Ten boats, including defending champion Mike Allen’s repaired U-1, are expected to take to the Mission Bay water this weekend for the 43rd San Diego Thunderboat extravaganza.
Friday is reserved for testing, with qualifying and heat races set for Saturday. A full program of heats and the Bill Muncey Cup finale are ticketed for Sunday.
It represents the final race of the American Boat Racing Association’s season.
These high-powered, mostly turbine, boats will compete over a 2.5-mile course with its huge turns. They’ll zoom down the straights at the fastest speeds of the American Boat Racing Association circuit.
There will be enough of a supporting cast to excite fans at Crown Point, Ski Beach and off Fiesta Island. The programs, starting at 8:30 a.m. each day, will feature stock hydros, super stock, cracker box, K boats, pro watercrafts, SST 45s, offshore power boats, IHBA drag boats and the unlimited lights.
Additionally, on Saturday night will be a music concert and fireworks.
For the hydros, this is the only saltwater race in 2007 and they say that can cause problems.
“Try to stay out front,” said Dave Villwook, who has a lock on the title after winning four races this year. “Avoid getting caught in the spray from other boats and just try as hard as you can to find clean air.
“It (the salt water) can get inside the turbine and crystallize on the blades. The temperature goes up and can cause the engine to stall or fail.”
Boat teams run different cowlings at San Diego to try to fight off the effects. Teams have come up with different designs to make it more effective.
As for Villwook’s title bid, about the only way that could change would be if he and the Elam got shut out and Steve David and the U-6 won every heat and the final.
Unless something really bizarre happens, it looks like the U-1 will be ready. The FormulaBoats.com hull was damaged in Detroit and Allen was sidelined for the last two races with a broken hand.
The current lineup for the season’s final unlimited race include:
“¢ Mike Allen,
U-1 FormulaBoats.com
“¢ Jeff Bernard,
U-5 FormulaBoats.com
“¢ Steve David,
U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto Miss Madison
“¢ David Bryant,
U-10 Ahern Rentals
“¢ J. Michael Kelly,
U-13 Spirit of Detroit
“¢ Dave Villwook,
U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus
“¢ Brian Perkins,
U-21 Freedom Racing
“¢ Ken Muscatel,
U-25 Superior Racing
“¢ Jean Theoret,
U-37 Beacon Plumbing
“¢ David Williams,
U-48 Lakeridge Paving
For information call (619) 225-9160.