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Dramatic H1 Unlimited Hydroplane blowover & more at San Diego Bayfair 2025

September 16, 2025/Jan Wagner/
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Dramatic H1 Unlimited Hydroplane blowover & more at San Diego Bayfair 2025

I would like to begin this week’s “AutoMatters & More” by absolutely assuring you that Corey Peabody, driver of the U-9 Beacon Plumbing H1 Unlimited Hydroplane was not injured in his dramatic blowover during the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Heat Race 1, on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Bayfair San Diego, on Mission Bay.

A hydroplane boat flips into the air during a race while another boat speeds ahead, creating a large spray of water.
Mid-way through Corey Peabody’s H1 Unlimited Hydroplane blowover. More photos are below.

These boats are fast! As we learn from the history of San Diego Bayfair (at https://sandiegobayfair.org/history/) the World Lap Speed Record is 173.384 mph, set at Bayfair in 1999 by driver Dave Villwock. That is much quicker than most of us will ever drive on smooth pavement, yet the waters of Mission Bay were anything but smooth. The weather was gray and overcast during the early part of each day.

A red hydroplane speedboat races across the water, creating a large spray behind it, with yachts and a bridge visible in the background.
Two speedboats, one blue (S578) and one yellow (317), race side by side on a body of water, with spectators and RVs visible along the shoreline in the background.
Two powerboats race side by side on water, creating large splashes; drivers wear yellow and orange helmets.
Three people stand on a judging platform by the water, shaded by umbrellas, overseeing a water event. A checkered flag and sponsor banners are visible.
Two powerboats race side by side on the water near a rocky shoreline, with RVs, tents, and spectators visible in the background.

I observed Corey Peabody’s blowover from Crown Point — far, far away across Mission Bay. I have been shooting professional auto racing for decades and I have seen many accidents in that time. I’ve also photographed San Diego Bayfair for several years, but I have never before seen — or photographed — anything quite like this. Fortunately, my experience shooting auto racing had taught me to optimize my camera equipment for the extremes of what might happen, just in case. I used my longest lens and my best camera body, set the shutter speed high enough to freeze the action, and carefully watched the action in my camera’s viewfinder — firmly supporting the camera with my left hand, and hovering over the shutter button with my right index finger.

At first the hydroplanes were skimming over the surface of Mission Bay, as I expected them to do. I followed along with them.

Three hydroplanes race side by side on a watercourse, creating large sprays behind them. In the background, a motorboat and shoreline with trees are visible.
Two hydroplanes race on water near a shoreline with RVs, tents, and spectators in the background, creating large sprays behind them.

I was not expecting what happened next, but I was ready for it. Suddenly one of the racing boats started to take off into the air! Instinctively, I immediately began to decisively press the shutter button, taking one shot at a time in rapid succession as the quickly evolving situation developed.

Two hydroplane boats collide at high speed on a racecourse, causing a spray of water; a yellow buoy is visible in the foreground.
A plane flying over a boat.
A speedboat flips over on the water, creating a large splash, while another boat passes nearby; trees and spectators are visible in the background.
A hydroplane boat flips into the air on a lake, creating a large spray of water; another boat passes in the foreground.
A hydroplane boat flips into the air above the water while another boat speeds past, creating a large spray; palm trees and spectators are visible in the background.
A hydroplane boat flips into the air while another boat speeds on the water, creating a large spray, with trees in the background.
A hydroplane boat flips into the air while another boat speeds away, creating a large spray of water during a race on a river with trees in the background.
A speedboat crashes and flips upward, creating a large splash in the water with trees and shoreline in the background.
A hydroplane crashes into the water, creating a large splash and spray, with trees and people visible in the background.
A large water splash rises from a bay, obscuring the view of any object at the center; palm trees and buildings are visible in the background.
A large splash and debris are visible as a hydroplane crashes during a boat race near the shoreline, with spectators and palm trees in the background.
A large plume of water sprays into the air as a hydroplane crashes into a bay, with houses and palm trees visible in the background.

The boat ended up upside down in the water. I took more photos, as the rescue crews arrived on scene.

A rescue boat assists an overturned speedboat on a body of water, while people observe from the shore and one person paddles a board nearby.
Several boats, including a yellow rescue vessel, are gathered on the water as people attend to a small capsized boat near a shoreline with spectators.
A yellow Sea Tow boat assists a white motorboat and wreckage in the water; several people in life vests are onboard, with U.S. flags displayed. RVs and onlookers are visible in the background.

Once the driver was attended to, the still overturned boat was slowly towed back to the shore.

A Sea Tow boat is towing a stranded motorboat near the shore, with several people onboard; RVs and palm trees are visible in the background.

On shore a crowd had gathered. They watched intently as divers put a sling under the overturned boat in preparation for it to be righted. After that was done, the front end of the boat was lifted so that the water inside it could drain back into San Diego Bay. That gave us an opportunity to see that the boat was badly damaged. It seemed likely, and it was later confirmed, that the boat would not be racing the rest of the weekend.

A group of people in uniforms stand on a dock next to two boats, one marked "SEA TOW for emergencies," with a marina and several boats in the background.
Two rescue boats assist with the recovery of a capsized sailboat near a dock, as several people manage ropes and lines.
A hydroplane race boat is lifted by a crane over a dock as people watch by the water; boats and a bridge are visible in the background.
A red hydroplane race boat labeled "Beacon Electric" is being lifted by a crane over a dock, with people and boats visible in the background.
A red hydroplane boat labeled "Beacon Electric" is being lifted by a crane near a dock, with people and boats visible in the background.
People assemble on a dock next to a red and yellow hydroplane boat labeled "SR Strong Racing," preparing for or concluding a water event.
Three people in water and two standing on a dock assist with an overturned white boat at the edge of a body of water.
A hydroplane boat tipped on its side in the water as crew members and photographers gather on a dock nearby.
Several people work together to lift and right an overturned speedboat at a dock during a boat racing event, while others watch from nearby boats and a banner welcomes race fans.
A damaged hydroplane boat labeled "1-800-FREAKIN" is lifted by a crane, with people and trees visible in the background.
A crane lifts a hydroplane boat labeled “Go3One.com” over a dock while people in racing gear and spectators watch near the waterfront.

Finally, one of the tall cranes lifted the boat out of the water, high into the air, and carefully swung it over and down onto the team’s boat cradle, on shore.

A hydroplane powerboat is suspended by a crane, with straps and cables securing it, against a cloudy sky and treetops in the background.
A large white and blue flying boat being sprayed with water.
A hydroplane boat is lifted by a crane onto a trailer while people work nearby; an American flag is displayed in the foreground.

The 2024 H1 Unlimited Technical Manual (Revision 4) (at https://www.h1unlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-H1-Technical-Manual_final.pdf) contains many pages of rules, developed as a result of many years of experience. They mandate, down to the smallest of details, the required construction and specifications of the boats and their systems, and the safety equipment of the drivers. In addition to what you would expect for racing on land, including fire retardant clothing, a helmet (full-faced are not recommended) and a neck restraint system (such as a HANS-type device), since these events are held on water the rules also mandate such things as an emergency escape at the bottom of the boat, which Corey Peabody used to get out of his inverted cockpit.

A race car driver wearing a helmet and racing suit stands next to a team, preparing for an event.

There were three official viewing locations: Crown Point, Fiesta Island and Ski Beach — which is also where the pits were. A free shuttle bus gave rides throughout the day.

A sign reads "Free Public Parking Is Available In This Lot" with cars and trees visible in the background.
Entrance sign for Paradise Point with palm trees in the background; the sign notes public beach access and available free parking.
A sign reads "Public Accessway provided in cooperation with the California Coastal Commission" with an icon of two feet and ocean waves, near a landscaped walkway.
A ground squirrel with mottled gray and brown fur is sitting on grass in an outdoor setting.
A waterfront area with plants in the foreground, a building on the left, a wooden pier, palm trees, and a bridge with a tall building in the background under a cloudy sky.
Informational sign at Mission Bay Park provides boating rules, speed limits, age restrictions, regulations, emergency contacts, and detailed map of the bay with designated areas.
An inflatable arch with "San Diego Bayfair" stands at the entrance to an outdoor event with tents and vendor booths in the background.
A yellow tent with "San Diego Bayfair" and "Southern California's Largest Beach Festival" printed, featuring a city skyline and palm trees in the background.
Banner for Grand Prix America G.P.A. Hydroplanes with a yellow hydroplane graphic, welcoming race fans and stating "Blower Motorz Rule!!" in bold lettering.
A crane lifts an object near colorful boats docked at a lakeside event, with tents, palm trees, and people along the shoreline. A cityscape and hills are visible in the background.
Powerboat event at a marina with cranes, tents, boats, and people gathered along the waterfront under a clear sky.
A person guides a large, exposed boat engine being lifted by straps near colorful racing boats at a dock.
Several men work on a yellow and purple boat with the number 92, which is on a trailer in a paddock area. Tools and equipment are visible around them.
A sticker labeled "PIT CREW" with handwritten names Roxanne, McKenzie, and Stephanie in black marker on a yellow background.

In addition to this and other classes of boat racing, San Diego Bayfair included two car shows. On Saturday there was a colorful display of lowriders at Crown Point. Then, on Sunday, the focus turned to classic cars. My favorites included a custom Boogie Van, an AMC Javelin, Corvettes and more.

Yellow sign announcing "No Parking" on September 13-14, 2025, due to a Low Rider & Classic Car Show with images of various classic and lowrider cars.
Three customized lowrider cars with colorful paint are parked in a row, two with raised hydraulics, near a park with tents and a basketball court in the background.
A green custom lowrider car with detailed paint, raised front suspension, and open hood is parked on the street.
A doll in a striped hat and brown outfit sits inside a car trunk next to exposed mechanical equipment and multiple batteries.
A car parked in a lot.
A vintage red and black Buick Riviera car with whitewall tires is parked in a lot next to another classic car.
A red Buick Riviera coupe with a split rear window, parked at a car show; custom artwork is visible on the trunk lid.
A classic car with detailed mural art of Indigenous figures and landscapes painted on the hood, parked in a lot with another car nearby.
A row of customized lowrider bicycles with chrome parts and colorful seats are parked in an empty lot.
A gold and red custom lowrider bicycle with ornate details is displayed on a red striped blanket at an outdoor event.
A silver convertible car with a blue soft top is parked at a car show with its doors, trunk, and hood open; two men stand nearby observing.
A detailed view of a modified car engine bay featuring blue accents, custom air intake, and intricate artwork on the engine cover.
A brown classic car with gold rims is displayed at an outdoor auto show, with other vintage cars and tents visible in the background.
A detailed model of a cream-colored lowrider car with gold accents and a small dog figure in the passenger seat, displayed outdoors with crystal decorations nearby.
Custom white and red motorcycle with detailed skull artwork parked at a car show, surrounded by classic cars and people in the background.
The interior of a customized van with red velvet upholstery, wood cabinetry, carpet, and various memorabilia and decorations. Both side doors are open.
The interior of a car with plush, deep red velvet upholstery, a wooden dashboard, and a matching wood-trimmed steering wheel.
A car parked in a lot.
A row of classic cars with open hoods is parked at an outdoor car show in a parking lot, with trees and houses in the background.
A row of classic cars with open hoods on display at an outdoor car show, featuring a bright green coupe in the foreground.
A green classic AMC AMX car with its hood open, parked at a car show in an outdoor lot with other vehicles in the background.
A classic red Ford T-bucket hot rod with chrome accents is parked at a car show, viewed from the rear left side.
A yellow vintage convertible car with its rear hood open, revealing an engine and spare tire. The car has a "VAIR 64" license plate.
A vintage military Jeep and matching trailer with US Army markings are parked at a car show next to classic vehicles, with an American flag attached to the Jeep.
Two vintage cars are parked at an outdoor car show; one is a cream and red classic with its hood open, and two people are standing nearby examining the vehicles.
A red classic convertible car is parked at a car show, with a white top and chrome detailing; another vintage car is visible beside it.
A turquoise classic car with its hood open is parked at a car show, displaying its engine. The car has whitewall tires and a California license plate.
A pale yellow classic Plymouth Barracuda car with its hood open, parked at an outdoor car show.
Close-up view of a classic car interior showing a vintage steering wheel with a brown cover, dashboard gauges, and manual controls.
Two vintage hot rods—a yellow convertible and an orange coupe with raised hood—are parked side by side at an outdoor car show.
Bright orange and black classic hot rod car with the hood and trunk open, parked at an outdoor car show with other vintage cars visible in the background.
A yellow vintage convertible hot rod with a black soft top is parked at a car show, surrounded by other classic cars.
A bright yellow vintage hot rod car with exposed engine and VORTEX plate is parked at a car show; other classic cars are visible in the background.
Three classic Chevrolet Corvette cars, two orange and one dark blue, are parked in a row in an outdoor parking lot.
An orange classic Chevrolet Corvette Stingray parked in a lot next to a black convertible sports car.
Front view of a classic orange Chevrolet Corvette parked outdoors at a car show, with a license plate reading "SWFTVET.
An older man in a hat stands beside a vintage silver car with red fenders at an outdoor car show. Other vehicles and people are visible in the background.
Two people stand beside a vintage red open-top car with a “33RILEY” license plate, parked in a lot with other classic cars visible in the background.

Also on Crown Point, there were demonstrations of flyboarding.

Person wearing a blue poncho holds up a blue air horn, facing away from the camera, with a body of water in the background.
A person wearing a helmet performs a flyboard stunt over water, arcing high in the air with water spraying behind them, cityscape in the background.
Six people are using water-powered jetpacks above a bay, each connected to a jet ski, with a cityscape in the background.
A person on a flyboard is elevated above the water, powered by a jet from a watercraft, with a cityscape and boats visible in the background.
A person wearing a blue shirt performs a high jump over water using a water-powered jetpack, creating a large spray, with houses visible on the distant shoreline.

The vendor areas included several vendors that sold hand-made crafts (I bought several as gifts).

An outdoor booth with a yellow and black tent labeled "Official Merchandise" selling San Diego Bayfair event shirts, hats, and other items. Two people are working inside.
Poster for the 2025 San Diego Bayfair, featuring two hydroplane boats racing on water, with Mission Bay, San Diego, California written at the bottom.
Two 2025 San Diego Bayfair t-shirts, one tan and one white, displayed on hangers with $30 price tags; each shirt features colorful speedboat graphics.
A display of spiral-bound sketchbooks with various colorful animal, vehicle, and geometric designs on their covers, arranged side by side on a table.
A spiral-bound notebook cover features a colorful, stylized dog with floral patterns and feathers, above a skeleton holding a skull, with "California" written at the top.
Illustration of five dogs riding in an orange Volkswagen van with a California license plate, driving past a utility pole and rocks.
A display of colorful, handmade crocheted flowers and plants arranged in small pots on wooden shelves at a market stall.
Three small crocheted figurines—a person with a red scarf, a yellow bear keychain, and a green turtle—are displayed in separate wooden compartments.
Crocheted keychains shaped like a hamburger and a taco with smiling faces hang on a white display rack.
A market stall displays numerous wooden crafts, including boxes, animal figures, wall plaques, and metal sculptures, all arranged on tables under a tent.
Several small robot figurines made from metal parts are displayed on a surface, featuring bolts, springs, and gears as their components.
Wooden crafts on display, including characters from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Lilo & Stitch," decorative American flags, boots, and floral designs.
Wooden wall art depicting an underwater scene with a turtle, angelfish, lobster, seahorse, coral, and sea plants, set against a metal grid background.

To learn more about San Diego Bayfair by Samson Ropes, visit: https://sandiegobayfair.org

People prepare three speedboats in shallow water near a sandy beach, with a distant shoreline and cloudy sky in the background.
A yellow powerboat with a driver in yellow gear prepares to launch from the shore, guided by two team members standing in shallow water, with a cityscape in the background.
A large crowd gathers on the sandy shore near the water, with people sitting in chairs, under umbrellas, and surrounded by palm trees and RVs.
Two powerboats race side by side on the water, with a coastal town and parked vehicles visible in the background.
Two speedboats, one white and one red, race on the water with drivers in helmets; the red boat's driver holds a checkered flag. A marina and trees are visible in the background.
A person waves a checkered flag from a lift beside a docked boat, with people watching and buildings visible in the background.
A person wearing an orange helmet and life vest waves while driving a red speedboat on the water.
Two people in waist-deep water guide a yellow speedboat with a driver in a helmet toward the shore on a calm lake, with buildings visible in the background.
A person in a black hoodie and blue "LIONS" beanie walks barefoot on a beach, holding a drink can and walking a small dog on a leash.
A fish with a yellow tail leaps out of the water, partially airborne above rippling waves.
Five speedboats race on water near a sandy shore with spectators, tents, and trees in the background under an overcast sky.
A crowd of people sit on chairs and stand on a sandy area near vendors and tents at an outdoor event.
Four speedboats race across the water, creating large sprays behind them, with trees and blurred buildings in the background.
Two hydroplane boats race on water, creating large sprays behind them; trees and buildings are visible in the background.
Two hydroplanes race side by side on a body of water, creating large spray, with houses and trees on a hillside in the background.
People gather near two speedboats, one red and one blue, as a man in a racing suit labeled "8" speaks with others by the waterfront.
A race car driver wearing a black cap and a racing suit with the number 8 and various sponsor logos stands near other people.
A large trophy labeled "Bill Muncey Cup" stands in front of a San Diego Bayfair powerboat racing banner, with a city skyline in the background.
A banner for San Diego Bayfair, advertising the World Series of Powerboat Racing and calling it Southern California's Largest Beach Festival, with a cityscape and palm trees.

To explore a wide variety of content dating back to 2002, with the most photos and the latest text, visit “AutoMatters & More” at https://automatters.net. Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.

Copyright © 2025 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #899r2

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Jan Wagner

2 Comments

  1. David Sperry on September 20, 2025 at 9:11 pm

    Jan, what a great column, and a great combination: hydroplanes and car shows! I know little about hydroplane racing except that it is dangerous. I assumed the boats would have safety features similar to auto racing, but I was not aware of the escape hatch in the bottom of the boat. And to think that the driver (pilot?) saved himself by escaping through it!

    Of all the stop action photo sequence that you took of the accident, that one you chose for the lead photo is absolutely the best. This can be an award winning photo, just like your previous car crash photo trophy. I encourage you to submit this one for 2025. David.

    Reply
    • Jan Wagner on September 21, 2025 at 6:10 pm

      David,
      Thank you for the compliments.
      I began the process towards my finished column by requesting a press credential a few weeks ago, and then covering San Diego Bayfair 2025 last Saturday and Sunday.
      Next I transferred the photos from the four memory cards (shot with two Canon RF full-frame cameras — one with a 24-105mm lens attached, and the other with a 100-500mm lens — often set to a 1.6 crop factor, to maximize the zoom-in).
      Then, since my earliest required submission deadline (via email) at one of the publications that publishes my weekly columns is 2:30pm most Tuesdays, I had to complete a draft of the text (which is usually further revised by the time that I publish it on my “AutoMatters & More” website), and edit at least one, but no more than five photos for it.
      However, much work remained to be done before publishing this column as the version you see on my “AutoMatters & More” website. I spent the remainder of last Tuesday, and then Wednesday through Saturday, further tweaking the text plus editing what eventually became 130 photos for this column.
      That block of time included many hours of non-stop work. I felt the overwhelming compulsion to keep going until I reached an acceptable end point.
      I sure wish that I could get some help sharing my work with a wide audience.
      Jan

      Reply

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