Scott Liddycoat signing autographs at the Lamb Weston Cup in Pasco. Photo by Brad Drake.H1 Unlimited Press Release

Pasco, Wash., January 24, 2012— Rookie driver Scott Liddycoat will be honored early next month at the UIM Awards Giving Gala at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco for his victory at the 2011 Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Qatar.

It’s the first time H1 Unlimited’s Air National Guard Hydroplane Series has been represented at the February 11^th event and the perk of winning a UIM World Championship. The Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) is the world’s governing body for powerboat racing.

“I can’t wait to represent the sport at this prestigious event in Monte Carlo,” said Liddycoat, driver of the Valken.com boat. “Anyone I talk to, I want to share with them how great the sport is.”

Aerial view of Miami Marine Stadium. Photo courtesy Michael Stephen McFarland.From the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium's January 2012 Newsletter

On Thursday, January 26, the Miami City Commission is scheduled to initiate legislation for a public private partnership between the City of MIami, The Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority (MSEA) and Friends of Miami Marine Stadium (FMMS). The goal of this partnership is to restore and operate the Marine Stadium. We are asking you to support this legislation and contact the Miami CIty Commissioners below.

The legislation, as developed by the Administration, is a vital step in moving this complicated process forward. It establishes a Steering Committee that will provide recommendations to the City Manager as to the specifics of the final agreement. The Steering Committee will meet regularly, will be subject to the Sunshine Laws, and will assure the public an opportunity for input. Because the final agreement must be approved by both the City Commission and MSEA, the City can first work with Friends (FMMS) to flesh out the plan. Finally, the legislation designates FMMS as the entity to work with the City and MSEA to develop the Stadium. This is both appropriate and necessary. Since the Marine Stadium was closed in 1992, we are the first (and only) group to come forward with a plan for its restoration. To continue our work, and begin developing both fundraising and operating strategies, we need the commitment from the CIty. The proposed legislation will provide us with this.

Please email the Commissioners below and ask them to approve this legislation. You can simply say the following:Please approve the legislation establishing a partnership with Friends of Miami Marine Stadium to restore the Stadium. You can then add any personal reasons why you want to see the Stadium restored.

Click on the names to email the Commissioners individually:

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Please have all emails sent before Thursday January 26.

For more information about the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, visit their website marinestadium.org.

The winter season is heating up for the H1 Unlimited hydroplane series.

Some teams are making personnel changes within their teams. One such team is Webster Racing. It was announced on the team Facebook page that Eric Bell will take over as Crew Chief for the 2012 season. Bell comes from the Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison team where he was in charge of the hull. He has vast experiences in the Unlimited ranks, also crewing for Bill Wurster's U-8 team and Ted Porter's Formulaboat team before returning to his hometown Miss Madison team and 3 National High point titles.

The 32 year old Bell replaces John Walters as the new U-22 boss.New U-22 Crew Chief Eric Bell. Photo courtesy U-22 Facebook page.

A few other hydro tidbits--

--Ted Porter's recent announcement that he was putting his entire PPE, LLC team up for sale has sparked conversation in the hydro community. Hydro News has learned of one potential buyer, that's currently in the sport. At this point, this possible buyer has been interested in forming his own team since last year.

If you are a daily reader of the Social Media sites, one current sponsor of an Unlimited team has posted about going "hydro shopping". This team could certainly use an upgrade of their current hull, with either the T-5 or T-6 availiable now.

--The H1 fleet is now on the high seas, making it's way back from the season ending race in Doha, Qatar. The estimated time for arrival is mid February.

Stay with Hydro-News.com and we'll bring you the latest news about the Unlimited hydroplanes series.

H1 Unlimited Media ReleaseScott Liddycoat in the Porter owned Valken.com last year in Madison.

Pasco, Wash., January 5, 2012— After a very successful six-year run on the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series, the Ted Porter family announced Thursday that it is leaving the sport and selling the team’s boats and equipment.

The team, based in Decatur, Ind., campaigned three boats on the 2011 tour and was coming off its best race of the season in Doha, Qatar. That’s where owner Ted Porter saw Valken.com, Graham Trucking and Formulaboats.com finish first, second and fourth, respectively.

“It is with heavy heart and fond memories I announce that the Porter Family is exiting the sport to pursue other interests,” Porter said in a press release. “It is our choice to leave the sport in healthy times. We entered the sport to help make it stronger. Now that the sport has the staying power to last for generations, we feel we can move on.”

H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole said the Porter family was a major part in helping rebuild the sport, especially after legendary owner Bernie Little passed away and Budweiser left the series.