Hydro News

06/03/2025

The S-22 Hurrin' Hoosier with Owner-Driver Matt Sontag from Madison, IN, is preparing for the 2025 APBA Inboard hydroplane tour currently at the Miss Madison Boat Shop in downtown Madison.

Sontag will live out a dream competing on home waters this July 4-6, 2025, at the 75th River City Printing Madison Regatta.

www.madisonregatta.com

Sontag, a veteran crew member on the Miss Madison Racing Team, picked the name Hurrin' Hoosier to honor Miss Madison.

The 22 hull number is to remember Jim & Nancy Sedam when they campaigned their U-22 unlimited hydroplane from 1983 to 1987 based out of Hanover, IN just west of Madison.

Sontag's hull will be powered by an experimental Honda engine in the APBA 2.5 litre stock class.
100 MPH straighaway speeds will be reached in competition aboard the 13' 6" length hull with racing trim weight between 1,000 to 1,100 pounds.

Matt, congratulations and good luck racing in 2025!!!

CrrrRRRanK 'er UP!!!
🏁🏁🏁

*Jeff Ayler Facebook post

06/03/2025

For over 30 years hydroplane race fans from
all over the country has heard his call of boat racing.

From inboard racing to the Unlimited class, Jeff Ayler has described hydroplane races in his unique and enthusiastic style.

He’ll now lay the mic down and get behind the steering wheel of a hydroplane.

At the Madison Regatta general membership meeting on Wednesday evening, Jeff was surprised by APBA driving school instructor Tony Black, who informed him the Madison Regatta, Inc. Board of Directors will pay his way to the APBA driving school at Springfield, Ohio May 30 thru June 1.

He’ll be in the Weber Family owned “My Way” for his instruction on how to drive an inboard hydro.

Jeff posted on his page he was “humbled and surprised” by this opportunity.

Nobody is more deserving, and has more passion for the sport, than Jeff Ayler.

It’ll be fun to watch.

And, as Jeff says, “CrrrRRRank ‘em Up!”

06/03/2025

Andrew Tate’s ride for the Masport Cup at Twizel, NZ on March 29-30.

It’s the last stop on the Hydro Thunder New Zealand Series.

GP6/57 is nearing completion, having completed all the repairs, we now move on to paint in the coming days, you'll also notice the wrap has been removed, she'll be looking better than new for the Masport and the man Andrew Tate behind the wheel 🏁

05/03/2025

Prochain bateau sur la liste! 😁 Devinez les prochaines couleurs!!

05/03/2025

05/03/2025

Brent Hall No Longer With U-37 Legacy Racing

“I stepped down from the U-37 team at the end of January. Wishing them all the best getting the U-37 back on the water. The more boats the better. I was a fan first and still fighting the good fight.”

Future of Legacy Racing?
“Stay tuned. Anything official would come from Legacy Racing.”

* Brent Hall’s comments on a Hydro News post.

05/03/2025

H1 Unlimited Roster 2025

Here’s what we’ve been gathering for the upcoming season.

It’s subject to change.

FULL TIME TEAMS
U-8 Strong Racing, J. Michael Kelly
U-9 Strong Racing, Corey Peabody
U-11 URG, Jamie Nilsen
U-27 BWR Racing, Dave Villwock
U-91 BWR Racing, Andrew Tate

PART TIME TEAMS
U-12 Graham Trucking, Jeff Bernard
U-21 GFTL Racing, Gunnar O’Farrell
U-40 Bucket List Racing, TBD

STATUS IN QUESTION
U-2 Christensen Racing, Eric Christensen
U-37 Legacy Racing, TBD

PROBABLY NOT RACING
U-7 Detroit Unlimited, Bert Henderson

2007 former Miss Madison (Sharky), now BWR Racing.

FOR SALE
U-3 Go3 Racing

04/03/2025

Ratchford Joins HydroTown

Hydrotown Racing, Inc. added its 2nd partner, it was announced on Tuesday in a news release.

Bruce Ratchford, owner of BWR Racing, joins Darrell Strong, owner of Strong Racing, as the only partners of Hydrotown Racing.

Ratchford tells us he and Strong are “50/50 partners.”

Hydrotown is registered as a Washington state profit corporation.

It was renamed on January 28, 2025 from Hydrotown Group, LLC.

Strong tells Hydro News in an email that he is investing $600,000 in 2025 “to market the sport and strengthen the live feed broadcast production.”

“Hydrotown is only involved in marketing, sponsorships and race site development.”

He added, “I will be adding new partners as they become available.”

Recent videos released by Strong Racing shows work being done on a TV production trailer, that will be used this summer at H1 Unlimited races.

Strong also reiterated that the “H1 board runs the race weekends and hires the officials and writes and enforces the rule book.”

Ratchford has joined the H1 tour by storm, buying the 2 boat Miss Madison team and Charley Wiggins still brand new U-27.

And all since the first of the year.

Strong and Ratchford own five Unlimiteds now on the H1 circuit.

04/03/2025

Did you know…..

If he enters all five H1 Unlimited races in 2025, Dave Villwock will tie Chip Hanauer for 3rd in MOST RACES ENTERED all-time.

Currently Villwock has competed in 153 Unlimited races in his career.

Hanauer has 158 races on his Hall of Fame resume.

Both trail Bill Muncey with 194 and Steve David at 183.

Now you know.

04/03/2025

GP-79 BAD INFLUENCE
Driver - Jeff Bernard
2024 Guntersville Hydrofest
Guntersville , AL 🇺🇸

Photo by - MontWork

04/03/2025

04/03/2025

04/03/2025

03/03/2025

Hardy's Race for the Lake Boat Races is thrilled to announce its return to Decatur, IL on June 7 and 8, 2025. This year, the event will be even more special as Decatur is set to host the 2025 APBA Eastern Inboard Divisionals. The races promise thrilling competition on Lake Decatur and bring together some of the best racers in the region.
🚤
The community's overwhelming support was evident in 2024 with over 7,000 attendees, and this year promises to be even more exciting. Hardy's Race for the Lake Boat Races has become a much-anticipated event in Decatur, and the organizers are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to witness the races.
🚤
This event would not be possible without the generous support of our many community sponsors, the Warren Daniel Hardy Charitable Fund, and event organizers that include Decatur Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Decatur, and The Decatur Park District.

02/03/2025