Bayfair racing officials are banking on the strong-running G-boats and the unlimited lights class to generate the excitement once commanded by the traditional unlimited hydroplanes for September’s versatile boating “World Series” races on Mission Bay. Once again, it will be three days of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. action on Mission Bay, scheduled for Sept. 17-19 this year. For the second year, the turbine-powered unlimiteds will not return for lack of a sponsor and a price tag that was too great for the festival’s board of governors. Additionally, the drag boats that performed off Crown Point have elected to race at Lake Elsinore instead. Board Chairman Jeff Thomas said the program will be exactly what it was last year without the drag boats. The event will include the long-hulled offshore boats, grand nationals, cracker boxes, super stocks and a variety of other classes. “I think last year’s races were the best I’ve seen in a long time,” said Thomas, who’s been a part of the Mission Bay festival for 30 years. “There’s no major sponsor, at least not one I can say yet. “We walked around the crowd last year and asked what they liked out there. They agreed that the unlimiteds’ rooster tails are spectacular but they prefer more noise, the type piston engines provide.” There is sentiment that the G-boats might be the answer and officials feel unlimited lights will provide closer competition. “The G-boats run around 1,100 to 1,200 horsepower and they put on a good race.” Thomas said. “The unlimiteds haven’t progressed and when they would arrive here, their hulls were scarred,” Thomas said. “Personally, I think they made a mistake by going to turbines. Technology for piston engines has increased remarkably. We want to bring racing back to what people understand.” Thomas said the door is always open to the unlimiteds if they want to negotiate. The sanctioning organization, H1 Hydroplanes, has had its share of scheduling headaches. The traditional Detroit Gold Cup (July 9-11) was saved by a last minute sponsorship by a restoration company. Seattle’s SeaFair (Aug. 6-9) will survive because a restaurant came up with $40,000. However, the long-standing Evansville, Ind., races have been canceled. Previously, Budweiser offered the national sponsor base. Other national sponsors became partners in the programs, including Coors, Miller and Atlas Van Lines. That is what helped pay for the unlimiteds to be in San Diego in the past. .
