Belterra Resort Indiana Governor's Cup Regatta

Sunday Summary

Unlimited Lights Results:
Morgan Foods Unlimited Lights Final

Team	Driver	Sponsor/Name	Speed (mph)	Remarks
UL-10	Charley Wiggins	Earl's Performance Products	94.281
UL-2	Tom Thompson	Country Boy	84.356
UL-83	Tony Stalder	Combs Construction	79.788
UL-102	Scott McGregor	McGregor Propulsion	71.486
UL-33	Denny Jackson	Hinkles Sandwich Shop	DNF
UL-110	Randy Haas	Miss CompAir	DNF
UL-23	JW Myers	Steinhardt Heating & Air	DNS

Papa John's Unlimited Light Heat 4

Team	Driver	Sponsor/Name	Speed (mph)	Remarks
UL-110	Randy Haas	Miss CompAir	92.518
UL-83	Tony Stalder	Combs Construction	85.644
UL-2	Tom Thompson	Country Boy	DNF
UL-33	Denny Jackson	Hinkles Sandwich Shop	DNF

A look back on Sunday's full coverage

Morgan Foods Unlimited Lights Final

It was an eventful Unlimited Light final.  Before the start the UL-23 Steinhardt Heating and Air spun out damaging the UL-23 and ending it's race.  Driver J W Myers is fine following the incident.

The UL-102 McGregor Propulsion, plagued by gremlins since the last season, made it up on plane and completed it's first heat of competition with Scott McGregor at the helm.  The hull looked solid and it was great to see the former High Pressure hull back in action.

At the start it was the UL-2 in lane one, the UL-110 in lane two, the UL-10 in lane three with the UL-83 on the outside.  Both the UL-102 and the UL-33 entered the heat as trailers.

From the start it was a battle between the UL-110 Miss CompAir and the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products.  Charley Wiggins (UL-10) held the lead by a small margin through most of the contest, but Randy Haas had the UL-110 right there threatening to take the lead.

Just behind the leaders, the UL-2  Country Boy and UL -83 Combs Construction raced a close fight for third.  Regrettably, the UL-110 Miss CompAir went down during lap two ending the fight for first.  UL-102 McGregor Propulsion and UL-33 Hinkles Sandwich Shop were also in the race, but struggled to make up their trailer start.

In the end it was Charley Wiggins in the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products taking the win in the Unlimited Light final.  The UL-2 Country Boy came in second.  The UL-83 Combs Construction took home a third place finish.  The UL-102 McGregor Propulsion took home it's first heat finish with fourth for Scott McGregor.  Finally, Denny Jackson and the UL-33 Hinkle's Sandwich Shop took fifth position.  This was is Jackson's and Hinkle's first Unlimited Light participation and we welcome them both to the fleet!

Just after the race finish, Tony Stalder, driver of the UL-83 Combs Construction was treated by the EMS.  He took in fumes during the final and was shaky as he came out of the cockpit.  Early word is that he is okay and that is the most important thing.

1:44 PM update...

Your Morgan Foods Unlimited Light Final is up next!  We will have five boats in the front with two trailers for the Unlimited Lights final.

10:06 AM update...

Papa John's Unlimited Light Heat 4

Coming up on the start we had the UL-2 Country Boy in lane one, the UL-110 a bit back in lane two and the U-83 Combs Construction in lane three.  Early on in the race the UL-2 charged to the lead while we enjoyed a tight battle for second between Randy Hass in the UL-110 and Tony Stalder in the UL-83.  During lap two the UL-110 pulled away from the UL-83 to challenge the Tom Thompson in the UL-2 Country Boy to a true on the water dog fight for first.  As they came out of turn two entering the back straightaway, the UL-2 caught some water and went down.  From there it was a clean ride for the UL-110 to the checkered flag.  Your final order of finish... The UL-110 Miss CompAir takes first, the UL-83 Combs Construction takes second and the UL-2 Country Boy does not finish.

9:58 AM update...

UL-2 Country Boy is the first away from the dock quickly followed by the UL-110 Miss CompAir and the UL-83 Combs Construction.  We are now five minutes away from the first race of the day.

9:53 AM update...

We are at five to the five for the Papa Johns Unlimited Lights Heat 4.  In this heat, the UL-83 Combs Construction, the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products, the UL-110 Miss CompAir, the UL-102 McGregor Propulsion and the UL-2 Country Boy were scheduled to take the water.  Most of the boats are on the cranes or set to start.  It looks as if the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products with Charley Wiggins will sit this one out.  The UL's count their best two heats out of the three to score points.  As Charley has won two heats, he is opting out of this one to continue resting his injured knee for the day's competition.  Gremlins also continue to plague Scott McGregor and the UL-102 McGregor Propulsion as they remain on the trailer at this time.

Initial update of the morning...

As we kick off today's coverage, we thought it might be fun to give you a look at yesterday's Unlimited Lights heat winners.  Here are your first photos of the morning...

Charley Wiggins prepares to take the UL-10 out on the course. Charley took home top honors in Unlimited Lights Heats 1 & 3! Randy Haas waits as the clock ticks down to his heat. Randy accepting the trophy for his victory in Unlimited Light Heat 2

Sunday Summary

Unlimited Lights Heat Results:
Ponderosa Steakhouse Unlimited Lights Heat 1

Team	Driver	Sponsor/Name	Speed (mph)	Remarks
UL-10	Charley Wiggins	Earl's Performance Products	85.755
UL-23	J.W. Myers	Steinhardt Heating and Air Conditioning	78.442
UL-83	Tony Stalder	Combs Construction	65.581
UL-110	Randy Haas	Miss CompAir	DNS
UL-33	Denny Jackson	Hinkles Sandwich Shop	DNS

Best Western/Rivercrest Marina Unlimited Lights Heat 2

Team	Driver	Sponsor/Name	Speed (mph)	Remarks
UL-110	Randy Haas	Miss CompAir	89.370
UL-2	Tom Thompson	Country Boy	87.784
UL-23	J.W Myers	Steinhardt Heating and Air Conditioning	80.024
UL-83	Tony Stalder	Combs Construction	DNS
UL-102	Scott McGregor	McGregor Propulsion	DNS

Thomas Family Winery Unlimited Lights Heat 3

Team	Driver	Sponsor/Name	Speed (mph)	Remarks
UL-10	Charley Wiggins	Earl's Performance Products	84.808
UL-83	Tony Standler	Combs Construction	82.689
UL-23	J.W. Myers	Steinhardt Heating and Air Conditioning	73.630
UL-33	Denny Jackson	Hinkles Sandwich Shop	DNF
UL-2	Tom Thompson	Country Boy	DNF
UL-102	Scott McGregor	McGregor Propulsion	DNF

A look back on Saturday's full coverage

7/1/00, 4:24 PM update...

Thomas Family Winery Unlimited Light Heat 3

Charley Wiggins takes his second win in his second Unlimited Light heat of the day!

In addition to the race itself, the pre-race jockeying for position was a treat to watch as the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products and the UL-23 Team Pegasus/Steinhardt Heating & Air Conditioning each worked to get the inside lane.  In the end, JW Myers started the race with the UL-23 in lane one.  Charley Wiggins was at his side in the UL-10.  The UL-83 had lane three and UL-33 started back from the field.

As the race was underway, Charley charged forward for an extremely well timed start.  It was so well timed that, as the trophy was presented to him after the race, he was unsure that he had won the race.  He had.

Charley led the entire way, but the UL-83 Comb's Construction made it a real race as the hull would charge forward and threaten to challenge the UL-10 several times through the heat.  The UL-23 wasn't far behind the UL-83 and remained a solid competitor.

The UL-33 Hinkles Sandwich Shop is making progress as they continue to work through difficulties experienced this weekend.  They identified a fuel problem prior to the heat and looked better on the water.  The team fell just short of finishing the heat, but is improving every time out.

7/1/00, 4:00 PM update...

In the Thomas Family Winery Unlimited Light Heat 3 we have the UL-23 Steinhardt Heating and Air, the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products, the UL-102 McGregor Propulsion, the UL-2 Country Boy and the UL-33 Hinkles Sandwich Shop.  We'll return with all the results shortly...

7/1/00, 3:50 PM update...

Let's take a look back at the speeds of Unlimited Light 2...

Five to the five for the Thomas Family Winery Unlimited Light Heat 3 will be at 4:00 PM.

7/1/00, 3:10 PM update...

Best Western/Rivercrest Marina Unlimited Lights Heat 2

Randy Haas took the UL-110 Miss CompAir to victory in Unlimited Light heat 2!  The UL-2 County Boy followed with a second place finish and the UL-23 Steinhardt Heating and Air came in third.  The UL-83 picked up a problem in the fuel line prior to the start, began to overheat and had to shut down.

7/1/00, 2:53 PM update...

The Unlimited Lights are getting ready to take to the water for their second heat of the day.  The UL-2 Country Boy is the first out following the five minute gun.  The UL-23 Steinhardt Heating and Air follows with the UL-83 Comb's Construction right behind.  Randy Haas and the UL-110 Miss CompAir is the final Unlimited Light to join the heat.  The UL-102 McGregor Propulsion will be on the sidelines as they continue to work on the hull in anticipation of the remainder of the weekend's racing.

7/1/00, 1:53 PM update...

Three time past president of the Madison Regatta Denny Jackson explained that the UL-33 Hinkles Sandwich Shop encountered what may be a fuel line problem.  They are working hard to get the boat back in line for their next race.  Denny explained, "I really think the boat has more in it than what we showed."  The boat simply lost power as it ran the course and had to call it quits before the finish.

7/1/00, 1:42 PM update...

 At 2:30 PM we will feature the Best Western/Rivercrest Marina Unlimited Lights Heat 2. 

7/1/00, 1:32 PM update...

Ponderosa Steakhouse Unlimited Lights Heat 1

The UL-10 Earl's Performance Products takes the win in Unlimited Light heat 1A.

Charley Wiggins took the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products to the ealry lead in the race and held that lead the rest of the way.  The UL-23 Steinhardt Heating and Air Conditioning took home second place with J W Myers at the helm.  Third place went to Tony Stalder in the UL-83 Comb's Construction.  The UL-33 Hinkles Sandwich Shop and the UL-110 Miss CompAir both did not finish the heat.  The UL-33 struggled from the start and made a real effort to finish the heat.  We have yet to hear what took place with Randy Haas and the UL-110.

7/1/00, 1:15 PM update...

Unrelated to our racing, there was a medical situation on the water that had to be addressed before the start of Ponderosa Steakhouse Unlimited Light Heat 1A.  The drivers are sitting in their hulls waiting to race and the clock has been reset.  We should be racing shortly.

Correct that, the engines are firing as I write this and the sound of those big block automotive engines fills the riverfront.  We are five minutes from the start and we'll be back with results shortly...

7/1/00, 1:00 PM update...

Getting crane operators into position has delayed the start, but the Unlimited Lights are getting into ready at this time.  There has been a line-up change heading into the heat.  The UL-110 Miss CompAir will replace the UL-102 McGregor Propulsion in this heat.  The UL-102 will be back onboard in place of the UL-110 later today.

7/1/00, 12:50 PM update...

We are 5 to 5 as the Unlimited Lights are preparing to take to the water.

In a respectful ceremony held on pleasure craft in the middle of the Ohio river just in front of the judges stand, the ashes of Jim Kropfeld were scattered onto the Ohio river.

7/1/00, 12:09 PM update....

We are now in a one hour period during which the river is open.  We'll be back at 1:00 PM with the Ponderosa Steakhouse Unlimited Light Heat 1A!

7/1/00, 11:20 AM update...

We are into an Unlimited Light test session now.  Charley Wiggins took the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products out a few minutes ago.  The UL-2 Country Boy driven by Tom Thompson has seen time on the water.  The UL-110 is currently on the water powering down the back stretch.

7/1/00, 11:02 AM update...

Here are your draws for the Unlimited Lights!

7/1/00, 10:58 AM update...

Let's catch you up on the Unlimited Lights as they prepare to take to the water for the first heat racing of the weekend later this afternoon.  We now seven Unlimited Lights here in the pits.  Let's run down the line-up for the weekend:

UL-2 Country Boy
UL-10 Earl's Performance Products
UL-23 Team Pegasus/Steinhart Heating and Air Conditioning
UL-33 Hinkles Sandwick Shop
UL-83 Comb's Construction
UL-102 McGregor Propulsion
UL-110 Miss CompAir

7/1/00, 9:19 AM update...

Charley Wiggins is climbing into his driver's suit and has plans to drive both the U-6 Miss Madison and the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products this weekend for as long as he is physically able.

6/30/00, 5:22 PM update...

It has been a quiet afternoon.  As the boats don't get into the water until tomorrow, it has been mostly a bit of trailer firing, some engine work and a lot of time spent talking boat racing in and around the pits. 

The UL-23 Team Pegasus has joined us.  The Master Tire is now set up next to the U-1 Miss Budweiser.  We'll have photos to share later this evening!

6/30/00, 11:55 AM update...

To ease confusion, we are updating on Madison time all this weekend.  In the pits at this point we can add the UL-2 Country Boy, the UL-110 Miss CompAir, the U-9 Jones Racing Team, the U-5 Appian Jeronimo and the U-10 York International.

Let's get this show on the road!

Lack of a land line delayed our initial Thursday update until Friday morning (6/30/00). 

Last night Denny Jackson had the UL-33 on Main Street in front of his sponsor; Hinkles Sandwich Shop.  The display generated quite a crowd as Madison residents came out to support their home town Unlimited Light boat.

I've bumped into my good buddy Jeff Ayler more times than I can count.  He will be covering the event all weekend over the airwaves of WORX.  Many of you may know Jack Lowe from his photo work on Hydrofest, Hyrdoplanes.net and other internet resources.  He was spotted pulling his motor home into the pits.  Fred Farley has been all over town.  It's definitely Regatta time here in Madison!

Let's kick off the weekend with our first set of photos.  Here's what the Regatta pit area looked like ten days ago...

 
Just a sign and a trailer...

Pre-race Update on Charley Wiggins....
During last weekend's Budweiser Thunder on the Ohio in Evansville, Indiana, Miss Madison pilot Charlie Wiggins was injured when the escape hatch on his Unlimited Hydroplane failed at the apex of the final turn of Heat 2B. Charley managed to cross the finish line, he then signaled for assistance from UHRA medical personnel. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Latest word from this Miss Madison camp is that Charley is recuperating at home in Alabama. The team has secured Unlimited veteran driver Nate Brown as back-up for the Governor's Cup in the event Charley isn't ready to get back in the cockpit.