The last time the Unlimited hydroplanes raced in Washington, D.C. was 1977. Hall of Famer Bill Muncey took his Blue Blaster Atlas Van Lines to victory and claimed the last President's Cup.

This September the Unlimiteds return for an exhibition race. One week after San Diego's Bayfair (September 16-18), part of the fleet will make the cross country trip to our nation's capitol.

As with the Sacramento, CA. exhibition, another four boat field will take to the Potomac River. Hydro-News.com has confirmed 3 of the 4 participants. The U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison (Steve David), U-5 Graham Trucking (Jeff Bernard) and U-7 Valken.com (Scott Liddycoat) will be part of the return to the historical Washington, D.C. race course.

H1 Unlimited Vice Chairman Ken Muscatel as been working to get the Unlimiteds back to Washington since at least 2005. For the first time in 38 years, the Unlimiteds will fly across the water.

We also believe the Oh Boy! Oberto could be the 4th team invited to the exhibition race in Sacramento as well.

The President's Cup was one of the most prestigious trophies to win in the Unlimited ranks. The fleet raced there off and on for 29 years starting in 1946.

Once the D.C. exhibition is complete, these 4 teams will join the rest of the fleet the following weekend in Jacksonville, FL to depart for Doha, Qatar. The season ending race for the Qryx Cup/UIM World Championship will take place November 17-19.

Air National Guard Series to Host Exhibition Race in Sacramento, Calif.

Pasco, Wash., August 25, 2011—The Air National Guard Hydroplane Series will stage a four-boat exhibition event in Sacramento, Calif., early next month for community leaders and area corporate executives for the possible return of hydroplane racing to the state’s capital in 2012.

The exhibition will take place on Folsom Lake on Thursday, September 8, and is the first time the Air National Guard hydroplanes have run on the lake outside of Sacramento in 44 years.

“We are eager to showcase the sport and the goal is to garner enough support from the community so we can return there in 2012 for a full series race,” said Sam Cole, chairman of the Air National Guard Series. “Sacramento successfully supported the ChampBoats for several years and has always been receptive to racing events. It is a top 20 market area and this venue is ideal for our boats.”

Cole, who lives in the Sacramento area, also wants to show government officials potential racecourses on the lake and demonstrate the tour’s commitment to ecology and safety.

Three Air National Guard teams have committed to the event and the fourth is expected to be named next week. Boats taking part in the exhibition are: Peters & May driven by JW Myers; Albert Lee Appliance driven by Brian Perkins and the Degree Men driven by J. Michael Kelly.

The Degree Men boat is owned by Billy and Jane Schumacher, and coincidentally, Billy Schumacher won the last Unlimited hydroplane race on Folsom Lake in 1967 when he was a driver.

The exhibition will take place during a three-hour window with two boats running on the course at a time. Air National Guard hydroplanes are capable of speeds of 200-plus mph and drivers face G-forces in turns similar to pilots in fighter planes.

Area resident Peter McDermott is leading the effort to bring the boats back to the lake and would like nothing more than to see a race on Folsom Lake next May.

“We think an Air National Guard race will create a large revenue stream for the community,”McDermott said. “We can’t wait to show potential sponsors and government leaders what it’s all about.”

The Air National Guard Series concludes its tour in North America with a stop in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 16-18. The tour then moves to Doha, Qatar, November 17-19, for its 10-boat World Championship.

*H1 Unlimimited Media Release

Mike Webster in the U-22 at Madison.Hydro-News.com has learned from multiple sources with direct knowledge that Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E. will be the site of a 2 boat exhibition race in October of this year. This will mark only the 2nd time the Unlimiteds have raced away from North American shores.

H1 Unlimited will be showing off the world's fastest boats in an exhibition style race in front of the 84th UIM General Assembly being held at the Yas Hotel by the Yas Marina on the Persian Gulf. The meetings will be held the week of October 17-23, with the F1 Nations Cup (tunnel hull racing) taking place October 20-21 at the same venue. This is the same facility where the FIA Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit visits each November.

Mike Webster driving his family owned U-22 and Ken Muscatel in the U-25 will be the two participants. Both hulls will be wrapped in new colors for the event. Both the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) and Peters and May colors will be represented on the two Unlimiteds. At this time, we're not sure who gets which new color scheme for the exhibition.

After the event, both hulls will make their way to Doha, Qatar and wait for the rest of the fleet to be transported from the United States after Bayfair in San Diego. They will serve as backup hulls at the Oryx Cup/World Championship in Doha November 17-19.

The U-22 and U-25 will not compete in San Diego. Bayfair is set for September 16-18.

An exhibition race in Abu Dhabi has been on the radar of H1 Chairman Sam Cole for some time. In July at the Columbia Cup in the Tri Cities, Cole told KONA radio that details were being worked out for the race in Abu Dhabi this year. It appears that time is now.

In addition to this exhibition race, we're also hearing that one to two more exhibiton style races could be held in September. The 4 boat field exhibitions are being planned for at least two cities that have a history with hosting Unlimited hydroplane racing.

This is a developing story. We're gathering new information daily. We'll post any new details once we get them.

The U-22 and U-25 will not compete in San Diego. Bayfair is set for September 16-18.The U-25 in Tri Cities with Ken Muscatel at the wheel. Chris Denslow image.

An exhibition race in Abu Dhabi has been on the radar of H1 Chairman Sam Cole for some time. In July at the Columbia Cup in the Tri Cities, Cole told KONA radio that details were being worked out for the race in Abu Dhabi this year. It appears that time is now.

In addition to this exhibition race, we're also hearing that one to two more exhibiton style races could be held in September. The 4 boat field exhibitions are being planned for at least two cities that have a history with hosting Unlimited hydroplane racing.

This is a developing story. We're gathering new information daily. We'll post any new details once we get them.