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March 2005. The monthly column by the Voice of ULHRA

ULHRA in demand at ABRA.

At the recent national meeting in Seattle of the American Boat Racing Association (ABRA), the new operation in charge of Unlimited Hydroplane racing, race sites from around the country were eager to meet with officials of ULHRA, Inc which is headquartered in Seattle. One primary question often asked was "how many G-boats do you expect to have"? For a racing series that was announced just over a year ago and debuts this summer, there is plenty of interest and excitement for ULHRA's new Thunderboats ACCS class and what it can bring to hydroplane racing.

My own answer was "5". Know what? That answer might be low. The acceptance in the racing fraternity of this new series for 28 foot long, 575 cubic inch supercharged hydroplanes racing at speeds approaching 170 mph, has been phenomenal. Consider that this format was only a concept 15 months ago, and consider also that lately it's been taking at least a year to complete new hydroplane construction. But now in its first season, at some venues this summer there could be nearly as many G-Class boats as Unlimited hydroplanes, and the U-class dates back to before World War II.

Do we call him Broadway Jerry? Probably not but..........

Football fans remember Joe Namath, aka "Broadway Joe": Famous for his prowess as an NFL quarterback, his flair and flamboyant style, and bad knees. Ultimately, knee replacement was the way for Broadway Joe long after he hung up his cleats.

Now, veteran UL owner-driver and two time defending ULHRA champion Jerry Hopp has undergone twin knee replacement surgery. Racing a 150 mph hydroplane is no sedate Sunday afternoon drive. Accidents, and just plain jostling around in a cockpit, even with the excellent restraint systems now employed, can lead to injury. Jerry's knee problems developed over the course of three decades of racing limiteds, Unlimiteds, and Unlimited Lights.

Jerry's wife Dorothy reports that the surgery went very well. Jerry will be in the hospital through the weekend and then begin a 4-6 week recuperation period. Dorothy reports that Jerry is experiencing considerable pain right now, which is expected considering he had both knees replaced at the same time. Fans hope to see "Grandpa Jerry" back in the cockpit for Spring Training at Tri Cities WA May 14th and the season opener "Tastin n Racin" June 10-12 at Issaquah Washington's Lake Sammamish.

Meanwhile, the Hopp Racing Team has installed a completely new composite bottom on their champion UL-1 hull as their off season work continues in preparation for a run at a 3rd straight ULHRA title. If successful it would continue a pattern that dates back to 1997. Then, Bo Schide in Ned Allen's Alamo Rent A Car UL-16 won the first of 3 consecutive championships, in the same hull that is now the UL-1 of Hopp Racing. After Allen and Schide retired from the series following their 3rd title in 1999, Phil Bononcini drove the UL-72 Budweiser - Pocket Mechanic that Phil co-owns with Joe Frauenheim, to championships in 2000, 2001 & 2002. Jerry and son Greg Hopp have co-driven to consecutive titles in 2003 & 2004.

Broadway Jerry? Well, they used to say Namath lived his life in the fast lane while in the NFL. Not the Jerry Hopp lifestyle, except he spends his racing time in the fast lane as evidenced by his 6 career victories and 2 ULHRA championships behind the wheel of the Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky.

UL series continues to grow.

The Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Series' outstanding growth is continuing in 2005. The series that spawned ULHRA, Inc in Y2K is adding more teams again this year. One team that's been anticipated for some time hails from Canby OR. Terrill Motorsports UL-85 is expected to debut with Wayne Howard Jr. of Auburn WA at the wheel. Howard returned to ULHRA competition last season driving the S-24 in the Lighter than LIGHTS series. This is the same Wayne Howard who surprised the racing world by steering the diminutive UL-136 of then owner Dick Sanders to victory at the San Diego Unlimited Lights event in 2000.

Howard says he'll be driving the UL-85 this season for Bill Nootenboom and Terrill Motorsports, and he adds that the UL-85 team is planning to compete on the entire ULHRA circuit with supercharged power. He's also been announced as the driver of the U-7 Unlimited, a twin-automotive engine project forecast to race this year, and he's also scheduled to drive the S-24 when his schedule permits, which looks to be a very busy schedule indeed.

Always tough to say goodbye.

The Pacific NW Racing contingent has sadly been forced to bid farewell to a pair of popular participants. 5 Liter Stock hydroplane owner and former driver Valentine "Val" Lisk passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer......on Valentine's Day. His final appearance in LTL competition was with his Miss Tons of Fun, driven by son Rob Lisk, at the 2004 Tastin n Racin. Also, longtime crewman Michael "Big Mike" Thompson succumbed to a heart attack on February 26. Thompson had been part of Gerry Jarvis' S-24 team for the past 7 years and for many years prior was lead crewman for "Smokin Joe" Souza of Tacoma WA who raced in Unlimited Lights in the mid and late 90's.

John Lynch

"Voice" of the ULHRA.

Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Series

Thunderboats ACCS "G" Class

Lighter than LIGHTS series