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Post by Fire21 on Aug 10, 2018 20:01:11 GMT -5
Coming home today from our camping trip in the mountains, we were passed by this boat (and truck).
cdenslow.smugmug.com/Unlimited-Hydroplanes/2018-Season/2018-HAPO-Coumbia-Cup-Friday/i-4SVR3FX/A
We were going 65 mph and they slowly caught and passed us. I'd guess they were running 67-68 mph. I got a good look at it as it went by. They are so wide they have to be loaded on the truck like this. VERY impressive machines!!
Ilene, a question for you...When I looked up hydroplanes, all of them had an H and a number, like H3. Yet this one had U1, and the photo shows that. Are there different classes like in na$car?
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Post by MTwomn on Aug 10, 2018 21:13:52 GMT -5
Yes there are different classes. The U series would be like NASCAR's cup series.
The U-xx is in the unlimited class. The U-1 Miss HomeStreet is the only community-owned unlimited hydroplane, owned by the citizens of Madison, Indiana. The U-1 is the first unlimited to have a woman as the crew chief.
Unlimited hydroplanes have much fewer restrictions than with limited hydroplane racing. These 30 foot, 6,800 lbs boats most often powered by a Lycoming T55-L7 turbine engine (used in the CH-47 Chinook military helicopter), which is capable of up to 3000 horsepower with current restrictions. Unlimited hydroplanes are capable of speeds of 200+ mph on the straightaways and qualifying average lap speeds range from 130–165 mph. Modern hulls are constructed of composite materials such as honeycomb aluminum, fiberglass, laminated resin and carbon fiber.
Miss Homestreet onboard camera this year in the Tri-Cities.
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Post by MTwomn on Aug 10, 2018 21:46:40 GMT -5
This is why I was distracted in chat during the Pocono race. The race on the river was more exciting than the race on the triangle.
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