By Harry Gatjens
The Edmonds-based Miss Peters and May unlimited hydroplane is leaving early on its way to Doha, Qatar for the last race of the season. Peters and May, the team’s sponsor, has asked that the boat first go to England an attempt to set an English hydroplane straightaway record. The boat leaves Edmonds on Wednesday and will be driven across the country to Baltimore, where it boards a ship for the trek to England.
While in England, the boat will be displayed at Peters and May corporate headquarters before heading to Coniston, where the record will be attempted. This will be the first appearance ever of a turbine-powered unlimited hydroplane in England.
JW Myers, one of the boat’s co-owners, will serve as the driver. Myers, who was injured in an accident earlier this year in Detroit, will return to the boat for this adventure since the straightaway driving won’t strain his injured shoulder the way regular racing does.
After the run during the first week in November, the boat will do more display work before leaving for the Qatar race, now scheduled for early February 2013. Tom Thompson, who was signed on to drive the Miss Peters and May in San Diego last month, will return to drive the boat in Qatar.
There may be a second race in late February in Qatar, which will be the first race of the 2013 season. Following that, all participating boats get shipped back to the United States for U.S. racing. The Miss Peters and May will return to its Edmonds boat shop at the end of March.
Aaron Salmon of Mountlake Terrace will accompany the local hydroplane to England. He will be driving an outboard-powered hydroplane, also sponsored by Peters and May, in an attempt to set a new world record for his class. Salmon, who has to lay down in his boat to drive, will try to beat the current record of over 113 miles per hour.
Real first and last names — as well as city of residence — are required for all commenters.
This is so we can verify your identity before approving your comment.
By commenting here you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Please read our code at the bottom of this page before commenting.