Author: admin

Cal Phipps, Jr. of Sterling Heights, MI has been named the 2010 driver for the U13 Spirit of Detroit Unlimited Hydroplane.

Phipps has driven and won in nearly all classes of inboard hydroplanes since he started racing in 1992. In addition to being the 2008 high points champion for the Grand National class, he has won 7 national championships and set world records in 2 different classes. In his last race he won 1st place at the San Diego Bayfair “Thunderboat” driving the G10 Miss Titeflex-Frazee Paints owned by the Wiggins Hydroplane Racing Team. He took his first laps in a turbinepowered unlimited in the seat of the U13 at Tri-Cities, WA in 2008 and recorded his first timed lap in excess of 150 mph.

Phipps is a native of the Detroit area and is a custom automotive painting professional.

David Bartush of Bloomfield Hills, MI and owner of the U13 says, “I am excited about having Cal drive this year. He has driven almost everything on the water and wins. He has experience far beyond most rookies and the other teams will have something to respect. Cal brings both driving talent and mechanical skills to our team”. “Driving an unlimited (hydroplane) for my home team represents everything that I have worked for”, Phipps said. He added, “I want my name on the Gold Cup ”.

The U13 Spirit of Detroit (owned by David Bartush) represented the Unlimited Hydroplane sport at the Detroit Boat Show from February 13-21.  Along with the 2005 Gold Cup Champion was the Detroit River Regatta Association, the Miss USA-1 and an APBA driver training boat.  The booth was coordinated with the APBA, the Detroit River Regatta Association (event organization for the APBA Gold Cup Race in Detroit) and the Detroit Yacht Club.

The U13 Team is back and making plans for a successful and competitive 2010 season.  “We are preparing the boat and marketing for sponsors to support both the U13 Team and the race event in Detroit”, said Scott Allen, U13 Team Manager.

Dave Bartush added that, “We will be making some exciting announcements very soon regarding our new program, driver and team developments, but it is our new focus and energy in sponsor marketing and relations with Scott as Team Manager and Paul LaMarre as our Director of Marketing that adds a new element to our efforts”.

Finally!!! Welcome to the new Detroit Unlimited website. A lot of information is from the previous site and out of date. We will be updating that information as it comes in. In the mean time please take a look around and feel free to comment. Suggestions are welcome. We are also looking for people to help contribute to the new site when the Team starts racing again. Hopefully next season! If you would like to help contact me at webmaster@detroitunlimited.com

Enjoy, Lenny.

Owner Dave Bartush elected not to race the 2009 season after incurring a multitude of mishaps in 2008.  Since the end of the 2008 season the team has moved it’s entire West Coast shop out of Auburn WA to it’s 24,000 square ft facility in Detroit.  Currently the shop is undergoing some reconfiguring to accept the teams 2 hulls (U-13 and former U-2).

A great deal of time has been spent developing a marketing program with the hope of returning for the full 2010 season.  Spearheaded by crew member Scott Allen we are optimistic a full time sponsor will be in place  prior to next season.

As the team undergoes changes and evolves with some former crew members and new personnel we will attempt to keep updating information through our new website developed by our webmaster Lenny Bartush.