| |
|
May 22, 2007 Here
it the brand new Long Gone 2007 right after it got out of the paint shop.
Jimmy Shane took possession of the boat on Monday May 21.
January
17, 2007 
Long Gone GP-7 1981
The legendary Long Gone will be
back.
|
Jimmy Shane
|
It
has been announced that Jimmy Shane
will be the driver of one of the new Henderson Grand Prix hulls in
2007. This young talented driver from Havre de
Grace
,
Maryland
will be at the wheel of the GP-7 “Long Gone” which will bring
back the colors and number of this legendary hydroplane.
A lot of
hydroplane fans will remember the big yellow and brown boat that was
a top contender from the 60's to the 80's winning some
high point
in the H class (67-72) and the Grand Prix class in 1982 and winning
the
Valleyfield
final a few times.
Jimmy Shane succeeds big names like Bill Heath, Bill Hodge, Kent Mc
Phail and Tom D'Eath and has the experience to take up the
challenge.
|
This 21 year old driver began racing
outboardsat the age of 9 and stepped up in is own 1.5 litre
inboard hydroplane at the age of 14. In 2002, at the wheel
of his Millenium Eagle T-2000 in
only his second complete season, Jimmy won the Summer National
Championship, the Eastern Divisional Championship, the World
Championship, Establish a new 1 mile Record and his first APBA
high point Championship. He was APBA and CBF high point champion
in 2004 and 2005. Jimmy
Shane also drives in
the 2.5 litre
class. Jersey Speed Skiff class,
the 5 litres class and the 2.5
modified class. With that much seat time he also got a chance
to test the Unlimited boat Formula boat in 2006 in
Celina
,
Ohio
.
|
Millenium
Eagle T-1 2003
It'a Floater T-1 2005
|
|
Photo
Bruno Dorais
Long Gone GP-7 1981
|
The other members of the Shane family,
Stu (father), Robin (mother) and Kelly (sister), all experianced
racers will be member of the team along with Gerald Pemberton who
will take care of the engines. All the ingredients are there for an
exciting team...... Now......will we see
the Long Gone GP-7 battle against the GP Valleyfield GP-444??......stay
tuned for further announcements!
|
The return of Claude
Bergeron
Pontiac Coil GP-154
| The return of Claude Bergeron is now
confirmed. He will be back behind the wheel of the former GP-154, a
boat he built himself in 1993.
The driver from Valleyfield won many titles in the 2.5 et 5 litre
classes, mostly in his CE-007
Autopro. He also drove in the Grand Prix class in the
90's. Among the boats he drove was the Max Sea Food, the same
boat that is back in his hand today. |
Claude Bergeron
|
|
1994
Max Sea Food
|
Also, it is more and more sure that GP
Valleyfield 's former owner Robert Théoret will be associated with
Claude Bergeron in that venture. That's why the boat is also rumored
to hold the number GP-444 wich would, with the return of the Long
Gone, become a nice rivalty.
To be continued
!!! |
An other big name return
| The second GP hull built by the Henderson
shop could stay right there. Bert Henserson himself is working on a
financial plan and sponsorship before giving a final answer to make
his own team.
Henderson, from Brockville, Ontario drove with success in the
2.5
et 5 litre classes , winning some championships. In the 90's he
also baught Jimmy Auld's hydroplane building business to become a
successful boat builder. |
Bert Henderson
|
|
Jeff Richards
|
Bert Henderson will not be alone in the
vendure neither. He will team up with Jeff Richards from Ogdensburg,
New York who drove the GP-444 for Robert Theoret for many years
before driving the Pavage Chenail GP-101 for Daniel Mercier.
|
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
