Unprecedented in the modern era of hydroplane racing, TEN (10) new Unlimited Lights teams have signed up for the 2006 season...........and it's possible that number may grow again before the season ends. Just how big a deal is that? According to Official ULHRA Historian Fred Farley it's the 2nd highest such number in major hydroplane racing history. Fred tells me that in 1946 when the Allison engine became surplus after World War II, eleven new Unlimited teams were created that entered at least one race. In 1956 at the height of the Seattle-Detroit rivalry, 9 teams were created. That 1956 reference reminded me of another ULHRA milestone when this organization conducted the Tri Cities race in 2004. That weekend ULHRA, Inc. qualified 4 new Unlimited drivers via the traditional Unlimited driver qualification standards. That number achieving race driver status happened just once before....in Seattle in......... 1956.

Think about it. ULHRA's premiere Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series has added more new teams this off-season than were entered at Tri Cities, Seattle, and Silverdale WA in 2005. Of the new teams, two are on the eastern side of the U.S. including 2 time National Modified champion Mike Webster who will drive the family owned UL-2 (former "Southern 7") and Mike Sadlon, moving up with his current National Modified hull that is being upgraded to ULHRA specifications. Since the Unlimited Lights rules for hull size range from 20 to 26 feet in length, and that 20 foot minimum stems from the beginning of the UL category in 1995, smaller NM and GNH hull owners can step into the ULHRA's touring professional series and get a taste of the program before upgrading to larger UL equipment.

In the Pacific Northwest, 8 new teams have joined including UL-4, Bryan Richards, Shoreline Sign & Awning moving to UL with his upgraded National Modified hull, UL-11 co-owned by Ryan Butler and driver Charles Xaudaro (the former Executif III GP ), UL-13, J. Craig Fletcher (the former UL-559 Outlaw) UL-17 Miss Ted's Red Apple Market which is a brand new hull under construction for Rick & Shawn Bridgeman and will be driven by two time 2.5 Modified World Champion Dustin Echols, UL-33, Bob Estes, (the former UL-10 High Pressure) UL-56 Bill Strain, moving up with his NM hull to ULHRA specs, UL-62 Rod Bourke, another NM upgrade, and Bill Nootenboom with his Terill Motorsports UL-85, a vastly upgraded former 7 Liter hull built in the 70's by Ron Jones Sr. and will be driven by Wayne Howard Jr who holds one victory in Unlimited Lights competition, San Diego Thunderboat Regatta, 2000.

With all these new teams and drivers you'll need a program book to keep up. You're in luck. (shameless plug!). The 2006 edition of Thunder & LIGHTS Magazine will be finished this month, available at every ULHRA race site and on newsstands in many markets.

What's also upcoming this month is live coverage on your computer of Spring Training 2006 from the HAPO Community Credit Union Thunder Cup Course on the Columbia River at Tri Cities WA. That will be on Saturday, May 20th. Ed Nelson, Jim and Karon Wilmot along with Gold Cup Video have been working diligently on this project. It's all about adapting new technology to serve our race fans around the world. There will be challenges along the way but we'll do everything we can to bring you information and live video coverage of ULHRA racing. Just log on and enjoy.

With all the good news, there is some not so good. The financially struggling Evansville Freedom Festival and Thunder on the Ohio Regatta has indicated it's unlikely they'll be able to invite the Unlimited Lights this year. However, remember just two years ago: a last minute call............let's face it, 10 days before a race IS last minute......brought the Unlimited Lights and the ULHRA staff to Evansville and we produced the 2004 race for the great fans in Indiana. ULHRA teams are hopeful things can turn around for their friends in the Evansville area.........one of the finest facilities and a great venue to watch hydroplane racing. It's unfortunate for those fans because they could have expected 18-20 entries at Evansville with the combination of the Unlimited Lights and the American Challenge Cup Series. Fast, loud, entertaining, great numbers of entrants and tremendously affordable. That's racing, ULHRA style!

So what does all this growth mean? If you're a hydroplane racing fan, and you likely are since you're reading this column, more entries raises the competitiveness and excitement at each individual race. Let's say, for example, 15 Unlimited Light teams enter the season opener at Tastin n Racin, June 10 & 11 at Issaquah WA. If that number enters, and it's possible, there would be Heat 1A, 1B and 1C, plus 2A, 2B and 2C all on Saturday. That's a 50% increase in the number of UL heats on Day 1 over 2006, not to mention all of the heats in the LTL series. Further, when 3 heats per section are required it means the teams have to run harder earlier because anything below a 2nd place finish in either preliminary will almost certainly force a team to reach the Final through the B-Main on Sunday afternoon. And that B-Main? That should be a dandy as several good teams will be challenging for the 2 transfer spots to the Final Heat. Of course, this all occurs after Heat 3A and 3B on Sunday. The point is, more boats mean more racing for race fans and race site promoters so everyone wins when more teams compete. As longtime ULHRA members know, the goal of the "Voice" isn't Heat 1C. It's Heat 1D. Won't THAT be exciting!

Just bring more cranes.