Unlimited Hydroplanes Return to San Diego, Air Guard Championship Presented by Degree Men Set for Bayfair

Tampa Digital to produce national TV broadcast for VERSUS Network, live Internet stream webcast at www.h1unlimited.com

Tampa, FL, September 15, 2010 --(PR.com)-- H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes will return September 17 – 19, 2010, to San Diego Bayfair on Mission Bay for the Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men.

In announcing the agreement, which led to the return of the world’s fastest race boats to Bayfair after a one-year absence, H1 Chairman Sam Cole said, “This is a fantastic moment for our sport. To be able to announce that we are racing in San Diego with the Air National Guard as the race sponsor and Degree Men as the presenting sponsor is awesome.”

Cole continued, “We are honored and excited to be able to showcase our sport with these nationally known motorsports sponsors. We will be following the NASCAR Air Guard 400 on September 11 with the Air Guard Championship presented by Degree. What a weekend it will be on Mission Bay!”

“The Air National Guard is proud to partner with the H1 Unlimited series at San Diego Bayfair as we look to increase overall awareness of the Air Guard. We invite people to consider joining their local unit as a way for them to give back to the community and serve their country. This event will help us do just that,” said Capt Rondal Perry, Division Chief of ANG Marketing and Advertising.

“We’re thrilled to have H1 Unlimited returning to San Diego,” said Jeff Thomas, chairman of San Diego Bayfair’s Board of Directors. “We feel there is no better place than Mission Bay to admire the beauty and the speed of the hydroplanes. Racing fans are in for an action-packed, three-day event.”

Former CEO and President of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Scott Carson and his wife, Linda, are also supporting the event financially in honor of American military serving in Afghanistan. The Carsons have a son-in-law currently serving there.

Degree Men will also be involved as title sponsor of one of the race teams appearing at the event, which will be featured in an aggressive marketing and advertising campaign in Southern California.

“As presenting sponsor, Degree Men is excited to bring H1’s adrenaline-fueled moments to the drivers and fans during this thrilling event,” said Ernie Hoover, Unilever U.S. Customer Marketing Director—Personal Care. “Whether it’s working out in the gym, the office, or racing at 200 m.p.h., Degree Men gives guys top sweat and odor protection allowing them to perform at their best.”

Tampa Digital will manage the broadcast production for this event. The Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men will be seen nationally October 16, 2010, on VERSUS. Tampa Digital will also provide the live stream of the San Diego event on the Internet at www.h1unlimited.com.

For the three-day event, an extremely fast 12-boat field is expected to be on Mission Bay, where they will reach speeds in excess of 200 m.p.h. Steve David, defending series high point champion and three time winner in 2010 driving the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, will be looking to build on his 506 point lead over chief rival and 2010 Gold Cup Champion Dave Villwock in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar. The two veterans will be battling for the season high point title.

Jeff Bernard, 2008 Bayfair winner, will return in the U-5 Formulaboats.com, which is currently in fifth place on the high points ladder. Bernard’s teammate, J. Michael Kelly, winner of the final event of 2009, is currently sitting in second place driving the U-7 Graham Trucking; and Brian Perkins in the U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliance is in third place.

The automotive powered hydroplanes of the Grand Prix West series will also compete at Bayfair. The GPW boats were the featured class at Bayfair in 2009.

The Air Guard Championship presented by Degree Men will be the fifth race on the H1 Unlimited 2010 circuit. Immediately following the event, the top 10 boats in the fleet will be shipped to Doha, Qatar, where they will compete in the second running of the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship on Doha Bay. That event, set for November 19 - 21, 2010, will conclude the season.

Tampa Digital has been a long time production partner for both broadcasting and webcasting the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane events.

“We are extremely excited to continue providing world class, high definition broadcasts and live webcasts of one of the most thrilling sports enjoyed across the globe,” said Mike McKown, Vice President of Broadcast, Tampa Digital.

In November 2009, a partnership was struck between Tampa Digital, Qatar Marine Sports Federation [QMSF] and the American Boat Racing Association [ABRA] to bring unlimited hydroplane racing for the first time to the Middle East region. Tampa Digital broadcast the inaugural Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha, Qatar, to enthusiastic fans around the world via the Internet. The unprecedented webcast produced by Tampa Digital received more than 100,000 viewers.

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