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Due to private, personal
needs within his family, popular Unlimited Lights
owner-driver Pingree Conflitti has announced he's
putting his two UL hydroplanes up for sale. Conflitti
says he hopes to return to UL racing in the future but
right now concerns within his family must come first.
This means the UL-58 Union
Dooz and the UL-559 Outlaw are now for sale. The final
two races under Conflitti's ownership will be excellent
opportunities for prospective buyers to meet, and strike
a deal. "Ping" has entered both the Union Dooz and the
Outlaw in the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta, September
16-18 on Mission Bay, and the Victoria Express presents
Strait Thunder meets Street Thunder at Port Angeles WA,
September 30, October 1 & 2.
Conflitti joined ULHRA, Inc.
when he purchased the present UL-58 Union Dooz
hydroplane from current G-17 Owner-Driver Rick Bridgeman
who had raced it as the Ted's Red Apple Market
hydroplane on the west coast for several seasons. The
personable Michigan native made an immediate impact, in
a rather unusual way. Heading from his home to his
first ever race, 2,000 miles away in Kamsack
Saskatchewan, Conflitti ran into tow rig problems in a
small Wisconsin town. There he happened to meet a local
resident, familiar with hydroplane racing, who happened
to see the disabled rig and hydroplane in a parking
lot. Immediately, the local resident went home for his
pickup truck, latched on to the Union Dooz trailer, and
towed the Conflitti team over 1,000 miles to their first
ever race...rolling into Kamsack on Saturday afternoon
Not only did they get to that race and Conflitti
finished his qualification requirements, the Union Dooz
took 4th place! Even better, in the next race he made
history. Conflitti won the 2002 Molson Dry Regates De
Valleyfield in Quebec.
Ping made another bold
statement in his tenure as a ULHRA Owner-Driver. In
2004, when ULHRA was brought in at the last minute to
run the Evansville Freedom Festival's Thunder on the
Ohio, Conflitti was there with Union Dooz. In an effort
to help the series, the very next weekend he showed up
in Valleyfield with Union Dooz, and with
Outlaw....purchased immediately after the Evansville
race.
This year, Conflitti
returned to Evansville Indiana with both boats. Dooz
sustained some minor engine damage and was withdrawn,
but Outlaw went on to a preliminary heat victory. The
following race, Pierre Maheu debuted in UL competition
driving Outlaw, and had a terrific deck to deck dual
with Greg Hopp in the Mike's Hard Lemonade. Maheu
demonstrated talent that deserves more driving
opportunities in the Unlimited Lights series.
Conflitti has both boats in
race ready condition for San Diego and Port Angeles. He
says if they are not sold while he's on the west coast,
he'll return with them to Michigan where they will be
offered for sale in the U.S. and overseas.
Details on both boats can be
found in our For Sale section on this website.
UL-58 UL-559
Conflitti says they can be sold separately or possibly
as a package deal. Outlaw was originally a blown GP
hull, converted to naturally aspirated UL power and
presently has a 509 cu.in. engine built by Booth Arrons
of Detroit. Conflitti says the Outlaw engine has been
run in only 7 heats of racing. It has a recently
re-engineered gearbox, custom trailer with gas tank and
filler hose, electric pump and fuel consumption meter
and filter, eliminating the need to carry fuel in the
tow rig. The hull also features recently updated carbon
fiber stepped sponsons.
The veteran UL-58 Union Dooz
hull has seen success in Unlimited Lights competition,
reference the victory in Valleyfield with Conflitti
driving in 2002, and several top 5 finishes prior to
that by Rick Bridgeman. Because of the team's
outstanding year in 2002, Conflitti was one of 4 teams
invited to introduce the new Microsoft 2003 product line
and the UL-58 competed that year as the Share Point
Portal Server.
Outlaw and Union Dooz have
demonstrated they are very capable entries in UL
competition, and both represent an outstanding
opportunity for teams new to UL competition, or for
existing UL teams seeking to start a second team. The
Unlimited Lights series continues to grow, evidenced by
the 12 boats scheduled to compete in San Diego and that
is the largest field of Unlimited Lights ever to compete
on Mission Bay.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited
Lights
Wyatts Diamond Jewelers presents Elaine's American Maid a hit at Evergreen State Fair Parade The Munceys' E-83 hydroplane (Wyatts Diamond Jewelers presents Elaine's American Maid) was a hit at the Evergreen State Fair Parade on Saturday. Color-coordinated tow vehicle provided courtesy of SnoCountry Ford. Wil Muncey walked along side the boat along with Wyatts owner, Jim Keppler, passing out candy to the children along the parade route. What nice guys!
Photos by Alyce Dreewes
UL-9 American Eagle announces
title sponsor for San Diego Thunderboat Regatta
The UL-9 American Eagle is excited to announce their title
sponsor for the up coming San Diego Thunderboat Regatta
Phoenix Enterprises sells 5-6 million Stakes a year along with Lodgepole Posts for a variety of uses such as vineyard, trees, vegetables and nurseries. Don Weld, owner of Phoenix Enterprises has been in the lumber business for 24 years specializing in treated wood products. Phoenix Enterprises has been an innovator and leader in the vineyard and tree stake industry since 1988, and is dedicated to taking care of our customers with quality products and reliability of delivery. The Phoenix Enterprises’ American Eagle will be part of a San Diego Unlimited Lights fleet of 12 teams in what appears to be the most competitive race of the season. The top two boats battling for the ULHRA’s National Championship are only 319 points apart, with over 2800 points up for grabs in the final two races of the season.Phoenix Enterprises American Eagle on display Saturday The Phoenix Enterprises American Eagle (UL-9) will be on display all day this Saturday at:
Bret Chevrolet
619 Washington Ave N Kent, WA, 98032
Stop buy and see the boat and take a look at the new 2006 Chevy's.
Third consecutive year that Port Angeles is where the ULHRA Championship will be decided.
With two
races to go in the 2005 Unlimited Lights Championship Tour, the battle
for supremacy and the right to wear UL-1 appears headed for what's
becoming a tradition. The title won't be decided until the Victoria
Express presents Strait Thunder meets Street Thunder event in Port
Angeles WA, Sept 30, Oct 1 & 2.
Strait
Thunder, named for the body of water known as the Strait of Juan De Fuca
where Port Angeles is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest
Washington State, has been the deciding point for the Unlimited Lights
Championship since Strait Thunder was launched in 2003. This year
there's an exciting difference. In 2003 and 2004, the Hopp Racing team
and their Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky
 , went to Port Angeles with
a substantial but not quite points clinching lead. This time, it could
go down to the Final Heat on Sunday, October 2nd.
Greg &
Jerry Hopp were victorious over Phil Bononcini in 2003, and George Woods
in 2004, each of whom drove the familiar red UL-72, now known as the
Miss Boat Electric.
 Here in 2005, last season's Rookie of the Year,
Michael Flaherty is at the wheel of the 72, and with two races to go
trails the father and son Hopp team by only 319 points. A total of
2,880 points remain available to either team should they "run the
table"; meaning qualify #1 at both races and win all 7 heats left on the
2005 schedule (400 points per heat win and 40 points per #1 qualifying
position). This is one of those years where qualifying points are
playing a role. In qualifying for Unlimited Lights races, ten percent
of heat points are applied to the top 8 teams in qualifying. That
means, 40 points goes to the top qualifier, with 30 points for second,
23 points for third, 17 points for fourth, 13 points for fifth, 10
points for sixth, 7 points for seventh and 5 points for eighth. Thus
the final 2 events should feature tremendous competition for the 2005
title, both on the race course and in the qualifying sessions. Since
1997, these are the only two hulls to win the Unlimited Lights
Championship. It also bears repeating that the two teams use different
power sources. The Mike's Hard Lemonade is supercharged while the Miss
Boat Electric has a normally aspirated engine.
Think the
intrigue ends there? Think again! Final placement in the Unlimited
Lights standings is very important to all of the teams. It's a matter of
prestige, pride of accomplishment, and validation as teams work to
secure new elements and sponsorships for 2006. For example, San Diego's
own Kevin Aylesworth and his UL-5 Baker Equipment Co - Freedom Racing
Team,
has finished 4th the past two seasons. They had a strong end to
the 2004 season, with near victories both at San Diego and Port
Angeles. This year they are the most competitive they've ever been,
witnessed by the runner-up finish to Greg Hopp in Seattle. But they've
had some missed points opportunities such as the near sinking in
Evansville, and the broken rudder bracket in Silverdale. There's no
doubt that a victory or two is certainly possible. More so, while a
series title will have to wait for another year, third place is still up
for grabs. Presently, Aylesworth's UL-5 leads last season's third place
team, Vince Xaudaro's Conover Insurance UL-929 
by a mere 158 points. One
third place finish of 225 points takes care of that deficit. Last year
the "X-Man" had a career year with 3 second place finishes. Knowing he
had "maxxed out" the capabilities of his boat, Xaudaro spent the
off-season with a major re-do of the UL-929 hull, adding 2 more feet in
length, another foot in width, and a bigger engine. The effort paid off
early with Xaudaro's first career victory at Evansville in June, but was
setback in Silverdale when a potential second victory was lost with
a DNS (Did Not Start) in the Final Heat. Just as in the battle for the
championship, these two teams have differing power sources. The UL-5 is
supercharged while the UL-929 is naturally aspirated.
1169 points
separate the 4th & 5th place teams. The surging Thunder Valley team
with Harold Mills driving the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation
is two
successful races away from contending for 4th and even third place in
the standings. The points gap is substantial, but not insurmountable.
Mills and friends have crafted the team's best ever ULHRA campaign with
a solid hold on 5th place, gaining ground with 4th & 3rd place finishes
in the two most recent races. Plus, he's going to the site of his first
ever Unlimited Lights drive, San Diego, on a race course he really
enjoys.
Despite a
miserable start to the season with their brand new boat, Steve Hook in
Tom Eckenberg's Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix UL-19
has moved into 6th
place in the standings. The Western Triple Header was a series of
successive improvements, including the boat's first ever heat victory in
the Silverdale B-Main. Hook is 1194 points behind Mills and a longshot
to move up. However, only 205 points separate Hook from Joe Turner in
the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co....
which is now the boat owned by Ron Doumont's Escapeius Maximus team from British Columbia. Turner and
Doumont are continuing their joint effort for San Diego and Port
Angeles, with the Turner engine program powering the Doumont hull and
Joe Turner behind the wheel. Ron Doumont did compete in one heat at
Silverdale and may see some seat time at San Diego and Port Angeles. 
Doumont and his then inactive hull were recruited to fill in for
Turner's original Jackie's Purple Thunder hull which was damaged while
on the way to a sponsor appearance just prior to Seafair in Seattle.
The trailer broke loose from it's tow vehicle and the result was major
sponson damage that knocked the hull out of competition. The
collaboration between Turner and Doumont has proven successful, with
Turner qualifying as the Final Heat alternate in Seattle and finishing a
career best 4th place at Silverdale. Just getting in the race at
Seattle was a major accomplishment as it took many volunteer man
hours by crewman from several teams, both in the Unlimited Lights and
Lighter than LIGHTS series, to convert the Turner engine
configuration for installation in the Doumont hull.
Just 348
points behind Turner is Paul Becker in the UL-14 Miss Software
Prototype,
heading for a fast race course with long arcing
turns.........just what the 31 year old hull seems to like best,
particularly with the new horsepower this season from the 509 cu.in
engine. But wait, there's more. Only 93 points back of Becker is Paul
Droullard and the UL-9 Phoenix Enterprises American Eagle.
 Yes, Phoenix
Enterprises is a new sponsor for the Eagle, and the team is returning to
action for the first time since Evansville. San Diego is where Droullard set the all time ULHRA qualifying record a year ago at 122.324
mph. There will be more on the American Eagle's return in a subsequent
story.
San Diego's
Thunderboat Regatta will be on Mission Bay, September 16, 17 & 18. Two
weeks later the Victoria Express Strait Thunder meets Street Thunder
will be contested on September 30th, October 1st & 2nd. The Street
Thunder element is an All Makes Motorcycle Ride to benefit the Boys and
Girls Club of Port Angeles WA.
John Lynch
"Voice" of
the Unlimited Lights
Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy go Lucky at the 53rd Annual Corn Roast Fly-In The Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy go Lucky will be on display this Saturday 8/27 from noon until 4 pm at the 53rd Annual Corn Roast Fly-In at Harvey Airfield. Harvey Airfield is located on the south side of the Snohomish River at the town of Snohomish. Harvey Airfield is the HomePort of the two time National Champion UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky. Stop by and enjoy some fresh roasted corn.
UL 9 to be centerfold
Mark Sharley on Saturday at Silverdale
Mark Sharley at Seafair
More Alan Lagervall at Seafair
Mark Sharley at Tri-Cities
One vastly improved Unlimited Lights team won't make the Seattle Seafair race this weekend, nor the following race at Silverdale WA next weekend.
Joe
Turner, owner-driver of the UL-18
Pacific Rim Brewing Co. entry that
qualified as the alternate for the
Final Heat last week at Tri Cities,
and took 5th place in Issaquah at
the season opener in June, reports
there was a traffic accident in the
Seattle area today (Wed 8-3-05).
The boat was being taken to a
sponsor appearance in Pioneer square
when the accident occurred. Turner
says most of the right side sponson
was ripped off of the boat and the
damage will take some time to
repair.
It is
now expected that the Seafair
"fleet" for Unlimited Lights will
encompass 8 entries.
UL-1
Mike's Hard Lemonade - Happy Go
Lucky.
Driver, Greg Hopp
UL-5
Venture
Bank
Driver, Kevin Aylesworth
UL-6 BCS
Enterprises
Drivers, Kerry Beynon and Al
Carstensen
UL-14
Miss Software
Prototype
Driver, Paul Becker
UL-19
Conover Insurance presents Mz Zip
Fizz Energy Drink Mix Driver,
Steve Hook
UL-40
Miss Red Dot
Corporation
Driver, Harold Mills
UL-72
Miss Boat
Electric
Driver, Michael Flaherty
UL-929
Conover
Insurance Driver,
Vince Xaudaro
John Lynch
"Voice" of
the Unlimited Lights
Gold Cup
Video on Saturday at Tri-Cities
Bang Imaging on Saturday at Tri-Cities
Bang Imaging on Friday at Tri-Cities
Michael
Flaherty
 and his UL-72 Miss Boat
Electric have moved into a strong
challenging spot for the 2005 ULHRA
Championship. A 1200 point 3 heat
victory at Tri Cities has propelled the
UL-72 to less than 400 points behind the
UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky
of Greg and
 Jerry Hopp. Greg Hopp was
the apparent winner at Tri Cities,
however a DMZ violation (driving through
the closed portion of the race course)
prior to the start resulted in a 1
minute penalty, dropping Hopp to 4th in
the Final Heat. Still, Hopp wowed the
huge audience when his second lap was in
excess of 118 mph........virtually equal
to his qualifying speed. Throughout the
4 lap, 6 2/3 mile race, Hopp led in lane
two with Flaherty hanging tough on the
inside, never more than a roostertail
length apart. Interestingly, Flaherty
was the benefactor of other's errors in
all 3 of his heats in Tri Cities. After
finishing 2nd on the course 3 times,
Flaherty was promoted to first place as
the result of infractions against
others.  The next two
challengers in line didn't fare quite as
well as they'd like. Vince Xaudaro
finished second, for the 2nd straight
time in his UL-929 Conover Insurance
presents Ice Harbor Brewing Co. Xaudaro
will continue next year in his quest to
become the first native Tri Citian to
win at Tri Cities WA. He was edged
 at
the line by Kevin Aylesworth, driving
the UL-5 Team Area Codes Cellular.
However Aylesworth was called for the
same infraction as Greg Hopp, which
dropped him to 5th place. Third place
went to Paul Becker in his UL-14 Miss
Software Prototype. Steve Hook in the Conover
Insurance presents Mz Zip Fizz Energy
Drink Mix did not finish the Final, but
had 2 strong second place finishes in
preliminary heats. The UL-19 is a
 brand
new hull and this was the first time in
4 races the team had completed any
competition heats.
The HAPO
Community Thunder Cup Final Heat was the
first time Unlimited Lights raced beyond
the traditional 5 mile heat distance.
The longer run was well received by the
fans and may be repeated in the future.
"Where'd
that one come from?"
Race fans at
Tri Cities saw something from the Miss
Red Dot Corporation UL-40 they hadn't
previously witnessed. The
 Thunder
Valley Racing Team entry really
"thundered" in the "B-Main. The team
has said this season they've been
running stronger with their older,
wooden, ex-GP hull, but it really hadn't
been demonstrated for the masses, till
Sunday. Driver Harold Mills grabbed the
lead at the starting line and blasted
around the 1 2/3 mile course on lap one
of the B-Main at 112.7 miles per hour,
the fastest recorded speed for Thunder
Valley Racing ever, and the fastest
competition lap of the weekend, until
the Final Heat a couple of hours later.
While a fuel pump failure kept Mills
from a B Main victory and Final Heat
appearance, the group of lifelong
friends that comprise Thunder Valley
Racing served notice they are ready to
challenge at the Graham Trucking Cup at
Seafair.
The G's are
coming to Seafair
Fortunately,
Rick Bridgeman will recover from
injuries sustained in the accident of
his G-17 Schuck's Auto Supply presents
Security Race Products-Ted's Red Apple
Market entry in the brand new
Thunderboats ACCS program. The accident
happened on Friday afternoon when
Bridgeman's hydroplane sailed through
and over the roostertail of the G-13
 Tempo driven by George Woods.
Remarkably the damage to the boat
appeared relatively minor. Bridgeman
himself indicated they would try to be
ready to run at Seafair this weekend.
He also acknowledged that the boat
might be ready before he's fully healed
and ready to race again. Bridgeman
expressed his heartfelt appreciation to
the rescue personnel.
UPDATE
Wednesday 8-3-05
Co-owner
Shawn Bridgeman said two days prior
to the start of Seafair weekend,
that their team discovered more
damage than was initially
believed following the accident. So
the G-17 won't be at Seattle this
weekend. However the Bridgeman's
are determined to be ready for the
next outing of Thunderboats ACCS,
planned for next month in San
Diego. Team consultant Ron Jones
Sr. will be brought in to assist and
Mrs. Bridgeman says when the Ted's
Red Apple Market entry returns to
competition, it'll be better than
ever.
There
will be 3 ACCS teams in Seattle.
G-13
Tempo, driven by George Woods
G-55
Cobalt 2 driven by Justin Schaller
and
G-329
Baker Equipment Co. driven by David
Warren
The
"G-Boats" as they are often
referred, comprise a class developed
by ULHRA, Inc. in response to
numerous requests from fans and race
sites for a new category of
hydroplane, larger than Unlimited
Lights. The "G-Boats" are roughly
the size of Unlimiteds, are nearly
50% lighter than the turbine hydros,
and have big block supercharged
engines. Thunderboats ACCS hulls
range from 25 to 28 feet in length,
are up to 13 feet wide, weigh a
minimum of 3500 lbs and are powered
by engines up to 572 cubic inches
with 871 superchargers.
John Lynch
"Voice" of
the Unlimited Lights
Click here for updates from July, 2005
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September
16-18th on Mission Bay. The Phoenix Enterprises’
American Eagle is the current qualifying record holder on the
San Diego race course and is looking forward to their first race
win at the coming event.
Unlimited Lights championship race
tightens after Flaherty wins HAPO
Community Thunder Cup 
