On Aug. 8, Kevin Aylesworth, driver of San Diego’s Unlimited Hydroplane speedboat, stood in crutches in front of the Bill Muncey memorial in Mission Bay and told reporters of his experience surviving the explosion that nearly burned him alive earlier that week on Lake Washington near Seattle.
Aylesworth described how he feared for his life as the flames engulfed the 3-ton Unlimited Hydroplane Aug. 6 while traveling at more than 180 m.p.h. Aylesworth escaped with minor burns to his right shoulder and an injured left foot, the foot that controls the vertical lift of the boat as it skims over the surface of the water.
“The engine compartment exploded and then traveled into the drivers compartment immediately,” Aylesworth said. “I was hoping I could get out of that unbearable heat.”
The video footage of the blaze made headlines in the days following the incident and brought national attention to the dangerous sport of speedboat racing, including Mission Bay’s Thunderboat Regatta, scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 15 through Sept. 17.
This last incident could spell disaster for the San Diego-based Freedom Racing Team, which has been trying to find a title sponsor for the Unlimited Hydroplane. The extent of the damage could render the boat unavailable for the Thunderboat Regatta.
The beleaguered Freedom Racing Team has been in dangerous situations before when Aylesworth survived a near-deadly crash in the final race of the 2005 season at Mission Bay. They also have been looking for a title sponsor for the boat said Racing Director Bob Davies.
Davies said the Regatta will still go on as planned but that he’s still “looking for the right company guy” to come out and help support the San Diego hydroplane tradition at Mission Bay ” a tradition started by Hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey and kept alive by hydroplane enthusiasts all over the world. Davies hopes extra funds would be made available in time for the race.
He said that “left over money” usually becomes available late in the year when sponsors have surplus funds.
“I know it’s an iffy thing to hang on, but we’ve seen this happen a couple times in the past. We’re very optimistic that it’s going to happen.” Davies said.
Although the Thunderboat Regatta will go on as scheduled, the recent accident could hinder the Freedom Racing Team’s hopes of having a big finish in their hometown.
“It is blow [to us],” said Jeffrey Johnson, co-owner of the Lucky U21 Unlimited.
Johnson has lived in Ocean Beach for 10 years and has represented San Diego, along with the Freedom Racing Team, all over the U.S. and Canada. Johnson said that the damage to the hull is so severe that it would be down to the wire if it were repaired in time for the Regatta.
The Thunerboat Regatta is the premier event topping off the World Series of Powerboat Racing at Mission Bay. The fastest powerboats in the world come to Mission Bay to compete for the Bill Muncey Cup. It is the last event of the year and is hosted by Thunderboats Unlimited, a non-profit organization that promotes powerboat racing for racing enthusiasts.
Thunderboats Unlimited hosts the Regatta and contributes to several local charities including the San Diego Youth and Community Services and the YMCA Youth and Family Services. Since its inception, the Freedom Racing Team has raised $100,000 for Children’s Hospital and other charities.