By Harry Gatjens

The Edmonds-based Miss Peters and May qualified this morning at just over 132 mph and the ran third in its first heat at the Big Wake Weekend in Sacramento, Calif. Saturday. Driver Tom Thompson was excited to gain experience in the new hydroplane and was pleased with the boat’s performance, as were owners Scott and Shannon Raney.

The team has been working night and day for the past three months in order to be ready for the first race of the U.S. portion of the season. Last season’s boat was badly damaged in the first race of the year, in Qatar, and another boat was purchased that needed extensive rebuilding before being race-ready. The boat and crew were just able to get out of town at 9 p.m. Wednesday evening for the long trek to Sacramento. The first time on the water was on Friday and the qualification this morning. Being able to race Saturday was a tremendous accomplish.

The team is proud of their Edmonds roots and mentions it proudly when being interviewed.

In the first heat of the day, Jimmy Shane won in his 5 Graham Trucking. Second was J. Michael Kelly with the 37 Performance Chevrolet, third was Kip Brown in the 95 Spirit of Qatar. Mark Evans was fourth with the 57 Miss FEDCO and Ryan Mallow was unable to start with the 100 Leland Unlimited boat.

Dave Villwock, who retired as a driver, is at the race providing technical support to the 37 Performance Chevrolet (Beacon Plumbing when in Seattle). That boat is owned by Bill Schumacher of Seattle. Schumacher won the Sacramento race as a driver 45 years ago in the famed Miss Bardahl, the last time hydros raced in Sacramento until this year.

In the second heat, our local hydro finished third, behind defending season champion, Steve David in the Oh Boy! Oberto. John Zimmerman was second in the Red Dot and Greg Hopp was fourth with the 14 Toyota-sponsored boat. Mike Webster drove his Rocky Mountain Window Film to fifth.

Racing resumes tomorrow at noon with the winner-take-all final at 4 p.m. Follow all the results in My Edmonds News.