HPROP: Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour season review

(Lake Hamilton, Fla.) - After a summer of deck-to-deck action packed racing, the 2001 Laughlin Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour presented by Bud Light completed its season on the waters of Mission Bay, Calif. after another thrilling race. That race produced the fourth different winner of the season as well as ending the closest championship in the history of the sport.

"The Laughlin Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour presented by Bud Light had another successful season," said Bart Garbrecht CEO of HYDRO-PROP. "This year's racing was the best this tour has ever seen and the level of competition has definitely grown over the past few years. I thought last year's championship battle could never be duplicated, but I was wrong with what occurred this year. To end the season with the top three drivers separated by only three points was unthinkable. Greg Foster, Terry Rinker and Tim Seebold produced one of the best championship battles in the history of motorsports."

* Foster Secures Closest Championship in History
Entering the last race of the season at San Diego, Tim Seebold held a small lead over his closest pursuers, Greg Foster and Terry Rinker for the Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour Championship. With his brother Mike mathematically eliminated from defending his championship, the pressure to keep the Formula One Championship in the Seebold family was left to Tim. The Seebold brothers have won the last three championships and Tim was looking for his third career title.

But as the weekend began to show its hand, the championship began to slip away from Tim. In the end, Foster's strong second place finish at San Diego earned him his first Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour Championship. In fact, Foster won the championship by one point over Rinker and two points over Tim Seebold.

Foster's triumph was also the first championship for an Italian-constructed DAC powerboat in the United States in the Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour Series. This marked the first time that a Seebold constructed boat did not win the championship.

* Strong Competition Highlights Season
In addition to producing four different winners in six races, eight different Formula One drivers won preliminary heats throughout the season. "At each race this season there were a number of legitimate contenders who could have claimed victory," continued Garbrecht. "The top drivers were forced to elevate their performances as they were pushed all season long. The competition among the final top ten in point standings was the best this tour has witnessed."

* Tentative 2002 Schedule
HYDRO-PROP has been diligently working on the 2002 Formula One schedule in hopes of securing additional venues for the upcoming season. The Tour will once again visit Laughlin, Nev.; Bay City, Mich.; Saskatoon, Canada; Windsor, Colo.; and San Diego, Calif. In addition, tentative races have been scheduled for Seattle, Wash., Cypress Gardens, Fla. and negotiations are ongoing with other sites.

* HYDRO-PROP Sponsors
Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour thanks their title sponsor, the Laughlin Visitors Bureau and their presenting sponsor, Anheuser-Busch. In addition, HYDRO-PROP would also like to thank Alamo, Hot Boat Magazine, Racing Communications, Powerboat Racing Rescue, Thunderduck Inflatables, Polaris, Yamaha Outboards, Prevost by Entertainment Coaches of America, Motor Racing Outreach, Telmex, VP Fuels and Amsoil. <pre> * Final VP Fuels-Amsoil Championship Points Fund 1. # 53 Greg Foster 1072 points 11. # 48 John Lane 513 points 2. # 10 Terry Rinker 1071 points 12. # 29 John Jensen 500 points 3. # 16 Tim Seebold 1070 points 13. # 62 Chris Fairchild 486 points 4. # 2 Todd Beckman 996 points 14. # 82 Jimmy Ablott 402 points 5. # 34 Todd Bowden 995 points 15. # 71 Pete Nydahl 307 points 6. # 11 Mike Seebold 971 points 16. # 22 Garrett Armstrong 228 points 7. # 91 Max Toler 955 points 17. # 8 Wyatt Nelson 216 points 8. # 5 Jason Campbell 913 points 18. # 72 Lynn Simburger 159 points 9. # 19 Carlos Kuri 892 points 19. # 63 Nathan Worthy 126 points 10. #18 Alden Thornton 846 points 20. # 95 David Kristan 112 points

2001 Laughlin Formula One P.R.O.P. Tour presented by Bud Light Date Venue Event Race Winner June 2-3 Laughlin, Nev. Laughlin River Days Tim Seebold June 23-24 Bay City, Mich. Dobson Heavy Haul Bay City River Roar Mike Seebold July 21-22 Saskatoon, Canada Great Northern River Roar Greg Foster July 27-29 Tri-Cities, Wash. Robert Young Apartments & Suites Formula One Mike Seebold Sept. 2-3 Windsor, Colo. Roar of the Rockies Tim Seebold Sept. 14-16 San Diego, Calif. Bowden Development Formula One Classic Todd Bowden

-PROP-