May 13 & 14, 2000 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST both days!

Weekend Plan | Results & News | Photos | Links
Latest update - 6/2/00 at 10:26 AM EDT in the photo section
under "More photos from the Western Divisionals"!

The results and news...
(All times listed are EDT)

5/15/00, 7:54 AM update - Thanks to Phil Bononcini, we have a nice wrap-up on the Unlimited Light side of the weekend's action...

"Today we ran two heats with UL-3 and UL-15.  Both heats I took the outside.  Heat one Hopp broke down just before the finish line so I won.  It would have been very close.  The second heat I was outside again and this time Hopp did win.  I came in second and Brow in Hogan's boat was third.  My understanding is both heats were real crowd pleasers.  Weather was great and they were able to run a TON of heats on Sunday."

5/14/00, 8:03 PM update - We haven't heard much from Renton today.  Everyone must be enjoying Mother's Day with their families.  We do have a few new photos to point you to though.  Alan Lagervall sent us a couple shots of the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic.  We've loaded them on the UL-72 site's photo gallery!  Click here to take a look.

5/14/00, 9:01 AM update - Talking with UL-72 Pocket Mechanic driver Phil Bononcini following yesterdays action...

"We were basically blown off the water.  The day started very windy and rough.  The race was put on hold until about 2pm.  We went out to test and so did Hopp with Greg driving.  It was rough!  Then the wind died down and the race was started late.  Because of the limited time and the fact that they really needed to get the Western Divisionals done, they scratched our heats.  Maybe we'll have better luck tomorrow."

Over on the Seattle Inboard Racing Association site, they've added a video of the first lap of the 5 Liter final heat.  Click here to take a look.

We're going to take a few hours off from our coverage, returning later this afternoon.  As it is Mother's Day, we are going to share lunch with family then return later for all the action.

5/13/00, 11:41 PM update - Alan Lagervall was another friend who attended today's action.  Earlier me made it home from the event and sent us an update writing... "The race was nearly blown off the water today.  They finally got boats out racing at 3 pm (PST).  Greg Hopp (UL-15 Hopp Racing) tested about noon and never made it back out on the course.  John Hogan's UL-3 (Miss Vnode.com) never made it off the trailer and UL-72 (Pocket Mechanic) made about a half dozen test laps and that was it for the big boats.  Good racing in the 5 litre and 1.5 litre classes!"

Alan was also there shooting photos during the event.  The wind delays today kept him from making it to the lab, but he mentioned that he may just have a few photos for us tomorrow night.

5/13/00, 8:45 PM update - At this time, the UL's have yet to run.  They are trying to get all the Divisionals in first.  We're not sure if they are going to run again, but we will let you know as soon as anything happens on the water.  The boats have about fifteen minutes left for the day.

Additional results and the full breakdown of all of today's action is available on the Seattle Inboard Racing Association site. 

5/13/00, 7:31 PM update - Add Crackerbox and 2.5 Stock results to the list of what's available online.

5/13/00, 6:41 PM update - The action got underway about sixteen minutes ago.  Results are making their way onto the Seattle Inboard Racing Association site.  Click here to take a look.  Super Stock, Mod U and 5 Litre results are already on the site!  Additional testing photos can be found here.

5/13/00, 5:31 PM update - More information just in from our Seattle Inboard Racing Association contact...  

It is still windy, but down to about 10 mph out of the north.  A few boats have been out testing including the Pocket Mechanic which ran about 5 laps at a good speed and was handling the rough water nicely.  The Hopps tried to run, but the engine wouldn't start.  They towed the boat back to the pits and are working very hard to correct the problem.

To quote Scott, "I did post a couple of pictures of Hopps boat running earlier this morning on www.hydroplanesnw.com and one of the Pocket Mechanic running a few minutes ago also.  Attached is a pic of Hopps boat right outside the pit area ... more coming soon ... if the weather will hurry up and cooperate!"

5/13/00, 2:29 PM update - One of the people feeding us information today is Scott Raney.  Scott maintains the Seattle Inboard Racing Association site and is operating live at the course loading results to his site and passing on information to us.  Be sure to pay him a visit through the day as he will have up to the minute information!

At this point the event is on a bit of a weather hold.  It's partly cloudy, about 55 degrees with wind coming from the north at about 10 to 15 mph.  The following Unlimited Lights have been spotted in the pits; UL-15 Hopp Racing Team, UL-3 Miss Vnode.com and the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic.  These are a few that we have confirmed at this point.

Also clear to us from Scott's update...  If you are interested in 1.5 liter action, you should keep an 1.5 Liter Hydroplane Page.  Bob Belf should have all the results there as well.

5/13/00, 1:02 PM update -  We have three individuals on site who will send us photos and updates though the day.  Alan Lagervall is one of those three.  Late last night, Alan let us know that he had stopped by the pits yesterday evening and there were already about a dozen boats there with more coming in as he left.  The weather for the event has improved so everything looks good for the weekend of racing.

Initial update - The Freddie's Club Casino Renton Cup Western Divisional limited hydroplane races return to Renton on Saturday and Sunday.  Parking and admission to the event is free, but fans are asked to bring a donation for the Renton Food Bank.  For more information call 425-226-1586.

The photos...

UL-15 Hopp Racing! (Photo provided by the Seattle Inboard Racing Association) Looking for more photos from the event?  Just click here!	UL-72 Pocket Mechanic! (Photo provided by Alan Lagervall) Want to see more of Alan's UL-72 shots?  Just click here!

 
More photos from the Western Divisonals!
(Photos provided by Alan Lagervall)

New photos!

Our first set of photos...

Additional photos can be found on
Hydrofest's 1999 Unlimited Light Western Divisionals Gallery

The links...

Organizer: Security Race Products ... Sponsor: Freddie's Club Casino

Information on Gene Coulon Park - Site 1 | Site 2

American Inboard Tour
Schedule & Standings

Doug McIntosh's Western Divisionals Site

Seattle Inboard Racing Association

The plan...

Although not an official Unlimited Light event, we do have a few teams planning to attend this great weekend of racing.  As such, we thought it might be fun to cover the action as a pre-season warm-up presenting results, news and photos over the weekend! 

We have a couple ULRS "correspondents" heading for the event, so we should have several updates on the action!

For additional information on the race be sure to stay tuned to the Seattle Inboard Racing Association site.  For a bit of background on this weekend's action be sure to visit Doug McIntosh's Western Divisionals Site.

How are the Unlimited Lights involved in the action?  An Invitational Grand Prix race will include National Mods, Grand National, Grand Prix and Unlimited Lights to be run in conjunction with the other divisions.  One heat will be run on Saturday and one heat Sunday!