How technology is impacting hydroplane boat racing

GeekWire space & science editor Alan Boyle talks with Shannon Raney and Tom Thompson from the Miss DiJulio/J&D's H1 Unlimited hydroplane crew at Seattle's Seafair about how they use technology in their boat to win races.

[@turbomar6667]

It would help if the interviewer was familiar with the sport

[@darc12808]

Exactly!!! He didn't even know the name of the boat. wow!

[@dynomike11]

Can you imagine if this guy interviewed Kimi Räikkönen? It would’ve lasted less than five seconds.

[@richardleonard6628]

I love the old days better. The old Allision and Rolls Royce Merlin engines had such a better sound that these modern engines.

[@PAKiller1]

The turbines did make the boats faster.. but losing the raw noise from the old hydroplane engines hurt the sport.. it is so technical now it is very much more expensive and limits the people that can get involved

[@susanpeterson3722]

The interviewer is s complete joke. A bad joke.

[@psilence0]

Only 20 to 30 extra mph in 30 years?! No wonder this sport is a dying breed.

[@shannonjurgens3667]

PSilence 01 Speed needs to be limited due to money and safety.

[@lolmysteries]

PSilence 01 By your logic, Nascar should have died long ago since they are restricted more and more each year, losing top speed in the process. In the 60s, stock cars were regularly doing 220-230 mph on average... now, anything over 194 mph gets banned or restricted.

[@shannonjurgens3667]

You didn’t listen to what I just said.

[@nordicpride9708]

Dead Eyed Demon the sport died due to a failure in promotion. Plain and simple. Budweiser bowing out was the nail in the proverbial coffin

[@nordicpride9708]

These people weren’t even relevant in the “old days”...... back when there weren’t canopies and unlimited hydroplanes were piloted by some of the greatest most skilled guys to ever grace the sport. And if it doesn’t have a Rolls/Royce V12 it’s not really a “thunder boat”. The tech is cool no doubt. But unlimited hydroplane racing is a dead sport