Thunder on the Ohio Chairman Tom Sawyer spoke Wednesday to Evansville TV station WFIE-14. After news broke on Tuesday about the future of racing at Thunder this summer, he wanted to set the record straight.

"We will have racing, ribs and rock n' roll," Sawyer said in the interview. But, what  class of racing was he refering? No mention of having the Unlimiteds return for the 32nd consecutive year, but having the Grand Prix West class that competed last year.

Here is the video and text of the story that ran in the Wednesday 5:00 pm newscast on WFIE:

WFIE TV Story about Thunder on the Ohio '10

By Gordon Engelhardt, Evansville Courier & Press

For the first time since Thunder on the Ohio's inception in 1979, there is a chance the unlimited hydroplanes will not race this year in Evansville — though H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole said on Tuesday that it is "still possible."

"There is a remote shot we'll be there in the third weekend of August, like we did last year," Cole said.

While Thunder race chairman Tom Sawyer is considering July 31 to Aug. 1 and Aug. 21 and 22 as possible dates for racing in Evansville, Cole said the earlier weekend is not feasible because the unlimiteds are racing in Tri-Cities, Wash., on July 23-25 and Seattle on Aug. 6-8. Sandwiching Evansville in between, he said, is unlikely.

 

Miami's Marine Staudium holds a special place in the heart of Ed Cooper and his Go3 Racing Team.

In 1987, Ed Cooper Sr. and Jr. brought their unsponsored U-15 to race on Biscayne Bay. That race was the beginning of a Ed Cooper prepared Unlimited hydroplane racing full time with the world's fastest hydros.

The Unlimiteds first came to Miami in 1971. They raced in south Florida for 22 years, usually kicking off the season for the fleet. The last race was held in 1993, after the stadium was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Ever since this hydroplane landmark has set in disrepair and neglected. A group called Friends of MIami Marine Stadium have formed to see what it would take to resurrect the grand old place. Their hope is to hold events there once again---concerts, water acts and maybe even Unlimited hydroplane racing too!