Vince Xaudaro-Owner

Originally from Tri-Cities, WA, Vince Xaudaro is a graduate of Washington State University with a BA in Business Administration. When not racing, Vince enjoys a career as a Project Management and Controls Consultant. Driving a hydroplane is one of my favorite things to do and it is what motivates me to put all of the effort in as an owner. Although ownership has its share of frustrations, it has given me a greater feeling of accomplishment that I would never have experienced if I had just been a driver. Anyone can drive a boat in a circle, but it takes so much more to put a team together which races throughout the United States.

My life as a hydroplane fan began as a youngster growing up the Tri Cities, WA (Kennewick). When I was 15 years old I became a pit tour guide at the Columbia Cup so I could get closer to the boats. By chance, when I was 19 my brother’s Little League baseball coach showed up to practice towing an older C-Stock outboard hydro behind his truck. He offered to let me take it for a spin and once I did, I began working towards getting into a boat race. My first race was a Seattle Outboard event at Howard Amon Park in Richland, WA in 1987. I hardly had a penny to pinch at the time and was fortunate to have an old outboard hydro given to me which needed serious work. At that first event, I borrowed and engine, helmet, live jacket, and propeller just so I could get into a race. My trailer consisted of plastic buckets. From there I started my boat racing journey which continues to this day. Some of the highlights of my time in racing include becoming ULHRA Rookie of the Year in 2001, and becoming the first person from the Tri Cities to qualify as an to Unlimited Hydroplane driver in 2004, racing at the Columbia Cup.

Most of my time racing has been spent with me as the owner and driver. The thing I have enjoyed the most about being boat owner is that I always knew I would have a ride if I could get my engine to start and keep running. That may seem funny now, but engines used to be my biggest Achilles heel. I knew nothing about engines when I started racing 5 Litre in 1996. Someone came up to me at my first race and asked me what type of heads I was using on my engine. I had to ask him to point them out because I all I knew is that they had something to do with headers. Although I know a lot more about engines and hydroplanes today, I have learned that there is always more to learn.

Being the owner of my own UL Team has also given be the opportunity to become an elected member to the ULHRA Board of Directors. I have been on the ULHRA BOD for the past 7 years and have enjoyed being part of the most successful boat racing series in North America. I look forward to continuing my journey in racing and who knows what the future will bring. The prides and joy of my life are my two young sons Vincent Jr. and Enzo. Neither of them have reached the age of 3 yet so it will be a few years before you see them behind the wheel of a hydro. Hopefully my experience will help them avoid the hundreds of mistakes I have learned from.

~Vince