thank Courtney for her invitation to be a part of her show and tell, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN!!!!
5.17.09 - Courtney's Letter
We received this letter from a little girl who lives in Aberdeen Washington. More to follow.........
5.04.09 - New T-Shirts!
The new 2009 Shockwave Racing T-Shirts are here! Celebrate the 2008 National Championship with a new shirt!
We are sell them for $8 + $5.00 shipping and handling and we have sizes ranging from Youth X small, small, medium, large to Adult small, medium, large, X Large, and XX Large.
Get yours now at the Team Store.
4.24-26.09 - RACE UPDATE - Firebird Lake, Phoenix (Chandler), AZ
Sun. 4:40 - After sitting in the water for 30 minutes or so we finally ran our last heat for the weekend. Both G boats teams mutually agreed to only run one heat instead of the usual 2. Marty was able to solve his handling problems and took first. The team has the next 5 weeks to figure out what needs to happen next to get the boat ride better, our next race is at Tastin' n Racin' at Lake Samammish, WA. Congratulations to Marty Wolfe and the G-93 team.
Sun. 1:50 - Due to TV time constraints heat 3 of the G boats has been delayed until further notice. This is becuase of the windy weather yesterday and the TAF boat that crashed earlier today putting IHBA's program behind schedule.
Sun. 10:10 - The weather has taken a turn for the better and conditions are perfect. Drag boats have been running their eliminations since 8 this morning, trying to catch up from yesterday. The team had a fairly late night trying to find a good set up to run today. We made another skid fin change and swapped our shaft out, only to find that the new one didn't fit properly. Not sure exactly when we'll be running again but it should be around 12:30pm.
Sat. 3:20 - Shockwave racing took a 2nd in the 2nd heat against Marty Wolfe and the GP-93. Unfortunately, the modifications after the first heat didn't make much difference in the boat ride. The team is meeting right now to come up with a plan for tomorrows events. More to come!
Sat. 1:30 - Just ran our first heat and took a first against Marty Wolfe and the GP-93. We discovered a few problems and are endeavoring to get the boat turned around for the next heat. We are making a skid fin adjustment and a prop adjustment to make the boat ride better. Still VERY windy and no drag boats have run yet. Here is a video of the crew hard at work.
Sat. 12:05 - The first day of racing has proved to be interesting. So far, 35 mile an hour gusts have hampered the drag boats and delayed the start of their program. The sprint boats have run a heat and there are 2, 5 liters, and 3 ULs sitting in the water waiting for the wind to die down. More to come as it happens!
Fri. - Here is a video of the boat being fired up in the pits at Firebird Lake.
4.14.09 - 2009 Season Preview
With less than a week away from the first GP race of the season, The Shockwave team is ready. This past weekend, the team finished some small tasks left on the boat and the truck has been loaded. Our engines have all been readied with the third engine completed on Saturday. Many upgrades to different systems were completed in the offseason and the team is anxious to see how they work. Three teams are expected to compete at Moses Lake and more teams should be ready to compete very soon. We will have more updated as news comes in. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
4.08.09 - Open House Recap
Shockwave Racings open house on Saturday was dubbed a success. We had lots of visitors throughout the day, who were able to wander through the shop, take a tour of the hauler, collect free shirts and were treated to an engine fire. The team is now looking forward to making their final preparations for the first race, April 18th and 19th at Moses Lake, WA.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
3.23.09 - Off-season Update
The team installed an engine in the boat this weekend and prepared it to fire. All of the hoses and connections have been checked and things couldn’t have gone better. After all of the equipment was taken out, inspected, and reinstalled it lined back up perfectly. Now the boat is back on the trailer and we will start packing everything back up for the race season. We plan to trailer fire three separate engines next weekend just to check everything out.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
3.16.09 - Press Release
Westport/Grayland Chamber of Commerce along with Ted's Red Apple Market are bringing awareness to the Prader Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) through the Thunderboat Series with in a Series. This is a four race series
open to all GP and G Boats where racers will accumulate points towards the winner take all dash for cash at the fourth event. We are pleased to announce the Chamberlain-Oacoma River City Racin and the Polson Montana Radio Waves Regatta are the first 2 stops in this series. We are waiting for the ULHRA to finalize the third and fourth events.
What is Prader-Willi syndrome?
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex non-hereditary birth defect resulting from an abnormality on the 15th chromosome. It occurs in males and females equally and in all races. Prevalence estimates have ranged from 1:8,000 to 1:25,000 with the most likely figure being 1:15,000. Incidence in newborns is unknown.
PWS typically causes low muscle tone, short stature if not treated with growth hormone, incomplete sexual development, and a chronic feeling of hunger that, coupled with a metabolism that utilizes drastically fewer calories than normal, can lead to excessive eating and life-threatening obesity. The food compulsion makes constant supervision necessary. Average IQ is circa 70, but even those with normal IQs almost all have cognitive deficits and require special education. Social and motor deficits also exist. At birth the infant typically has low birth weight for gestation, hypotonia (weak muscles), and difficulty sucking due to the hypotonia (“failure to thrive”). The second stage (“thriving too well”), with onset between the ages of two and five throughout lifetime, usually is characterized by increased appetite, weight control issues, and motor development delays along with often severe behavior problems and medical issues.
PWSA (USA) is an organization of families and professionals working together to promote and fund research, provide education, and offer support to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome.
www.pwsausa.org
3.16.09 - Shockwave Racing now on Facebook!
Check out the Fans and Friends of Shockwave Racing page on Facebook, sign up and follow along!
3.11.09 - Open House Announcement
Shockwave Racing Open House
2818-D Black Lake Blvd
Tumwater, WA 98512
April 4th at 10am
Big Brothers Big Sisters 11am until 2pm
Engine Fire at 12:30pm
Come by for a tour of the shop and an opportunity to talk boat racing with the G/GP-17 team. Dustin Echols will be on hand to take pictures and sign autographs.
3.11.09 - Website Update
A new "About Shockwave Racing" page has been added to the site. Check it out to find out more about the G-17, G/GP Hydroplanes, and the History of the Shockwave Racing Team!
3.05.09 - Off-season Update
The gearbox was disassembled, inspected, bearings were replaced and the box was reassembled. The truck was cleaned, detailed and is ready for the race season. The canard on the boat was reinstalled and new shims were cut to reduce any “flutter.” A small repair had to be done on the left rear shoe but this was minor and all hull repair, should be done by next weekend. We didn’t get an engine in the boat this weekend, but we made huge strides and we will be done on time. The team also took a trip out to the location of the new shop which is coming along nicely.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
2.21.09 - Off-season Update
The team finished prepping the engine compartment this weekend and is going through the gear box. The rudder post and rudder have been installed along with the fire suppression bottle. We are planning to have an engine in the boat this weekend. All of the hoses for the engine have to be cleaned and inspected before going back into the boat. All of the work being done right now is very time consuming but it is very important. The hard work in the off season will surely pay off in the race season.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
2.16.09 - NEW - Desktop Wallpaper
Check out the Media page for new Shockwave Racing Desktop Wallpaper for your Computer and Cell Phone.
2.16.09 - Website Update
The Crew and Sponsors pages have been updated for the 2009 season.
2.09.09 - Website Update
The Boat page have been updated for the 2009 season.
2.07.09 - Off-season Update
The team had a very productive shop day .on Saturday. We started b0y cleaning up after the new paint job and started to put hardware back into the boat. The engine rails and gear box mounts have been installed and all of the nuts and bolts have been replaced. We put the bulk head in to retain the fuel tank and we are getting the tank inspected before installation. The team is right on schedule to have the boat ready for the 2009 season. Rick has decided to have a new shop built for the boat and it should be ready in a few months. When we do make the move to the new shop, we could have a “race shop garage sale”. We will have updates as the off season continues...
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
1.31.09 - Awards Banquet
Photos from the ULHRA Awards Banquet have been added to the photo gallery
1.25.09 - Off-season Update
Today the crew worked cleaning out the shop a bit and finishing the last bit of sanding on the boat to get it ready for paint. The hauler was moved to Rick and Shawn’s house to allow for some extra space. Dustin and Dan finished working on the engine dolly, putting a final coat of paint on it.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
1.22.09 - Website Updates
The Driver and Crew pages have been updated for the 2009 season!
1.20.09 - Off-season Update
Mostly this days work was spent working on both Bridgeman haulers. The old hauler, a 1980’s Kenworth, was washed and detailed to get ready for sale. The crew revamped the electrical system and installed new storage for parts on the new hauler. Ed Preston spent his day finishing the body work and primer the engine compartment.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
1.20.09 - 2009 Race Schedule
Check out the Race Schedule page for more info
1.05.09 - Off-season Update
The crew worked this Saturday on the boat trailer, newly painted by Rick and Shawn’s son-in-law Travis Johnston. It had already been stripped down for paint, gone over for any problems and ready to be put back together. The bunk was put back one, hydraulics reassembled, aluminum polished, hinges and drawers reattached and lights put back in. Finally the trailer was pulled out of the paint booth and the boat wheeled in to get read for paint.
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
1.05.09 - G-1 Celebration!
December 12-14 -
The team took off to Westport, WA to celebrate winning the championship and got to witness one of the biggest storms to hit the coast in recent years. It was a full weekend of celebration capped off with the unveiling of the custom championship rings. We stayed in beautiful rental homes, talked about the 2008 season, looked forward to the upcoming one and watched the 75 mile an hour gusts, wind and rain and at the end of the weekend snow!
Check out more photos in the photo gallery
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