Winner of the Silver Cup ... UL110 Windows Server 2003
 

Sunday evening update...
The weekend was a solid, laid back event that pleased everyone from the fans who attended to the teams who took part.  It was also an event that ended earlier than expected.  Prior to the race weekend, the organizing committee had attempted to secure the river, but simply ran out of time.  As today's activity continued, it became clear that high winds and pleasure craft interruptions (despite solid efforts by local coast guard representatives) made conditions too unpredictable to run the final event.  In racing, it's safety first... both for fans watching and for our teams on the water.  The morning saw two five boat heats (Heat 2A and 2B) before the teams took a break for lunch sponsored by Microsoft at the Roostertail.  It was during that lunch that race officials turned the lunch into an extended gathering by announcing that the next heat would be in Seattle.

Up to this point we've been calling the UL14 the Tenrox Time and Expense.  We learned today that the team's name is a bit more complex.  This weekend, the UL14 team officially has the longest boat name ever announced in ULHRA history.  Yesterday, Hopp Racing and LP Marketing of Detroit proudly announced that the boat would be called "Miss Better Made Potato Chips/Northland Center/Kiss 102.7 Mason in the Morning/McDonalds".  Quite a team name!  This great package was put together in only three days.  Our thanks goes out to each of the UL14's team sponsors.

Damage suffered by Pingree Conflitti and the UL58 SharePoint Portal Services in heat 1B yesterday would keep their team on the shore today with George Woods and the UL51 Tenrox Time and Billing.

Heat 2A
Taking a look at today's action, Heat 2A included the UL5 San Diego Thunderboats, UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense, UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets, UL72 Red Rocket and the UL110 Windows Server 2003.  It was a beautiful sight seeing four of the hulls (UL5, UL17, UL72 and UL110) came round for the start.  It would have been a beautiful flying start had a cigarette style personal watercraft not shot out of the marina just before the fleet entered the final pre-race turn.  This left the field scrambling, flares going off and a black flag flying over the course.  Hulls had to jump the wake of the craft as Coast Guard and harbor patrol converged on the overly enthusiastic fan.  The UL14 and UL5 shut down, but the UL17, UL72 and UL110 continued to run.  As the pleasure craft was secured, the call went out of the radio to try and refire the three floating hulls.  When it was clear all five were up and running, they restarted the heat without returning to the dock.  

At the start, it was a battle between the UL110 Windows Server 2003 and the UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets.  The UL72 Red Rocket was in the hunt, but just off the lead pace with the UL14 and the UL5 trailing.  By the second lap, the UL110 continued a thin lead over the UL17.  That hunt for first would end with the UL17 going down in lap three. San Diego Thunderboats UL5 would catch and challenge the UL72 in the final laps of the heat.

Order of finish:
1 - UL110 Windows Server 2003
2 - UL72 Red Rocket
3 - UL5 San Diego Thunderboats
4 - UL14 Miss Better Made Potato Chips/Northland Center/Kiss 102.7 Mason in the Morning/McDonalds
DNF - UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets

Heat 2B
The start of this heat was delayed as coast guard and harbor police worked to keep the area clean from powerboats and sailboats that seemed determined to take to the course.  Once the area was secured, the boats were released.  Heat 2B included the UL10 Frazee Paint, the UL15 Mikes Hard Lemonade/Happy-Go-Lucky, the UL19 Windows SharePoint Services, the UL40 Front Page 2003 and the UL929 Microsoft Project.  In this heat, the wind would prove the sixth player racing the five teams.  The UL10 would have the early lead, with the UL929, UL19 and UL15 chasing.  Cal Phipps in the UL10 would dominate the heat, taking the checkered, but Vince Xaudaro's UL929 would take the lead at some points during the heat.  Phipps and the UL10 would wave to the crowd in a massive airborne jump as he crossed the line.  Jerry Hopp in the UL15 would also catch air and jump toward the end of the heat.  Conditions were getting rough as the heat closed and would, eventually, end the day.

Order of finish:
1 - UL10 Frazee Paint
2 - UL929 Microsoft Project
3 - UL19 Windows SharePoint Services
4 - UL15 Mikes Hard Lemonade/Happy-Go-Lucky
5 - UL40 Front Page 2003

Silver Cup Awarded!
We may not have been able to run the Silver Cup this year, but during a post race meeting the cup winner was determined.  Series officials took points earned during the weekend determined placement settling any ties based on qualification speeds from Saturday.  The results...

Winner - UL110 Windows Server 2003
2 - UL10 Frazee Paint
3 - UL19 Windows SharePoint Services
4 - UL72 Red Rocket
5 - UL5 San Diego Thunderboats
6 - UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets

Morning sun glints on the Red Rocket	The UL40 returns to the water after a week of work...	...and the crew celebrates success!	Vince Xaudaro hard into the turn!
UL110 Windows Server 2003	Cal Phipps sizes up the competition	Kevin Aylesworth jumps into action	Intense racing action
The fleet...	...puts on an...	...outstanding...	...mix of racing action!
Lunch at the Roostertail	A yacht fills one set of windows	George Woods surveys the UL51	Pingree Conflitti surveys the UL58
Make it Mikes!  Saluting Mike's Hard Lemonade	Fans check out the Red Rocket	The UL19 Windows SharePoint Services	Bill and Happy Rands joins the team in the pits
The UL10 Frazee Paint team	6th Place in the Silver Cup Rick Bridgeman	5th Place in the Silver Cup Kevin Aylesworth	4th Place in the Silver Cup Phil Bononcini
3rd Place in the Silver Cup Steve Hook	2nd Place in the Silver Cup Milt Wiggins (for Cal Phipps)	1st Place in the Silver Cup Randy Haas	Farewell to Detriot For now...

Saturday evening update...
The morning saw a chill wind move through the pits (temperatures were cool at the start of the day, winds were up and the water was white capping) as the teams continued to set up for the first of two days of racing here in Detroit.  After a beautiful vintage parade, some extreme ski exhibitions, a few runs by the racing side of the vintage fleet and crowd pleasing runs by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum Unlimited boats, the Unlimited Light fleet took to the water.  

We were able to get in a full testing period and three heats today.  Many have asked how the points will work here in Detroit?  Points are being awarded, but not in a traditional fashion.  As this is more of an exhibition event, any boat that runs and completes a heat will earn an equal amount of points to any other team competing.  Great motivation for the teams and a balanced approach to a new event.

By the time the Lights were gearing up to run Heat 1A, the winds had died down and the temperature was on the rise.  In the end, it was a magnificent day to race here in Detroit.  Let's jump right into the action...

Heat 1A
In Unlimited Light Heat 1A we had the UL5 San Diego Thunderboat, the UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense, the UL72 Red Rocket and the UL110 Windows Server 2003.  Right out of the box, this heat was a quick battle between Randy Haas in the UL110 Windows Server 2003 and Phil Bononcini in the UL72 Red Rocket.  The two were side by side out of the first turn.  The UL5 San Diego Thunderboat's entry (which took second in Valleyfield) was right off the hip of the leaders.  The UL15 Tenrox Time and Expense trailed the front three (that's another story we will get to shortly).  The two leaders would change position for the lead time and again with Haas and the UL110 catching Bononcini on the straight-aways and occasionally in turn one and Bononcini taking back position in turn two.  On a late lap, Bononcini in the UL72 hit a sizable roller giving Haas a momentary advantage.  Randy would take the advantage and turn it into a heat win in a closely contested race.  A solid run was also enjoyed by both the UL5 San Diego Thunderboat's and the UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense.  The UL14's heat run was a story unto itself as the Unlimited Lights welcome Jerry Bell to the fleet as a qualified driver.  Bell first went out in testing then ran competitively in Heat 1A.  With Jerry Hopp coaching him over the radio from the shore, Bell was able to put in a strong first showing.  Bell brought a local sponsorships (McDonalds and Better Made Special Potato Chips) to the team fully funding them for the weekend.  Great work by Bell on and off the water!

Order of finish:
1 - UL110 Windows Server 2003
2 - UL72 Red Rocket
3 - UL5 San Diego Thunderboats
4 - UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense

Heat 1B
In Unlimited Light Heat 1B, we had the UL10 Frazee Paint, the UL58 SharePoint Portal Services and the UL51 Tenrox Time and Billing.  The UL40 Front Page 2003 would have been in this heat, but was still recovering (read "team frantically finishing a week's worth of hull rebuilding") from their boat/wall incident in Valleyfield and had yet to join the fleet in the pits.  A proud UL40 team would unveil their completely repaired boat as festivities came to a close for the day (amazing work for just one week).  Getting back to the action, Cal Phipps in the UL10 and George Woods in the UL58 were to make it a real race of it this time out.  Pingree Conflitti seemed to be hampered in this heat, completing it but never finding the speed he would want.  Up front, Phipps would find the early lead at the start.  That lead would stretch to a half boat length, but Woods would take the lead at lap two with UL10 catching in the straightaway.  In turn two of lap two, Phipps and Woods were side-by-side.  Woods' day would end as he exited that turn when the fly wheel on the engine let loose.  During the race, it wasn't nearly as dramatic (the boat just went down), but as they returned to the dock things began to get exciting.  First, it was a fight to get it on the crane before it sank.  Fully a third of the boat was underwater by the time it was secured.  You see, when the fly wheel let loose it almost cut the boat apart.  A bit the fan blew out the bottom, another cut a line out of the left side of the boat and a third section was lodged into the right side of the hull.  Woods commented that that fly wheel was his favorite.  It had been in several previous record holding boats.

Order of finish:
1 - UL10 Frazee Paint
2 - UL58 SharePoint Portal Services
DNF - UL51 Tenrox Time and Billing

Heat 1C
In Unlimited Light Heat 1C, we had the UL15 Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky, the UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets, the UL19 Windows SharePoint Services and the UL929 Microsoft Project.  This race was as close as it gets with all four boats on the line at the start, side-by-side bringing the crowd to it's feet.  Coming out of the turn, the boats were still side by side.  Vince "the X-Man" Xaudaro would go down before the end (no damage, just a precautionary shutdown to avoid a problem) leaving three to contest the heat and contest it they would!  Lead changes and a ton of great photo opportunities start to finish.

Order of finish:
1 - UL19 Windows SharePoint Services
2 - UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets
3 - UL15 Mike's Hard Lemonade/ Happy Go Lucky
DNF - UL929 Microsoft Project

The pits of Detroit are...	filled with Lights!		We welcome Better Made Special Potato Chips!		Pingree Conflitti and Dawn
UL5 San Diego Thunderboats	Steve Hook gives us thumbs up		Randy Haas, pilot UL110 Windows Server 2003		Jerry Hopp coaches Jerry Bell in the UL-14
UL110 and UL72 side-by-side in heat 1A	UL10 and UL51 in heat 1B		The fleet readies for  heat 1C		UL15 and UL19 in heat 1C
Vince Xaudaro in the UL929 Microsoft Project	Jerry Hopp gets airborne during testing		The fleet prepares for a run		UL51 Tenrox Time and Billing takes on water
UL72 Red Rocket	UL58 SharePoint Portal Services		UL10 Frazee Paint		UL40 joins the fleet!
George Woods compares notes with the team		Bringing you the very best in video coverage...		Tom D'Eath coordinating the action...

Friday evening update...
As of 5:30 PM, we have ten boats in the pits and a total of thirteen teams are expected.  Teams in the pits include UL5 San Diego Thunderboat, UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense, UL15 Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky, UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets, UL19 Windows SharePoint Services, UL51 Tenrox Time and Billing, UL58 SharePoint Portal Services, UL72 Red Rocket, UL110 Windows Server 2003 and UL929 Microsoft Project are on site.  We're expecting Valleyfield's champion, UL10 Frazee Paint, plus the UL40 Front Page 2003 and the UL102 Edward Jones Associates.  A great turnout for a solid new Detroit.  Taking a look around the pits...

The Unlimited Light pits!	Hulls begin to fill the vintage pits	Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum sets up shop	The Detroit Yacht Club
UL19 Windows SharePoint Services	UL72 Red Rocket	UL17 Ted's Red Apple Markets	UL15 Happy Go Lucky arrives
Some great decal work on the UL5 team truck	Truly outstanding decal work...	UL58 SharePoint Portal Services	An interesting looking 5 litre...
M&M Nursing Services, Inc. watching over the pits of Detroit	Ken Warby's ride has arrived. (Yep, Ken's here too!)	An early meeting with Tom D'Eath!	A couple great HRM hulls... ready to run!

Pre-Race Coverage and Updates!
Details and history of the 2003 Silver Cup | Information on the Event
Microsoft Accelerates the Unlimited Lights and Vintage Unlimited Hydroplanes on the Detroit River