For the first time in 32 years, there will be no hydroplane racing in Evansville. The Unlimiteds have raced on the Ohio river for 31 straights summers, beginning in 1979. Thunder on the Ohio president Tom Sawyer said Tuesday night there will be no hydro racing in 2010. Struggling last year to fund the race, Sawyer said it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to have hydro racing this summer. There will be an event this year, with hopes of getting back the Unlimiteds, Grand Prixs and other classes of racing in 2011. This year's event has been renamed ThunderFest.
We've compiled media reports from Tuesday night. An official press conference should be held at some point this week. We'll let you knowwhen it will be held and will have all the details at Go3Racing.com when news breaks.
The Go3 Racing Team may not have been competing at this year's APBA Gold Cup in Detroit. But, the team was represented during race weekend. Driver Jimmy King visited the pits, and signed autographs. Logan Wood got Jimmy to sign a photo of his favorite boat and driver.
Photos courtesy Logan Wood
Thunder Without Boats A Possibility
According to their Facebook Fan Page Thunder on the Ohio will feature the Budweiser Clydesdales, 5K run, local BBQ cookoff, a hot air balloon, and music by.....The Pop Tart Monkeys. It also mentioned that they are in negotiations with a national act. Reports are the plan is to use this non-boat racing event to raise money to bring boat racing back to the Evansville riverfront.
Revisit Tom Sawyer's announcement on Fox 7 from earlier this spring.
GP's Will Not Race At Thunder In 2010
Fox 7's Doug Kufner spoke with GP 15 Owner and Driver Jerry Hopp Monday afternoon. Hopp told Kufner that the GP Series will not participate in the upcoming Thunder on the Ohio 32 for financial reasons. Hopp says the race committee informed he and other series owners and drivers that they didn't have the prize money in place to fund the race. Hopp was hopeful that the series could return to Evansville in 2011. This news, combined with the loss of the Unlimited hydroplanes, puts boat racing in serious doubt for the first time in the 32 year history of the racing event. The likelihood that the 2.5 stocks will run on the riverfront six weeks from now is also substantially deminished with the departure of the Grand Prix Series. An official announcement from Thunder officials on the fate of this year's event could come this week.
By Jim Riley Special to the Seattle Times
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If you are interested in investing in a company, whose business plan is to own and operate new Unlimited Hydroplane racing events around the country and would like additional information....click here
For the first time in 32 years, there will be no hydroplane racing in Evansville. The Unlimiteds have raced on the Ohio river for 31 straights summers, beginning in 1979. Thunder on the Ohio president Tom Sawyer said Tuesday night there will be no hydro racing in 2010. Struggling last year to fund the race, Sawyer said it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to have hydro racing this summer. There will be an event this year, with hopes of getting back the Unlimiteds, Grand Prixs and other classes of racing in 2011. This year's event has been renamed ThunderFest.
The Go3 Racing Team may not have been competing at this year's APBA Gold Cup in Detroit. But, the team was represented during 
race weekend. Driver Jimmy King visited the pits, and signed autographs. Logan Wood got Jimmy to sign a photo of his favorite boat and driver.
