Harold Mills A Hit At Motorsports Celebration

Thunder Valley Racing driver Harold Mills was a big hit at the Washington Motorsports Celebration of Champions December 27th, sponsored by Fans United for NASCAR (FUN). Harold was the only boat racer invited. Held at the Everett Events Center, the gathering featured appearances by NASCAR Rookie of the Year, Kasey Kahne and Daytona 500 winner, Derrike Cope.

We had a great time meeting the NASCAR fans. Some were very knowledgeable about hydroplanes. Many fans stopped by to get an autographed UL-40 card from Harold, along with Thunder & Lights magazines, 2005 calendars and t-shirts.
People wanted to find out more about the Unlimited Lights.
 

NASCAR Nextel Cup 2004 Rookie of the Year, and Enumclaw, WA native, Kasey Kahne.	Kasey's No. 9, 'Dodge Dealers/UAW' Dodge.	Harold discusses boat racing with the fans, while Skip passes out T-shirts.	State Trooper Lance Ramsay presented Kasey with a Certificate of Appreciation for his assistance in Washington State Patrol's 'Safe Driving Campaign'.  Central to the campaign are a series of television commercials featuring Kasey.
Kasey with his mother, Tammy.	Harold, who is more accustomed to signing autographs than collecting them, gets Kasey's while Skip talks with Derrike Cope.	"The Drivers".	Ed Shadle, owner, builder, and driver of the Land Speed Record project, 'North American Eagle', and Harold swap stories.

"Pitted" next to us were the guys from our favorite land speed record car, the North American Eagle. Co-Owner and driver Ed Shadle, Crew Chief and engine builder Cameron Shadle, Keith Zanghi, Jon Higley had an amazing display of technology: using a magnet as a brake for an aluminum car wheel.

The FUN gathering was geared toward building enthusiasm and continued interest in a NASCAR track site in Washington
State. The festivities included a pit crew competition, RC car racing, head to head video racing and local racer introductions. Kasey Kahne's NASCAR show car was on display with other exciting exhibits and there were door prizes for attendees.

The highlight of the event was a $150 a plate dinner and reception with Kahne and Cope. All the proceeds went to support Fans United for NASCAR in their efforts to bring a race track in Washington and a NASCAR Nextel Cup race. Washington State Patrol Trooper Lance Ramsay presented Kahne with a special award in appreciation for his work with the WSP on safe driving.


Other local drivers who took part in the day's events were kid kart champions Kylie Nunley (8 yrs old) and Devine Nunley, (5 yrs old); Roger Crockett - Northern Sprint Tour; Brad Stanwood - NW Street Stock Tour; Jay Cole, Scott Miller and Nick Frausto - champions from different divisions at Grays Harbor Raceway; Jimmy Allen Jr - Northwest Outlaw Street Stock Series, Drew McCaffery - WSR Western Snowmobile Racing, and Ed Shadle of the North American land speed record car.

A special thank you to Debbie Emge of Fans United For NASCAR and Kim of Expresso Time for their wonderful hospitality.

Skip Young

The new Modified class in Lighter than Lights keeps growing!

 

The latest to step up is Bill Strain and his Problem Child Racing team.  Strain, known to friends as "Wild Bill", was out of racing action in 2004 following a season ending wreck in 2003.  Strain and crew have rebuilt and upgraded their hull.  In fact, save for the capsule cockpit, it's all new.  The photos show the progress to date. 

Strain got into hydroplane racing originally when he purchased a hull from Mark Evans. Mark and brother Mitch both drove the boat in the 80's as a 280 cubic inch hydro.....now known as 5 Liter.  It was that boat that Strain was driving when both sponsons were torn off in a wreck at the end of the 2003 season, leading to the creation of this new entry. 

"Wild Bill" began racing at drag strips while in high school and still owns a couple racing craft from those days.  The new boat is 22 feet long and just over 11 feet wide.  The boat will be heading to the paint shop, shortly.  Strain says, "we would like to thank Fogle's Fiberglass, Ron Jones Jr. Gary Walmsley, Ron Jones Sr., and the Porter Family and the rest of the hydro family for all their help. Can't wait to be back.!!!"

 

The new Modified Class, sponsored by ESL Enterprises, will combine 4 cylinder and 8 cylinder modified hydroplanes in a single class.  The series will be contested at 4 Washington State events and is expected to attract several entries from outside the Pacific Northwest.  Those events include Tastin n Racin in June, Speedfest in July, Quicksilver in August and Strait Thunder in October.  The Modified Class will also participate in Spring Training, the ULHRA open testing session to be conducted in Tri Cities WA this coming May.

 

The entire ULHRA schedule is posted on this website. click for Schedule 

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

A major change in the 8 cylinder stock lineup for 2005.

 

In two years of ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS competition, the 8 cylinder stock champion has been Jeff Bernard in Armand Yapachino's Luciano's Casino-Joya Mia.  However this championship combination will not three-peat in 2005.
 

Oh, they'll continue to race together.  They're just gunning for a different title.  Out with the stock, and in with the modified engine.  Yes, the Bernard-Yapachino combination will attempt to capture the title in the new ESL Enterprises sponsored 8 cylinder modified class. The 8 cylinders are scheduled to compete at 4 Washington State events in the  ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS series.

 

Jeff Bernard comes from racing stock.  His mother, Sue Weber Troxell is from the famous racing Weber family.  Brothers Mark and Mike Weber both tallied victories in the early years of Unlimited Lights racing.  Sue is married to one time UL driver, Terry Troxell, who drove the U-16 Ellstrom Mfg. turbine hydroplane to victory at St. Clair Michigan last summer.
 

The veteran Ed Karelson designed hull is maintained by Crew Chief Steve Hurlburt, and crewmembers Guy & Kris Manning, Bob Wulfekuhle and Larry Minnitti.  Owner Armand Yapachino has been a mainstay of northwest hydroplane racing and many successful drivers, including Terry Troxell, have been behind the wheel of a succession of Joya Mia hydroplanes. 

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

Christmas & New Years greeting

 

2004 was a tremendous year for ULHRA Inc.  We thank you for your support of our series by attending our events, and logging on to this website regularly. 

 

2005 will see even more growth of the sport of hydroplane racing within this organization.  Beginning with Spring Training in May we will see the debut of Thunderboats ACCS: The American Challenge Cup Series, with larger hydroplanes, bigger engines and faster speeds.  In Washington State, the 3 race Lighter than LIGHTS series expands to 4 events, and welcomes a new category;  8 Cylinder Modified, to join with the existing 4 Cylinder and 8 Cylinder Stock classes.

 

New teams and new hulls are entering the Unlimited Lights series in 2005.  You'll see, between the Unlimited Lights and Thunderboats ACCS series, as many as 20 or more big and fast hydroplanes at certain events.  And that's just the beginning. 

 

Spring Training plus 9 racing events in 2005.  It's going to be a great year. 

 

All the best to you and yours this holiday season.  Keep checking here regularly as we update what's happening in the world of hydroplane racing, ULHRA style!

 

John Lynch

"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights

When you've flown the Voodoo Jet Fighter, who wants to race Stock? 

 

Not Bob Estes.  This fighter pilot turned airline pilot also likes to race in the fast lane, and his is one of the leading 8 cylinder MODIFIED teams in the newest Lighter than LIGHTS category. 

 

ESL Enterprises, INSTIGATOR Racing-NM33 is a Ron Jones Sr. design.  Fans around the country may remember this hull from its earlier days as the very successful 280 cu.in  "Lil' Bud."  Over the last three seasons, owners Janet & Bob Estes have made many new technical upgrades to their boat. They've also made a strong effort to bring back the National MOD class in the Pacific Northwest.

Crew Chief Mack Elliott brings his valuable longtime experience, starting as a crew member for the Miss Budweiser. Engines come from Gary and Debbie Pugh of Performance Engine Development of Tacoma along with Johnson Machinery.  P.E.D. is also one of the leading engine builders in the Unlimited Lights series.  Other crew member include; John LaMarsh, Scott Ellis, Al Berg, Jarad LaMarsh, Leslie Evans, Michael Johnston.

 

INSTIGATOR Racing appreciates the support and inclusion from the Board of Directors of ULHRA, Inc. for the opportunity to participate at the 4 scheduled LTL races in 2005.  Those races will be in the State of Washington, at Issaquah in June, Olympia in July, Silverdale in August, and Port Angeles in October.

Last winter, it was constructing.  This winter, it's tweaking for Richards Racing in the 8 cylinder Lighter than LIGHTS series.

 

Bryan Richards of Shoreline Wa, just north of Seattle, enters the off-season of the Lighter than LIGHTS series with his second consecutive 2nd place finish.  In fact he's finished 2nd with two different hulls. 

 

Richards Racing acquired a veteran 5 liter hydroplane in 2003 for Bryan's rookie campaign.  The team took advantage of the ULHRA's first ever Spring Training to get Bryan some "seasoning".  The 2003 campaign was solid for the Shoreline Sign & Awning team, if not spectacular.  So in the offseason the team embarked on building a new boat.  With design assistance from Ron Jones Sr. the family team built an all new E-4 from carbon graphite & honeycomb aluminum.  The new 8 cylinder LTL came in at 22 feet long and 11 and a half feet wide.  This offseason, the team intends to build on the successes of 2004, including their first LTL victory at Olympia Speedfest, for an all out assault on the 2005 Lighter than LIGHTS championship. 

Bill Osborne photo
Crew Chief and patriarch Mick Richards leads the family crew of Kevin Richards, Jeff Richards, Bob Richards and Renee Richards.  in addition to being sponsored by the family owned Shoreline Sign & Awning, the team is also supported by Action Machine, Northwest Aerospace Technologies, TEKLAM and Northwest Composites.  Check out the team website.  www.Richards-Racing.net

The 3rd place team in LTL competition in 2004 looks to run faster on the water and move higher in the standings in 2005.   

 

Muncey? Wil Muncey? Is he....? The answer is yes. Wil Muncey is the son of hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey. In 2005, Wil will enter his third season in the Lighter than LIGHTS 8-cylinder category, driving the E-83 owned by his wife Debi Muncey.

 

Wil & Debi have been a racing partnership, family partnership and business partnership for over two decades.  Wil and Debi met in the early 80’s when she enlisted Wil to drive her unlimited hydroplane in Seattle, Pasco, and San Diego. By 1983 Debi had joined Wil’s publishing business, Boatracing Magazine, while the two continued racing and promoting marine motorsports in the Pacific NW. Out of the sport for over a decade just being "regular folks”, Wil & Debi tiptoed back into racing in 2003 with the purchase of a 5-liter hydroplane. They have been regulars in NW racing the past two years, and in 2004 their E-83 took third in the Lighter than LIGHTS 8-cylinder competition. In 2005 they look to step up performance as their team gains more experience. Debi's oldest son, Crew Chief Chris Dreewes oversees a young group of racers, including son-in-law, Jeremy Doll, who are learning the ropes and having a good time.

click for 8cyl Teams

RSBN.net show advisory

This week's edition of Fast Wet and Wild will feature Kevin Aylesworth, owner-driver of Freedom Racing's UL-5 Baker Equipment Co. - Sycuan Casino & Resort.  Kevin will be joined by Tri Cities Water Follies Executive Director Emily Janikowski, and ULHRA's "Voice" of the Unlimited Lights, John Lynch.

They're at it again!  Freedom Racing updates the UL-5

Freedom Racing of San Diego CA has never been a team to rest on their laurels.  Now they are hard at work with new updates for their Ron Jones Sr. tandem wing UL-5 hull.  The tandem wing concept is one they, and Jones, both strongly believe.  Each year the race team has improved. In 2004, they earned their first ever UL victory, at the prestigious Molson Dry Regates De Valleyfield in the Canadian Province of Quebec. 

The team first joined the ULHRA at the Seattle Seafair race in 2002. Owner-Driver Kevin Aylesworth and team merely wanted to see what they had with a boat that had been built & driven in UL competition in the 90's by the now retired Howie Labrie of Tacoma WA.  Labrie built the boat from a Ron Jones Sr. design.  Aylesworth's team ran a naturally aspirated engine and learned plenty that first partial season.  Since then, each winter off season has seen radical upgrades by the team, in consultation with Jones.  Now the boat is longer, wider, and powered by a supercharged UL engine, and as the photos here show, it's getting even wider.

Sponsored by Baker Equipment Company of Renton WA, and Sycuan Casino & Resort in Southern California, the Freedom Racing team wound up 4th in the ULHRA standings for the second straight year.  If this off-season upgrade works as well as previous efforts, watch for the Freedom Racing team to be challenging for the top spot in Unlimited Lights competition all through 2005.

John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights
 

The boat sitting in the fixture.	The fixture used to hold the boat in place when we put it back together.	After we cut it into three pieces.	The boat in the fixture set at the width it will be finished at.	The sponsons totally separated from the center.

'Thunder and LIGHTS' needs your photos!

Work has begun on the 2005 edition of ‘Thunder and LIGHTS’, and your photos are needed. In 2004, the magazine-style program of the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association was packed with hundreds of great boat racing images; mostly contributed by fans. With an even larger publication planned for the ‘05 season, the need for photos is even greater. Obviously, we love the action shots, but every bit as important are photos of crews, fans, race sites; anything that portrays the ‘LIGHTS experience.
Digital shooters can email images to mcsharley@wamail.net, though if you’re sending a lot of them (more than 10-15) a CD is preferred. Email for mailing instructions. Film shooters should also email .
Thank you all                                   --Mark Sharley, Photo Ed.; 'Thunder and LIGHTS

From our friends "down under", the famed E.C. Griffith Cup will be contested in April.

Media Release
1 December 2004

AUSTRALIAN POWER BOAT ASSOCIATION
National Authority Affiliated with the
Union International Motorboating
National President: Tony Walsh
Victorian President – Rob Psalia

2005 “E.C. Griffith Cup”

The Australian Power Boat Association is pleased to confirm the dates of the 92nd running of the prestigious E.C.Griffith Cup will be the Anzac weekend in April 2005.

The venue will be at Yarrawonga on the foreshore of beautiful Lake Mulwala on the mighty Murray River, Victoria.

The event will now be held on Sunday 24th April with the Anzac Day public holiday on Monday a back up day if required.

With final approvals in place event organiser the Victorian Council of the A.P.B.A. will now be working feverishly to create one of the most anticipated E.C. Griffiths Cups in recent history.

This marks the return to big time boat racing for Yarrawonga and much planning has gone into the event to make it a bigger and more successful event than in years past and the first step into securing the venue as a permanent home for Australia’s most prestigious powerboat race.

The event was previously held at Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River in N.S.W.

The E.C. Griffith Cup was donated in 1912 by Mr. Ernest Griffith for competition between open hull class boats of unlimited engine capacity. Mr. E.C. Griffith was a founder of the A.P.B.A. was a jeweller by trade and hand made the pure silver trophy which is valued at $65,000 but is priceless in terms of heritage.

The E.C. Griffith Cup is Australasia’s oldest motorsport trophy. 2005 marks its 92nd running.

The competition started in 1913 and had to cease for the duration of both wars. A New Zealand boat, Redhead owned and driven by Sir Len Southward, took the cup to New Zealand in 1949 and an Australian team didn’t win it back until 1963.

The Cup has regularly traveled between the two countries since 1989 when Latimer Lodge a Grand Prix Hydroplane driven by P.G. Knight won it back for New Zealand. This boat also held the World Grand Prix Hydroplane water speed record at 179mph.

In 2002 the G.P. Hydroplane Big Chief, of Australian Paul Burton driven by Greg Holland won the Cup back for Australia from the Kiwis.

Further enquires call
Rob Psalia
President Victoria A.P.B.A.
BH (03) 9312 6922
Mob 0417 590 931
ABN : 17 339 864
69 Slip Rd
PAYNESVILLE VIC 3880
Tel/Fax: +61 3 5156 6487 Mob: +61 418 673 458
e-mail: tonywalsh@datafast.net.au

Justin Schaller checks in with more details on the new hydroplane he's offering For Sale (updated 12-11)

Editor's note: This boat was built to race as a GP hull. It should make an excellent race boat for either Thunderboats ACCS ("G" class) or Unlimited Light. Justin Schaller's comments follow. (editor added notes in parenthesis) John Lynch

"It's a brand new Ron Jones Jr. hull. The boat is 26' long (UL maximum and ACCS minimum length) and 12.1' wide (UL max. 12' 6":. ACCS max. 13'). The tunnel is 76" wide (UL max. 78". ACCS max 82") with a 4 degree bottom. The design of the boat is a bigger version of our old National Modified. The changes that we had made to the NM and the changes we were going to make to the boat have been incorporated into this hull. The skid fin is T1 tool steel and is Teflon coated. The skid fin bracket, rudder bracket and strut brackets are all 15-5 stainless steel and they too are Teflon coated. The rudder is polished 15-5 stainless. The strut is 15-5 stainless. They are to the same material specs the Unlimiteds run.  All of my weldments on the boat are beyond what the Unlimiteds run.  The skid fin bracket, rudder bracket and strut brackets are all weldments using 5/8” 15-5 SS plate". 

click for Pictures

Major offseason work for a Lighter than LIGHTS team.

The 9th place finishing 4 cylinder hydroplane in 2004, looks for big improvement in 2005.  The S-151 Tsunami will have a major re-fit this winter when a new composite bottom is installed on the veteran hull.  The work will be done at the U-8 team shop owned by Bill Wurster.  In addition, Owner Bob Donley and crew plan to have at least two complete race engines ready, and possibly a third.  There will be a pair of drivers splitting time in the cockpit in 2005.  Hydroplane photographer Alan Lagervall will continue his efforts from behind the wheel instead of behind the lens, and he'll alternate with S-6 Miss Breezy crewmember Kayleigh Perkins.

2005 Schedule Announced