Mike Denslow will not renew for another two-year term as Chairman of H1 Unlimited. He confirmed that his decision is unrelated to any individuals, board decisions, or matters concerning the organisation. With his two-year tenure complete, Denslow is redirecting his time to his mortgage business.
“It takes a tremendous amount of time and energy from a lot of great people to run H1,” said Denslow. “Over the last two years, we’ve put some excellent individuals in key positions to help things run more smoothly. Now it’s time for me to refocus on my mortgage business. For the races I’m not able to attend in person, I’ll be like every other fan, watching the outstanding H1 LiveStream coverage all race weekend on YouTube.”
Denslow was elected Chairman in December 2023 as part of a broad reorganisation that brought the Hydrotown Group into a leading role within H1 Unlimited’s promotion and media operation. His connection to the sport runs considerably deeper than that appointment. A proud Tri-Citizen, born and raised in Pasco, living in Richland and working in Kennewick, Denslow has been part of the foundation of the Tri-Cities racing community for years. He served multiple terms as Board President of the Tri-City Water Follies and held positions on the H1 Unlimited Board before taking the Chairman role.
Community Work
During his time as Chairman, Denslow helped build H1 Unlimited’s partnerships with the Behind the Badge Foundation and Supporting Young Warriors: Forever Fighters, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to community engagement beyond the race course. His steadiness through a period of structural change contributed to the stability that now allows the 2026 season to proceed with confidence.
Darrell Strong Appointed Board Chair
The Board of Directors has voted to appoint Darrell Strong as Board Chair to ensure continuity into the 2026 season. Strong is the owner of Strong Racing, which fields the U-8 Beacon Electric and U-9 Beacon Plumbing, and has been an H1 Unlimited board member since 2022. He is also a co-founder of the Hydrotown Group, making him well-placed to bridge governance and promotion as the series moves forward.
The full Board of Directors now stands as follows.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Darrell Strong | Board Chair |
| Charlie Grooms | Vice-Chairman |
| Brad Luce | Secretary |
| Shannon Raney | Board Member |
| Bruce Ratchford | Board Member |
The Board of Directors is responsible for governance of the sport, covering rules, officiating, and boat registration. It ensures the integrity, consistency, and competitive structure of Unlimited hydroplane racing.
H1 Unlimited expressed its appreciation to Denslow for his dedication and service. He remains passionate about hydroplane racing and supportive of the organisation’s continued growth.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
