Episode 191: Brandon Kennedy

We catch up with Brandon Kennedy as he races both the GP35 in the Grand Prix American Series and the U-6 Royer Presents Miss Madison in H1 Unlimited. He shares what changed over the offseason, what went right and wrong at Madison and Valleyfield, and how he defines success heading into Tri-Cities and Seattle. 

Transcript

Welcome And Season Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Hello race fans and welcome back to the show. Today is July 28th, 2026, and this is episode 191. Now for today's episode, we're doing a quick check-in with Brandon Kennedy, driver of the GP35 and the Grand Prix American Series, as well as driver of the U6 Royal Presents Miss Madison for the H1 Unlimited series. Now Brandon's a busy guy. He's one of the selected few that are running both in the H1 Unlimited series and the GP Grand Prix American series. So needless to say, he's got some special talent behind the wheel. And we're going to do in a quick check-in. I actually checked in with him shortly after the Madison race and Valley Field race and talked about how this season was progressing, some of the speeds of showing with the GP35 and the Grand Prix American series, what went on behind the scenes over the winter with both the GP team as well as the U6 for uh Ms. Madison and what to expect more from the rest of the series from him. Now he he started off with a bang winning in Madison for uh the Grand Prix American series, and and he actually won again a couple days ago over in Tri-Cities uh with pretty dominant fashion. He's got a fast boat, and I'm excited to see what else he can do this year. As he visited Tri-Cities for the first time a couple days ago, and he'll be in Seattle for the first time this weekend. It's gonna be a bumpy course out there. I think his team and the GP team is ready for it. We'll see if the H1 team is ready for it as well. Um, I think that's gonna be an equalizer being on some rough water because over in Seattle you have those parallel rollers as well as it just gets lumpy and messy out there. So it's gonna be some fun racing to watch. Now, this interview took place shortly before Tri-Cities. So he doesn't he's not gonna talk about his experience in Tri-Cities there, but it's gonna be a fun talk talking about how the season started and progressed for Brandon and his teams. So let's jump in and listen to my interview with Brandon Kennedy.

Winter Rebuild Of Miss Madison

SPEAKER_00 3:05

I'm sitting down talking with Brandon Kennedy. Brandon, how are you doing today? I'm doing pretty good.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Just gearing up for the next races after a long three-way week stretch.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

Yeah. Yeah, you've had a busy schedule. I'm I'm glad we got a chance to to chat a little bit about how the season's gone so far. Uh it's early on, but it feels like it's probably been months in the taking, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Just a little bit. It feels like we've been racing all season, but that's all right. That's what we sign up for.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

That's right. That's right. Well, I know you had a busy offseason. I want to talk to that first before we talk about Madison or Valley Field. Can you talk a little bit about the the work that went on to the Miss Madison? Um, I really appreciate all the the Facebook feeds and the social media posts you had, but it looks like there's a lot of work that went into the Miss Madison in the off-season.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Yeah, definitely. It was the whole team effort from that whole team out there in Madison, Indiana. Um, as we'll touch on the social bit of first, is uh Joe McCord did a great job coming on board, getting some interviews with Trey, um just kind of updating the fans. We feel like that's been a missing link to the H1 unlimited side of things for a long time. And even some of the limited and bored, we we get into that winter, and that's when most of us race fans or racers want to see content because we're bored and we're itching to go racing, and a lot of times we all kind of drop off through the winter. Sound of Joe for kind of stepping that game up, being out there, being able to get to the shop, seeing the work go done. But and then aside from that, I mean that big group out there worked so hard. I think they said three get 55-gallon drums of paint they scraped off, um, went through the entire boat. Obviously, you matched them last year. We were we were patching some things here and there. So we went through the entire boat, made sure all the patches were done correctly um over the winter, and then just went through all systems. Uh last year we only had, I think, a couple months to prepare. This year we had a good six to eight months. So it was it was a nice break. Everyone seemed to gel. The crew got to be able to have hands on the boat all winter long, learn more of the elements. Um last year was kind of trial by fire for a lot of the guys that have never been around boat racing before. So it showed as soon as we got to Salina for the quick little test session. Um, we had our issues off the bat with getting up on a plane, but that seemed to be resolved. But just seeing how well the team gelled was really impressive for me. Um, and then obviously taking that into math was pretty cool too.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

Yeah, I mean that that is huge to get the the team to be able to gel, and it's such a short season. I mean, you have their shop time, but working in the shop is so much different than working at the at the race site, right? Like it's it's it's uh really important to have that team gel uh and that cohesion. And it so I'm glad to hear that it's starting to start to form already.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Yeah, yeah, Trey's done a great job. I think last year he had some learning things to do being forced into that creative role. Um just have seen him blossom over the past year or two as like more of a a leader, making sure things are done this way. That way everyone's got their certain jobs on the boat. And yeah, just there's there's probably four or five guys that have never been around on a race boat ever. So you know they're they're on the biggest and the baddest in the the country. So they're they're they're they're learning quick.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. Uh

GP35 Upgrades And New Speed

SPEAKER_00 6:22

well, I know not only are you driving the the U6 Royer, Miss Madison, but you're also driving the GP35. Can you talk a little bit about the preparations in the offseason? Because that seemed like that boat was just ready to roll in Madison.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

Yeah, I mean, we we did a lot to the boat over the winter. Obviously, we had the escape patch issues, so that was more of a big job. My dad built a whole CNC aluminum um escape patch, make sure it doesn't fail ever again. Um, but we had the whole left side decks off the boat, tying some things up. Um, we've been running this boat hard for the past three, four years. It was our first boat ever assembling in-house. Obviously, Bert Henderson does all the pieces, but we built that one, put all the sponsors on decks, all that good stuff. So we kind of we're just learning every time we take it apart just to see what's cracked, what needs fixed, what needs strengthened. Um, so it was pretty much a winter of work done in probably three or four weeks because I was also building a 350 hydroplane at the time. So that one got pushed aside and we threw it back together here at the end. Um, that's why some of our merchant stuff was delayed because we were waiting on wraps. But yeah, the boat, the boat's been awesome since it was out of the box. We just keep making little changes to it. Um, we made some this winter that definitely paid off as soon as we got to Brockville. We we knew they were working. Um kind of had to adjust on it a little bit here and there. But yeah, Madison was pretty cool to see the speed and speed improvement from last year.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Yeah, yeah. It was it was pretty uh pretty noticeable the speed increase. Uh it's fantastic.

Madison Weekend And Home Crowd Pressure

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Well, let's talk about uh going to Madison. That was the first race on both the H1 Unlimited schedule, Grand Prix America schedule. What did it mean to be back in Madison in front of that hometown crowd? And I know you're racing two different classes, but even though the GP's not Miss Madison race team, I'm sure everyone was cheering for you in that as well, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Yeah, for sure. Definitely seem to have a little bit more fans with the Grand Prix, but um it was it was incredible. We got there, I think Wednesday, got to go to the Royer factory, that's right there. I mean, three blocks up from the river. So get to meet all the employees and everyone and see exactly what they do. It was really cool. Um, see all their injection molding process and balloon um weights they make, all these different things that you would never imagine that come out of there. Um, it was really cool to just kind of connect with our sponsors a little bit more, meet everyone, um, and then push that into the weekend. And I I said it during awards there in Madison is when someone asks what it means to drive them as Madison, and every time I hear it, I get goosebumps still to this day. It's just the the town is incredible. Um, the fans are passionate, they don't let you slip. So there's good and bad when when you post or you miss a start, which I did that there, but um all in all, they're they're behind that boat. And I think they're proud of the boot. I think the sale and all that went negative, but I think the way it's turned out to where the boat's back in Madison, the team is a Madison-based team. Our sponsor is now based in Madison. It's it's turned around to a really cool thing. And I think we're honestly going to get the speed over time, but we're we're getting back on our feet and we're going the right direction.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Yeah, yeah. It looks uh, I mean, he had a better experience this year than last year, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, we we finished all four heats, we hit a log. That was pretty exciting. That was the the hardest last lap I ever drew. But I'm like, this is my last heat to be qualified. I'm finishing this heat. But yeah, but yeah, everything went smooth and to make the final in the Gold Cup. I mean, you know, the 11 and the 40 are good boats, they've been doing this for a long time. Um, obviously they had their struggle struggles, which helped us get to that trailer position, but it was just cool to make the final.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Yeah, it's I'm glad the race went off. I mean, there were so many obstacles that were were there for the flooding upriver or the debris and all those issues. And thankfully that the when you get the log that it didn't do more damage than it did.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I don't think people understand that don't go there, haven't gone there past few years. It's like the amount that race committee has to go through each year because of either debris or the wind or anything like that. It's just the middle of the country. You never know what's going to be burned actually at the heat. I mean, it's it's the hottest race we go to all season. So, I mean, just the the committee gets it done. Um, they're trying to gel multiple organizations with H1 and uh GPA and APBA with the smaller boats and trying to make all that work as in one series is difficult on them, but they seem to figure it out to get it done.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

Yeah, I was I was worried it was gonna be canceled there, but but they made it happen. So hats off to the organization and everyone there in Madison to make that that race happen. Because I know that was not an easy task. All

Switching Between Two Hydroplanes

SPEAKER_00 11:17

right. Well, you you drive two different, two different, completely different hydroplanes, right? You have the GP35, the U6 Unlimited. How different is it to jump on and difficult is it to jump back and forth between the two boats?

SPEAKER_01 11:32

Uh this year was a little bit easier. Last year, when I jumped out of the unlimited after doing all those laps trying to get qualified and into the Grand Prix, I thought something was wrong with my boat. But the vibrations are just a lot more. Um the motor noise obviously is a lot louder. Yeah. Um when you get out of the boat, the unlimited is only about probably six foot overall, bigger, but it it's a lot heavier. So it sits in the water, it floats and all that, where the GP, you're kind of getting bounced around a little bit more. Um, it definitely was a lot easier this year, kind of knowing what each boat was gonna do and just kind of get my mindset right. We had some heats in between, which helped um just kind of get back on the timing marks, things like that that are gonna be different. And um the acceleration is a lot different. The GP gets up and goes. The unlimited, you kind of gotta you gotta plan out your marks to get to the start. You know, this year starting on the front line was finally my first time to be like, all right, now I can start to understand how these starts go. They're they're more of like uh modified and board hydroplane that you gotta you gotta know your marks and get going before we're in the GP you kind of hit the exit pin, you know your mark there, and you just start rolling from there. Um it it's unique to drive both for sure. Uh it's a lot of work on our bot my body, and especially my need of uh Madison. But all in all, it's it's pretty good. The the GP is you get no breaks in the four lap heats and the unlimited at least the straightaways, you get a long time to kind of take a take a little break before you hit the G forces of the turn.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

Yeah, you have a bigger course, and yeah, I just imagine just trying to yeah, I just imagine everything about the whole process is a little bit different. It's the power to weight ratio is so much different. Uh, and the size is uh yeah, it's uh it's uh it's a marvel, I think, to be able to do that. And I Greg Hopp was very successful for many years doing that, but not not too many people have.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Yeah, yeah, you gotta have a good team around you. I mean, I usually do a lot of the data and stuff on the GP and um things for tune-up and stuff like that, propeller choice. But for Madison, I kind of had to let somebody else take control of it. That way I could focus on just jumping back in the other boat or just working with the team and debriefing. Um, that's more of a struggle, I would say, is just trying to find the time between heats to make sure you're you're doing the right thing for each team, um, but then focusing on the next phone.

SPEAKER_00 13:54

Yeah, definitely, definitely. Well, it's a tall order, and and you're able to do it. And then you're able to do it very successfully with the GP.

Qualifying Pace Oil Smoke Lane Drama

SPEAKER_00 14:03

It was fast at Madison. I'm just trying, I'm not gonna code it, sugarcoat it. It was fast and it was noticeable on the water. I mean, you qualified almost 126 miles an hour, about 20 miles an hour faster than the second qualifier. I mean, throughout the heats, you showed your speed. What what do you think led to that increase of speed? Was it just all the preparation you had in the off season?

SPEAKER_01 14:25

Yeah, probably a lot of that. And just kind of we're we're getting that, but a little bit more dialed in. Um, propeller wise, gearing wise, things like that. Um we I think the water conditions were much better this year than last year. So that's why I think I was seven mile-an-hour trials for this year and um time trials than last year. Yeah. Um and to just know on the boat. Um, I think we we have the quarters out here pretty well figured out. Um, unfortunately, the leftins weren't able to make it. I know that it would be tough, especially Jackson boat super fast. And I think in time trials was a little bit of not as fast for the 10 because he hit a huge roller. So it's hard to go off a time trial. Some guys push it real hard, some guys don't. They just live to fight in the heat. So we just were lucky enough to kind of make it to the final. We were in a tight lane in lane three. Um, but everybody else kind of made mistakes and made it easy on me there.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Yeah, yeah. It's um yeah, it was just it was fun to watch. And like you said, race water is so much different than than qualifying water. I think it's a it's a good equalizer in a lot of things. But one of your early heats, earlier heats, you brought the boat back and it was smoking pretty bad. And I was talking to a friend that was down on the docks down there, and they said it smelled pretty bad. What I was just curious what happened in that heat.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

Uh, we fought some oil pressure issues at the end of the time trials, and then we changed oil and did a few maintenance settings to try it again. Um, and we had an oil line clogged in that warm-up session. So it when it clogged, it busted. Um, and the oil just got on the headers. The motor was still running, still in one piece. Um just kind of an oil line failure. So we I was bringing it in anyway, it shut off, and we just switched motors to our other motor, and everything was smooth failing from there. So I think everything's good with the motor, but our motor builder, Marty Wolf, will let us know whenever he goes through it.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

All right, all right, yeah. Hopefully, crap fingers crossed, you didn't break anything bad on that. And uh it was just a easy fix for you. Well, I do want to talk about that final heat. You said you were in a tight lane three. Is that the lane that you would have wanted to start in in the final? Uh if you got to choose.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

I I always like lane one or the outside, just because there's no you're you're in your own lane, you only got one guy to worry about, those kind of things. Lane three, you got people that um can get up there early, and they did jump the gun. So as they jumped the gun, my lane was starting to close up, and I was like, oh no. I knew I had the fast boat, but though those are the moments where you you can't control the outcome. Um, you trust the racers, and I did. I was able to shove it through there. Um, Brandon, uh forget who else it was, Kevin wound up open their lane. They just made it really tight and scared me for a second. Um, but yeah, but yeah, lane three three is a tough spot. Um, you saw it up in Valleyfield with the Andrew trying to shoot the middle. It's you you gotta trust the people around you and trust your equipment um and try to get through there.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

Yeah, it's a huge amount of trust. That's for sure. Yeah, because you just start lane three, you were outside of uh the freak with Tammy Crit lane two, Greg Hopp was in one. Yeah, but thankfully you made it through. Uh and it it was a hometown victory, I think, in a lot of ways, because you're the driver for Miss Madison, although be it it's a the GP. How exciting was that to start the year off with that that victory?

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Uh it was definitely cool. Um just pulled it over after this and actually kind of I got a new thing where I try to get out of the boat while it's running and it was waved to the fans. Um I think that's a lot of things where we kind of miss out on the sport is that fan engagement after the win. Oh no. Um I did don't donuts up in Brockville, but with Valleyville coming up after Madison, I decided not to do that. Um, but yeah, it was just to see them all cheering and then all the high fives later on when we got up to awards and stuff. It's cool to have that town support you. And obviously, they they come to awards, which not every event do you have your fans come to awards with the it's usually just such crew members. Um, but they're all standing outside that fence here, and it's really neat.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

Yeah, that's fantastic. I love to hear that you're trying to bring something else, you know, with getting your uh the cockpit open and getting out a little bit where you're coming in because I mean 40 years ago that it was all open cock canopies, right? Open cockpit. So you could see the drivers, and there's that lack of engagement now because you can't see the drivers uh in those enclosed canopies. But yeah, um yeah, that's what we just try to post as much like onboard as we can.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

I think a lot of fans, and we we notice it um with TKO and Jason Tails is that when you put the onboards of like showing us, they can't believe how much we move around in the cockpit and how much vibrations they are. So just try to get that out more to the people so they see what elements we're going through.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Yeah, yeah, because you're you're going through a lot. You're trying to trace and look at the gauges, and you're it feels I'm sure it feels like you're being shook and uh shaken pretty hard. Well, you got with the donuts though, you gotta promise me that maybe you'll you can bring that out west because I've only seen one person do it in a hydroplane. It was Terry Troxel 25 years ago. So I want to see that again.

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Yeah, we we might have to have to wait for Seattle before we're about to come home, but we'll see what we can do.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

All right. Well, um the you you didn't really have much time off. Um, I I know we were trying to connect in between Madison and and Valleyfield, but I mean you're you're you're jumping right into a race, so it's not like you had a a week off, right? You had to get up to Valleyfield, prepare, and go through through all the preparations of another race. It didn't go as well as Madison, but can you talk a little bit about the fans, how your experience was up in Valley Field?

SPEAKER_01 21:19

Uh yeah, Valleyfield's always one of the coolest places to go to. Um before I went to Madison, it was the top spot. Now Madison's kind of right there with it. The fans are just so knowledgeable, they love the sport, they understand it. I'll have half the time they'll tell you went wrong, what you did wrong. And they're like, Oh, yep, you're you're absolutely right. Or and just, I mean, even there, the time trials are really cool. You got all the fans betting on who's gonna be the fastest, or if this person's gonna lift. And um, this year they made that kind of more of an actual thing. They had, I think it was bet 99 up there, so it was actually mobile lab betting instead of just betting up in the stand. So that was really unique to see my it wasn't cool to see my odds decrease

Valleyfield Fans Rough Water Comeback

SPEAKER_01 22:02

through the weekend, but that is what it is. We we made a comeback for the final. But yeah, it's just it's one of them races that's so big. Everyone, I mean, the leptons come over, that's their main goal is to win that one. Um, and everybody kind of ups elevates their game when you go there. Um, we we had the speed, we had everything there. We just went ran into some electrical issues. Um, just part of the sport sometimes when you're you're on top, it it comes crashing down quick. Um, but we're proud of the speed we had for sure, especially the final. Um, coming from a trailer, second place was impressed myself. I was driving with my whole heart in that one. Um, just trying to give a fan of the show. So I think it was exciting. Definitely rebounded the weekend, and we got a better feeling coming out of there.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Yeah, yeah. It was it was pretty low, but then you won that last last chance heat or the um the Connie, whatever you want to call it, and and we're able to finish second. It's a very strong finish for how things were starting out for you. That's for sure. But there there was some onboard footage though of the GP35. And I just thought it was pretty intense because you could see the shorelines are just packed there in Valley Field. I mean, go go from like a different race site that maybe it's not as much many in attendance and going to that. Does that do something to you? Does the crowd impact you at all when you're out there racing?

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Uh no. It's again, I've always made it since I was driving T-boat now at the Grand Periods. I've I've made it just more about them. Like they're part of what I do, um, part of the race. Uh every time I go out, I I run the outside, I kind of wave to the crowd through the cockpit window. Um, it doesn't really stress me out anymore because I know the competition's the part that stresses me out. You know, everybody's on their game, everything's gonna be faster. The the water's super rough. Um, it's it's just a unique venue to have fans on both sides. You're in this tiny little hole. And uh when you get a six-point final out there, it's just it gets rough. By the time you you take it to start, the the waves are like three or four feet. Um, turn two, you can just see them crashing because we're kind of making a tidy ball effect. Um, it's just one of the coolest places to go race. And luckily, they've had much success up there. I think I've won 10 times up there. Um, it's been a pretty cool journey. And I got engaged up there, so that was pretty cool too.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

Yeah, just just a few things uh to make it sentimental for yourself. Yep. Yeah, well, I just I just think about you know, maybe drivers who haven't experienced that and gone up there for the first time. I could see that being kind of intimidating. Um, so I've coached for for a while, basketball and football. And I always have those students that who are getting nervous when you know it goes from practice to to being in front of a stadium when and people are watching them. So I just always feel like there's could be some sort of intimidation factor there.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

Yeah, definitely. I'm sure the people that go up there haven't been there. It's you roll out of the pit area and because you're kind of tucked in a cove where the pit area is, and when you roll out of there, it's kind of like it's a surreal moment to pull out, and like it's probably Bo Racing's greatest stage with um the fans on each side and give you that feeling. Even down there's a point down there in turn two that's kind of off, but that's that's party cove down there. So if you go over there, you you never know what you're gonna see.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

Okay, well, yeah, I saw some uh pretty interesting photos uh that were posted online. I won't I won't discuss here, but yeah. All right. Well, well, all that's done now, and you're heading out west here pretty shortly. Gonna be out in Tri-Cities and Seattle, and it was just announced. I mean, not only you're gonna be racing the Royer, Miss Madison, but you're also gonna be driving the GP35 out here. Yep. And so how do you feel about coming out here? Because I I don't believe you you've raced on either race course, is that correct?

SPEAKER_01 26:00

Nah, I've only been out there to yum with my T vote back in the day. So I'm I'm excited. Um got some insights from Jimmy this weekend on how the courses are. He said Seattle's super rough. So that that was kind of intimidating, being we just were in Madison and Madison's super rough, yeah. Um, especially as a trailer, but I'm excited. I think it's it's more everything's set in stone. We don't have the river like Madison does, the debris, things like that. Um, the race courses are a little wider, so I think it's gonna give me a great sense of learning non-limited. Um, I think the biggest goal for me is just kind of getting better at flying the boat, getting more comfortable um with speeds there. I think we're gonna try to compete with some of those guys like the 11 and um gunner and stuff like that. It's okay, it's gonna be real tough, tough to catch the BWR

West Coast Debut Tri-Cities Seattle Plans

SPEAKER_01 26:49

and strong guys. They've been doing a long time, have a good crew, good parts, all that good stuff. Um, but yeah, we're we're gonna be in the hunt for sure. I'm excited for that one. Um, and yeah, just get more sea time in the boat. And like I said, it's totally different than the Grand Prix. So just trying to learn it a little bit more.

SPEAKER_00 27:06

Yeah, yeah. It's especially with a short season. It's anytime you get out there and get laps, it's it's crucial to get used to the equipment, get all those nuances settled in. But it's gonna be, I think Tri-Cities is gonna be a fast course for you. So I'm excited to see how you can do, and I'm glad to hear you're gonna be sticking your nose in there. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. But what about with the GP? Right in that and Tri-Cities, it's it's gonna be a wider course. You're gonna be have to set up things much differently. How do you anticipate that going for the GP35?

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Um, I think we'll be okay. I think we've run long straightaways. Um Gunnersville is a good test for it. I know it's a mile and two thirds versus a mile and a quarter, so there's some different things we need to do in the engine to make sure longevity is there. Um, but we have some pretty big propellers and bigger gears um to change out for out there. I'm gonna keep the boat setup pretty much the same. I'm really comfortable in the way the boat flies and my ability to keep it on the water with the wing. So if something arises and we need to change balance or change thread angles, anything like that, we'll definitely do it on the fly. But I'm pretty confident that it'll go pretty well and just hopefully stay in one piece for the next two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 28:19

Yeah, yeah, it'll be crucial to keep it all together. Um, and what about San Diego? Do you have plans for Royer, Miss Madison, or the GP35 to make it down there? Uh nothing yet.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

I think it all depends on how the next two weeks shake out, um, points-wise for both boats. Um, if we're in the hunt for a podium or whatnot, maybe we'll go out there. Um, for the unlimited, it's a lot more work for them with the saltwater scoop and all that stuff. And we would have to get the parts from um Dave Bardish. Um, we have pretty much everything to run the normal courses, but we'd have to get all that set up. And it's it's really hard because it that one for the saltwater with the unlimited, it it really takes a big budget hit. Um, winter maintenance, electronics, all that stuff that could happen. And it's you don't want to end the season on that note if it's unnecessary. Um, so we're we're gonna address after um and go from there. And as far as the GP, I know it's coming back east after Seattle. Uh I think we might run Bahorn off with HRL. Um, and then we'll see. Uh it's all dependent on like a championship, things like that. And yeah, I know there's been talks about it being a huge GP race this year, so we'll just see what happens.

SPEAKER_00 29:31

Um figure it out. Yeah.

San Diego Questions Budgets And Survival

SPEAKER_00 29:33

Have you ever been down there for a race? No, I have not. Yeah, it's just beautiful down there. It's it's a it's a fast, fast race course. Uh the salt water is it's a huge issue, right? And it's too bad that there's not like a race right after where you on freshwater where you can kind of clear everything out, right? I think that would be uh fantastic. So yeah, but it it all kind of hinges on the next two weeks, right? I mean, could be in great shape or not as great shape.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

So yeah, pretty much, yeah. Like I said, with the GPU, we're traveling out with three engines, and hopefully we only have to use one. But means we're staying out there for the two weeks and we're way far away from home, we're just making sure we're prepared. And it's not even if we blow one, if there's something concerning, we just pull it and switch them and then address the issue later on instead of trying to rot. We're on a hurt motor. Um, seem like unlimited. We'll have a couple motors, a couple gearboxes, but um it's the sport is about going fast, but it's also about surviving, just trying to get to the next one.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yeah, yeah. Play it smart and know when to push it to the limit when you when you need to. Well, this this episode's gonna air right in between the two races, between the Columbia Cup and Seafair. And so I just want to hear from you. Last question for you, because I know you got a lot going on, you're busy trying to get ready for these races. What will be make it successful for you in the Royal Miss Madison and Limited Hydroplane and the GP35 in Tri-Cities in Seattle?

SPEAKER_01 31:03

I think success in Unlimited is just like we did in Madison, start and finish every heat, um, position ourselves to be in the final. I'm hoping with now being able to choose my lane, I'll be able to choose some inside lanes, just to kind of get some more C time and feeling inside of some of these guys and um how to race, do the racecraft in Unlimited. Um, there's a lot of different key forces, things like that, trusting your skid fin. Um, I have 100% confidence in the GP, so it's getting that into the unlimited. Um, I'm just excited to keep learning if it's all progressing to the next one and keep amping up until hopefully we can take a swing at them in Seattle.

SPEAKER_00 31:42

There we go. Love to hear it. Yeah, I think the rough water will be uh a big, pretty big equalizer over in Seattle. So wishing

What Success Looks Like Next

SPEAKER_00 31:50

you luck, Brandon, and uh hope you have a great Tri-Cities Columbia Cup and as well as uh Seafair in Seattle. And uh look forward to meeting you in person. I think this will be for sure. I appreciate it. Um we'll see you out there. All right, I'll see you at the races. All right, knuckleheads. That's all the time we have for this week. And I hope you know when I call you a knucklehead, I don't mean you're stupid. I don't mean you're an idiot. I mean it as an endearing term, as you are an equal and a friend, a fellow friend that loves the sport of hydroin racing. So don't think of it as a negative thing. This is a positive thing. I don't think I always take things seriously. I like to joke and be silly. So when I call you a knucklehead, I mean that we're a friend and we're buddies and we enjoy hydrogen racing together. But like I said, that's all the time we have for this week. I'll have another great interview next week with someone from the Grand Prix American series or H1 Unlimited. But I gotta tell you, I'm exhausted from a great week over in Tri-Cities, Washington. I went over a week early as over in the lagoon, Namba held a national event for people racing radio-controlled hydroplanes and boats of all different sizes. There was gas, electric, nitro boats, monos, tunnel hulls, catamarans, hydroplanes, riggers, all different classes. I had a great time. It was a great race held by the local district over District 8 of Namba. It was

Host Wrap Seafair And Subscriber Cards

SPEAKER_00 33:20

so much fun. I had got to meet so many people. But after that and the Columbia Cup from water follies, I'm exhausted and I need a couple of days to take a break before Seafair. I hope you're going to be down at Seafair. Hope I can see you there. And if you're a Richartel Talk Plus subscriber, don't forget to ask for your cards while you're down there. If I missed you in Tri-Cities or in the upcoming Seafair Regatta, I will get those mailed out to you for the Richardel Talk Plus subscribers. You'll get your hands on those trading cards sooner than later. But in the meantime, don't forget to check us out on social media or on Instagram, Facebook, or also online at Richarteltalk.com. Well that's all I have for you this week. So until next time, I hope to see you at the races.