Several people still ask what does ACHA stand for? It stands for the “American Canadian Hydroplane Association.” This is the only professional inboard boat racing series in North America where championships are won by participants in a series of race events in both Canada and the US where up to 28 boats a class in four different classes compete in winner take all races. If you want to race boats with a lot of competition this is the series you want to race in period! To find more about the series go to achahydroplane.com.

A great big “That a boy” goes out to Marty Wolfe who I said “took a knife to a gunfight” and took on the best Australia and New Zealand GP boats in the World GP Championships a couple of weeks ago down under in New Zealand. Marty had the second fastest time in the qualifying heats and finished second to Grant Harrison in the GP final. I know a lot of you out there are saying “so why didn’t he win?” You are right, but he went up against seven other GP boats with over 2,000 horsepower each against his 1250 HP. I think Marty did one hell of a job. Special thanks go out to Marty and his team for a job well done.

Speaking of Marty, he and Dean Rojas will be taking their East coast GP boats to challenge the best of the West coast GP boats in Lake Havasu, AZ on Easter weekend in April. It should be another great GP shootout. Here again Marty and Jimmy Shane (Dean’s driver) will be up against 150 plus horsepower to the APBA west GP group. Again I know you’re thinking why don’t you build a more competitive engine? Well those supercharged engines cost over 35,000 dollars to build so spending that kind of money for only a couple of races doesn’t make much sense. From speaking to a lot of our GP owners, drivers, and the rest of our ACHA group will probably be heading to Stuart, FLA the weekend after the Lake Havasu GP race to run at the Stuart Sailfish Regatta in sunny South Florida. Although it won’t be an ACHA series race for the GP class it will be a nice warm weather tune up race for our season opener in Long Sault, Ontario, Canada.

I’ll be showing all our fans my yearly straw poll from all our teams as to who they think will win the 2012 GP championship in my March Newsletter and we’ll also be starting a 350 newsletter that same month so stay tuned!

Huey

Yesterday GP1 driven by Grant Harrison of Australia won the 2012 UIM GP Hydroplane World Championship on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand. American driver Marty Wolfe came second in GP-93 Renegade. There is an article and video about the race on LuvMyBoat.com. We will have more video from the Johnson-Wolfe Renegade team when they return from New Zealand.

Everyone’s got their trophies; rewards, new rules, and information so now let’s think “SPRING” and get it on. You know I’m so tired (and I think everyone else is too) hearing all these fifth grade arguments and politics about who’s right or wrong and “he said she said” bull !!!!! I’m ready to go racing, period! For those of you that know me, know I’d like nothing better than to weigh in on all this political crap that’s going on but you know what, I’m ready to think positive and let’s get on with our 2012 races and forget all the politics. Let the old farts and wannabees (most don’t even own a boat) argue their old fashion ideas and talk about how things were back in the 70′s and 80′s. I didn’t attend the APBA convention this past weekend but let me tell you the ACHA banquet and convention was one of the most professional ones I’ve attended in a long long time. Believe it or not even the food was excellent. Everyone left the banquet feeling that ACHA was working with them to not only put on a great show but make this series the MOST COMPETITVE in all of boat racing. With their new rules and regulations everyone now has an equal chance of winning.

Talk about competition how would you like to race in the 2.5 stock or new H350 series where you have 20 to 28 boats competing. Wow!! If you’re lucky enough to win the high point championship in the series you know you’ve worked your butt off and beaten the best there is in North America.

Speaking of spring, Chuck “Rookie” Woodruff came up to Ohio (it was snowing) from sunny south Florida to pick up his new toy the GP55 boat. On Friday the 13th we dynoed his updated blown engine and actually picked up 32 more horsepower than our 2011 Crush motors. On Saturday Mike Weber helped Rookie install the motor in the boat, hook everything up, and saw him on his way back to Florida where he’s got to get busy on his Stuart regatta event. Already seven GP boats have committed to run the Stuart race on April 13th to the 15th. Rookie tells me he’s still getting phone calls from drivers wanting to drive his GP boat. The latest, Patrick Hayworth, is still trying to make a deal to get Pierre Maheu’s ADF Diesel hull but if this falls through he would like to drive for Rookie. Rookie did comment “Hell, I might even jump in it and make a few laps “.

On a sadder note Grand Prix lost a true friend and GP owner. Michel Favreau passed away recently and will surely be missed by the GP family and many race fans.

In my next newsletter I’ll be giving everyone a news update on all the teams and driver changes if any. Until then “THINK SPRING”

HUEY

UPDATE:  Huey sent us a last minute information that confirms Patrick Haworth will be the main Driver for Chuck “Rookie” Woodruff  for the ACHA races after the Stuart Race.

After 30 years, 4 Staudachers, 4 Henderson’s, and 1 Auld GP hull “The Crush” name is retiring.

For giving me these past 30 years I want to thank all my great drivers for the many great seven liter and Grand Prix wins, titles, and world records we’ve all been through; Marty Niles, Mike Endres, Tom Baker, Bert Henderson, Mike Monahan, Jeff Richards, and Patrick Haworth. The red/orange “CRUSH” was always in the thick of things and thanks to all these great drivers that made it happen. Speaking of Patrick, word out of Valleyfield is Patrick might be coming back to our GP class. What a great addition to our group of GP boats. Our prayers go out to the Haworth family for Patrick’s dad, Warren, who’s undergoing chemo therapy.

Word out of Florida has Chuck “Rookie” Woodruff looking for a driver for his new GP rig. Mike Weber is only going to drive it at the Stuart Regatta to help set it up and to get all the bugs out of it after setting up these past four months. I hear Scott Liddycoat’s name mentioned along with Mike “Mr. Dependable” Monahan. Scott just returned home in November from winning the final Unlimited race in Qatar and would bring lots of experience to our GP field of drivers. Of course we all know what Mike can do and we were all disappointed when he almost won his first GP race in Saint Felicien this year and had to finish second to Pierre Maheu. After talking to most of our owners and drivers these past couple of months everyone and I mean everyone, is really fired up for the 2012 season to get started. As usual ACHA has put together a great event schedule and our leaders tell me if the Stuart Regatta goes off as planned it’s very possible that we will be racing an ACHA GP even there in 2013. I’m sure no one would mind going to Florida in the springtime next year.  Also this year, Milt Wiggins tells me he will be at the Stuart Sailfish Regatta in April but not with his new boat but his older one. Good to see Milt back racing. Milts boats have always been very competitive. Well just wanted to bring all our fans up on what’s going on with our GP bunch. Got to go and get on the phone to Bert and get his butt working on our new project!

See everyone the 21st at our ACHA convention.
Huey.

(Editor: Bert Henderson is building a new boat and the team will be back in 2012 with a new name.)

Lake Havasu, Arizona will come alive this April with the sound of thundering Grand Prix hydroplanes during the 1^st Annual Havasu World Cup. There will be a one mile course set up in the protected waters of Thompson Bay right in front of the host hotel, The Nautical Beachfront Resort. Scheduled during Spring Break weekend April 6-8, huge crowds, along with 80 degree weather, will witness the East vs West Grand Prix Shootout.  On Friday April 6, after the open testing has concluded, the “Holiday Motorsports Dash for Cash” will take place. It will include the six fastest boats in lap times in the Grand Prix class.  These boats will be invited to compete in a one heat shootout for $3,000 dollars that afternoon.

Twelve Grand Prix boats have already confirmed their participation for the East vs West shootout!  The eight West Coast teams include GP-5, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 35 & 329.  The four East Coast teams include GP-10, 50, 93 & 777.  Plus, there are additional Grand Prix teams showing interest in this event. This will be the largest gathering of Grand Prix boats anywhere in the world, in over a decade.

This APBA sanctioned event will start Friday April 6 with seven hours of open testing for all classes from 9am till 4pm.  Heat races on the one mile course are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with the possibility of additional morning testing on Sat. and Sun.  Other classes scheduled to be in the event are 1 litre, 2.5 stock, 5 litre, and Super Stock. Additional classes may include 350, Cracker Box, and Grand National Endurance.

We welcome all ACHA teams, including the Hydro350 class, to come and enjoy the free testing day on Friday, and racing all weekend.  Kelly Shane from Havre de Grace, MD will be in attendance taking advantage of testing her new 350 hydroplane, and she will also race in the 5 litre class.

Lake Havasu City is located in Western Arizona residing in the Chemehuevi Valley along the Colorado River, west of the Mohave Mountains.  Lake Havasu has been voted as one of the top 5 places in the world for Spring Break, and has numerous marine-related activities throughout the year which include Poker Runs to boat parades, and other sanctioned events.

Major sponsors for this event include:  Trafficade, El Centro Motors Ford/Lincoln, Lake Havasu Convention & Visitors Bureau, DSM Events & Budweiser.  Additional sponsor and host resort is the Nautical Beachfront Resort http://nauticalinn.com/. This beautiful resort which boasts 139 beachfront suites is located right on the race course making walking distance to and from the pits a breeze. There are blocks on rooms for this event so book your stay ASAP!

The goal for creating the Havasu World Cup is to showcase the largest gathering of Grand Prix boats in the world for a weekend in April. We understand and respect the goals of the GPW and the ACHA organizations, and applaud them both in their efforts to support and promote the Grand Prix class. At the Havasu World Cup we are offering good times, great weather, good people, and the most exciting gathering of Grand Prix boats anywhere in the world. So come join us for the “East vs West shootout” in the desert and come on in, the waters fine!!

Stay tuned for more information on this exciting event, which will be announced on HydroplaneQuebec.com over the next few months.