100 mph Barrier Falls at HydroDrag Spring Nationals

Making a splash at the HydroDrag Spring Nationals.

While the 100-mph mark was certainly reward for the efforts of Rivera’s Amsoil-sponsored team, it also comes as a vindication of sorts for HydroDrag founder Tim McKercher, and his company WaterTop Unlimited. It was McKercher who championed the concept tirelessly in 2008 as an exciting alternative to traditional closed-course racing. And it was McKercher, and his WaterTop staff, who designed a revolutionary starting gate system that not only ensured a fair start but also added a distinct visual appeal for spectators.

“The concept of the HydroDrags is to give an organized and structured event where all these guys and some girls can come and compete and really see where they stack up with other riders and PWC in the fairest manner,” McKercher told PersonalWatercraft.com after the event. “We hope this will take off with other promoters, we simply wanted to plant the seed and use our experiences to build something that can take off around the world and that nearly any PWC rider can do and have fun doing it. We are creating a new lifestyle segment for the sport and industry.”

Given that investment in the sport, it seems only fitting that this piece of watercraft history was recorded during WaterTop’s first drag event of 2009.

“I know what Julio and his team accomplished at this past weekend’s event will put the HydroDrags on the map among other remarkable events,” said McKercher after the day’s excitement had a chance to settle in. “We were confident this would happen here and proud it did.”

Marks Would Fall, Champs Would Repeat

That the 100mph barrier would fall was certainly hinted at throughout the weekend. On Saturday, both Rivera and New Jersey’s Howard Letsche recorded runs of 99 mph in less than ideal conditions. Letsche, however, ultimately paid a price for his efforts, encountering some unexpected chop in a late-afternoon practice run and being ejected from his boat. During Sunday’s Speed Alley event final, Leonardo Fernando substituted for a battered Letsche and posted a 95.7 mph run on the latter’s repaired Sea-Doo RXP. It was Rivera, however, that took the title, posting two runs in the 99-mph range. His final 99.7 mph romp was good enough for the win, but also just enough to whet the appetite of the crowd, who rallied behind Rivera for one more exhibition run. That pass would go down in history, as Rivera piloted his “conversion” PWC (a Yamaha GP1300R hull with a turbocharged Sea-Doo 4-TEC 1503 under the hood) past the century mark.

But while Rivera may have stolen the show during the event’s Speed Alley competition, it was defending Spring Nationals champ Dan O’Keefe who shined during the main event, repeating as the HydroDrag Spring National Unlimited Champion. Riding in the HydroDrag’s head-to-head, two-competitor drag-racing format, O’Keefe squared off against Rivera in the Unlimited final and showed his mastery of the event, rocketing his JetDraft-prepped, turbo-equipped Sea-Doo RXP out of the blocks to take the narrow win. 2008 Fall Nationals Champion Stan Hightower also bettered Steve Sewell in the Stock class. That gives both riders the early leads in the points series heading into July’s Summer National, tentatively scheduled for July 18-19 in Alabama.

Elsewhere, Hightower also took the Limited class win over Jeff Dyckowski, and posted a 77.7 mph best in the Speed Alley competition. Eric Lagopoulos hit 66.6 mph aboard a 1997 Sea-Doo SPX to claim both Vintage classes, edging Albert Godriguez in the HydroDrag event. Mitch Newlin captured the Speed Alley portion of the Stock class with a surprising 80.3 mph aboard an obviously well tuned Sea-Doo RXP-X.

A Hint Of Things To Come

100.5 mph!