US TITLE SERIES

Plans are under way and the US Title Series is excited to be included in the upcoming Albert Gallatin Regatta scheduled for Memorial Day Wknd, on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th.  Some of the drivers may be staying until Monday the 27th. This will afford our drivers and crews an opportunity to use that extra day for visiting the area. 

There are a number of events over the weekend for the crowd which was estimated to be over 4,000 last year and with the events and racing scheduled, an expectation of a better turnout.   The event gets kicked off with a parade which will end at the park and set everyone up for the racing to commence shortly thereafter.  A full schedule of events such as 5k, Raffles, face painting and a bounce house for the children, Fireworks, a car show on Sunday, live bands and much more.  A small carnival has been secured for the kids.  Of course you can’t have an event the magnitude of this one without having a wide variety of food to munch on as you enjoy the events of the day.  This would include  the concession stand  and food trucks with hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ, Kettle Corn, Puerto Rico style tacos, Nacho’s and many cold drinks to go with it. 

The Title Series will be testing equipment on Friday as they prepare for the finals to come on Saturday and Sunday.  This is a must see event and it sounds as if the city has gone out and put together a great program for a wonderful weekend of fun.

The US Title Series was formed in 1982 to give a more professional effort to the Pro category of racing.  You can compare it to F-1 in terms of innovation in both the boats and engines.  We draw drivers from diverse parts of the country, from Nebraska through many states in the Midwest, Michigan, to the East coast and down to Florida.

You will see many National Champions coming to Pt. Marion to race on Memorial Day Weekend.  Pete Nydahl the president of the USTS will lead a cadre of many national champions to compete on the Monongahela course.  Almost every class you see in racing that weekend will have multiple former or current champions in each race.

Today walking through the pits you will find for the most part two Italian, VRP/Rossi and a Czeck motor, Konny being used for today’s racing.  The classes you will see Memorial Day Wknd range from a 125CC motor at about 80mph to the big 700/1100 hydros over 100mph. 

The motors have tuned pipes on the back of the motors and give a driver an opportunity to what’s called pulling the pipe.  I compare that to push to pass as it adds about 6-8MPH in speed as they use the lever to bring the pipes close to the motor.  These motors are turning between 12 and 15,000RPM so they are really made for racing. These motors are made specifically for this type of racing and speeds are approaching 120MPH in the big hydro classes on a big course.  The thrill of watching these drivers headed down the straightway to the first turn brings goosebumps. 

The race boat has had to evolve as well from it’s early days.  In the hydroplane there are two different types of Hydro’s that you will see.  In the open cockpit drivers are lying on their stomach’s with a little ramp at the chest area to get their head up and be able to see the course.  In the bigger faster classes the drivers will be in what is called a capsule boat.  They are sitting up with a foot throttle and 6 point harness surrounded by Kevlar in the drivers compartment. These boats are running well over 100MPH and a crash would have disastrous results.  They also carry oxygen with them in case they go upside down and are able to breathe while so. 

The other type of boat you will see is called a runabout, usually 12-1/2 to 14’ in length depending on the class it is run in. Unlike the hydro which runs on a cushion of air, the runabout goes through the water with the driver on his knees in the back of the boat.  The big 700 and 1100CC runabouts are running at 100mph on a big course. 

As they go through the turns you will see what I call a wall of water as the turning fin on the left side of the boat.  This fin allows them to go through the corners and turn the boat on a dime.

THE RACE

The announcer will call out 30seconds to 3 minute gun which gives them a warning that they will hear a cannon fire off which means they are then on a clock.  The drivers know that they have 2 minutes to come out on the course, while a green flag is being displayed.  After 2 minutes go by you will hear another cannon fired, the flag becomes a white flag which means the race will start in one minute.  The Drivers will go over on the backstretch and form up for what is called a flying start.  They will have to have all 3 of the buoys on their left as they come around looking at the clock for time left.  The drivers are trying to time themselves to hit the starting line just after the clock reaches zero. Over before zero, they are disqualified and no points.  The drivers will run 3 races for each class and a race will last 4 laps.  The drivers will receive points for each race and the winner with the most points after three heats will be the winner.

The USTS has an awards ceremony after the races are finished and we ask the first three to bring their boats to the ceremony and fans can then have a close up look at what they’ve been watching on the water.

Join the great folks at Pt Marion who have worked tirelessly to put this great event together and enjoy some great racing with speed and spray by the USTS.