Is Unlimited Really Unlimited?

One of the appealing aspects of this sport is the “unlimited” nature of competition.  The unlimited term conjures up notions of any horsepower, any powerplant type, any hull design, anything goes. Think about it: doesn’t that simply cry out for innovation and pushing the envelope on what physics will allow?

Of course it does.

So then why is it a big deal when H1 has to “approve” Kelly Stocklin to use a Lycoming T-53 turbine power plant?  (You can read the entire H1 story here.)

If the sport is truly “unlimited,” wouldn’t more of a Darwinian influence be a better way to guide our racers?  Survival of the fittest is probably what drives these teams and drivers to go faster than any other boats in the world.  I would argue they are more fit both physically and technologically than most of the other athletes around the world.  Talk about survival of the fittest.

OK, so you’re back from reading the article from the link above?

OK, so you say there’s extenuating factors like Mr. Stocklin’s boat being over a ton lighter.

That’s my point!  This is a great example of someone having the stones to push the limits of what we consider normal.  Stones to push beyond the limits of assumed operations.  Stones to take a fresh look at what it could take to compete.  Stones to really approach this sport in an unlimited manner.

This sort of innovation is healthy for the sport. It seems restrictive that it takes “approvals” to do so, but healthy nonetheless.  With teams getting back into the sport, boats changing hands, new venues being explored, many could see this time of change an unsettling.  Personally, it isn’t necessarily good or bad times that surface opportunities, but it is times of change that open chances for people to excel.  It will the leaders and visionaries that bring their perspectives to bear that will advance the sport.

Let’s commit to each other – as fans and as teams – that we will continue to look for opportunities to push the boundaries of what we know.  Let’s do our best to support anyone who has an interest in reestablishing the concept of unlimited back to it’s true “unlimited” form.

My hat is off to Mr. Stocklin and his team. I’m so impressed with his willingness to push the boundaries, I don’t even care if he decides to change those colors.

Dave