|
Unlimited
Light Hydroplanes will conduct an exhibition event this weekend in
Ogdensburg NY as part of the Thunder on Wheathouse Bay Regatta. It's a
prelude to a full Unlimited Lights race in 2007 and comes one week prior
to the famed Molson Dry Regates De Valleyfield in Quebec less than 2
hours away.
Four
eastern based UL teams will participate this weekend, including the
newest owner-driver in the series. Pierre Maheu from Valleyfield, along
with Dennis Rousse, recently purchased the former UL-7 Controller from
Jay Tolbert and they've re-numbered the boat as UL-46. Tolbert will be
assisting the team this weekend, and at Valleyfield and Detroit.
Tolbert will turn some laps in the 46 hull, along with Maheu and Rousse.
They will be joined by New York's Ken Brodie Sr in the UL-555 as that
hull makes it's UL debut, replacing last year's UL-50 hull.
Two other
teams will join the program. New UL member Mike Sadlon from the Detroit
area will debut his upgraded UL-89. The former National Modified
competitor plans to run the next 3 weekends, as does renowned GNH
competitor Jimmy Deel and his "Deel Me In" who also is joining the
Unlimited Light ranks. Deel's boat will be driven this weekend by
Ogdensburg race chairman Joe Sovie.
East Coast
ULHRA rep. Jay Tolbert reports the growth in eastern U.S. participation
this season is phenomenal. It appears a full field of 14 Unlimited
Lights will compete at Valleyfield and possibly one or two more the
following weekend at Detroit for the Silver Cup. 6 west coast teams are
traveling east for the two races but won't be on hand for this weekend's
exhibition. They include the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky
driven by Greg Hopp. The eastern races will see Hopp back in the team's
familiar hull built by Jamie Auld that's won the past 3 UL
championships. Their new hydroplane, the former "American Eagle" was
damaged at the season opener and could not be repaired in time. Also
heading east are the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic with Paul Becker, the
UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking of Bob Estes, the UL-40 Miss Red Dot
Corporation with Brian Perkins driving, fresh off his and the team's
first ever Unlimited Lights victory at the season opener at Issaquah WA,
plus Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Espar Heater Systems presents Miss
Boat Electric, and Kelly Stocklin driving Vince Xaudaro's UL-929 K&K
Machine-Security Race Products.
This
weekend's exhibition is on the St. Lawrence River at Ogdensburg NY along
Route 37. The course will be approximately 1 1/4 miles in length.
John Lynch
P.R.
Director, ULHRA Inc.
Mark Sharley at Tastin' n Racin'
Owner John Partridge and his staff have
developed a real following for their product line, led by their Custom CNC
ground camshafts including their new cams created for the 4.6 Ford modular
engines. To work perfectly with the quality Bullet Racing Camshafts,
they've also developed a new line of Retrofit Hydraulic Lifters with the
same expertise and craftsmanship found in their signature line.
Nothing's faster than a speeding Bullet!
You have questions regarding which product is
best for your use? Just call owner John Partridge in Olive Branch MS at
662-893-5670.
Bullet Racing Cams is the new home for UltraDyne
cams.
Check out their website for complete details at
http://www.bulletcams.com/
Bullet Racing Cams. A proud ULHRA Contingency
Sponsor.
Gold Cup Video's 3rd set from Tastin' n Racin'
Gold Cup Video's 2nd set from Tastin' n Racin'
Alan Lagervall's 2nd set from Tastin' n Racin'
Gold Cup Video's 1st set from Tastin' n Racin'
Zimmerman and Dahlquist win LTL titles at Issaquah - Updated 6-16
Jon Zimmerman and Robby Dahlquist captured the
Baker Equipment Co. Lighter than LIGHTS trophies at Tastin n Racin in
Issaquah WA on June 11. It was the LTL season opener and the first of a 4
race series in the State of Washington.
Zimmerman, competing in an LTL event for the first time since 2004 had a perfect weekend. He won all 4 of his heats including the Final on Sunday afternoon in the roughest conditions of the weekend. His E-72 Chop Chop defeated Rob Lisk in the E-27 Miss Tons O Fun by about two roostertail lengths in Heat 1A. Marty Porter in his E-65 Miss Understood finished third. His boat is the former "Wild Turkey", acquired from Bob Smets. Steve Clark in the E-222 Thunderstruck was unable to finish. In Heat 1B Mark Echols driving Dave Cossette's E-15 "Wingin It" took top honors. If the name Dave Cossette sounds familiar it should. He had been ULHRA's Chief Referee until returning to the ranks of team owner this year. Second place went to Jim Mauldin in his E-31 Mauldin's Well Service with Rob Schuler in the E-711 Miss Complete Concrete taking third. Michael Jarvis, filling in for the injured Bob Donley in the E-58 Terminator wound up fourth. Wil Muncey, driving the E-83 Wyatt's Diamond Jewelers presents Elaine's American Maid did not finish, sustaining engine damage that parked the craft for the weekend. In Heat 2A, Zimmerman and Lisk had a spirited battle resulting in a one roostertail length win for the Z-Man, with Lisk in second with Jarvis in third, Clark did not finish, and Bud McKay in the E-10 Namron Racing was unable to start. In Heat 2B, Echols in prevailed a second time with Mauldin in second, Schueler third and Porter taking fourth.
On Sunday due to team withdrawals, the "B" heat wasn't needed and in Heat 3
Zimmerman again earned the win with a bit larger gap to the second place
Lisk who was followed by Echols, Schueler, Mauldin and Jarvis. Showing good
speed but ill fortune, Steve Clark was unable to finish.
Winds came up just prior to the Sunday afternoon Final Heat. Jon Zimmerman prevailed in his slowest heat of the weekend due to the conditions. In Heat 2 on Saturday the Chop Chop averaged 91.5 mph for the victory, but in the Final Zimmerman had to back down to 74 mph. He was followed by Mauldin, Schueler, and Lisk. The Tons O Fun spun out in the tight turn #1 while racing with Zimmerman and Echols for the lead but was able to restart and finish. However the E-27 collided with the E-15 "Wingin It" causing left side deck damage. Mark Echols immediately returned to the pits. Owner Dave Cossette says due to the roostertail spray in the turn most people didn't realize the two boats had contact.
Steve Clark was unable to finish while Bud McKay and Michael Jarvis did not
start. Clark's E-222 lost a sponson in turn #2 but Clark made a heady move,
driving straight for the Lake Sammamish beach and came within several yards
of the shoreline before the boat capsized. His action eliminated the need
for a red flag and Final Heat restart, and ULHRA Rescue was able to retrieve
the boat so Clark's team can make repairs.
In the 4 cylinder stock category, Robby Dahlquist won 3 of 4 heats on the weekend, while Jeff Bernard took one on Sunday after being unable to run in either Saturday heat. Bernard's victory in Heat 3 was about half a roostertail length while Dahlquist's winning margin in the Final was a bit larger. In all these were two spirited duals in the highly competitive 4 cylinder stock category with Dahlquist in his S-5 Pacific Nautiques defeating Bernard in his Y-82 Perkins Glass. Kayleigh Perkins in the S-6 Baker Equipment ent ry took third, followed by Eric Christensen in the S-35 Heads Up Brewing presents Miss Graham Trucking in 4th. Jennifer Straley in the S-58 Tsunami was close behind for a 5th place finish in her LTL debut, with Buzz Bussmeier 6th in the S-23 Miss Buzzwiser, Rookie Aaron Stephens in the S-32 Wyknott took 7th and Brian Nicholson in the Y-3 Maverick wound up 8th. Russ Dodge in the Y-11 Polecat had an uncharacteristic weekend, failing to start in the Saturday heats then finishing a distant 8th in Heat 3 before failing to finish the Final. Seattle's KIRO TV Channel 7, which televises the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair for Unlimited Lights in August took note of Tastin n Racin. High School senior Kayleigh Perkins, driving the S-6 Baker Equipment Co. was featured on a Saturday night sports report titled "Driving Miss Perkins". She had decided not to attend her high school Prom on Saturday night, preferring to concentrate on racing. Still, she took time in the pit area to apply makeup for a crewmember who was attending the prom, and had a weekend of 2nd, 3rd, and fifth place finishes in the preliminary heats before securing 3rd place in the Final. 4 Modified hydroplane teams attended Tastin n Racin which was two short of the event's requirement so no points were awarded in that LTL series category. Next up for the Lighter than LIGHTS series......their first ever appearance at the Atomic Cup-HAPO Community Thunder Cup weekend at Tri Cities WA July 28-30. John Lynch P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc. Alan Lagervall's 1st set from Tastin' n Racin'
Tastin'
n Racin' Saturday by Rodney L Smith
Perkins and Thunder Valley combine for their first Unlimited Lights victory.
Taking advantage of two teams jumping the gun,
and the improved performance of his veteran craft, Brian Perkins drove the
Miss Red Dot Corporation UL-40 drove to victory in the 10th annual Tastin' n
Racin' festival on Sunday, June 11. It was the season opener for the
PowerBoats NW West Coast Series for Unlimited Light Hydroplanes and it
featured an event record 12 UL teams along with the largest fan turnout in
the event's history.
In the run-up
for the Final Heat start, as usual Greg Hopp in the new Mike's Hard
Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky locked in on lane one with Michael Flaherty in
PowerBoats NW presents Miss Boat Electric right alongside as they approached
the 45 second "score-up" buoy. Perkins was a shade early, so he crossed the
course and raced through turn number one and was still able to get to the
start on time........although he was relegated to lane 5 at the start.
Flaherty
crossed the line first with Hopp inside and just behind. However both were
a shade too early and jumped the gun, giving each driver a 1 minute
penalty. Down the back stretch Perkins moved into third place on the course
and maintained that position throughout, and drove to victory. During the
heat with Hopp challenging Flaherty into turn number 2, the UL-1 appeared to
collide with the roostertail of the Flaherty entry and the right rear
upright support was damaged, causing the vertical stabilizer to lean inward
and Hopp slowed his pace.
Once notified
of the situation, Perkins took it easy with a 91.790 heat winning speed.
For the Thunder Valley Racing Team, the group that actually launched Tastin'
n Racin' 10 years ago, it was not only their first time winning as the "home
team" it was the first Unlimited Lights victory ever for the group of
lifelong friends who combine their talents to race what they call the
"Fabulous 40".
Second place,
and a career best, was Paul Becker in the Underwater Sports presents Miss
Critical Logic. Becker reached the Final by taking second place in the
B-Main. Third place went to Flaherty, 4th to Hopp, and 5th place to rookie
J. Craig Fletcher in the UL-13 Celtic Racing. This was not only Fletcher's
first Unlimited Lights race. It was his first race, period, and he
acquitted himself well. His victory in the B-Main put the Celtic team in
the Final.
Bob Estes,
another rookie in the field had two strong preliminary heat runs on Saturday
with a pair of 2nd place finishes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking. In
both cases, by rule, Estes started 5 seconds behind the front line. His
performance on Saturday was sufficient for the referee to sign off on Estes
starting on the Front Line on Sunday. Unfortunately a promising weekend
ended with a DNF in the Final.
Two teams, the
UL-6 BCS Enterprises, and the UL-929 K&K Machine-Security Race Products
sustained skid fin damage. According to co-owner and Crew Chief Kerry
Beynon, a replacement skid fin will be acquired and repairs to the bracket
and support areas won't take long. They'll be ready for the Tri Cities race
at the end of July. Driver and Co-Owner Al Carstensen was very pleased with
the engine's performance, and that the engine was in one piece at the end of
the weekend. Last year, engine woes plagued the team at several events. For
Vince Xaudaro and Kelly Stocklin, the UL-929 which was driven by Xaudaro
while Stocklin managed the event for Tastin n Racin, the skid fin problem
also resulted in damage to some interior frames and supports. However
Xaudaro says repairs should take only a week or so and allow plenty of time
for Stocklin to take the team east for the Valleyfield and Detroit races.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the
Unlimited Lights
SUNDAY JUNE 11, 1006 Tastin n Racin Issaquah WA Greg Hopp in the new UL-1 Mike’s Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky has the advantage after the first two heats ot Tastin n Racin. This is the season opener for the Unlimited Light Hydroplanes at Issaquah WA near Seattle on picturesque Lake Sammamish. Hopp, now driving the former American Eagle hydroplane, took first place in both of his preliminary heats on Saturday (6-10) while Michael Flaherty took a first and a second in his two heats. Hopp with 800 points leads Flahery with 700 points, and in a bit of a surprise, rookie Bob Estes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking is third with 600 points. Estes was required to start his two Saturday heats 5 seconds behind. Because of his performance, Estes now can start on the front line and challenge for lanes with the rest of the field. With one heat section to go before the B-Main and Final, Vince Xaudaro in the UL-929 has 569 points, Brian Perkins, the new driver of the UL40 Miss Red Dot Corporation has 469 points and Al Carstensen in the UL-6 BCS Enterprises has 450 points. 12 boats began the weekend and one has withdrawn due to mechanical problems; Rookie Rod Bourke in the UL-62 Benz Electric Racing resumes at 12:00 noon Pacific Time today and can be seen here at www.ulhra.org After the 3rd heat section the top teams by points will advance to Final Heat. The next 5 teams in the points standings will enter the B-Main where first & second place will advance to the Final. In qualifying, Greg Hopp took top honors and 40 national points with a lap of 123.660 mph. Michael Flaherty was second at 114.032 mph. He earns 30 national points. The top 8 in qualifying earn 10% of heat points and those go to the National Championship but are not part of this weekend’s race points. John Lynch Tastin' n Racin' weekend schedule announced. "Racin" Saturday & Sunday June 10 & 11. Tastin’ n Racin’ - 2006
All times subject to
weather, cranes, accidents, boat towing & Acts of God.
UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade on display in Issaquah WA Wednesday (6-7) Jerry Hopp and the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky will be at the Issaquah Albertsons from 11am till 3pm. Jerry will be signing autographs and the 3 time ULHRA champion team will be on display as a prelude to this weekend's season opener. The 10th annual Tastin n Racin Festival will be held at Lake Sammamish State Park near Issaquah and just off Interstate 90........only minutes east of Seattle. Two very full days of racing begin Saturday morning (6-10) with up to 40 race craft from the Unlimited Lights and Lighter than LIGHTS series', plus nostalgic runabout circle boats and personal watercraft that bring the total number of race craft near the 100 mark. Tastin n Racin opens the ULHRA season this weekend Record turnout expected. The 2006 season opener for the Unlimited
Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. is also the 10th annual edition of
Tastin n Racin. This popular racing festival at Lake Sammamish State Park
near Issaquah is attracting a record number of race teams this year.
HENRY LAUTERBACH REMEMBERED Click here for updates from May, 2006
Questions, comments? E-mail
the site's
webmaster. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
