John Shaw Racing

Great weekend at Thunder on the Choptank Boat Races in Cambridge, MD. The Kent Narrows Racing Association did an awesome job putting on an amazing event.

In the T-5 "Trophy Hunter" Bennet Armstrong was behind the wheel and took a 2nd in the Saturday qualifier and won the Sunday final. He did a great job and got better each heat as he became more and more comfortable with the boat. We played around with a few props and found 1 that he really likes. On Sunday he won the qualifier and took 2nd in the final. Congrats to Robert Boleslawski and Richard Shaw for finally getting a good run in the T-2. It was great to see Brendan Ebeling back out in the T-285 as well. Hopefully Nich Wheeler can get the issues with the T-80 figured out. It's hard to give up 15 hp to the Ford engines, but Bennet was up to the challenge!

In Bob Wilson's Y-80 "Outlaw" we started and finished all 4 heats, winning them as well. Shout out to Reid Melowic who did a great job driving Scott Melowic's Y-40. It was great seeing Sean Bowsher again and hope he has his engine issues resolved soon! Eric Thompson had the Y-54 running the best I have seen in years! The 1L's are a challenge to drive but also a ton of fun!

Al Thompson had the S-92 "Tenacity" flying this weekend. It seems like the gremlins from Valleyfield are gone. We won all 4 heats ! It was great to see Woody Pliescott running so well as a rookie. It's always great to race with TKO Racing 35, Carolyn Oliver, and Jeff Dobis.

Next stop Thunder on the Niagara!

Unfortunately we are not going to make Madison. There just want enough time to secure a new supercharger.

Good luck to everyone competing this weekend, we'll be home watching it on the live stream.

We regret to announce that the GP-135 will not be attending the Madison Regatta this weekend. We were unable to secure the parts needed to be able to run that were damaged in Guntersville. The team was really looking forward to the great event and especially the parade in Madison and we look forward to participating in future editions.

We understand the excitement and support surrounding our team and the GP-135, and we share in the disappointment of our fans and the event organizers.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support. We are committed to returning stronger and are looking forward to the Régates de Valleyfield!

While I was down in Guntersville, AL at the Guntersville Lake HydroFest with the GP-135, Al and the F-92 team were at the 1000 Islands Regatta in Brockville, ON for stop 3 of the Hydroplane Racing League. Dominic Maisonneuve was filling in driving for the weekend. In the 1st qualifier on Saturday he was on the outside due to being on restriction for never driving that boat before and was able to pull off a 2nd to Grant Liddycoat. Then mother nature won the rest of the day and the rest of Saturday was cancelled.

Today starting on the outside again Dominic was trying to catch the leaders when the boat took off in turn 1. Luckily, Dominic was not injured and I'm sure Al has plans to get everything repaired and ready to go.

Next for the F-92 will be Régates de Valleyfield for the biggest boat race in the world!

All lined up for the Guntersville Lake HydroFest block party!

13 days until we head to Guntersville Lake HydroFest with Koolkat Motorsports Gp135 to start off the Grand Prix America Hydroplanes series! Ed has been working hard getting things ready!

Headed to Quebec for the Régates de Sorel-Tracy, stop 2 of the Hydroplane Racing League! For those of you who can't make it, check out the live stream!

Les courses des Régates de Sorel-Tracy seront diffusées en direct! 🎉

Samedi 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/L-ctMdLfbYM
Dimanche 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/23aGgs_1xt0

Bon visionnement!

16 Grand Prix's racing for an additional $40,000. Grab you pop corn, crack open a beer, come on out and cheer because it should be an awesome show!

Koolkat Motorsports Gp135

We made the to-do list a bit shorter today. We got most of the wiring done and got fitted in the cockpit. Still have quite a bit to do to head to Guntersville Lake HydroFest in 4 weeks!

The 2024 season just got a lot louder! Can't wait to be behind the wheel of the GP-135!

1st off how about that live stream coverage of the Cambridge Power Boat Racing Association's Cambridge Classic. Hydroplane Racing League has really stepped things up this year!

Al had the F-92 "Tenacity" running faster than it ever has. We didn't get a favorable lane draw for the 1st qualifying heat but ended up with a win from lane 3. In heat 2 we were in lane 4 and again had to work hard to get around the boats to the inside to grab another win. Heading into qualifier 3, we were out in lane 6 and had a tight battle with Owen Henderson in the F-3. The F-92 taken the lead, but Mac Lalonde blew over the F-757 on the back stretch before the leaders crossed the starting line we were awarded a 2nd place finish.

So going into the final the F-92 and F-500 we're tied on points but Eddie Kanfoush and the F-500 had a faster time so they earned lane 1. Coming up for the start a few competitors were a bit early but the F-92 had a perfect start and led the field into and through turn 1. Then Eddie and the F-500 pulled ahead and never looked back. Fast Eddie and the Honda are super fast and I'm not sure the Ford's can keep up. Congrats again to Eddie, Dan, and the entire Centsless team on the win.

Next stop Sorrel-Tracy for stop 2 of the HRL season.

Can't make it to Cambridge this weekend... Check out the live stream!

Nouveauté cette année, les courses de Cambridge seront diffusées en direct! 🤩

Samedi 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUGCnVwgOio
Dimanche 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYjupEBjVGA

Bon visionnement! 😉

F-2500... Coming to a race course near you
Eddie Kanfoush

After a successful start to the season at the Harford County Spring Nationals Boat Race by Kent Narrows Racing Association we are all ready for Cambridge Power Boat Racing Association Cambridge Classic this weekend and the start of the Hydroplane Racing League season!

We had a great weekend at the Harford County Spring Nationals Boat Race hosted by the Kent Narrows Racing Association. The weather was perfect on Saturday and the T-5 won both heats of 1.5 stock. Unfortunately Bennett Armstrong was unable to drive after becoming ill Friday night. I'm sure he will be back behind the wheel at Cambridge in July. Sunday Mason McClure took his 1st laps in the T-5 and did a great job. He took 2nd in the qualifier and then won the Sunday final.

We started off the weekend with an ignition issue in Bob Wilson's Y-80, but after a late night motor swap the Outlaw ran great on Sunday winning both heats. We are getting faster and faster each weekend.

Al Thompson's S-92 was on rails all weekend long. We had another perfect weekend winning all 4 heats, even against those pesky Hondas. Grant Hearn really had the S-14 running well this weekend and it was great to see the new S-35 ( Austin Hayes and Kyle Hayes) make its debut. Almost making their debut this weekend was Woody Pliescott in his S-341. He really did a great job this weekend for his 1st time in a boat!

Thanks again to the KNRA and Region 4 APBA, Region 4 Rescue, and everyone who made the event happen. It's always nice to start the season off close to home and at a great site. Also thanks to all the moms who were there spending their mother's day at the races, especially Rachel Shaw!

Next stop Cambridge Power Boat Racing Association and the Cambridge Classic and Round 1 of the Hydroplane Racing League series!

We had a great time testing on Ceasers Creek this weekend. We had a few new things to try and we are really happy with the results. Al's F-92 is ready to defend our HRL championship even though quite a few F2500 teams took advantage of testing this weekend and looked really strong! Charette Racing F-77 looked really good and looks to have worked out some of the bugs for last season. The HRL Rookie of the year Grant Liddycoat also ran well in the F-97, and when Fast Eddie Kanfoush with the Honda ran... look out. Is Ford guys will have our hands full. The F2500 season should be exciting to watch!

Next stop is Harford County Spring Nationals Boat Race May 11-12 for the T-5, Y-80, and F-92

Off to Ohio to go testing at Ceasers Creek State Park. Excited to be back behind the wheel of Al Thompson's F-92 and to be back in the office for the 1st time in 2024.

2023 was an incredible season for the Tenacity team and we can't wait to defend the Hydroplane Racing League F2500 championship.

Last time we hit the water we set the 2.5 Stock 1 Mile World Record!!!

https://youtu.be/ScSU34fOpjU?feature=shared

World Record Run 2.5 Stock Lakeland, FL 10/22/23 World Record Run!2.5 Stock Sunday QualifierLakeland, FLOctober 22, 2023S-92 TenacityOwner- Al ThompsonDriver- John Shaw

Boat racing lost a true icon to the sport.

We're almost ready to head to Spring Testing at Ceasers Creek State Park this weekend. Hopefully mother nature cooperates and we'll be able to try a few things and gather some much needed data!

Al has had all winter to tinker and I'm excited to see what improvements we've made! It looks like there will be quite the field of 2.5's there too. Can't wait to be back behind the wheel of the F-92!

Almost ready for the Harford County Spring Nationals Boat Race May 11-12! The T-5 is just about ready. The new 4AC motor is in and so is the new plumbing! Still have a few touch ups to finish up and we're ready to go.

Getting excited about the 2024 Hydroplane Racing League season!

The season kicks off at the Cambridge Classic put on by the Cambridge Power Boat Racing Association May 18-19.

https://www.stardem.com/events/cambridge-classic-powerboat-regatta-returns-next-month/article_49087aba-f9da-11ee-942a-f32a9ee727a0.html?fbclid=IwAR3d4f225RrtBBz5PAUuosh0EMSoDRAUYFu8cTKEz6gsEDvHx08rgBdJ8YI

Cambridge Classic Powerboat Regatta returns next month CAMBRIDGE — The tradition of boat racing on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is deep.

How cool would this be!

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/cars/story/2024-04-11/hydroplane-racing-returns-to-mission-bay-in-september-with-guest-racer-jimmie-johnson-possible-for-25-event?fbclid=IwAR0dygaj_4AcWXGAin5C06tqTrQF-at6fo5ElV-9myKzwaeyQGGSgaPrkac

Hydroplane racing returning to Mission Bay in September, with guest racer Jimmie Johnson possible for '25 event Legendary NASCAR racer says he'd 'love' to get a chance to drive the 'Blue Blaster' boat on Mission Bay; 'Doing it in 2025 would bring a lot of things together'

Let the countdown begin!

Plus que 100 jours avant le début de nos festivités! 🥳

Nous avons bien hâte de vous revoir au parc Delpha-Sauvé. 🫶🏻

Pour vous procurer vos billets 👇🏻

https://regatesvalleyfield.com/billetterie

Excited for the 2024 HRL season!

2024 HRL SCHEDULE

Cambridge, Maryland 🇺🇸
May 18th-19th

Sorel-Tracy, Quebec 🇨🇦
June 15th-16th

Brockville, Ontario 🇨🇦
June 29th-30th

Valleyfield, Quebec 🇨🇦
July 12th-14th

North Tonawanda, New York 🇺🇸
August 3rd-4th

Beauharnois, Quebec 🇨🇦
August 31st - September 1st

HRLhydroplane.com

Amazing photos from Regates de Valleyfield!

Huge shout out to the pile of people who offered tools, supplies, and time to help fix the damage!

We had a great time at the Region 4 APBA Inboard awards banquet last night. We took home 2nd in GNH, 1st in 1.5 Stock, and 1st in 1L.

Chris and Bob gave me a souvenir from the exploded 1L motor out of the Y-80 from the Cambridge race. We think the small end of the connection rod broke which then sent the rod spinning at 8000 rpm cutting through everything in its path. It broke the crankcase, jug, exhaust manifold, and starter into multiple pieces. There wasn't much that was able to be saved off this motor.