Just an example of what an Unlimited owner goes through, let us review the log of Dave Heerensperger's Pride of Pay 'n Pak. Prior to the Alabama Dixie Cup, at Guntersville, Dave made a number of attempts to break the world water speed record but failed. All of his attempts fell far short of the record set by Roy Duby driving Miss U.S. 1 on the same lake in 1962 when he made 200.419 mph on the one-mile straightaway. APBA says that this lake has the best water in the United States for the temperamental nature of the monstrous 7,000-pound thunderboat. This man-made lake, of the TVA chain, has little sailing, because of its natural calmness and lack of consistent winds to stir up the water.
Here is the log of the Pride of Pay 'n Pak's attempts:
| 1st day | Engine break in | |
| 2nd day | Thick fog; no morning runs possible | |
| 6:32 p.m. | 146.939 mph south to north | |
| 148.78 mph north to south | ||
| 3rd day | 6:37 a.m. | 147.90 mph S to N |
| 149.626 mph N to S | ||
| 7:45 a.m. | 155.844 mph S to N | |
| 156.213 mph N to S | ||
| 4:10 p.m. | 161.943 mph S to N | |
| 4th day | 6:40 p.m. | 172.162 mph S to N |
Between these attempts were "bone-grueling hours of changes to engines, propellers, struts, and shafts and literally hundreds of consultations, conferences and discussions between crew, driver, owner, and specialists on hand for supply companies and other racing experts."