September 2, 2025 • 33 mins
Brandon Kennedy's life has been intertwined with hydroplane racing from birth. Kennedy embodies the rare fourth-generation racer whose path to the highest levels of the sport seemed almost predetermined.
In this revealing conversation, Kennedy takes us through his remarkable journey from those early days watching his father, grandfather, grandmother, and other family members compete to becoming the 25th driver of the iconic Miss Madison Racing team. His transition from dominating the Grand Prix class to qualifying as an H1 Unlimited rookie represents not just personal achievement, but the continuation of a storied family legacy in hydroplane racing. This is just part one of our conversation with Brandon Kennedy – tune in next week for the conclusion where we'll explore his future plans, racing philosophy, and more unexpected stories from his lifetime in the sport!
*Photo from Brandon Kennedy Collection
Help the podcast by subscribing to our new service, Roostertail Talk+. The podcast is still free to all on our website and through all major podcast platforms (such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, etc) but with Roostertail Talk+ there is more you can enjoy ! With this service you will get early links to new episodes, enjoy access to extra content, raffle prizes and more. This is a new service that we will be adding to as we move along. As always your support to make this show grow is very appreciated! https://www.buzzsprout.com/434851/supporters/new
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Ruchetel Talk, the podcast dedicated to everything
about the sport that we all lovehydroplane racing.
I am your host, david newton,and it's time once again, so sit
back, relax and welcome ro tothe podcast.
(00:53):
Today is September 2nd, 2025,and this is episode 160.
It is a notable day today asit's actually my birthday,
september 2nd, but whenever mybirthday comes around, it's the
school year is back and I'm backin the classroom.
So I've spent most of Augusttrying to get a catalog of
(01:15):
interviews and race audio andvarious episodes uploaded to the
catalog, so hopefully I don'thave any gaps going into the off
season this year, trying to domuch better about having a
weekly show for you, thelistener, and not have as many
gaps in production, and I'mexcited for this episode to come
out.
(01:35):
Today.
I'm talking with BrandonKennedy, who's made a big name
for himself in HRL series inmany different classes, notably
he's in many different classes,notably racing the GP class.
He's won multiple titles racingthe GP35 TM Special and, like I
said, he's made a big name forhimself out east and this year
he was the latest rookie toqualify for the H1 Unlimited
(01:58):
Racing Series, driving for theMiss Madison Racing Organization
in Madison, indiana, actuallybecoming the 25th driver for
that racing organization inMadison, indiana.
Actually becoming the 25thdriver for that racing
organization A big undertaking.
He's got a podcast and, yeah,we're going to talk about all of
that in the episode today, andthis is actually going to be
part one of two parts, so youcan look forward to hearing the
(02:20):
rest of the interview nextTuesday.
So, with all that being said,let's just jump in and get to
know Brandon Kennedy a littlebit more as we listen to part
one of my interview with BrandonKennedy.
Well, I'm sitting down on Zoomtalking like almost coast to
coast with Brandon Kennedy.
(02:40):
Brandon, how are you doingtoday?
I'm doing pretty good, excitedto be here.
Yeah, thanks for coming on.
Rooster Tail Talk Appreciatehaving you on.
I know you have your own weeklyduties at Chasing Tails podcast
, but I'm glad you found thetime and we're talking today.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
I mean, you guys kind of setthe bar for us at Chasing Tails.
You've been doing this a lotlonger than we have and, um, you
got a different perspective oneverything.
Um, being outside of racingwe're we're deep into it.
So a lot of times our opinionsget a little heated on there, so
this would be more relaxed.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah exactly, yeah, it's.
It's definitely a relaxed feelon here.
There's not, uh, people tryingto take your time or, yeah, any
of that stuff, but one thingwith your podcast.
So I it's a different region aswell.
You're mainly East Coast up inCanada, mainly HRL, but you're
still have a lot of H1 as well,and I'm over here in the Seattle
(03:34):
area, kind of the H1headquarters, I guess, for some
time.
So a lot of differentperspectives, a lot of different
stories and everything elsethat we cover right.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh for sure.
Yeah, it's a.
It's kind of just gettingdifferent unique stories from
all these people I've I'vewatched a few years or listened
to a few years and you get allthese stories of different crew
chiefs and this, that and other.
It's really exciting.
I mean it just brings the sportmore to a light than we've ever
had before and a lot of theseguys have stories that could go
on for hours and hours and you'dhave like 10 parts to a podcast
(04:09):
.
But it's really cool.
It's been a lot of fun for usjust to kind of learn more.
Obviously, we've been in it mydad's been in it for over 50
years or I'm fourth generation,so we know a lot about the sport
.
But we've kind of learned a lotthe past year of having the
podcast yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I mean one thing I was talking with my dad years
ago when we were crewing forboats and working on stuff.
You ask 10 different peopleabout what to do for this and
you get 11 opinions right.
So people are never short onopinions and how it varies.
You know, being from East coastand different perspective on
(04:46):
boat racing in general, I alwayslike to know where it started.
For for yourself and being outhere living in Seattle area,
hydroplanes was on it'sunlimited hydroplanes.
That was the big ticket andthat's what I followed growing
up, and that's what my fatherfollowed growing up, and that's
what we worked on and raced RCboats based off of that.
But you have a totallydifferent perspective.
(05:06):
When did this start for you?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
From a day old my parents.
My mom was actually overdue anddecided to go to Valleyfield
and she was supposed to have mebut my dad's boat wasn't running
.
We had Tommy Thompson drivingit that weekend and it wasn't
running.
So they decided Saturday nightthey were going to drive up to
Valleyfield, quebec, and had tocar seat everything.
Just in case I was born inCanada I wasn't born.
(05:31):
My dad jumped in the boat, gotit running.
He won the that year was thetriple crown in Valleyfield, so
the US Nationals, canadianNationals and the UIM Worlds.
So it was a really big deal.
And then a couple of days laterI came out and my mom was like,
hey, we got to go, he's got togo to Red Bank, new Jersey.
So it's pretty interesting thatthat probably would not happen
(05:52):
nowadays.
I know it didn't happen with mykids.
So to be there at a day old, Imean it's just been one of them
deals.
I've watched my family race allthe years.
My dad, my nanny and poppyraced a skiff together when I
was old enough to kind of knowwhat was going on.
Before that it was my pop-up.
He raced Harold.
My Aunt Patty raced before Iwas born too, bobby's mom and
(06:16):
then obviously, watching Bobby.
I feel like I got a little bitcloser to the sport once he
started driving.
I was kind of helping my poppya lot on his boat and we'd go.
If it got busted up, we'd go upto burr henderson shop.
I was probably 12 years old andwatching him repair the boat
and just just kind of got hooked.
Um, I couldn't say I've ever.
I was just talking to my wifeabout that a little bit before
(06:37):
the start the show here that Idon't know if I ever said as a
kid six, seven, eight years oldI, I want to drive, I want to be
a driver.
I just felt like I was just apart of it.
I was cheering on my dadenjoying that.
But once I turned 13, we put aT-boat motor in my cousin's two
and a half stock and I went outthere and it was the slowest
(06:58):
racing ever we were testing butI kept spinning out because the
boat, I was going too slow.
Finally my dad pulled me asidein the little John boat and he's
like keep your foot in it.
You won't spin if you keep yourfoot in it.
And that's all it took.
And then after that I wasbegging for a boat and my
parents got me my first T boatand away we went.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
What year was that?
You said you were 13.
What year would that be?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
2005 is when I when I tested first, and then in 2006
is when we had our our brand newboat and we had to wait a
little bit before I drove it, somy dad drove it first first
weekend out of the box, was onthe record and blew it over.
So I fired him and hired bobbywell, it's just natural for you.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
It wasn't even really a second thought.
You just were born into it andit's.
It was in your blood.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yeah, pretty much.
I mean, as I did dirt bikesgrowing up.
Um raced enduros, those kind ofthings, but it was always boat
racing going.
I had all my friends at theboat races.
My family got to see.
My aunts, uncles, all mycousins went to races all all
the time.
So it's like family reunion allthe time.
Yeah, um, that's.
That's the part I enjoy themost.
I've.
Since then I've went on therace cars with my grandfather um
(08:09):
down in florida.
We've done indy road america,all those cool tracks, and it
was an awesome experience, butnot the same family and
friendship experience that wehave in hydroplaning racing I
mean everyone I talk to, about,whatever class it is.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
It's always family and friends that are in the pits
working together.
So love to hear that.
But again I'm curious wasUnlimited really on your
forefront mind when you were akid following racing, or was it
mainly your family is racingdifferent classes and inboard
racing?
Was that more of an interest toyou or did you really follow
(08:45):
the Unlimiteds growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Probably it was Grand Prix.
Honestly, there's a funny storybecause now that I'm a part of
H1, dave Villwock's been apretty good friend and mentor to
me and calls me and helps meout through the journey.
But back when I was youngeryounger we were at Detroit with
our Grand Prix and I went up tohim to say hi, I think I was six
(09:08):
, seven, eight, somewhere aroundthat age and he kind of snubbed
me.
So at that point in time I waslike I don't like it, I don't
like unlimited, I don't likethese drivers.
They're not nice.
I'm sure he was just having abad day or in a moment, but it's
weird how it stuck with me forall those years.
And my dad raced Grand Prixfrom 95 to 2001 when the class
(09:28):
kind of fell apart and that wasmy dream and if it ever came
back, I wanted to get to GrandPrix and with HRL, bringing the
class back and seeing all thecompetition, then my dad got one
.
It was like okay, this mightactually happen.
So I was chomping at the bitand I was in one at 17 is when I
started driving Grand PrixSorry, 20.
(09:50):
I got my times mixed up.
The limit was 21, I think, andthey allowed me at 20.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yeah Well, at some point all this just kind of
blends together, right?
I mean, you're racing boats,that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Well did you have a favorite driver or team for
Grand Prix.
I guess a funny story aboutthat one would be Jimmy King was
my favorite for some reason,even though he raced my dad, he
was always my favorite driver.
Later in life, obviously, I'verealized that my dad was always
my biggest hero growing up andthe driver I liked watching the
most and that I've learned themost from Um.
(10:25):
But yeah, jimmy, jimmy King wasthe one we had uh posters from
Detroit and I had the Jimmy Kingposter and dad had his in the
shop.
And now it's all coming fullcircle, cause I've had moments
where my kids either like AndrewTate or Bobby King better
especially Bobby King there theywere cheering for him when he
was racing me once.
I'm like this isn't?
I feel bad for my dad now.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
He got you some uh some sympathy there for for days
gone by.
Oh fun.
Well, you said you were.
You were when you were born.
Your family went up there toValley field and watched it, but
I mean going back there now asa racer.
If you were born in Canada, doyou think they would treat you
any differently up there thanyou're treated now?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Maybe I know they like their Quebec drivers for
sure, but I feel like we've hadvery good success there.
Ever since I was in the T-boatand all I've been fortunate
enough to win there 10 times, sowe've kind of made a mark.
I just love doing things forthe fans up there.
Actually, first time I won Iwas going to the checkerboard
(11:31):
dock there that not every racehas, so it's a huge opportunity
to be in front of the whole fans.
And I went to get out of theboat and I accidentally hit the
steering wheel so I turned leftand missed the dock.
I couldn't let that play outthe way it was, so I turned left
and missed the dock.
I couldn't let that play outthe way it was, so I jumped on
it and got on the gas and justdid donuts.
So the fans loved me from thenand I've done it in every boat
(11:51):
but the Grand Prix, because mymotor boaters would kill me.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
That's awesome.
I think you're the secondperson I've ever known in a
hydroplane to do donut.
I saw Terry Troxell do it oncein Tri-Cities.
I'm sure the T-boat was prettyimpressive though.
That's pretty cool.
Well, I mean, like you said,you've won 10 times in
Valleyfield and you've had somegreat success in HRL.
(12:19):
But I think a lot of my fans,or a lot of listeners here, know
H1 more so than the HRL series,and it's been impressive to see
.
I feel like hrl is kind ofbuilding up what they're doing,
their program, and I'm veryimpressed.
But what can you tell the fanson the west coast here that
might not know your backgroundas much about your racing before
you got into the unlimiteds?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
um pretty much started as a t-boat.
My family and sponsors put mein a great boat um back then it
was.
It was really cool to start at14 and race jimmy shane and the
brownings and all these people.
That were very successful andobviously jimmy went on to be a
very successful unlimited driverand it just kind of taught me
everything I need to know aboutblueberries and in that small
(13:01):
class only doing 90 to 100 milean hour um.
But we did very good in thatboat won nationals, set records
um.
I was inducted into the apbahall of champions twice um in
2008 and 2010, and then fromthere I went up through two and
a half stocks, drove five liters, then 350s for a while,
(13:21):
national mod um and then spentmost of my last 10 15 years in
grand prairie.
Um just been a.
Just been a fun journey.
Uh, the coolest thing I thinkwe've done so far in grand
prairie is the boat I'm drivingnow.
We actually built that one.
It's all a henderson kit, butwe took it and assembled it all
ourselves.
Um did a lot of changes so Ilearned a lot while building
(13:45):
that and build it to when I'mstuck after.
So that's been really cool andthen now obviously having the
opportunity and the unlimited isreally cool.
I'm really thankful to have itwith the Madison team.
Obviously, kyle Bipes, oursponsor with river city printing
on the Grand Prix, kind ofhelped drive that ship that
direction.
But it's really cool to do itwith the team and how we had to
bring it back sponsor with rivercity printing on the grand prix
, kind of helped drive that shipthat direction.
But it's really cool to do itwith the team and how we had to
(14:08):
bring it back.
I mean I was there on theground floor when the boats got
sold, probably the that day whenthat happened, sometimes some
kyle's therapist, and so it wasreally cool how we everyone just
came together and brought itback.
It was a really cool moment.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, so we'll talk about that for a second.
You have become what?
The 25th driver of MadisonRacing.
Is that correct?
Yes, so you've got a lot of bignames there in front of you, so
it's got to be an honor to be arepresentative of Madison,
indiana not only the boat, butthe town.
But how did that play out?
(14:45):
How were, how did your name getthrown in the ring to be the
driver and and work with thisteam.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Now, mainly it was our sponsor, like I said, kyle
Bipes, being.
He's been around us with GPsince 2021 when we went to
Madison for the first time, andI think he's seen what we can do
as a team and as a driver, whatI could do.
And we were kind of in thatpoint of there was really no
team left, there was no boatleft and resources were going to
(15:15):
be limited.
So I think my name got helpedthere, knowing that we can
assemble boats, we can makeparts.
My dad owns a machine shop.
We make most of the hardwarefor the east coast boats here um
, so all that kind of helped.
Um, there was definitely a lotof discussion.
There was one moment I knew Ihad the ride.
The next moment they're like oh, we need a qualified driver
(15:36):
because we're only doing tworaces and a lot of back and
forth.
Um, but thankfully I I met withthe board, mayor bob courtney
and, uh, the rest of the guys onthe board and they I just tried
to explain like, this is notabout going out there and
winning.
This is about rewriting thehistory books for madison racing
and this is starting a newchapter.
(15:56):
We need to bring the fans inthe city of madison back
involved, um, watching it overthe years from the outside when
it was the home street boat andthen went out there to live out
west Like it wasn't.
They lost that personal touchto it and I feel like that
community really needed that andit's proven.
I mean that the shop always hasvisitors.
You have a fully local teamthere in Madison with Trey Holt
(16:21):
and down the rest of the team.
I mean it's really cool to seeit back to the roots.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, that's got to be big because it's been a
number of years now that whenHome Street purchased a shop out
here, that was Hydrofence Incand they pretty much took
everything out west.
So I'm sure there was a voidthere.
That community loves havingback.
And you're right, like youcan't win right off the bat,
especially with a new teamgetting a new boat out there.
(16:47):
You can't win right away.
So I'm glad you're trying toset the foundation and build up
the program yeah, that's it, andI mean now.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Now, with a little bit under our belts.
Actually, the boat went fasterthan I think any of us expected.
I felt like driving was fine.
There's a lot of things youcould change to make it better
and even in the short, I feellike we have a good working base
going into the winter, as longas all the dominoes fall in the
right spot.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, well, before you went down to Guntersville,
what other goals did you havefor the team, for the?
I know you only had two racesyou're doing the East Coast
Swing but what other goals didyou have and did you make those
goals?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yeah, I think most of the team and myself had the
goal of just getting qualifiedand then making our heats.
Obviously, guntersville didn'tgo as planned, but I think what
it did was made a lot oflearning experience for the
young team, a lot of youngerfaces on the team that have been
around it forever but neverbeen in the roles they were in,
(17:46):
and I think they they learned aton and it will advance them
next year more than if that racewent perfect.
Um, you don't really learn whenthings go perfect.
It's when you have to faceadversity.
When you you learn a lot ofthings of what not to do, what
to do, those kind of things.
And then, obviously, gettingthe to Madison.
It was like the picture-perfectweekend Getting down there late
(18:10):
Friday and putting us in thewater and the fans cheering when
the boat went on the crane.
That's when it finally sunk inthat, wow, this is more than
just driving a race boat.
This is a community.
All these people just lovetheir boat and they all kind of
embrace the new era of it andthat was really cool.
And obviously getting qualifiedon that respect for me it was.
(18:34):
I never knew how cool thatwould be and how much it would
mean to me Because, like I saidI wasn't, I don't feel like it
was ever a hundred percent adream.
Obviously anyone wants to getthere.
Said I wasn't, I don't feellike it was ever a hundred
percent of dream.
Obviously anyone wants to getthere.
But once I I crossed for the 15, like it was the emotions just
hit like for four generations ofmy family.
With my dad was probably one ofthe best drivers out there.
(18:54):
My cousin Bobby is just as good, or if not better than me.
So it was just like we did it.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I finally did it for the family and it was definitely
a wall of emotions yeah, yeah,it's a big accomplishment just
to get a ride in an unlimited,because it's just a handful of
boats, not many seats out there,and there's I'm sure you
probably count 20 guys that haveearned their rights to to try
it right, and that's just inyour area alone.
(19:21):
There's.
There's a lot of people thatshould have had a ride over the
years and couldn't, but I'm gladto hear that Madison pretty
well accepted you as their newdriver, because that's a big
deal over there.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Oh yeah, yeah, I think we kind of did our part on
social media prior to and justdoing all the things behind the
scenes, and that's what we'regoing to gear up and do more of
this winter is showing people.
I mean, it was a big joke thatwe didn't have the cowling on
and we just kind of created thatwith it.
But then you notice, a lot ofpeople were like, wow, I didn't
know, that's what the motorlooked like.
(19:55):
And it's like, yeah, thesport's been happening for a
long time we've been turbinesince the 90s and a lot of
people don't know what they looklike because everything's such
a secret.
So we're trying to keep that,keep that more fan involved, fan
friendly and just enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
I mean, it's racing at the highest level, but you
also got to have some type ofenjoyment in it oh, definitely,
and I love to hear that you'retrying to have more fan
involvement because, we'll behonest, some of the teams are
pretty secretive behind theirdoors and don't really pump it
up throughout the offseason,which it's a long offseason.
And fans just cry for contentand glad to see what you've done
(20:34):
before the racing even startedand hopefully keep that
continuing.
Well, when you were down inGuntersville I mean you already
were behind the eight ball orwhatever you want to say because
you didn't get a chance to goout and test before the season
started.
I'm sure it was just a scrambleto get the boat to Guntersville
period.
Specifically, what challengesdid you have down there?
(20:56):
Because I know you weren'treally able to qualify and get
much time on the water at all.
What challenges did you havedown in Guntersville?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
So started off the weekend.
Everything was prepared.
I mean, the crew did a greatjob to take that boat from what
it was to being race ready inthe two months we had um with
definitely limited funds andresources.
But then once we got down thereand we tried, the trailer fire
the first time and we werehaving issues.
Um found out some of thebatteries we were using weren't
(21:25):
quite up to snuff so we had toswitch those.
And then we found out ignitersweren't working on the turbine
so it wasn't going to fire nomatter what we had um.
And then we just had to switchmotors and finally got it up to
running.
And we went out for that um testsession on saturday morning and
something there was like avibration, but obviously because
(21:45):
I've never driven one, I wasn'tsure it was right or wrong Felt
it on the trailer and everybodyseemed to think it was fine.
And then something let loose,some part in the turbine fell
apart and destroyed itunfortunately.
So it kind of was a crazylearning experience.
And then going up to Madisonand feeling what it's supposed
(22:08):
to feel like.
It's like okay, that's in thememory bank, something's wrong
if you feel that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah Well, I mean, you had a really short time
before gunnersville, even rightwhen.
Do you remember the date thingsstarted to roll for the team?
I don't think we got the boottill the end of april, if I
remember correctly yeah, so youjust had like a month and a half
or so to get it ready, and thatand that's kind of why we went
up.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Um, my dad actually went up with the guys and
checked out the boots and yeah,we were between the seven and
that boat that we got and itjust the time we started like,
all right, you got it If they goat seven.
You got to finish bodywork, yougot to paint it, get it wrapped
, then assemble it all.
Where this one had, a lot ofthe hardware was already tested.
A lot of stuff we got retested,um, because we did have the
(22:56):
time, but we didn't have topaint it, wrap it.
Well, we did wrap it, butthings like that, just that time
frame, and I think that's whereit helped us knowing what, what
needed done, what kind of partsneeded made, and then trey
having his decision in it.
Yeah, I think we made the rightcall, um, I do believe if we
come back out this year, whichwe should, um, hopefully
(23:16):
something's announced shortlyfor the fans of madison, but
we'll probably stick with thisboat.
We were excited with it, so nowjust go through it front to
back.
We have plenty of time now.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Yeah, yeah.
Time's on your side now.
I just remember when theannouncement came out I said
well, that's not a lot of timeto get ready.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
We were told many times, by many people, it would
never happen, and that just lita fire under us.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, I'm one of those people.
If you tell me you can't do it,that I'm gonna make it happen.
Yep, that's fun, was our teaserthere.
Are you coming to san diego?
Then is that what the?
And this isn't gonna air untilseptember.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
No, no, no all right, all right.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, that would be fun.
Hopefully next year you canmake a full circuit with it yeah
, that's the.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The goal, I think, is to do most of the races um.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
We'll see what happens so yeah, yeah, I know
it's all sponsorship related,unfortunately.
But well, in madison you had abetter time, like you said, you
got qualified, your officialdriver, you got a heat in,
finished a heat, got 225 points,third place, finish.
Unfortunately, the next heat,the steering cable broke, if I'm
(24:24):
not mistaken, and you know alittle wild ride.
Talk me through that.
What was that like, thatexperience?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
uh, it was actually very unfortunate because I felt
like that heat.
I was the most comfortable inthe boat.
We made some changes rightbefore we went out to let me be
able to get more air under theboat and fly it a little more,
um, and that felt real good.
And then going down the backstretch, just everything was
normal and I just barely startedto turn into the corner and my
steering just went away.
(24:52):
You could turn the wheelwhichever way you wanted to and
there was nothing.
So I've had that happen inother boats before.
So I knew steering broke and atthat point I was along for the
ride and in any other boat youjust hit a switch and it shuts
off.
Well, the unlimited you have to, you have to pull a lever and
then push your foot and it takesa little time to de-spool.
So my nerves that were at thehighest they've ever been in a
(25:15):
boat, especially staring at thatbridge.
So when it took off to theright I was was actually excited
.
But then, like I hope thisthing don't land on the shore.
But luckily it was a nonviolentspin.
We took on some water becausethe rudder boot pulled off and
water was pouring in the boatbut no damage to the boat, so
(25:36):
just unscathed and lucky forsure.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
That's good.
That's good Structurally.
It's fine in one piece.
For sure, that's good.
That's good structurally, it'sfine in one piece.
About 20 years ago, kenmuscatel I don't know if you
ever saw a video of that, but helost steering, exiting the
right turn on the back stretchof madison and actually went up
on the beach and landed inkentucky.
So yeah, thankfully that wasnot your, your.
Your fate always scary and awild ride with that.
(26:00):
Yeah, you said that was thescariest time in a boat to date.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Uh, I mean it was, yeah, it was nerve wracking.
I don't know if I'd sayscariest, but I feel like, cause
it happened so slow, at leastto my eyes, it was the most like
anticipation of what's going tocome next.
Um, blow overs, spin outs,crashes, like that.
It happens in an instant.
So that one definitely got me,got me nervous for a little
longer than I wanted to be.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Yeah well with that happening.
I mean it's, it's a big mentalchallenge.
I don't know what I won't say.
It's a challenge to get back inthe boat after having a
malfunction like that.
Not shortly after that, you hadyour escape hatch blow off on
your, your grand prix, anothermechanical failure.
I mean, how do you get back inthe boat and not be fearful of
(26:49):
what's going to happen next?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah, I think you're always going to have that in the
back of your mind.
That happened, madison.
Was hard, because I got on therescue boat to get brought back
in and we only had one heat ofGPs and then I had to go back
out in the GP myself and thatwas probably one of the hardest.
Like I've blown over and gotright back in a boat, I knew
what happened.
(27:11):
I was either my fault or I wentup a tail.
Whatever you got back in a boat, you're fine.
Fine to go, but this one, beinga mechanical failure,
definitely took some time.
I had to listen to music andjust get back in the right
headset to get back in the GPand you just got to trust your
equipment and trust the peoplearound you.
Failures happen in racing allthe time.
(27:33):
You do your best as a crew tomake sure things like that don't
happen, but you always know inthe back of your mind that
there's an element of surpriseand things happen.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah, I mean, I think the key word there is trust and
trust in your crew, and youhave to get back out there.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, and I've had people wonder like, oh, when you
get back in Unlimited, are yougoing to be nervous?
And I don't feel I will.
It's not like you can predictit.
It's not like a skid filmthat's wobbling around and
you're like, oh my gosh, is itgonna do that again?
It's you just gotta trust thatthe equipment's right,
everything's been gone throughand um, the good thing is, when
we look through the boat and hadmultiple people look through
(28:13):
the unlimited, that there reallywasn't anything odd like
something missed or anythinglike that.
It was just a legit cablefailure.
They do get pool tested everyyear, so I don't know if maybe
it got pool tested and that wasits last pool test or what
happened.
But we'll have new cables innext year and everything will be
good to go yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yeah, I mean you can do everything you can to make
sure it's top of the notchequipment, but eventually
something's going to break down.
So just it's always curious forme as an outsider's perspective
, like you said, just how youcan get past that mental block
and continue to race and performat a higher level.
But one thing I've heard peopletalk about the differences of
(28:58):
jumping up classes.
What were your thoughts,because you had a lot of time in
Grand Prixs and very successfulin that class Moving up to
Unlimiteds.
What's your impression there?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I knew I haven't got there yet to what I know is
going to be the hardest thing toget used to and that's flying
the boat.
I said in a lot of interviews,like Jay Michael's really good
at it, he can flip the boat.
That said in a lot ofinterviews, like jay michael's
really good at it, you can flipthe boat.
That takes just seat time andlearning where the limits are,
sometimes maybe going too far,but other than that, the driving
it was easier than I expected.
(29:32):
Um, the gps take a lot of load,load in the corner and you're
bouncing around a lot.
A lot of times we're running onone mile courses, so
everything's happening fast.
You really don't have a chanceto catch your breath where the
unlimited.
I felt like that long straightaway you don't feel the speed at
all.
Um, and that could come fromeverything I've driven before
(29:54):
and a big boat like you don'tfeel that speed.
And then in the corners Ithought there would be a lot
more muscle strain on your armsin the corner, but it felt
pretty good.
The G-forces on the head, Ithink, is where the big
difference is.
So this winter I'll definitelyadd that in the workout regimen
it's just trying to stiffen upthe neck because it really pulls
(30:16):
your head over your mass kindof moves around a lot.
So that's the different part.
But I've compared it.
It's silly to do, but I'vecompared it to a giant T-boat.
Everything I learned when Ifirst started with the momentum
and having to fly a boat it'salmost identical.
You're just going 190 insteadof 100.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I mean it's interestingto say as well, it's so much
bigger, right, so it's a biggercourse, so things are happening
slower in real time, I guess forreactions.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Yeah, that is one thing.
I mean it could be me, mygrandfather, when I was racing
the car.
I was racing at Daytona and Iradioed in and I was like
Grandpa, we're down 500 RPMs andhe used to race as well.
He's like there's a gauge inthat thing, I don't look around.
He's always been like I'mamazed that, like everything in
your world happens slow whenyou're going in a race vehicle.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Oh man, that's funny.
All right, knuckleheads.
That's all the time we have forthis week.
Make sure you come back nextTuesday, as we'll have part two
of my interview with BrandonKennedy, and he's going to go
into more about his career,about his experience this year
with H1 Unlimited, as well asplans for next year.
(31:38):
I threw some other wackyquestions at him, but you'll
have to wait until next week tohear his responses.
In the meantime, don't forget,we're on social media Instagram,
facebook online as well, withour website, roostertaltalkcom
and if you haven't checked outRoostertail Talk Plus, give that
a check on our website as well.
With RT Plus, you can sign upfor a monthly subscription fee
(32:02):
where you get entered into amonthly raffle prize drawing, as
well as entry into a passwordprotected of a website that has
pictures and articles fromhydroplane history gone by.
Also, you get early access toall new episodes, as well as you
get a collectible card set forour 2025 trading card set.
(32:22):
I got nothing else for youtoday.
Make sure you come back nextweek, but until then, I hope to
see you at the races.
Ruchetel Talk, the podcast dedicated to everything
about the sport that we all lovehydroplane racing.
I am your host, david newton,and it's time once again, so sit
back, relax and welcome ro tothe podcast.
(00:53):
Today is September 2nd, 2025,and this is episode 160.
It is a notable day today asit's actually my birthday,
september 2nd, but whenever mybirthday comes around, it's the
school year is back and I'm backin the classroom.
So I've spent most of Augusttrying to get a catalog of
(01:15):
interviews and race audio andvarious episodes uploaded to the
catalog, so hopefully I don'thave any gaps going into the off
season this year, trying to domuch better about having a
weekly show for you, thelistener, and not have as many
gaps in production, and I'mexcited for this episode to come
out.
(01:35):
Today.
I'm talking with BrandonKennedy, who's made a big name
for himself in HRL series inmany different classes, notably
he's in many different classes,notably racing the GP class.
He's won multiple titles racingthe GP35 TM Special and, like I
said, he's made a big name forhimself out east and this year
he was the latest rookie toqualify for the H1 Unlimited
(01:58):
Racing Series, driving for theMiss Madison Racing Organization
in Madison, indiana, actuallybecoming the 25th driver for
that racing organization inMadison, indiana.
Actually becoming the 25thdriver for that racing
organization A big undertaking.
He's got a podcast and, yeah,we're going to talk about all of
that in the episode today, andthis is actually going to be
part one of two parts, so youcan look forward to hearing the
(02:20):
rest of the interview nextTuesday.
So, with all that being said,let's just jump in and get to
know Brandon Kennedy a littlebit more as we listen to part
one of my interview with BrandonKennedy.
Well, I'm sitting down on Zoomtalking like almost coast to
coast with Brandon Kennedy.
(02:40):
Brandon, how are you doingtoday?
I'm doing pretty good, excitedto be here.
Yeah, thanks for coming on.
Rooster Tail Talk Appreciatehaving you on.
I know you have your own weeklyduties at Chasing Tails podcast
, but I'm glad you found thetime and we're talking today.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
I mean, you guys kind of setthe bar for us at Chasing Tails.
You've been doing this a lotlonger than we have and, um, you
got a different perspective oneverything.
Um, being outside of racingwe're we're deep into it.
So a lot of times our opinionsget a little heated on there, so
this would be more relaxed.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah exactly, yeah, it's.
It's definitely a relaxed feelon here.
There's not, uh, people tryingto take your time or, yeah, any
of that stuff, but one thingwith your podcast.
So I it's a different region aswell.
You're mainly East Coast up inCanada, mainly HRL, but you're
still have a lot of H1 as well,and I'm over here in the Seattle
(03:34):
area, kind of the H1headquarters, I guess, for some
time.
So a lot of differentperspectives, a lot of different
stories and everything elsethat we cover right.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Oh for sure.
Yeah, it's a.
It's kind of just gettingdifferent unique stories from
all these people I've I'vewatched a few years or listened
to a few years and you get allthese stories of different crew
chiefs and this, that and other.
It's really exciting.
I mean it just brings the sportmore to a light than we've ever
had before and a lot of theseguys have stories that could go
on for hours and hours and you'dhave like 10 parts to a podcast
(04:09):
.
But it's really cool.
It's been a lot of fun for usjust to kind of learn more.
Obviously, we've been in it mydad's been in it for over 50
years or I'm fourth generation,so we know a lot about the sport
.
But we've kind of learned a lotthe past year of having the
podcast yeah, it's.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
I mean one thing I was talking with my dad years
ago when we were crewing forboats and working on stuff.
You ask 10 different peopleabout what to do for this and
you get 11 opinions right.
So people are never short onopinions and how it varies.
You know, being from East coastand different perspective on
(04:46):
boat racing in general, I alwayslike to know where it started.
For for yourself and being outhere living in Seattle area,
hydroplanes was on it'sunlimited hydroplanes.
That was the big ticket andthat's what I followed growing
up, and that's what my fatherfollowed growing up, and that's
what we worked on and raced RCboats based off of that.
But you have a totallydifferent perspective.
(05:06):
When did this start for you?
Speaker 2 (05:10):
From a day old my parents.
My mom was actually overdue anddecided to go to Valleyfield
and she was supposed to have mebut my dad's boat wasn't running
.
We had Tommy Thompson drivingit that weekend and it wasn't
running.
So they decided Saturday nightthey were going to drive up to
Valleyfield, quebec, and had tocar seat everything.
Just in case I was born inCanada I wasn't born.
(05:31):
My dad jumped in the boat, gotit running.
He won the that year was thetriple crown in Valleyfield, so
the US Nationals, canadianNationals and the UIM Worlds.
So it was a really big deal.
And then a couple of days laterI came out and my mom was like,
hey, we got to go, he's got togo to Red Bank, new Jersey.
So it's pretty interesting thatthat probably would not happen
(05:52):
nowadays.
I know it didn't happen with mykids.
So to be there at a day old, Imean it's just been one of them
deals.
I've watched my family race allthe years.
My dad, my nanny and poppyraced a skiff together when I
was old enough to kind of knowwhat was going on.
Before that it was my pop-up.
He raced Harold.
My Aunt Patty raced before Iwas born too, bobby's mom and
(06:16):
then obviously, watching Bobby.
I feel like I got a little bitcloser to the sport once he
started driving.
I was kind of helping my poppya lot on his boat and we'd go.
If it got busted up, we'd go upto burr henderson shop.
I was probably 12 years old andwatching him repair the boat
and just just kind of got hooked.
Um, I couldn't say I've ever.
I was just talking to my wifeabout that a little bit before
(06:37):
the start the show here that Idon't know if I ever said as a
kid six, seven, eight years oldI, I want to drive, I want to be
a driver.
I just felt like I was just apart of it.
I was cheering on my dadenjoying that.
But once I turned 13, we put aT-boat motor in my cousin's two
and a half stock and I went outthere and it was the slowest
(06:58):
racing ever we were testing butI kept spinning out because the
boat, I was going too slow.
Finally my dad pulled me asidein the little John boat and he's
like keep your foot in it.
You won't spin if you keep yourfoot in it.
And that's all it took.
And then after that I wasbegging for a boat and my
parents got me my first T boatand away we went.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
What year was that?
You said you were 13.
What year would that be?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
2005 is when I when I tested first, and then in 2006
is when we had our our brand newboat and we had to wait a
little bit before I drove it, somy dad drove it first first
weekend out of the box, was onthe record and blew it over.
So I fired him and hired bobbywell, it's just natural for you.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
It wasn't even really a second thought.
You just were born into it andit's.
It was in your blood.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yeah, pretty much.
I mean, as I did dirt bikesgrowing up.
Um raced enduros, those kind ofthings, but it was always boat
racing going.
I had all my friends at theboat races.
My family got to see.
My aunts, uncles, all mycousins went to races all all
the time.
So it's like family reunion allthe time.
Yeah, um, that's.
That's the part I enjoy themost.
I've.
Since then I've went on therace cars with my grandfather um
(08:09):
down in florida.
We've done indy road america,all those cool tracks, and it
was an awesome experience, butnot the same family and
friendship experience that wehave in hydroplaning racing I
mean everyone I talk to, about,whatever class it is.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
It's always family and friends that are in the pits
working together.
So love to hear that.
But again I'm curious wasUnlimited really on your
forefront mind when you were akid following racing, or was it
mainly your family is racingdifferent classes and inboard
racing?
Was that more of an interest toyou or did you really follow
(08:45):
the Unlimiteds growing up?
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Probably it was Grand Prix.
Honestly, there's a funny storybecause now that I'm a part of
H1, dave Villwock's been apretty good friend and mentor to
me and calls me and helps meout through the journey.
But back when I was youngeryounger we were at Detroit with
our Grand Prix and I went up tohim to say hi, I think I was six
(09:08):
, seven, eight, somewhere aroundthat age and he kind of snubbed
me.
So at that point in time I waslike I don't like it, I don't
like unlimited, I don't likethese drivers.
They're not nice.
I'm sure he was just having abad day or in a moment, but it's
weird how it stuck with me forall those years.
And my dad raced Grand Prixfrom 95 to 2001 when the class
(09:28):
kind of fell apart and that wasmy dream and if it ever came
back, I wanted to get to GrandPrix and with HRL, bringing the
class back and seeing all thecompetition, then my dad got one
.
It was like okay, this mightactually happen.
So I was chomping at the bitand I was in one at 17 is when I
started driving Grand PrixSorry, 20.
(09:50):
I got my times mixed up.
The limit was 21, I think, andthey allowed me at 20.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yeah Well, at some point all this just kind of
blends together, right?
I mean, you're racing boats,that's all that matters.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Well did you have a favorite driver or team for
Grand Prix.
I guess a funny story aboutthat one would be Jimmy King was
my favorite for some reason,even though he raced my dad, he
was always my favorite driver.
Later in life, obviously, I'verealized that my dad was always
my biggest hero growing up andthe driver I liked watching the
most and that I've learned themost from Um.
(10:25):
But yeah, jimmy, jimmy King wasthe one we had uh posters from
Detroit and I had the Jimmy Kingposter and dad had his in the
shop.
And now it's all coming fullcircle, cause I've had moments
where my kids either like AndrewTate or Bobby King better
especially Bobby King there theywere cheering for him when he
was racing me once.
I'm like this isn't?
I feel bad for my dad now.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
He got you some uh some sympathy there for for days
gone by.
Oh fun.
Well, you said you were.
You were when you were born.
Your family went up there toValley field and watched it, but
I mean going back there now asa racer.
If you were born in Canada, doyou think they would treat you
any differently up there thanyou're treated now?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Maybe I know they like their Quebec drivers for
sure, but I feel like we've hadvery good success there.
Ever since I was in the T-boatand all I've been fortunate
enough to win there 10 times, sowe've kind of made a mark.
I just love doing things forthe fans up there.
Actually, first time I won Iwas going to the checkerboard
(11:31):
dock there that not every racehas, so it's a huge opportunity
to be in front of the whole fans.
And I went to get out of theboat and I accidentally hit the
steering wheel so I turned leftand missed the dock.
I couldn't let that play outthe way it was, so I turned left
and missed the dock.
I couldn't let that play outthe way it was, so I jumped on
it and got on the gas and justdid donuts.
So the fans loved me from thenand I've done it in every boat
(11:51):
but the Grand Prix, because mymotor boaters would kill me.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
That's awesome.
I think you're the secondperson I've ever known in a
hydroplane to do donut.
I saw Terry Troxell do it oncein Tri-Cities.
I'm sure the T-boat was prettyimpressive though.
That's pretty cool.
Well, I mean, like you said,you've won 10 times in
Valleyfield and you've had somegreat success in HRL.
(12:19):
But I think a lot of my fans,or a lot of listeners here, know
H1 more so than the HRL series,and it's been impressive to see
.
I feel like hrl is kind ofbuilding up what they're doing,
their program, and I'm veryimpressed.
But what can you tell the fanson the west coast here that
might not know your backgroundas much about your racing before
you got into the unlimiteds?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
um pretty much started as a t-boat.
My family and sponsors put mein a great boat um back then it
was.
It was really cool to start at14 and race jimmy shane and the
brownings and all these people.
That were very successful andobviously jimmy went on to be a
very successful unlimited driverand it just kind of taught me
everything I need to know aboutblueberries and in that small
(13:01):
class only doing 90 to 100 milean hour um.
But we did very good in thatboat won nationals, set records
um.
I was inducted into the apbahall of champions twice um in
2008 and 2010, and then fromthere I went up through two and
a half stocks, drove five liters, then 350s for a while,
(13:21):
national mod um and then spentmost of my last 10 15 years in
grand prairie.
Um just been a.
Just been a fun journey.
Uh, the coolest thing I thinkwe've done so far in grand
prairie is the boat I'm drivingnow.
We actually built that one.
It's all a henderson kit, butwe took it and assembled it all
ourselves.
Um did a lot of changes so Ilearned a lot while building
(13:45):
that and build it to when I'mstuck after.
So that's been really cool andthen now obviously having the
opportunity and the unlimited isreally cool.
I'm really thankful to have itwith the Madison team.
Obviously, kyle Bipes, oursponsor with river city printing
on the Grand Prix, kind ofhelped drive that ship that
direction.
But it's really cool to do itwith the team and how we had to
bring it back sponsor with rivercity printing on the grand prix
, kind of helped drive that shipthat direction.
But it's really cool to do itwith the team and how we had to
(14:08):
bring it back.
I mean I was there on theground floor when the boats got
sold, probably the that day whenthat happened, sometimes some
kyle's therapist, and so it wasreally cool how we everyone just
came together and brought itback.
It was a really cool moment.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, so we'll talk about that for a second.
You have become what?
The 25th driver of MadisonRacing.
Is that correct?
Yes, so you've got a lot of bignames there in front of you, so
it's got to be an honor to be arepresentative of Madison,
indiana not only the boat, butthe town.
But how did that play out?
(14:45):
How were, how did your name getthrown in the ring to be the
driver and and work with thisteam.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Now, mainly it was our sponsor, like I said, kyle
Bipes, being.
He's been around us with GPsince 2021 when we went to
Madison for the first time, andI think he's seen what we can do
as a team and as a driver, whatI could do.
And we were kind of in thatpoint of there was really no
team left, there was no boatleft and resources were going to
(15:15):
be limited.
So I think my name got helpedthere, knowing that we can
assemble boats, we can makeparts.
My dad owns a machine shop.
We make most of the hardwarefor the east coast boats here um
, so all that kind of helped.
Um, there was definitely a lotof discussion.
There was one moment I knew Ihad the ride.
The next moment they're like oh, we need a qualified driver
(15:36):
because we're only doing tworaces and a lot of back and
forth.
Um, but thankfully I I met withthe board, mayor bob courtney
and, uh, the rest of the guys onthe board and they I just tried
to explain like, this is notabout going out there and
winning.
This is about rewriting thehistory books for madison racing
and this is starting a newchapter.
(15:56):
We need to bring the fans inthe city of madison back
involved, um, watching it overthe years from the outside when
it was the home street boat andthen went out there to live out
west Like it wasn't.
They lost that personal touchto it and I feel like that
community really needed that andit's proven.
I mean that the shop always hasvisitors.
You have a fully local teamthere in Madison with Trey Holt
(16:21):
and down the rest of the team.
I mean it's really cool to seeit back to the roots.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, that's got to be big because it's been a
number of years now that whenHome Street purchased a shop out
here, that was Hydrofence Incand they pretty much took
everything out west.
So I'm sure there was a voidthere.
That community loves havingback.
And you're right, like youcan't win right off the bat,
especially with a new teamgetting a new boat out there.
(16:47):
You can't win right away.
So I'm glad you're trying toset the foundation and build up
the program yeah, that's it, andI mean now.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Now, with a little bit under our belts.
Actually, the boat went fasterthan I think any of us expected.
I felt like driving was fine.
There's a lot of things youcould change to make it better
and even in the short, I feellike we have a good working base
going into the winter, as longas all the dominoes fall in the
right spot.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah, well, before you went down to Guntersville,
what other goals did you havefor the team, for the?
I know you only had two racesyou're doing the East Coast
Swing but what other goals didyou have and did you make those
goals?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yeah, I think most of the team and myself had the
goal of just getting qualifiedand then making our heats.
Obviously, guntersville didn'tgo as planned, but I think what
it did was made a lot oflearning experience for the
young team, a lot of youngerfaces on the team that have been
around it forever but neverbeen in the roles they were in,
(17:46):
and I think they they learned aton and it will advance them
next year more than if that racewent perfect.
Um, you don't really learn whenthings go perfect.
It's when you have to faceadversity.
When you you learn a lot ofthings of what not to do, what
to do, those kind of things.
And then, obviously, gettingthe to Madison.
It was like the picture-perfectweekend Getting down there late
(18:10):
Friday and putting us in thewater and the fans cheering when
the boat went on the crane.
That's when it finally sunk inthat, wow, this is more than
just driving a race boat.
This is a community.
All these people just lovetheir boat and they all kind of
embrace the new era of it andthat was really cool.
And obviously getting qualifiedon that respect for me it was.
(18:34):
I never knew how cool thatwould be and how much it would
mean to me Because, like I saidI wasn't, I don't feel like it
was ever a hundred percent adream.
Obviously anyone wants to getthere.
Said I wasn't, I don't feellike it was ever a hundred
percent of dream.
Obviously anyone wants to getthere.
But once I I crossed for the 15, like it was the emotions just
hit like for four generations ofmy family.
With my dad was probably one ofthe best drivers out there.
(18:54):
My cousin Bobby is just as good, or if not better than me.
So it was just like we did it.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I finally did it for the family and it was definitely
a wall of emotions yeah, yeah,it's a big accomplishment just
to get a ride in an unlimited,because it's just a handful of
boats, not many seats out there,and there's I'm sure you
probably count 20 guys that haveearned their rights to to try
it right, and that's just inyour area alone.
(19:21):
There's.
There's a lot of people thatshould have had a ride over the
years and couldn't, but I'm gladto hear that Madison pretty
well accepted you as their newdriver, because that's a big
deal over there.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Oh yeah, yeah, I think we kind of did our part on
social media prior to and justdoing all the things behind the
scenes, and that's what we'regoing to gear up and do more of
this winter is showing people.
I mean, it was a big joke thatwe didn't have the cowling on
and we just kind of created thatwith it.
But then you notice, a lot ofpeople were like, wow, I didn't
know, that's what the motorlooked like.
(19:55):
And it's like, yeah, thesport's been happening for a
long time we've been turbinesince the 90s and a lot of
people don't know what they looklike because everything's such
a secret.
So we're trying to keep that,keep that more fan involved, fan
friendly and just enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
I mean, it's racing at the highest level, but you
also got to have some type ofenjoyment in it oh, definitely,
and I love to hear that you'retrying to have more fan
involvement because, we'll behonest, some of the teams are
pretty secretive behind theirdoors and don't really pump it
up throughout the offseason,which it's a long offseason.
And fans just cry for contentand glad to see what you've done
(20:34):
before the racing even startedand hopefully keep that
continuing.
Well, when you were down inGuntersville I mean you already
were behind the eight ball orwhatever you want to say because
you didn't get a chance to goout and test before the season
started.
I'm sure it was just a scrambleto get the boat to Guntersville
period.
Specifically, what challengesdid you have down there?
(20:56):
Because I know you weren'treally able to qualify and get
much time on the water at all.
What challenges did you havedown in Guntersville?
Speaker 2 (21:04):
So started off the weekend.
Everything was prepared.
I mean, the crew did a greatjob to take that boat from what
it was to being race ready inthe two months we had um with
definitely limited funds andresources.
But then once we got down thereand we tried, the trailer fire
the first time and we werehaving issues.
Um found out some of thebatteries we were using weren't
(21:25):
quite up to snuff so we had toswitch those.
And then we found out ignitersweren't working on the turbine
so it wasn't going to fire nomatter what we had um.
And then we just had to switchmotors and finally got it up to
running.
And we went out for that um testsession on saturday morning and
something there was like avibration, but obviously because
(21:45):
I've never driven one, I wasn'tsure it was right or wrong Felt
it on the trailer and everybodyseemed to think it was fine.
And then something let loose,some part in the turbine fell
apart and destroyed itunfortunately.
So it kind of was a crazylearning experience.
And then going up to Madisonand feeling what it's supposed
(22:08):
to feel like.
It's like okay, that's in thememory bank, something's wrong
if you feel that, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Yeah Well, I mean, you had a really short time
before gunnersville, even rightwhen.
Do you remember the date thingsstarted to roll for the team?
I don't think we got the boottill the end of april, if I
remember correctly yeah, so youjust had like a month and a half
or so to get it ready, and thatand that's kind of why we went
up.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Um, my dad actually went up with the guys and
checked out the boots and yeah,we were between the seven and
that boat that we got and itjust the time we started like,
all right, you got it If they goat seven.
You got to finish bodywork, yougot to paint it, get it wrapped
, then assemble it all.
Where this one had, a lot ofthe hardware was already tested.
A lot of stuff we got retested,um, because we did have the
(22:56):
time, but we didn't have topaint it, wrap it.
Well, we did wrap it, butthings like that, just that time
frame, and I think that's whereit helped us knowing what, what
needed done, what kind of partsneeded made, and then trey
having his decision in it.
Yeah, I think we made the rightcall, um, I do believe if we
come back out this year, whichwe should, um, hopefully
(23:16):
something's announced shortlyfor the fans of madison, but
we'll probably stick with thisboat.
We were excited with it, so nowjust go through it front to
back.
We have plenty of time now.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Yeah, yeah.
Time's on your side now.
I just remember when theannouncement came out I said
well, that's not a lot of timeto get ready.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
We were told many times, by many people, it would
never happen, and that just lita fire under us.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, I'm one of those people.
If you tell me you can't do it,that I'm gonna make it happen.
Yep, that's fun, was our teaserthere.
Are you coming to san diego?
Then is that what the?
And this isn't gonna air untilseptember.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
No, no, no all right, all right.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Well, that would be fun.
Hopefully next year you canmake a full circuit with it yeah
, that's the.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The goal, I think, is to do most of the races um.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
We'll see what happens so yeah, yeah, I know
it's all sponsorship related,unfortunately.
But well, in madison you had abetter time, like you said, you
got qualified, your officialdriver, you got a heat in,
finished a heat, got 225 points,third place, finish.
Unfortunately, the next heat,the steering cable broke, if I'm
(24:24):
not mistaken, and you know alittle wild ride.
Talk me through that.
What was that like, thatexperience?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
uh, it was actually very unfortunate because I felt
like that heat.
I was the most comfortable inthe boat.
We made some changes rightbefore we went out to let me be
able to get more air under theboat and fly it a little more,
um, and that felt real good.
And then going down the backstretch, just everything was
normal and I just barely startedto turn into the corner and my
steering just went away.
(24:52):
You could turn the wheelwhichever way you wanted to and
there was nothing.
So I've had that happen inother boats before.
So I knew steering broke and atthat point I was along for the
ride and in any other boat youjust hit a switch and it shuts
off.
Well, the unlimited you have to, you have to pull a lever and
then push your foot and it takesa little time to de-spool.
So my nerves that were at thehighest they've ever been in a
(25:15):
boat, especially staring at thatbridge.
So when it took off to theright I was was actually excited
.
But then, like I hope thisthing don't land on the shore.
But luckily it was a nonviolentspin.
We took on some water becausethe rudder boot pulled off and
water was pouring in the boatbut no damage to the boat, so
(25:36):
just unscathed and lucky forsure.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
That's good.
That's good Structurally.
It's fine in one piece.
For sure, that's good.
That's good structurally, it'sfine in one piece.
About 20 years ago, kenmuscatel I don't know if you
ever saw a video of that, but helost steering, exiting the
right turn on the back stretchof madison and actually went up
on the beach and landed inkentucky.
So yeah, thankfully that wasnot your, your.
Your fate always scary and awild ride with that.
(26:00):
Yeah, you said that was thescariest time in a boat to date.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Uh, I mean it was, yeah, it was nerve wracking.
I don't know if I'd sayscariest, but I feel like, cause
it happened so slow, at leastto my eyes, it was the most like
anticipation of what's going tocome next.
Um, blow overs, spin outs,crashes, like that.
It happens in an instant.
So that one definitely got me,got me nervous for a little
longer than I wanted to be.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Yeah well with that happening.
I mean it's, it's a big mentalchallenge.
I don't know what I won't say.
It's a challenge to get back inthe boat after having a
malfunction like that.
Not shortly after that, you hadyour escape hatch blow off on
your, your grand prix, anothermechanical failure.
I mean, how do you get back inthe boat and not be fearful of
(26:49):
what's going to happen next?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah, I think you're always going to have that in the
back of your mind.
That happened, madison.
Was hard, because I got on therescue boat to get brought back
in and we only had one heat ofGPs and then I had to go back
out in the GP myself and thatwas probably one of the hardest.
Like I've blown over and gotright back in a boat, I knew
what happened.
(27:11):
I was either my fault or I wentup a tail.
Whatever you got back in a boat, you're fine.
Fine to go, but this one, beinga mechanical failure,
definitely took some time.
I had to listen to music andjust get back in the right
headset to get back in the GPand you just got to trust your
equipment and trust the peoplearound you.
Failures happen in racing allthe time.
(27:33):
You do your best as a crew tomake sure things like that don't
happen, but you always know inthe back of your mind that
there's an element of surpriseand things happen.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah, I mean, I think the key word there is trust and
trust in your crew, and youhave to get back out there.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Yeah, and I've had people wonder like, oh, when you
get back in Unlimited, are yougoing to be nervous?
And I don't feel I will.
It's not like you can predictit.
It's not like a skid filmthat's wobbling around and
you're like, oh my gosh, is itgonna do that again?
It's you just gotta trust thatthe equipment's right,
everything's been gone throughand um, the good thing is, when
we look through the boat and hadmultiple people look through
(28:13):
the unlimited, that there reallywasn't anything odd like
something missed or anythinglike that.
It was just a legit cablefailure.
They do get pool tested everyyear, so I don't know if maybe
it got pool tested and that wasits last pool test or what
happened.
But we'll have new cables innext year and everything will be
good to go yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Yeah, I mean you can do everything you can to make
sure it's top of the notchequipment, but eventually
something's going to break down.
So just it's always curious forme as an outsider's perspective
, like you said, just how youcan get past that mental block
and continue to race and performat a higher level.
But one thing I've heard peopletalk about the differences of
(28:58):
jumping up classes.
What were your thoughts,because you had a lot of time in
Grand Prixs and very successfulin that class Moving up to
Unlimiteds.
What's your impression there?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I knew I haven't got there yet to what I know is
going to be the hardest thing toget used to and that's flying
the boat.
I said in a lot of interviews,like Jay Michael's really good
at it, he can flip the boat.
That said in a lot ofinterviews, like jay michael's
really good at it, you can flipthe boat.
That takes just seat time andlearning where the limits are,
sometimes maybe going too far,but other than that, the driving
it was easier than I expected.
(29:32):
Um, the gps take a lot of load,load in the corner and you're
bouncing around a lot.
A lot of times we're running onone mile courses, so
everything's happening fast.
You really don't have a chanceto catch your breath where the
unlimited.
I felt like that long straightaway you don't feel the speed at
all.
Um, and that could come fromeverything I've driven before
(29:54):
and a big boat like you don'tfeel that speed.
And then in the corners Ithought there would be a lot
more muscle strain on your armsin the corner, but it felt
pretty good.
The G-forces on the head, Ithink, is where the big
difference is.
So this winter I'll definitelyadd that in the workout regimen
it's just trying to stiffen upthe neck because it really pulls
(30:16):
your head over your mass kindof moves around a lot.
So that's the different part.
But I've compared it.
It's silly to do, but I'vecompared it to a giant T-boat.
Everything I learned when Ifirst started with the momentum
and having to fly a boat it'salmost identical.
You're just going 190 insteadof 100.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I mean it's interestingto say as well, it's so much
bigger, right, so it's a biggercourse, so things are happening
slower in real time, I guess forreactions.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
Yeah, that is one thing.
I mean it could be me, mygrandfather, when I was racing
the car.
I was racing at Daytona and Iradioed in and I was like
Grandpa, we're down 500 RPMs andhe used to race as well.
He's like there's a gauge inthat thing, I don't look around.
He's always been like I'mamazed that, like everything in
your world happens slow whenyou're going in a race vehicle.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Oh man, that's funny.
All right, knuckleheads.
That's all the time we have forthis week.
Make sure you come back nextTuesday, as we'll have part two
of my interview with BrandonKennedy, and he's going to go
into more about his career,about his experience this year
with H1 Unlimited, as well asplans for next year.
(31:38):
I threw some other wackyquestions at him, but you'll
have to wait until next week tohear his responses.
In the meantime, don't forget,we're on social media Instagram,
facebook online as well, withour website, roostertaltalkcom
and if you haven't checked outRoostertail Talk Plus, give that
a check on our website as well.
With RT Plus, you can sign upfor a monthly subscription fee
(32:02):
where you get entered into amonthly raffle prize drawing, as
well as entry into a passwordprotected of a website that has
pictures and articles fromhydroplane history gone by.
Also, you get early access toall new episodes, as well as you
get a collectible card set forour 2025 trading card set.
(32:22):
I got nothing else for youtoday.
Make sure you come back nextweek, but until then, I hope to
see you at the races.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.