Roostertails Unlimited:
[1973]
Chapter 9 - What's An Unlimited?
So, what is Unlimited racing and what are those boats that compete in the
sport? We already know the important features of a hydroplane, the power plants,
the construction and the men who make them run, but what about the rules the
boats follow? What is the difference between an Unlimited and a Limited? What
are these, the fastest of hydros?
As the 1950s came into existence there were two classes of the "big
boats", the Gold Cup Class and the Unlimited Class. Gold Cup type boats,
designated by a "G" prefix, were not allowed to exceed 40 feet and
less than ten feet in waterline length. They were to carry an inboard motor or
motors with a means of propulsion in and/or against the water by screw or
mechanical working surfaces - not jet propulsion. No adjustable surface that
made use of external aerodynamic forces were allowed, all devices were to be
part of the hull structure with no movable air foils.
On the other hand, were the Unlimited Class boats which had no limitations in
size. The powerplant was restricted to internal combustion engines, installed
inboard with a submerged propeller. Airfoils and adjustable surfaces were
permitted provided they did not extend beyond the physical dimension of the hull
in width and were no more than four feet above the deck.
Unlimiteds raced side-by-side with Gold Cup boats but eventually, for one
reason or another, the Gold Cup boats lost popularity among owners and by 1957
they had disappeared from the scene to a large extent. New rules were handed
down in 1957 which took from each classification to mold what we know of as the
Unlimited Hydroplane.
The hulls must be at least 28 feet in over-all length and may not be over 40
feet. They are to be equipped with any type of inboard mounted motor or motors,
supercharged or unsupercharged. Propulsion shall be by means of a propeller or
screw in and/or against the water and steering must be accomplished by a
submerged rudder or rudders. There will be no adjustable devices that make uses
of aerodynamic forces and an Unlimited must weigh over 5500 pounds in racing
trim without fuel.
Note: The Unlimited Commission gave Jim Clapp special permission to use
external aerodynamic devices on a turbine powered hydroplane. The dispensation
of the rule was granted to encourage the advent of turbine powerplants in the
sport. These allowances were granted specifically for the use of the U-95
in the 1973 season, the boat that was designed to use twin turbines.
To compete, the boat must be a registered member of the American Power Boat
Association's Unlimited Class. This costs $150.00. Before each contest, it must
pass a safety inspection, which includes dye-checking and x-rays of vital parts,
by three competent technical men who are appointed by the race committee. These
inspectors must be in the pits during the race to perform routine safety checks
before each heat and report their findings to the referee. If needed, the
referee will put to a vote, by the various boat owners, whether to ban any craft
he considers unsafe, unmanageable or seaworthy. The decision of the majority
shall be binding.
The size of the engine used in a hydroplane governs which class it will race
in APBA competition. The Unlimited Class can use any type or size of engine and
hull but the Limited Classes are categorized to certain engine displacements.
Currently inboard classes are broken down to the following: E Racing Runabout
(ERR), maximum engine size of 330 cubic inches with gas fuel or 246 c.i., with
methanol and must be flat bottomed; The Crackerbox (P) requires a riding
mechanic with a maximum engine size of 275 c.i. and a price ceiling of $1,650;
and a K Racing Runabout (K) may have any engine but it must be a flatbottomed
hull.
The 225 Hydro (N) hull must be at least 16 feet in length and have an engine
up to 225 c.i., which may be modified but cannot have more than a four-barrel
carburetion system; a 280 Hydro (E) engine is limited to 280 c.i. and uses pump
gas, a single four-barrel carburetor and strictly stock parts; the 5 Litre (F)
can use any unblown engine, without double overhead cams, that does not exceed
308 c.i., which uses a gear box, burns Methanol and sits in an 18-foot hull.
There are also the 135 Hydros, the 150 Hydro, the 7 Litre Hydro and the
Superstock, all of which are confined to similar restrictions.
Let us pretend you are a promoter or influential government official that
feels it would be advantageous to hold an Unlimited Hydroplane race in your
community. What are the requirements to have one, how does one go about getting
a race and how is the event conducted? What are the rules that govern an
Unlimited race? How much does it cost?
All Unlimited regattas must be sanctioned by the American Power Boat
Association's Unlimited Racing Commission and must be approved by the chairman
of that body. Currently, the Unlimited Executive Committee is made up of the
following people: Chairman George "Buddy" Byers, Jr., a former driver;
Arden T. Aegerter, who is an official from the Seattle Seafair Race Committee;
Fred Alter, a driver and Dave Heerensperger, an owner. There is Wilbur Heitz;
Bernie Little, an owner; Jim McCormick, an owner and a driver, and William
Newton, the referee. J. Lee Schoenith, a former chairman and driver, who is now
an owner; Robert Fendler, a former driver and an owner, and Phil Cole, the
Executive Secretary, round out the committee. The headquarters of Hydroplanes
Unlimited is located in West Carrollton, Ohio, whereas, the APBA offices are in
St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
A sanction is a legal contract and official permission to stage an Unlimited
Hydroplane race under the supervision and authority and with the cooperation and
assistance of the APBA. The sponsor must comply with all the rules and
regulations in the Unlimited Class Racing Rules under penalty of having the
sanction revoked any time prior to the start of the first heat.
To get a sanction, the sponsor must: (1) have adequate water, shore and
spectator facilities; (2) post sufficient prize money; (3) display an interest
in the continuing advancement of water racing and (4) hold, or promise to hold,
events on an annual basis.
The course must be a 2½-mile or 3-mile oval. It shall be laid on waters at
least five feet deep, the two turns must be as similar to each other as possible
and there must be escape routes at each turn with a recommended minimum
clearance of 600 feet at the entrance to each. The starting line is located near
the center of the course, which is marked with 20 buoys, 5 on each turn and 5 on
each straightaway and which are constructed of a material that will not damage a
boat in case of collision, usually Styrofoam, and of specified sizes and colors.
The pits shall be located on the race course, if possible, with nearby
facilities for rest rooms and some type of shade or shelter. A minimum of one
crane, of sufficient capacity, shall be provided for every three boats. The pits
should also have ample dockage, minimum - 250 lineal feet of dockage for six
boats.
A race committee is established in the race community which conducts and
organizes each detail of the contest including housing requirements, patrolling
of the course, first aid and rescue operations, fire protection, comfort and
hospitality for the participants, crowd control and security, pit facilities,
registration, official barge, communications, course layout and surveying,
judges, timers, scorers, starter, flags, starting clock and scoreboard. They
handle the parking, press, promotions, pit safety and inspection, pit cranes,
pollution control and concessions. All responsibility for the actual conduct of
the race itself shall be with the referee who is a representative of the APBA
and the official enforcer of all rules and regulations concerning the regatta
and the boats.
The committee gathers together people who feel they want to help sponsor the
potential race, a budget is made and the amount of prize money is submitted to
the Unlimited Racing Commission sometime early in the year. The URC opens all
these proofers, takes into account the four points mentioned before, then awards
a sanction to those communities who post the greatest prize money. Whoever has
the highest monetary award among those that bid for the Gold Cup will get the
event for that year. Formerly the site of the Gold Cup was determined by the
preceeding year's winner.
An average committee will submit from $25,000-$30,000 and may reach as high
as $50,000 in prizes. On top of this expense, the race committee must pay for
the laying of the course, crane rentals, the miles of communication cable, APBA
regatta liability insurance, etc. Without volunteer labor to do the guarding,
selling and patrolling, or the donations of the armed services for rescue work
and security of the course, and for private individuals for the many items
remaining, there could be no race for the gigantic expense it would involve.
The budget easily runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of
this cash is the result of civic minded citizens and hydroplane fans. In
Seattle, for example, the races are largely sponsored by an organization known
as Greater Seattle Inc., a community enterprise which promotes many events in
that city throughout the year. Money is raised by a $12.50 membership fee for
which the member receives many entertainment bargains.
(Reprinted from Roostertails Unlimited by Andy Muntz, 1973)
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