Ask any driver on the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane tour, and he will tell you the Albert Lee Appliance Cup at Seafair provides the biggest stage he will be on all season. The huge crowds that line the shores of Lake Washington and the extended live television coverage make Seafair a spectacular setting for the drivers of the “World’s Fastest Race Boats.”

With a majority of the drivers calling the Seattle area home, it’s also a chance to race in front of friends and family in an event many of them have followed since childhood.

Brian Perkins, driver of the 21 Albert Lee Appliance, is a good example.  After working his way up to the ranks of Unlimited Hydroplane drivers by working as a crew member and driving smaller boats, the North Bend resident finds himself representing the event’s title sponsor in a race he calls, “The biggest race of the season for us." My parents were Seafair volunteers for decades,” said Perkins.  ??I literally grew up in the Seafair pit area.” He added, “Our shop is in Maple Valley, our entire crew and their friends and families are all local and our sponsor’s name is on the event.  To say we have a lot of incentive to do well in Seattle would be an understatement.”

Even the driver who will make the longest commute to compete in the Albert Lee Appliance Cup considers the Ted Jones race course on Lake Washington a “home course.”  Steve David , the popular driver from Lighthouse Point, Florida, has driven the Oh Boy! Oberto Miss Madison, sponsored by Seattle’s Oberto Sausage Company, to four Seafair victories since 2007 and is the defending Albert Lee Appliance Cup and H1 Unlimited Series Champion.

David says, “With the wonderful support we have from the entire Oberto family and all the friends we have made here over the years, we can honestly say winning in Seattle is right there with winning in our team’s hometown of Madison, Indiana.  Putting those big smiles on Art Oberto’s face has been really special and we would love to do it again.”

Follow the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series at H1Unlimited.com and on Facebook.

About Albert Lee Appliance

In 1939, Albert Lee opened Albert Lee Furniture, a quality custom furniture store. After the war and a 2nd story refrigerator delivery fiasco for a friend, Albert Lee Furniture became Albert Lee Furniture and Appliances. 73 years later, Albert Lee Appliance, a three-generation, family-owned business continues to grow and serve the Pacific Northwest communities with top quality sales, service and installation for all your appliance needs with the largest selection of appliances in Washington State.   Stop by one of five Albert Lee Appliance locations in Seattle, Southcenter, Lynnwood, Bellevue and now open in Tacoma.  Albert Lee Appliance, more than just high-end.

Albert Lee Appliance Cup Sponsors

Albert Lee Appliance, The Boeing Company, Graham Trucking, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, Budweiser, Rockstar Energy, Malibu Rum- Southern Wine and Spirits, Tulalip Resort Casino, 76, Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, Barefoot Wine, Safeway, SeattlePI.com, TalkingRain Beverage Company, Warm 106.9 FM Today's Soft Favorites, Movin 92.5 All The Hits!, The New Click 98.9 - Modern Music, AM 880 KIXI Music - As Cool Now As It Was Then, Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW, Amway, Western Washington Hyundai Dealers Association, Seattle Boat Show, Oh Boy! Oberto, Pepsi, Novastar Development Inc., Athletic Awards, Sicklesteel Cranes, The Boat Guy.