Mechanical Failure is the Suspected Cause of Fire Aboard the Agitator
Information and Photos Provided by Permission of Steve Huff Motorsports
The weather was great, the race fans were there, and the Agitator E98 Pro-Lite Hydroplane was running fast and true. After 2 engine failures last weekend in Yelm, WA, the team arrived in Chelan for the Apple Cup Regatta with a Jim Mauldin engine in hopes of Steve Huff performing as well as he did last year at Manson HydroFest.
On Saturday, the Steve Huff Motorsports team finished 3rd in Heat 1 after a close battle to a photo finish with Kurt Myers e26. Steve and the team then made changes to the Agitator E98 under the guidance of Wally Johnston for heat 2. At the start of the heat, the Agitator was running great and the changes were exactly what they needed. As Steve was driving around the white boat, making a pass for lead, “All of a sudden it just died, all I could think of was getting it restarted so I could get back into the race. That’s when my radio man told me I was on fire,” said Huff.
It was only a matter of seconds before the flames engulfed the hydroplane and the race was stopped by officials. It appeared the Agitator would burn to the water. “It happened so fast. I looked in the mirrors and all I could see was flames and smoke. I knew it was time to unstrap and get the hell out of there.” Knowing that carbon fiber resin and gasoline are a great combination for a fire, Huff initially struggled a bit, but then he sat back down and cleared his safety equipment to successfully escape without injury.
Steve and the Team have determined that the cause of the fire was due to a bolt in the carburetor coming loose and causing a severe fuel leak in the engine compartment. Huff added, “It is solely on me. I’m the last person that had my hands on that bolt. I’m glad I’m safe and I can’t thank the Region 10 Rescue team enough for their fast response and preventing the hydroplane from burning to the waterline.” The irony of being on fire on a lake is too much.
Watch this compilation video from Lake Chelan Now with dramatic cockpit video provided by Steve Huff Motorsports.
Huff is a 20-year veteran of racing, including Formula Ford, Motorcycle Drag Racing, Land Speed Motorcycle Racing, and Electric Drag Racing. He has 14 world and regional speed records and championships – but this is his rookie year of hydroplane racing in the Northwest.
Photos by Digital Roostertails, and video provided courtesy of Steve Huff Motorsports
