R/C Unlimiteds | 1/8th scale unlimited hydroplane racing

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What is R/C Unlimiteds?

Established in 1974, "R/C Unlimiteds" is a group of hydroplane enthusiasts who race 1/8th scale Radio Controlled models of Unlimited hydroplanes, of the past and present. The size of our propeller driven boats are approximately 2 feet wide, by 4 feet long. We use .67 (11cc) sized marine inboard engines that produce around 3HP. Our top boats travel in excess of 60MPH!!! Our over 100 club members race over 125 different radio controlled unlimited hydroplanes ranging from the 1954 Miss Cadillac to the latest 1997 Miss Budweiser. We run a fourteen race circuit throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. While the size of the boats may be small, the competitive juices, excitement and challenge are all as large as they are for our full sized counterparts.

The races that we have are run under the same rules and regulations as the full size unlimited hydroplanes. The race format can vary slightly from race to race, but generally, four flights of preliminary heats are run to accumulate points which qualify boats to run in the "winner take all final". A tally will be made of the points each boat has gained after it has raced against other boats in four different heats. The top 6 boats (#1 - #6), according to most points gained after the preliminary heats, will be placed in the "winner take all final". The next 6 boats in points (#7 - #12) will make it into the First Consolation race. The following 6 boats in points after that (#13 - #18) will make it into the Second Consolation race.

An example of one race format could be as follows:

The Second Consolation race would be raced, and the winner of that race would advance into the First Consolation race.

Then the First Consolation race would be raced (including the winner of the Second Consolation) and the winner of this race would become the "trailer" in the "Winner take all Final".

The "trailer" in the "Winner take all Final" has to start two buoy lengths back at the start of the race, unless another boat in the Final were to "die" before 30 seconds to the start. If a boat in the Final dies before the 30 seconds to the start of the race, then the "trailer" boat can start up with the rest of the group instead of having to start two buoy lengths back.

HEAT RACES:
1st place earns 400 points
2nd place earns 300 points
3rd place earns 225 points
4th place earns 169 points
5th place earns 127 points
6th place earns 95 points
7th place earns 71 points
Full points are awarded in preliminary heats, and in the Final
1/2 points are awarded in the First Consolation heat
1/4 points in the Second Consolation heat.

Our circuit is called the Oh Boy! Oberto Championship Series and runs from April through October each year. An average of forty boats show up at each event and the races run from about 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

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