Scott and Shannon Raney’s U-11 Miss Peters and May qualified sixth fastest for this weekend’s Bayfair hydroplane race in San Diego Friday afternoon. Driver Tom Thompson qualified the Edmonds-based hydroplane at a speed of 146.713 for the 2-1/2 mile lap around Mission Bay.
The race marks the last stop on the 2013 season and Miss Peters and May is showing continued improvement in speeds as the season winds down.
Steve David drove the Oh Boy! Oberto to the top spot in qualifying with a speed of just over 161 MPH. David, six-time season champion and current points leader, announced this morning that this will be his final race. The 59-year-old Floridian has decided that 25 years is long enough to be driving unlimited hydroplanes.
One of the sport’s most popular drivers, David leaves with 18 wins, six Driver’s Championships, four National Championships and 12 top qualifier poles, and is the sport’s winningest active driver.
The only thing David hasn’t won is the Gold Cup, the sport’s most prestigious race. “I have dreamed for years of winning the Gold Cup,” David said. “It wasn’t meant to be. I believe that God didn’t give me what I wanted, but rather what I needed. It is fully acceptable to me.”
Here is the complete qualifying ladder for the race.
Number Sponsor Driver Speed Points
1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David 161.571 100
5 Graham Trucking Jimmy Shane 160.895 80
95 Spirit of Qatar Kip Brown 158.111 70
37 Miss Beacon Plumbing J. Michael Kelly 157.29 60
57 FEDCO Mark Evans 149.65 50
11 Miss Peters & May Tommy Thompson 146.713 40
14 Miss DiJulio Greg Hopp 146.082 30
22 Big 5 Sporting Goods Mike Webster 141.349 30
Heat racing begins Saturday afternoon and concludes on Sunday. Follow all of the results here on My Edmonds News.
— By Harry Gatjens
Hope the 57 can get their boat repaired to give Edmonds more representation in the race.