Régates Molson Dry de Valleyfield - FINAL
* UL 72 penalized 1 minute for DMZ violation. Régates Molson Dry de Valleyfield - Semi-Final (B-Main)
* UL 19 penalized 1 minute on Lap 4 for a chop on the UL 58.
During this heat, in turn two of lap four, the rudder of the UL40 snapped off as a
result of torque in the apex of the turn, causing the boat to exit the course in a straight
line towards the turn two grandstands. Driver Kelly Stocklin had backed off
of the accelerator, thus the UL40 was not operating under full power at the
time. The boat ran ashore onto rocks and grass, hitting the jersey barriers and
hurricane fence placed along the shoreline for the protection of the fans,
breaking off the wing and the starboard sponson tip and slightly damaging
the nose. Let's share a little
video! Saturday ends early in
Valleyfield Below we have the final point totals after the conclusion of preliminary competition.
This sets up a 7 boat "B" Main with the UL14, driven by Wally Johnston, the UL17 with Rick Bridgeman, the UL19 with Steve Hook, plus the UL40 of Kelly Stocklin, the UL58 driven by Pingree Conflitti, the UL110 with Randy Haas and Vince Xaudaro`s UL929 scheduled to compete. The top 3 finishing boats will advance to the final. First place in the "B" Main earns a front row starting spot, with 2nd and 3rd in the "B" Main starting as `trailer boats" one roostertail behind the front row. The 5 teams that are seeded into the Final include, UL15, Jerry Hopp 800 pts John Lynch Régates Molson Dry de
Valleyfield Heat E (2A)
* UL 40 penalized 1 minute for bearing out at the start. Heat F (2B)
* UL 19 penalized 1 minute. High winds and water were the challenge facing the Unlimited Lights in Heats 2A & 2B here at Valleyfield. They successfully completed both heats without incident, but not without some surprises. First, in Heat 2A, at the start the lead was taken by, KEVIN AYLESWORTH?! Yes, the owner-driver of the supercharged UL5 San Diego Thunderboat was first across the line. Not only first over the line, Aylesworth gave the UL5 Freedom Racing team their finest run in their brief ULHRA tenure. For two laps, Aylesworth led Canadian Patrick Haworth in the UL10 Frazee Paint. Haworth got by in the first turn of lap three and went on to victory. But Aylesworth maintained second place for the 5 mile run, ahead of George Woods in the UL51 Tenrox Time & Billing, and Kelly Stocklin in the UL40 Front Page 2003. Stocklin was penalized one minute for a lane infraction coming down from the start which elevated the UL51 to third place. Rick Bridgeman aggressively went for lane one at the start in the UL17 Ted`s Red Apple Market. However the boat stalled coming down for the start. Bridgeman was able to keep going, but later the UL17 expired on lap two and did not finish. Pingree Conflitti in the UL58 SharePoint Portal Services was unable to start. Aylesworth had to shut down on lap 3 because the canopy inadvertently opened, and that`s when the challenge by Haworth was completed. Aylesworth re-secured the canopy and drove on to a second place finish. In Heat 2B, fans were briefly reminded that sometimes, "old age & treachery can overcome youth and ability". In this case, we`re not discussing drivers....it`s the boat. As in the UL14 Tenrox time & Expense driven by Wally Johnston of Helena MT. At the starting line, and briefly down the backstretch, this 32 year old Ron Jones hydroplane was in the lead! Ultimately finishing third, "the old girl" showed she still has the ability. Challenging first was Randy Haas in the UL110 Windows Server 2003 who took the lead into turn 2. Coming up hard on the inside was Jerry Hopp in the UL15 Happy Go Lucky - Mike`s Hard Lemonade and they were even at the exit pin. Hopp took the lead and steadily grew that lead on his way to victory, while Haas held a comfortable second place. However, in a strange reminder of a year ago, Haas boat went dead in the water, approaching the last turn on lap 5, and failed to finish. The same thing happened to Randy here one year ago in the same location; only differences were Haas was leading on the last lap of the Final Heat in 2002. Taking second after needing 4 laps to pass Wally Johnston, was Phil Bononcini in the UL72 Red Rocket. Fourth place went to the UL19 Windows Sharepoint Services driven by Steve Hook. The UL19 was first over the line, but just a bit early, so he would`ve finished no better than 4th after the 1 minute penalty. The UL929 Microsoft Project of Vince Xaudaro was unable to start. With one round of preliminary heats to go, the standings look like this. Boat Sponsor Drive Results Totals The Draw for Heats 3A & 3B is UL 15 Jerry Hopp UL 5 Kevin Aylesworth After Heats 3A & 3B, the top 5 teams in points will advance to tomorrow`s Final Heat. The remaining 7 teams will be eligible to compete in tomorrow`s "B" Main where the top 3 finishing teams will advance to the 8 boat Final Heat. First place in the "B" Main earns that team a spot on the front line for the start. Second & Third Place in the "B" Main will start as `trailer boats`, one roostertail length behind at the start. John Lynch Here is the lineup for 2A & 2B 2A 2B First Day Recap from
Valleyfield, July 4, 2003 In Heat 2B, 4 boats answered the start and it became a very exciting heat, just like 1A. Jerry Hopp took the lead in the UL15 Happy Go Lucky - Mike`s Hard Lemonade and had the inside. Popular Canadian driver Patrick Haworth was right alongside in the UL10 Frazee Paint. They`d stay that way for nearly 5 miles of racing. A roostertail length back in third was Randy Haas in the UL110 Windows Server 2003. Haas was reeling in both boats, particularly on the backstretch, and by turn two on lap number 2, they were practically 3 wide. Haas hit some rough water in that turn and fell back, but made one final run on the backstretch of lap 3. In the end, less than 2 roostertails separated the three boats, with Hopp first, followed by Haworth and Haas. It was Randy`s first race in a year, after competing only twice in 2002. It was also Haworth`s first time in the UL10, after driving a few heats last year in the UL110 and UL72, including winning the final at Tri Cities in the Ul72. Fourth place went to Kevin Aylesworth in the Ul5 San Diego Thunderboat. Two teams that experienced troubles in testing were unable to start. The UL40 Front Page 2003 with driver Kelly Stocklin tried to make a 33 minute engine change, and came up about 2 minutes short. Meantime the UL929 Microsoft Project of Vince Xaudaro was unable to start. This is Xaudaro`s first effort with his newly acquired hull, purchased last month from John Hogan Racing of Seattle. This is the same boat that raced at Valleyfield in 2002, and later won the GNH World Championship at Hampton VA. John Lynch More on yesterday's
Unlimited Light heat action... This morning a test session will take place at 10:30am. It`s so the UL40 Front Page 2003 of Kelly Stocklin, and the UL929 Microsoft Project of Vince Xaudaro can sort out their systems. Neither boat started its preliminary heat on Friday. The 40 tried to change engines in 33 minutes, but it took 35 so they missed their heat by a scant amount of time, but still made an amazingly quick engine swap. The 929 wouldn`t start, so that team spent the evening & morning determining why. Also testing will be popular Valleyfield driver Patrick Haworth in the UL10 which scored second in its preliminary heat but displayed some handling difficulties. For the second UL race in a row, the series will welcome a new driver in her first test. At Issaquah last month it was the daughter of UL58 owner-driver Pingree Conflitti. Annette Conflitti took a few turns of the course in the UL58, and now wants to continue. Dad just needs to get another UL. Today, racer, and writer-photographer Tracy Morgan will test the UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense for owner Jerry Hopp. Morgan, who`s writing and photos have appeared on here at www.ulhra.org, as well as Skid Fin Magazine, APBA Propeller and other publications, is a veteran racer. She`s competing this year in 1.0 liter modified hydros, racing the `"Pink Panther`", based in Virginia. She previously raced in 2.5 liter stock hydros. The Massachusetts native is the daughter of Tom Morgan, veteran GNH racer and one time UL entrant. Tom Morgan will be on the radio `coaching" Tracy during the test. John Lynch Additional results from
Valleyfield!
Régates Molson Dry de
Valleyfield Heat C (1A)
* UL 17 penalized 1 minute for starting violation and 1 minute for overlap violation. Heat D (1B)
Friday morning in
Valleyfield!
The field is led by points leader Jerry Hopp of Snohomish, Washington in the supercharged UL15 Happy Go Lucky - Mike`s Hard Lemonade. Hopp`s son Greg won the first race of the season, at Issaquah, Washington`s annual Tastin & Racin Festival, giving the team the lead with 1440 points. Father & Son normally alternate driving duties in the UL15. However Greg is not in Valleyfield this weekend. He`s in Madison, Indiana at the Unlimited Hydroplane race driving for team owner Fred Leland. At least for today, "Grandpa" Jerry will pull double duty. His UL14 Tenrox Time & Expense Unlimited Light is also here. That boat, with rookie driver Paul Becker at the wheel, took 4th place at Issaquah. Today at least, Jerry will be at the wheel of both the UL14 & UL15. Hopp can expect plenty of competition. 3 time defending Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association series champion, Phil Bononcini in the UL72 Red Rocket is 2nd in the series points standing. Bononcini in the naturally aspirated UL72 defeated Jerry Hopp in the only heat they were matched in Issaquah. Bononcini was unable to start the final heat after sustaining a cracked strut. Popular Canadian driver Patrick Haworth from Valleyfield is at the wheel of Milton & Charley Wiggins UL10 Frazee Paint. Patrick debuted in the UL series a year ago here at Valleyfield. He later won the final at Tri Cities, Washington in the UL72 as a special guest of team owners Joe Frauenheim and Phil Bononcini. The Haworth driven UL10 was the first all Unlimited Light hydroplane produced by the legendary Ron Jones Sr. His second UL offering is the UL72, and his third will debut later this year. Haworth will be driving the hydroplane that raced only twice in 2002, but raced very successfully, taking 2nd place at Detroit, Michigan and San Diego, California. This will be the first race of the year for the Wiggins team from Gadsden, Alabama. Steve Hook sits third in points after the first race, including two preliminary heat victories in the UL19 Windows SharePoint Services. It`s the best start to the season ever for this hull, which was originally built by Ron Jones in the mid 80`s and updated for UL competition in the mid 90`s. This hull was the first campaigned in the Unlimited Light series by Phil Bononcini and Joe Frauenheim. The boat is owned by John Tietz of Couer D`Alene, Idaho and Tom Eckenburg of Everett, Washington.
The most improved entry from 2002 comes from California. The UL5 San Diego Thunderboat, driven by co-owner Kevin Aylesworth, converted to supercharged power in the off-season and made substantial hull changes. While their points standing of 8th doesn`t so indicate, this team showed remarkable performance improvement over 2002 and should be considered a dark horse threat in Unlimited Light competition, along with the rapid improvement of driver Aylesworth. 5th place at Issaquah WA went to the host team at Tastin & Racin, the UL40 Front Page Server driven by 2002 ULHRA Rookie of the year Kelly Stocklin. This team has also improved from 2002, after overcoming some fuel system difficulties in the first two heats of the 2003 season. Better handling was evident in the first race, which was the goal in the off-season work, along with adapting dealing with the more restrictive supercharger engine rules in place in 2003. For "blower" motors in 2003, the supercharger is limited to turn at 80% of the engine`s crankshaft speed. Last year the rule allowed superchargers to turn 10% faster than the crankshaft speed. The result of the rule change was to lower the performance of the supercharged motors from about 1200 horsepower to about 950 hp. The goal was to keep the "blower" motors in a relative parity with the carburetor, or non supercharged engines (aka; normally aspirated). Supercharged entries must weigh a minimum of 2700 lbs, compared to normally aspirated teams weighing between 2000 and 2500 lbs. The difference in weight minimums is dictated by the choice of one of several engine combinations approved for UL competition. Some of the heavier teams, former Grand Prix hydroplanes that exceed 2950 pounds, can apply for a waiver to run their superchargers at 90% of crankshaft speed. Another improving team actually brings back another former GP hull that competed here at Valleyfield. Rick & Shawn Bridgeman acquired the UL17, built originally by Jon Staudacher, in the winter of 2002 from Valleyfield`s Daniel Mercier. The Ted`s Red Apple Market entry made a brief appearance in 2002, but underwent substantial changes this past winter, and showed significant speed this spring. At the season opener, driver Bridgeman was on his way to a preliminary heat victory when the boat shut down within sight of the checkered flag. He did get one third place finish on the weekend and is 9th in the points standings.
Joining the series for the first time in a year, is the UL110 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 of Carl and Randy Haas from Toledo OH. This team was in line to win the Regates De Valleyfield last year. 3 teams had jumped the gun, and the 4th boat over the line was the UL110 with Randy Haas driving. Victory was his, until the engine failed entering the last turn before the checkered flag, and allowing Ping Conflitti to take the win. Haas returns in a team that`s always competitive and should be expected to contend for the title this weekend. One team has made wholesale changes since Issaquah. The Microsoft Project Driver entry of Vince Xaudaro is not the same UL929. The "X-Man" has retired from competition his venerable Ed Karelson hull after sustaining damage at the season opener. In its place is the potent former UL37 of John Hogan Racing that won the GNH World Championship at Hampton VA in 2002, after competing in the UL event here in Valleyfield. Later the then UL37 took 3rd at San Diego. Here in the Canadian Province of Quebec, the official language is French. As a result, there is a team of race referees, combining French and English speaking officials. The lead referee, in his final Regates De Valleyfield after 25 years, is Marcel Murphy of Valleyfield. He is joined by Jack Meyer of Louisville KY, and Dee Berghauer of Milwaukee WI, who reminds everyone that his hometown is the site of the 2004 APBA winter meetings. The draw for Unlimited Light Heat 1A and 1B follows. (identified as Heats C&D in Valleyfield) 1A. UL14 Tenrox Time and Expense - Driver Jerry Hopp 1B. UL 5 San Diego Thunderboat - Driver Kevin Aylesworth John Lynch
The Valleyfield race
committee has asked that we run 8 boats in the Final. In our eight
boat final, we will have four by heat points and the and the balance
from the Semi-Final. More details as the are available. There will
also be an Invitational race comprised of GP's, GNH's, and UL's.
It should be quite the exciting weekend! Pre-Race Coverage and
Updates!
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The Unlimited Lights will take to the tight one mile Valleyfield course for the
first time at 2pm Eastern time, today. There will be two 20 minute test
sessions with 6 boats each. Then at 5pm today, Heat 1A will be conducted,
followed at 5:20pm with Heat 1B. Heats 2A & 2B, and Heats 3A & 3B will be
conducted on Saturday, with the "B" Main and the big 8 boat final on Sunday.
That final will include 6 boats on the front line, with 2 trailers.
Returning to hydroplane racing after a 10 year injury forced layoff,
is former Unlimited Hydroplane racer George Woods. The Sumner, Washington veteran scored
3 victories in the turbine class, and also was a record setting driver in KRR(K
Racing Runabout or K-Boat). He was also a record holder in what currently is
called National Modified hydroplane, but was known as 5 Liter hydroplane when
Woods set his record. The 5 liter class then was the former 266 cubic inch
class, while today`s 5 Liter class is the former 280 cubic inch stock hydroplane class.
Woods is an accomplished builder & tuner of supercharged race engines. He also
set up the UL51 Tenrox Time & Billing hydroplane, built by Ron Jones in 1981,
for its first Grand Prix owner. That combination of a familiar hull, and the
chance to work on supercharged engines in hydroplane competition lured Woods
back to the cockpit. The UL 51 had preliminary heat difficulties in its first
race but came back to take 3rd overall and currently sits in 6th place in the
UL standings. 
Defending champion here at Valleyfield is SharePoint Portal Services UL58,
driven by Pingree Conflitti. The ex-Funny Car drag racer was the most surprised of anyone at his victory, which came about with the help of penalties
to other drivers for jumping the gun at the start. Conflitti adapted quickly
to hydroplane racing in the boat he acquired in 2002 from Rick & Shawn
Bridgeman, as he won Valleyfield in only his 2nd race in UL competition. His
engine is naturally aspirated and has always been a quick runner. The team had
problems at Issaquah and wound up with a single 5th place finish, putting them
in 10th overall. Substantial improvement can be expected this weekend from the
Detroit, Michigan based Hard Hat Racing Team. 