By John Lynch, Voice of the Unlimited Lights, and Thunderboats ACCS.

As we enter February 2005, there has been plenty of off-season activity in the ULHRA "family".

Thunderboats ACCS. Bigger, faster, and on the water this year.

The newest series in ULHRA Inc. debuts in 2005. These boats range from 25 up to 28 feet in length. The new series also features larger engines, 575 cubic inch supercharged, compared to the 468 supercharged engines and other non supercharged engines in the Unlimited Lights. Three teams have announced their entry in this new series that begins at the Tri Cities WA Spring Training open test session, May 14 & 15. Other teams are about to announce their joining the series. There is one un-raced hull in the For Sale Section of this website, owned by Justin Schaller of Michigan, that would make an ideal ACCS entry. There is at least one brand new hull now under construction that is expected to debut at Spring Training. Expect 5 to 6 teams to compete in 2005, and possibly more. There are some virtually completed new hulls that could be ready for this series, or race as Unlimited Lights in 2005. Many others are expected to join the series in 2006. 5 races are planned for 2005. Regates De Valleyfield confirmed at the end of January that they will host Thunderboats ACCS. The first site to confirm did so in November 2004, and that site is the annual Columbia Cup event at Tri Cities WA.

Glen Davis and George Woods Jr. just completed dyno testing of the first ACCS engine. Details will be reported, soon.

Unlimited Lights. The "anchor" series of ULHRA Inc. continues to flourish.

Unlimited Lights. 2005 promises to be the biggest season ever in this series, which dates back to 1995. Since formation of ULHRA Inc. in the summer of 2000, the Unlimited Lights has seen tremendous growth, both in team participation and in prize money awarded. In 2005, there will be 10 weekends for the UL's, starting with Spring Training at Tri Cities WA, followed by 9 races......including "four in a row". It's easily the most aggressive schedule in the history of ULHRA, Inc. The first race will be the traditional season opener, "Tastin n Racin" June 10-12 in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah WA, at Lake Sammamish State Park. That will be followed by a return to the Freedom Festival for "Thunder on the Ohio" June 24-26, and then July 8-10 at the Molson Dry Regates De Valleyfield in Valleyfield, Quebec near Montreal, Canada.

Upon returning to Washington State, the series starts the first of 4 consecutive weekends with a new date for the 4th annual Speedfest in Olympia, July 23 & 24, then to Tri Cities WA for the Columbia Cup, July 29-31, then Seattle for Seafair on August 5-7, and winding up with the brand new Quicksilver Regatta in Silverdale WA, just a ferry boat ride from Seattle.

Following that 4 week "grind" the teams will rest & recoup for the annual Thunderboat Regatta at San Diego CA, September 16-18 and then conclude the season on the NW coast of Washington State with the third annual Victoria Express Presents Strait Thunder.

Gold Cup Video. More for you to view in 2005

ULHRA Inc. is adding to the contributions of the Gold Cup Video staff. This year' we're going "live". Yes, you'll be able to watch most, if not all ULHRA events in 2005. Where and what time? Right here on your computer, and as it happens each race weekend. More details to follow.

Lighter than LIGHTS. Growing in 2005

This Pacific NW based series for teams in smaller hydroplane classes grows in 2005. ESL Enterprises sponsors the first "Modified" class of LTL hydroplanes. Based on the National Modified hydroplane class, the ESL 8 Cylinder Modified class, with up to 10 teams competing, will be featured at the 4 LTL events along with the 4 cylinder and 8 cylinder (2.5S and 5L) classes. There is also the potential for a 4 cylinder Modified Class (2.5M) should sufficient entries be submitted. The LTL series begins at Tastin & Racin in June, and follows with Speedfest in Olympia in July, Quicksilver at Silverdale in August and Strait Thunder in Port Angeles in September-October.

New Board Member.

UL-9 American Eagle owner-driver Paul Droullard of Auburn WA was elected in November to the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association Board of Directors. Droullard replaces UL-1 owner-driver Jerry Hopp who's term expired and he chose not to seek re-election. In order to serve on the board, members must be team owners that entered at least 60% of the ULHRA events the year they are elected. Droullard campaigned the brand new American Eagle and drove it to a ULHRA qualifying record speed at San Diego of 122.324 mph. Board members and their email contacts are listed in the CONTACT US section of this website.


The Lynch Line will appear each month, leading up to the start of the 2005 season. Other news updates will be posted regularly, so be sure to log on to this site often, for the latest information from

The fastest growing hydroplane series in hydroplane racing. The Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc.