For the Reporter

It was Aug. 4, 1951, when more than 100,000 fans and scores of reporters ventured to the shores of Lake Washington to watch 11 entries compete for the first unlimited hydroplane race in the Emerald City’s history.

On Friday, nine to 10 H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes again take to Lake Washington for testing and qualifying for this weekend’s Seafair Albert Lee Appliance Cup as one the great sports traditions in Seattle continues.

Last week, Jean Theoret in the U-16 Oberto Beef Jerky led all qualifiers with an average speed of 160 mph on Columbia River’s 2½-mile course in Kennewick at the HAPO Columbia Cup.

While Theoret might have led the pack in qualifying, Covington’s Jimmy Shane seemed to lead the fleet to the checkered flag. Shane, driving the U-1 Miss Homestreet Bank, was first over the line in the championship winner-take-all heat, but upon video replay, Shane was given a one lap penalty that was earlier assessed to Theoret when the two boats collided with each other on lap two of the five-lap final.

The ruling gave the U-5 Graham Trucking boat and driver J. Michael Kelly, of Bonney Lake, the championship with Theoret awarded second place.

The penalty halted Shane’s four-race win streak and gave Kelly his first win since last year’s Seafair championship when he out-dueled Shane in one of the best five lap H1 Unlimited championship heats of all time.

This weekend it will be Shane and Theoret trying to end Kelly’s Seattle streak. Kelly and the Graham Trucking boat have won two consecutive Albert Lee Appliance Cup titles.

For information on the H1 boats and the series go to www.H1Unlimited.com.

For ticket, parking and more information about the Albert Lee Appliance Cup and Seafair, go to www.seafair.com.