Colin Jelf off from Pole tomorrow

Colin Jelf will set off from Pole Position tomorrow. He will be followed by Ugis Gross and Alex Carella, Italy..

Alex Carella has not been winning since Riga in 07, but he had his shit together today. 52.02 with a speed of 132,7 km/h he was just 0.19 sec behind Ugis Gross. 

Colin Jelf had a best lap of 50,77 lap and average speed of 133,4 km/h.

2nd time trial was slower due to bad weather.

Spetacular day in South Africa - Shepard fly´s over Brett Stuart

Who says that only 8 boats cant make a show ! Look at todays action shot from South Africa. Robert Shepard runs over Brett Stuartin the fight for 2nd and 3rd. 

Paul Shepard won, and Elzane De jager finished 2nd.. 

Third heat stopped

Written by Paul Bedford, on 05-10-2008 17:18   The third heat of the Morula Casino & Hotel Formula 1 Powerboat Grand Prix was stopped just before its scheduled distance when Andre Kemp Snr flipped his boat on the last lap. Kemp, who was running in fifth position, hit someting in the water which holed his boat. When he slowed for the tight turn buoy in front of the crowd on the Casino lawns his boat gently rolled over as the holed hull fiiled with water. The race was immediately stopped but Kemp had extricated himself from his inverted boat before the rescue crew could even get to him. Paul Shepard emerged victorious to take his second clean sweep of heat victories for the season and extend his lead at the top of the championship log. Elzane de Jager’s took her third second place of the day ahead of Steven Zungu, Andre Kemp Jnr, Darren Beattie, Robert Shepard and Terri Mitchell roued out the rest of the field.

Elzane 2nd today ! F1 race in South Africa

Paul Shepard set the fastest time during qualifying at the Nooitgedacht Dam this afternoon and will start the first heat tomorrow’s Morula Hotel & Casino F1 Powerboat Grand Prix from pole position.

Elzane de Jager will start from second after a session long battle with Brett Stuart while Robert Shepard set the fourth fastest time. Development driver Steven Zungu took his Lotto supported boat to the fifth fastest time ahead of the Nelspruit father and son Kemp duo. This time it was the son that outperformed the father. Darren Beattie, who only got his boat going moments before the qulifying session started, will start in eighth place.

What a day ahead...

Today its one of em wild days, I will have Breakfast in Amsterdam, then Iam off to Milan -  for Lunch with Massimo Roggiero and Vito Lessi – and finally a late night dinner in the middle east. . 

So, who said it should be easy.

After a week in bed, i feel a bit better. Good enough to travel anyway. I will update from my visit @ the BaBa shop later today, or tomorrow. 

Do you think the BaBa F2 can win the Worldchampionship in 09?

New female superstars ?

Steve J Michael has send us this picture of him and these 2 girls girls. 

The one on the left side of the picture (my right) Alyssa, finished on the podium in the “Sport C” class or 3rd place in the national championship in her hometown in Kankakee, Illinois two weeks ago.

These girls are twins. 20 years old. Are they the future Marit Stromoy’s in powerboat racing? Maybe…stay tuned…but first…

They are both going into the “Miss Illinois” USA beauty Pagent early next month…looking for sponsorship….

Ciao, the Voice !

Saudi next, Ali baba is ready to welcome the World to Jiddah Festival !

While my crew hangs around in bed, sick, Ali Baba is busy to prepare everything in Saudi. . During the weekend all guest will be there. 

Its actually going to be good to break away from the political part of racing for a change, and report on laptimes, polepositions and hard racing. 

Will Owen Jelf continue where he left it in Riga ? Whats brother Colin been up too? He is still leading the World Cup. Alex Carella had a frustrating weekend in Riga, a race he won last year. Is he prepped for Saudi ? Last year this was the one he lost !

Arif Al Zafeen is not racing, he placed his boat on the podium last year after a lot of work over the weekend. JIB finished 3rd in Saudi last year, he was over the moon – and have after that always fighted in the top. He is a fast driver with great rough water strenght. Will he catch his first victory? Will be hard, but thats racing. 

Personally Saudi was my first race in the World Cup last year, after my long break. I had only engine trouble, but the day after the event the engine and boat was singing, so Malaysia was perfect. Im sick, and I do not even know if I will attend the race, lets see. Still a few days to go, But Im updating the news from bed !  

 So lets see, like the Americans always says, “when the green flag drops, the bullshit stops” 

Another big question is, how well will the Riga team do it. Now only with one boat, a full focused team – and only Uvis Slakteris. A great challange from Lativa.

Ugis Gross is another fast driver, always top 6, and frequently on the podium. Will he do it again in Saudi ?

Facebook - great for racing news updates.

I have now a lot of friends all over the world on Facebook. Its perfect, like now. My buddy Mark and Carl Ogden is busy to upload pictures fom Stewerdby, and they gives me permission to post it here, on the F2boat.com. 

Read more >HERE>

Photo Mark Withe                             World Cup Winner in F2, Colin Jelf was testing the boat of Keith Wittle to help him to dial it in.Colin reports of an engine with plenty of torque – and great potentional.

“It needs another gear ratio – and some dialing in to do, but its a strong engine. Makes a lot of fun driving it. I pulled 112mph @ 5800 Rpms – said Colin Jelf after the test.. 

Text and Photo Carl Ogden: 

Learning to FLY by Carl ogden,

Malcolm Goodman, on a mission to win the RYA S2000 National Championship has pole position for Heat 3 on Sunday morning. With a slight breeze and sunny skys the Red lights goes out, all the boats leave the dock but within 300 metres a slight gust of wind picks Malcolm up, he desperately trims in and floors the throttle, all to no avail, he’s airborne, so time to sit back and enjoy the ride!

To everyones (none more so than him) surprise, he’s landed the correct way, he’s lost his canopy cover and there is heavy damage to the right hand sponson.

Malcolm is quickly recovered by Rescue and after a checkup by the paramedic, given the all clear now he sets to work on getting the engine working and packs everything away, to return next year to claim the National Title….maybe….

All this was produced because my two friends, Mark and Carl Ogden both have me on their Facebook list, so If you want to join in, contact me on Frode´s Facebook. On the Facebook albums you wil find a few hundred pictures more ;)

2008 top end sprint simply marine racing - Youtube -

Youtube is an super smart way of publishing videosonline. We are publishing videos from Youtube all the time here on F2boat.com, and other racing medias are doing the same. Our Video´s have now more than 200.000 uniqe downloads, and all in all the F2boat.com have showed videos with more than 1.000.000 downloads.

Read more >HERE<

 Its fantastic, internet is truly the best way of reaching out to our comunity ! So I ask all of you, please send me your favorite youtube clip, the link and I will surly put it on here, so we can all share, like Pugs did from Australia,

“Frode<br /> 
ON the 31st of August we raced in the Sackville to Windsr sprint. 18 miles of river against 2 Hydroplanes, A old f1 boat with a Big Block v8 and a sst 120 F2 boat.

Jon who drives boat #12 in the XLR8 F1 team was driving,
 
Jon ran at 136mph for most of the way, or 8 mins at 9000 rpm. The engine lost a cylinder with less than a mile to go. Jon who was driving was no more that 3 boat lengths behind the eventual winner for most of the race. This Hydroplane could do up to 150mph. We still pulled out a big enough lead over the other boats and limped home in 2nd place.
 
Jon was running a stock 2.5 260 block but next year we plan on running the S3000 we run in the Formula One Superboat Series.
 
It was on hell of a race. The video is from saturdays practice

 Our Next race is Round 6 of the XLR8 Formula One Superboat series in 4 weeks time at Penrith
 
Cheers, Pugs "

Maximillian 3 yr today. .

Today its politics aside, My perfect son is 3 yrs old today. Im so proud. Can I stop him from beeing a Powerboat racer? 

Well, I know at least the mother will do her best:) And honestly, I think she is right. I m addicted to this sport, so there is no hope for me, but for Max I hope he can be “saved” for it, but It will be hard.

Maximillian is so competitive; he even races me to take away his toys in the afternoon before bedtime. When we are finish, he always claims, Dad I won! Perfect, but he will soon enough find out that we both win.

Anyway, its crazy how fast the time fly’s – Its already 3 yr since Cathy gave me the best present in the World. Incredible.

Needless to say, Im so Proud ! Maximillian, Happy birthday !  I love you. Dad,

Jiddah Festival 08 - F2 World Cup

HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud, President of the Ubhor Festival and Abdul Salam Fairooz, F2 Promoter, held a press conference in Jeddah to officially announce the plans for the coming tourism Festival in Ubhor, Jeddah.

 Jeddah – 23rd – Announcing details of biggest ever Ubhor Festival, Jeddah, 2nd to 8th October 2008
HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud, President of the Ubhor Festival and Abdul Salam Fairooz, F2 Promoter, held a press conference in Jeddah to officially announce the plans for the coming tourism Festival in Ubhor, Jeddah.
“The 2008 Ubhor Festival will be bigger and better than last year, it will be more exciting and spectacular for all the visitors” said HH Prince Abdulla bin Saud.
“We gained a lot of new experiences from last year and we want to put on a bigger show for our spectators”. he continued.

The conference was held in the presence of Mohammad Al Amree, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism in Jeddah, Ebrheem Badr Aldeen, Manager of Administration of Culture and Tourism, JCCT, and Mohammad Alyamee, Manager of Public Relations in Jeddah.
HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud announced, “The festival will commence on second of 2nd of October (Eid al Fitr), it will include the F2 World Cup championship of Formula 2000 speed boats as a main attraction, the Grand Prix race will be held on the 8h of October”.
In addition, the festival committee has organized Jet-ski races, Parades, Traditional boat displays and firework displays. There will also be a safe diving event and accompanying entertainment activities for children such as cartoon characters, clowns, karate demonstrations, a paragliding stunt show and a hunting show.
HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud, added that, “The festival will be attended by many TV channels and media. Saudi Sport TV channel have prepared a special program about the festival and have assigned a large camera team to cover all the different events”.
Arab Radio and TV (ART) have also prepared to broadcast special programs to covering and promote the festival and the F2 World Cup Championship. The event will be covered extensively in national and International press.
Abdul Salam Fairooz, Promoter of Formula 2 Speed Boat Championship said that, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can organize very good International water sport’s events and can be one the most important places for developing these events”.
He praised the role of HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud and the other partners in organizing such a popular festival. Fairooz clarified that KSA have some of the most suitable waterfront coastal areas in the world, which have beautiful long, clean beaches and specialized water sport clubs.
Fairooz congratulated the authorities in Saudi Arabia in supporting the new Saudi race team that will represent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the speed boat race and advised them to begin the process of establishing the Saudi Water Sports in the near future”.
“There are 18 participants from many International countries attending the race, from UAE , Kuwait, Portugal, UK, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and many other countries”.
“There will be 30 thousands dollars awarding for the first 10 participants in the race and we all look forward to this very exciting Festival and Championship Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia” he concluded.
Ends…………
Contact -
F2 World Cup Media Communications
Lex Akehurst, X-Sport Group – Lex@x-sportgroup.com
Tel +971 4 2827272
Fax +971 4 2827676

Last year – 07 -  Saudi Arabia.

Formula 2 class has reached a point where they have a uniqe chance"

“I ám above all a driver, and I look at it always from a drivers point, and the Formula 2 class has reached a point where they have a uniqe chance” says Scott Gillman today to F2boat.com

Read more >Here>

"I try to look at this with my racing experience, and when I´m now involved I try to see every best way we can help the drivers.

I feel I’m now putting something back into the sport. And, I want to make it clear, I’m not “the” promoter – I’m a part of a team – a team with great experience that is trying to get the job to promote the F2 class for many years"

I contacted Scott today to ask him about the letter from the F1 teams, as he was team rep of that time, and to catch up on his ideas for F2.

“As an F1 driver at that time in 05 I though that the BoatGP name and promoter was in direct competition to F1, It was wrong at the time. I still think I was correct in 05, and I acknowledge that UIM now calls it F2 again. I think that is the correct name for the class, there should be a clear line between F1 and F2 – apart from that there was no problems for me” says Scott.

But your now bidding for the F2, and at least last year your two star drivers Thani Al Qamzi and Ahamed Al Hamli raced F2 as well. How do you see that for the F2 WC?

 "I have told the club that I think we should enter with our other drivers, most probably Majid Al Mansoori and Al Tayer. I personally think that AL Qamzi and Al Hamli will focus on F1. By that we have a very strong F1 and F2 team."

And he continues

" I have raced in so many series, different sports and I’ve see good things and bad things.

I’m now 100% sure that we can run a professional series in co-operation with the UIM – on the highest level. For Ex, I have ideas that we need two UIM officials in the radio tent, for good co-operation – We need to outsource timing to UIM officials and also scrutinizing.

We, as the organizer will host the events, bring in all the infrastructure but the sport side of it, as in the above mentioned matters have to be run separate, and should have nothing to do directly with the promoter.“

But, many of our readers have commented that Abu Dhabi Club and Nicolo is one! ;-) ??

” Nicolo San Germano runs F1, and one of his companys is based in Abu Dhabi. He is also interested in the F2, but its two different projects. We have run the President Cup for 10 years without him, and we will do the F2 from our side. We have, like stated before created a separate company, and our shareholder will be Dr. Shaiqh Sultan"

“I would also like to point out that, if we get it we would be happy to work with the team and drivers rep to find out when we should start the season. We will not kick this off in January. Will not make sence. We were also told that the decision would be made in September, but we respect the 2nd of November – and we do understand the challenge in turns of start up. March is maybe a good date? I don’t know, we will have to discuss with the UIM and as I said Drivers and team rep”

I can assure you, we have all good intentions for promoting the sport, and look after the driver. My team takes pride in that, we will use it to promote our area as well – and if anyone has a question feel free to ask us any thing you might have in mind, Of cause it would be good via the driver’s rep – so we do not have to deal with 40 drivers – but as I see it, the driver have a real great chance to form something good here – and I hope the see this chance with the stability that the club brings in, a non profit organization with great founds, resources and experience to invest.

Of cause we understand that we need 2 or 3 rounds in europe, and the drivers will have that depending on how many races we will be allowed to put on the calendar. I personally think 6 is good for the first year"

I hope, regardless who gets the job from UIM that the drivers will be smart enough to benefit from it. They should, its their class.

H2o Full Throttle publisher Ned Dawson says, "This smaks of Corroption" - UPDATED !

The letter that Ned Dawson talked about was questioned to be true, so he has posted em. .

Read more < HERE>

"Got to see a copy of a very interesting letter circulating around the UIM General Assembly from 2006 where all F1 teams involved with the series formulated and signed a letter to the UIM council demanding a long list of “conditions” and if these werent met they were going to do what Class 1 did, and that was go with WPPA instead of UIM."

Dawson has now scanned in the letter, and posed  it on his forum site.

He says more, “This smaks of corruption” 

It was true..

To see H2o´s post go > HERE >

Everyone wants F2 - Nicolo San Germano joins officially the ring !

In a press release on the site witch should normally produce news for the China in 18 days we see the interest from Nicolo and Idea marketing for F2. Now the fight for F2 begins. Can the drivers WIN ? 

Read More > HERE >

From F1boat.com

"What’s the Future for F2?

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 23^rd of September, 2008 –  Idea Marketing Sa the International Sports Marketing Company created in 1981 and involved in powerboating since 1984 acknowledge the bid launched by UIM for the Formula 2 Promoters.

Considering their long time commitment in the sport, the fact that F2 is an important step for drivers targeting the Formula 1 World Championship Idea Marketing is brainstorming to submit to UIM a project for the future of F2."

Well, what do you guys think ? 

Personally I do not like the idea, I want the two classes separate. Nicolo is a good F1 promoter, but I doubt his intention for F2.

Im sure he will do a better job for F1 is he “leave us alone” but I will call him and ask !

Frode, 

Positive communication for the F2

" I have a positive feeling that the UIM is willing to consider our concerns" Jenny Jelf says this afternoon.  Read more < HERE <

    Jenny and Colin Jelf

I have today spoken to the gentlemen concerned and I’m sure that now any misunderstandings have been clarified,  we can all reach a mutually agreeable decision for all parties concerned." says Jenny Jelf.

“I am assured of the UIM’s continued commitment to the class, and its willingness to work together to create a stronger future for F2. We now hope for a positive outcome very soon” says an opimistic Jenny Jelf.

Thank you for all the hard work Jeni, I know its not an easy job! But just remember – you have the emails of over 50 F2 drivers from around the world all wanting a resolution ;-)

SCOTT GILLMAN HOPES A.D.I.M.S.C. COMES OUT A WINNER!

Press release – ABU DHABI, U.A.E. — 21st of September, 2008 – The 4-time UIM F1 World Champion Scott Gillman knows what it takes to be a winner. In his over 3 decades of racing competition, whether its been on two wheels, four wheels or behind a 400 horsepowered F1 race boat, preparation mixed with experience equals success and that’s exactly what the head of racing at the well respected Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) has going for him, a long resume of winning.

This time however, the competition is against other parties, individuals around the world who want to take the reigns and control of the same race series that the native Californian is hoping for, the UIM F 2000 championship. This worldwide series, which has 4 races and three different promoters assigned for the 2008 season is up for renewal. Soon, a new promoter will be awarded by the Union of International Motonautique (UIM) a Monaco based organization that regulates most of the worlds power boat racing for the 2009 campaign.

Even though the Abu Dhabi club is a newcomer in throwing its hat “into the ring” in wanting to promote this F 2000 series, it probably has the most going for it in terms of support and longevity.

“The club here in Abu Dhabi knows powerboat racing better than most around the world when it comes to promoting a product on and off the water,” said Scott. “We started promoting at the highest level right away with the UIM F1 World Championship coming to our shores way back in 1993. Since that time, except for a few years, it has been a fixture on the calendar and one of the most anticipated races on the schedule year after year.”

"Many people around the world come only in the month of December when the F1 races are in town, but our schedule is full for most of the year and we put together a myriad of other events including Offshore, both local and international along with Jet-Ski and Personal Watercraft events as well. But our plum events have always been the F 2000 series known as the “Presidents Cup”.

The Presidents Cup series came together back in 1999 as a local event, highlighting formula racers from around the Mideast region. However, world quickly spread that the financial rewards were good enough that drivers from as far away as Asia, Africa, Europe and even the USA took a run for the “gold and glory”.

Many present and past F1 drivers have tackled the F 2000 class. While they enjoyed their time, other nations around the region were watching and wanting to get in on the action to where today the Presidents Cup is a regional get together, not just an Emirates event.

Now the ADIMSC believes they are ready to tackle the worldwide diplomacy it takes to move this a step forward and into the spotlight even brighter than what it is today.

“I think our organization is perfect for the job at hand to make this a much more visible series than what it already is.” stated Mr. Salem Al Romaithi, Manager of the ADIMSC. “We are planning a true international television strategy along with more monies and more sponsors with true global ties to go along with the series.”

"Some people question whether we can deal with the politics of other nations outside the Middle East and I say to them, just look at the makeup of our organization and see how our multi-national group gets along with one another and runs a smooth ship week after week here at the club.

We are looking at this opportunity to make new friends, build this sport and truly dedicate ourselves to the local interests of each proposed race site so it can be a win-win situation for all. We are in business to create successful business and that’s how we intend to continue to operate."

"Scott should know, his reputation as a driver on and off the water has always been as a gentleman and one who believes in “fair play”. Salem goes on to say, “That this is the goal the ADIMSC will operate on if they get the opportunity to prove themselves as promoters of the 2009 UIM F 2000 World Championship”.

We should know the answer shortly.

PROPOSAL

“INTERNATIONAL PROMOTER – UIM F 2000 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP”

As of today, 18th of September, 2008, the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) is officially applying to become the International Promoter of the UIM F 2000 World Championship beginning for the 2009 calendar.

“A Brief History of The ADIMSC”

The ADIMSC has a wealth of tradition and success beginning with the launching of the world renouned “Presidents Cup” which was begun as a “local” event back in 1999 and has since expanded and progressed into becoming one of the most successful events of its category in the world today. The quick formula to success in this series has brought forward other neighboring countries to become part of our series, stepping in, joining our successful format and hosting their own events as we have now spread and improved the F 2000 series throughout the region.

Participants with impressive resumes in powerboat racing have come from throughout the world to take part in the series including pilots from Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA.

However, this is only part of the story…Our vast experience and dedicated staff of officials have branched out since our early beginnings back 15 years ago with the oldest continuous UIM F1 event, the “Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi” that date backs to 1993. We have continued to expand adding various Offshore, Inshore and Jet-Ski events that continually fill a calendar year.

“Who We Are”

Being a non-profitable semi-governmental authority, we have already established the “Abu Dhabi F 2000 Promotion” group, which is a private company that deals with the promotion and all other procedures leading to the organizing and hosting of the “UIM F 2000 World Championship” annually.

“What We Propose”

We are pleased to confirm that, we will provide many “perks” that will help drivers and their teams taking part in the different races all over the world including the following:

  – USD 50 000 Purse per race.

  – Two (2) free Hotel “twin rooms” per team.

  – Three (3) Air Tickets per team to race destinations.

  – Free Tents for all teams and officials.

  – Free Transportation and Shipping for all participating teams.

  – Provide all necessary Equipment for the race ie: Pontoons, Rescue Boats, Flags etc.

Finally and most importantly, we at the ADIMSC also guarantee that we can organize 6 race events annually, or whatever the UIM request, with world wide television coverage.

We at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club are honored to convey our best wishes to you and continue to hopefully maintain cooperation and understanding to help both our federations to achieve their quest of spreading and improving the racing of Formula 2000 worldwide.

We are hopeful that we can work together to achieve our mutual goals of spreading and improving the F 2000 championship and we are looking forward to your kind and valuable support. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding this proposal.

Thank You and Best Wishes

Salem Rasid Al Rumaithi
Manager, ADIMSC