Before the Race in Port Angeles by Jim Wilmot

8 Cylinder Stock class high points title up for grabs

BELFAIR, Wash. – Math has never Bud McKay’s forte, but with the Victoria Express Presents Straight Thunder just a few hours away, McKay spent most of Friday night crunching numbers like an accountant on April 14. McKay’s crunching the numbers because his GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team is tied for the high points lead for the 8-Cylinder Lighter-Than-Lights championship.

"I was trying to figure out how many points we need to clinch the title this weekend, but holy cow – all four boats on hand this weekend could, conceivably, either share or win the high points title outright," McKay said with a groan. "The easiest thing for us to do is win every heat – then we don’t have to worry about the points at all. But that’s like telling a big-league hitter to hit a homerun each time he comes up to the plate in a game."

The GEICO hull needs to score 845 points over the weekend to clinch the 2006 high points title. But it’s going to be anything but easy.

The Lighter-Than-Lights are part of four races on the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association campaign. Besides, the 8-cylinder stock hydroplanes, 4-cylinder stock hydroplanes make up the Lighter-Than-Lights series and race between Unlimited Lights and American Challenge Cup Series races, offering fans a full and exciting day of racing.

McKay missed the first race of the season in Issaquah. The boat and the team were in the pits, but were at the final stages of putting together a new engine for the race and just didn’t get it done in time to get on the water.

At Tri-Cities, high winds and extremely rough water kept the smaller boats on the beach for most of the weekend. The 8-cylinder stock class was limited to just two heats of racing. McKay and his GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team won both heats to earn his first-ever hydroplane victory.

In this race, McKay’s wife, Gigi, raced another boat against him – GEICO Presents The Terminator. Gigi lost power and went dead in the water just 200 yards from the finish line in the final heat after slamming down hard on the water. Had she finished, the two GEICO hulls would have finished 1-2. Gigi, who had just gotten off of chemotherapy for breast cancer two weeks earlier, was injured and suffered a torn ligament in her neck and also suffered from two bulging discs in her neck.

Next was Silverdale’s quicksilver race. Like Tri-Cities, the 8-cylinder stock class was reduced to just two heats, and McKay won both of those heats as well. The other boats either blew their engines or sank.

Beyond crunching the numbers, McKay said the GEICO hull is faced with many challenges in this last race.

"Our engine is tired," he said. "Brandon (Payne, Namrom’s crew chief) has gotten more out of this engine this year than anyone thought possible. ‘Frenchie’ Bourdeau, our hull specialist, has spent more time patching holes on the bottom of the boat than a quilt club’s got together to patch together a quilt. If we can survive this weekend, let alone win it all, that will be a victory for us as well."

Payne will share the driving duties with McKay this weekend. Gigi McKay is on her Amazon Heart Thunder charity Harley-Davidson ride in California for breast cancer support programs and doesn’t return until Sunday night.

While the GEICO engine is tired, two other boats will be featuring new engines. Bob Donley’s The Terminator, the boat Gigi drove in Tri-Cities, has Steve Clark’s very fast and fresh Chevy 305 in it. Clark, another racer from Belfair, will share driving duties with Donley.

Debi and Wil Muncey’s hull also a brand new engine in it.

"The Muncey’s engine still has that new-engine-smell to it, too," McKay said with a laugh. "And then there’s Rob Schueler in the E-711 boat. He was running fast at Silverdale; until he ripped open the sponson and sank. He’s back, refreshed and ready to go.

"Our boats are all pretty evenly matched – it’s going to be a great weekend for all of us."

HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE AIR AND OVER THE WATER

MILLENNIUM DIGITAL MEDIA is pleased to announce the high speed internet provider has teamed up with a high speed provider of a different sort. This weekend, the community of Port Angeles, Washington will host their annual hydroplane race and family festival appropriately titled Strait Thunder sponsored in part by Victoria Express. One of the area’s speediest craft on the water will be the UL4 hydroplane owned by Richards Racing and this weekend sporting the name and logo of one of the area’s fastest internet providers. Millennium Digital Media is a fast-growing Broadband Services Company serving more than 130,000 customers. Millennium offers basic and premium cable television services, including state-of-the-art digital cable products in five states.

Millennium representative, Rob Goolsby with the UL4 hydroplane

This is the second year that the Shoreline, Washington-based team has campaigned their bright blue hydroplane on the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Associations circuit. Driver, Bryan Richards, Team Manager, Sasha Holzman, and the rest of the crew, Cody, Jason, Jeff, Bob, and Mick are anxious to return to Strait Thunder. Their initial foray onto the Strait in 2004 ended in an on-course collision severely damaging the hull. The team responded with determination during the off season and built upon the experience with tangible results. As an example, it was a final heat contender at Seafair just a few weeks ago. When Bryan Richards of Shoreline, Washington piloted his 22-foot hydroplane over the finish line at Seafair, he had no idea that his high speed in excess of 125 MPH would launch a relationship with his newest sponsor. Millennium representative, Rob Goolsby said, “Marine motorsports offers a great way for our company to promote high speed performance to maritime communities.”

Racing will begin Saturday September 30th at 12:30 PM at the City Pier downtown Port Angeles. For more race information, www.StraitThunder.com. For more information on this racing team, or to arrange an interview, call 360-794-8404.  

Displays at JB'S Custom Auto and Chuck's Seafood Grotto for UL-1

This past weekend saw the UL-1 across from Snohomish high school at JB'S Custom Auto, a contingency sponsor, and at Chuck's Seafood Grotto in Snohomish. The main street of Snohomish was closed and there was an 800+ car show going on. Had a lot of motor heads interested in the boat.
 
Jerry


Miss Boat Electric goes to Boy Scout Camp-O-Rama

The UL-72 Miss Boat Electric was on display in Snohomish at the 8th Annual KLAHAYA District Boy Scout Camp-O-Rama on Saturday September 23. Approx 150 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts tried out the driver’s seat to become the next UL Rookie of the year. The Miss Boat Electric team took pictures and printed them on-site for each of the Scouts to take home with them. There was a lot of excitement about the upcoming weekend at Port Angeles. Saturday is Scout day at the Hydro Races. Each Scout in uniform will get a pit tour by the Marines.  Many of the UL-72 Crew have been involved in Scouting and include Eagle Scouts: Driver: Michael Flaherty, Crew Chief: Scott Main, Crew Member:  Brian Flaherty, and Title Sponsor Boat Electric Co. co owner Jeff Ericson are all Eagle Scouts.  (The chances that any of these guys can still fit into their uniforms is pretty slim)  John Flaherty, (Scouter and Order of the Arrow)

Scott Main

Update - More than just a 3 boat race.  It’s Strait Thunder!  Port Angeles Preview #2        

Eleven Unlimited Light Hydroplane teams will challenge the Strait of Juan de Fuca in ULHRA’s season finale this weekend.  It’s the 4th annual Strait Thunder, presented by Victoria Express passenger ferry service. http://www.victoriaexpress.com/

In our first report we detailed the 3 teams considered the leading contenders.  However, there are a host of teams that believe they are contenders as well, and will be gunning for top honors this weekend.  Leading the charge will be Al Carstensen and Kerry Beynon in the UL-6 Miss Victoria Express.  Carstensen as driver and Beynon as Crew Chief have had an excellent, albeit short 2006 campaign due to limited finances. If they can secure funding for a full season in 2007 this is a team that can challenge.  Presently they rank 7th in Unlimited Lights season points but have a mathematical chance to climb as high as 4th this weekend.  Their season includes a team and driver (Carstensen) career best 2nd place finish at the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair in Seattle. The team has had some bad luck, getting contacted by other teams earlier this season and knocking both rear tails off the UL-6 hull.  Carstensen says they’ve been able to cobble parts together from both tails to put one back together for this weekend.  The BCS hull has 4 career victories in Unlimited Lights competition, including the very first UL race in Phoenix AZ back in 1995 when it was owned & driven by now retired Dave Bender. 

Bob Estes in the UL-33 Estes Racing presents Miss Graham Trucking, fresh off the Wyatt’s Watches Best Start of the Weekend in San Diego, is hoping for finishes this weekend to equal his starts.  It’s been a learning experience for the ESL Enterprises Team from Shelton WA in the Estes Racing presents Miss Graham Trucking.  They acquired an outstanding equipment package from Milton & Charley Wiggins, including the first Ron Jones Sr. all Unlimited Light hydroplane that was built in 1997.  It has 11 victories in Unlimited Lights competition; the most recent being at Seattle in 2003 when Cal Phipps drove to victory for the Wiggins Hydroplane Racing Team who will join the American Challenge Cup Series in 2007. 

Another team looking to rebound from a very disappointing weekend in San Diego is the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation, driven by Brian Perkins and operated by the Thunder Valley Racing Team of Issaquah WA.  Engine problems kept the team off the race course in San Diego, something the crew vows not to repeat in Port Angeles.  Perkins won the first race of the season at Issaquah WA and presently holds 4th place in the season standings, with Estes and Carstensen poised to pounce.

Three teams will battle for 8th place in the point standings, as all 3 may be expected to surpass the current 8th place team, the UL-2 Red Hot from Reading PA driven by Mike Webster.  The Webster family team has ended their season, while Wil Muncey, Bryan Richards, and Ryan Mallow all hope to leapfrog Webster into 8th place.  Mallow it would seem would have the best chance, based on recent performances by the UL-19 and recapped in our previous report.  However it won’t be easy. Mallow trails Muncey in the UL-83 Wyatt’s Watches presents Power Punch Lubricants by 455 points.  Further, Muncey’s “Little Boat that Could” has finished 4th at Port Angeles 2 of the past 3 years including 2005 when Wil earned the Rookie of the Year Award, and in 2003 when driven by Brian Perkins who now steers the UL-40.  Filling the sandwich center is Bryan Richards in the UL-4 Shoreline Sign & Awning, a mere 220 points behind Muncey and 235 points ahead of Mallow.


 

Rounding out the field will be the UL-13 Celtic Racing Team, and the UL-18 Turner Racing Team.  The Celtic team didn’t even exist in 2005.  In fact it was at this very race the concept of Celtic Racing came together.  Owner-Driver J. Craig Fletcher had seen the For Sale listing of Pingree Conflitti of Detroit and his UL-559 Outlaw.  He saw that Conflitti was bringing the boat to Port Angeles and the Mercer Island WA resident and lifelong hydroplane racing fan thought this might be the time to make the move.  He went (to P.A.) he saw (the boat and Conflitti) he conquered (well, he bought) the r acing team.  His rookie journey in UL competition has been memorable to say the least, including victory in the B-Main at the season opener at Issaquah WA.  Now Fletcher hopes to close out his first season on a positive note, after failing to score a point in San Diego due to propeller shaft failure. 

Fletcher currently ranks 12th in the standings and he could conceivably move ahead of Mallow, Richards and Muncey with a great weekend, and so could Joe Turner.  The popular driver of the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co team in the Purple Thunder boat has had a less than thrilling season.  Electrical and fuel system problems plagued the team in San Diego and they were able to score just one 4th place finish.  This coming after nearly sinking at Seattle. Still, they are right behind Fletcher by only 127 points: exactly the amount awarded for a fifth place finish.  Upon leaving San Diego Turner believed they had discovered the problems and if they have corrected them, watch for a little thunder from the UL-18 team this weekend.  Remember, qualifying does matter.  Not only are there 40 points for the #1 qualifier and 30 points for #2, the rest of the ladder awards 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 fastest qualifier. Expect to see a lot of qualifying efforts on Saturday morning to get the most number of points a team can.  Regardless of whether a team is a Championship contender, you'll see eleven motivated teams this weekend trying to gain one more position.

Racing will be conducted all day on Saturday (Sept 30) and Sunday (Oct 1) with displays around Port Angeles on Thursday and teams moving into the pit area on Friday.  The race site is exciting for fans as they are right on top of the action in a virtual stadium-like setting off downtown Port Angeles.  Each year of this event the Unlimited Lights Series Champion has been determined at Port Angeles. This year will be no exception.  If you can’t attend in person, and you should if at all possible because it’s a great venue for racing, live video coverage will be available right here.  Check the home page of this website throughout the weekend for updates on air times. 

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.


McKay thundering around Amazon Heart Thunder

Gigi McKay, co-owner and co-driver of the GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team 5-Litre and National Modified team from Belfair, Wash., is on her "Amazon Heart Thunder," Harley-Davidson charity bike ride to raise money for breast
cancer support programs. McKay is one of 12 breast cancer survivors  from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia selected for the ride.

McKay, and the other survivors, are on a motorcycle adventure from Los Angeles to San Francisco that concludes this Saturday, Sept. 30. The women taking part in "Amazon Heart Thunder" travel along the 1,000-mile route promoting breast cancer awareness and raising funds for support programs. Each day, they'll meet with local, breast cancer patients and talk to them about their battles and to show them there is hope after diagnosis.

McKay missed most of the 2006 hydroplane season since her breast cancer returned in May. After an aggressive chemotherapy treatment in June, McKay was given the all clear; two weeks before she left for the 'Amazon Heart Thunder" ride.  However, she learned signs of her breast cancer returned and showed up in her liver. McKay started chemotherapy just a few days before leaving on the trip.

"Nothing is going to stop me from riding this year," McKay said. "Once I get back from the trip, we'll see what we have left to do - but I need this ride for my sanity."

Visit the Namron Racing Team's website - www.namronracing.com - to keep up with McKay's ride and to learn how to make a tax-deductible donation to her ride. McKay is scheduled to return Sunday afternoon. The website also features return from last year's popular "Harley Report."

The GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team with Bud McKay in the cockpit competes this weekend in Port Angeles at the Victoria Express Presents Straight Thunder at the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association marquee event. The Belfair-based hydroplane team is tied for the 8-Cylinder Stock Lighter-Than-Lights high points lead going into the final race of the season. With Gigi McKay unavailable for the race, crew chief Brandon Payne, from Orting, will serve as backup driver. Racing action starts at 1 p.m. Saturday for the Lighter-Than-Lights.

Gigi McKay taking a break on the Amazon Heart Thunder charity bike ride on Monday. California Harley-Davidson of Harbor City, Calif., loans brand new Harleys for the ride. Gigi's ride is a 2006 Harley-Davidson Softtail.


UL-1 on display at ARP and Nordskog Instruments

On the way home from the San Diego race I stopped and did a couple of displays for two of the contingency sponsors for our team. ARP bolts is in Ventura California and is a maker of the fasteners that we use in building our engines. We got a tour of their plant buildings and saw the process it takes to make one bolt. Up to 20 steps with a lot of it done by hand including grinding, sizing, shaping and thread rolling. See the process page from the ARP web site:  http://www.arp-bolts.com./Manufacturing/MfgProcess.html
 
We also stopped at Nordskog Instruments in Anaheim. They are a contingency sponsor for the ULHRA as well as Hopp Racing. We run their gauges in our boat. The picture at Nordskog is of me and Mike McCarthy.
 


Jerry
Port Angeles WA:  Where Champions are Crowned!  Strait Thunder Preview #1
 
For the 4th consecutive year the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series Championship will be decided on the picturesque Bay of Port Angeles off the famous Strait of Juan de Fuca. It's the 4th annual Victoria Express Strait Thunder Regatta and it's the biggest one yet.
 
Up to 12 Unlimited Lights teams are expected for the 2006 season finale along with the Lighter than LIGHTS series.  However, all eyes will be focused on two.  The UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky driven by Greg Hopp, and the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric, driven by Michael Flaherty. 
 
Following the San Diego race where Hopp "ran the table" with 3 heat victories and the #1 qualifying spot, his lead over Flaherty has grown to 621 points.  However that lead is still in jeopardy as the Port Angeles race can be worth of to 1640 points and a lead such as Hopp currently enjoys is just one equipment failure or one penalty away from dissipating.  Example:  Michael Flaherty was running a solid second in the San Diego Final Heat when on the last lap his boat went dead in the water.  Had he finished the difference in points would be 321 rather than 621.  Recall this race a year ago when Flaherty won all 4 heats, scoring 1600 points for the weekend, only to finish 83 points shy of the title. 
 
Greg Hopp is within sight of his second consecutive Driver's Title and Hopp Racing's 4th consecutive Team Title.  However this race at P.A. is more than a two team affair.
 
One team that in the middle of the season couldn't seem to get out of its own way, has lately been imploring other teams to get out of their way.  It's been an exciting growth phase for the 5 Stars Racing Team owned by Everett WA's Tom Eckenberg and driven by Tacoma WA rookie Ryan Mallow.  The UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix won at Silverdale WA last month, and continued their impressive late season run at San Diego last weekend where they qualified 2nd fastest at 121.017 mph and Mallow went on to dominate his first heat for the victory.  However damage to the skid fin bracket occurred and the team just ran out of time to get into the second heat.  For the Final, it was "one of those races".  Mallow found himself with 2 one minute penalties prior to the start of the heat; one for a score-up violation and the other for dislodging a buoy.  Two one minute penalties are an automatic disqualification in ULHRA racing and that DSQ stood for the re start of the Final Heat which was necessitated by the dislodged buoy.  Still, the Dale Van Wierengen hull that debuted in 2005 became only the second hull to top 120 mph in qualifying at San Diego since the formation of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association.  The other?  The current UL-1 which, as the UL-9 American Eagle of Paul Droullard set an Unlimited Lights record in 2004 of 122.324 mph, and last weekend as the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade broke that record with a new mark of 126.528 mph. 
 
More to follow in our next Port Angeles preview.
 
John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

Hopp lengthens lead but the championship race continues. San Diego Race Recap
 
Greg Hopp had a virtually perfect weekend at San Diego in the Boat Trader.com presents Laughlin, Nevada "Founded on Fun" Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Challenge.  Driving the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky Hopp established a new UL speed record in qualifying of 126.528 mph and then proceeded to win all 3 of his heats.  Meantime, Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric qualified third, took first and second place finishes in his preliminary heats, and then failed to finish the Final when his ride went dead in the water on the final lap.  As a result, the 104 point advantage that Hopp had going into San Diego, has now expanded to 621 points.  Still, with 1640 points up for grabs in Port Angeles WA Sept. 30 & Oct 1, quite a race remains for the title.  Last year Flaherty won all 4 heats in Port Angeles and wound up a mere 83 points back of Hopp in the championship race.
 
Second place, equaling a career best for his team and his veteran hull, was Paul Becker in the UL-14 Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic.  This same hull Becker drove to a second place finish at Issaquah WA in the 2006 season opener, and it also took Jerry Hopp to a second place finish in San Diego in the year 2000.   It's been an excellent season for the UL-14 team as their 1974 vintage hull has turned the fastest laps in its history.  Now with the second place finish at San Diego Becker has locked up 3rd place in the Unlimited Lights 2006 Championship Series. 
 
Third place in the running of the Final at San Diego was Wil Muncey in the UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch.  Unfortunately for Muncey he was disqualified for a course violation prior to the one minute gun.  The other Final Heat starter was Bob Estes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking which went dead in the water prior to the start of the Final.  Estes' recruited assistance from the UL-13 and UL-40 teams for the restart of the Final because the bulk of his team had to get to the airport for their flight home.  While they didn't finish the Final, Estes impressed everyone earlier in the weekend with a virtually perfect start, and earned the Wyatt's Watches Best Start of the Weekend Award, presented by owners Jim & Cathy Keppler of Monroe WA.
 
In the first attempt to run the Final Heat referee Rick Sandstrom waved off the start with a Black Flag due to a course buoy becoming dislodged.  The UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix driven by Ryan Mallow was whistled for a one minute infraction.  However, Mallow also was called for a score-up violation resulting in 2 one minute penalties and automatic disqualification.  When the start was black flagged, Mallow's disqualification remained in effect and he could not be part of the restarted heat.  Mallow and the 5 Stars Racing Team did have some impressive performances however.  The UL-19 became only the second hull in ULHRA history to record a speed in excess of 120 mph.  The Zip Fizz toured the course at 121.017 mph, and Mallow also won Heat 1B.   
 
What the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation and driver Brian Perkins hoped for heading into San Diego, turned into a huge disappointment.  On his first hot qualifying lap the team lost its engine and could not recover.  There was thought of leasing an engine from the Hopp Racing Team but the conversion of that powerplant which runs a direct drive system, to the UL-40's gear box configuration would've been a monumental task in the time allowed and the Thunder Valley Racing Team elected not to take chances with another team's engine.  Going into the final race of the season, the UL-40 and UL-33 teams are in a tight battle for 4th place along with the UL-929 of Vince Xaudaro.  The X-Man has declared he's out of the Port Angeles race.  The boat threw a propeller blade in San Diego, causing a significant amount of damage that cannot be repaired in the time remaining,  Going into Port Angeles, Perkins leads Estes by only 392 points. 
 
It was a bad news-good news weekend for Turner Racing's UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co. entry.  Driver Joe Turner and the team experienced starter ills and some carburetion issues over the weekend, but in the end were able to make corrections.  Unfortunately, those corrections didn't get done in time to make the Final, but the team returns to Washington State for the season finale looking forward to a strong finish to their year.
 
J. Craig Fletcher and the UL-13 Celtic Racing team qualified at just under 102 mph, but broke a propeller stub shaft, losing both the stub shaft and the propeller.  Despite their best efforts the team was not successful in fabricating a replacement.  They also hope to rebound at Port Angeles where the 4th annual Victoria Express Strait Thunder will be contested on the Bay of Port Angeles, Sept 30th and October 1st.  ULHRA.com will present live video webstreaming coverage of Strait Thunder both days.
 
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights
New web site for Hopp Racing
 
The Hopp Racing web site has a new address. Got tired of trying to explain what a ~ is. So we now have www.hoppracing.com as our new site address. Making some changes and we have more space so we can improve our photo gallery. some of the site is under construction.
 
Jerry

 San Diego Report #4.  September 17, 2006
 
The field is set for the Laughlin, Nevada "Founded on Fun" Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge, presented by Boat Trader.com.  there will be an 8 boat Final Heat at 4:20pm Pacific Time this afternoon.
 
Despite their best efforts, both the UL-13 Celtic Racing Team and the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation had to withdraw.  That sets an 8 boat Final with 7 boats on the front line and the 8th boat in the trailer position.
 
 San Diego Report #3.  September 16, 2006
 
Greg Hopp and Michael Flaherty won the 2nd round of heats at the Laughlin Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge.  With those victories, Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade - Happy Go Lucky, and Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric maintained their positions in the national championship points race.  Hopp leads by 221 points.  Both drivers have been seeded into Sunday afternoon's Final Heat, along with Vince Xaudaro in the UL-929 Team Chapman Lake Havasu City Real Estate and Paul Becker in the UL-14 Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic.
 
Ryan Mallow in the UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix who won his first heat could not start in the second round because of damage to the skid fin bracket.  Repairs were made but the team ran out of time in order to be ready for Heat 2A.  
 
Six teams are eligible for the B-Main during the noon hour on Sunday with the top 3 advancing to a seven boat Final.  The UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation driven by Brian Perkins has acquired a replacement engine from Bob Schellhase, owner of the UL-1 operated by Hopp Racing. The Thunder Valley Racing Team will spend all Saturday night getting the engine installed.  Also, the UL-13 Celtic Racing Team owned and driven by J. Craig Fletcher is attempting to craft a replacement propeller stub shaft.  Neither Perkins nor Fletcher were able to compete in the preliminary heats but both did run qualifying laps.
 
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights
San Diego Report #2  September 16,2006
 
The top two qualifiers finished first in their opening heats of the Laughlin Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge.  Greg Hopp and Ryan Mallow each drove to victory. 
 
In Heat 1A sponsored by Boat Trader.com, Greg Hopp drove to the win over Michael Flaherty and Paul Becker in a speed of 109.351 mph.  Hopp and Flaherty battled within a roostertail for more than a lap before the Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky extended its lead to several roostertails over the Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric.  Flaherty's speed was 105.192 mph and Paul Becker in the Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic wound up 3rd at 90.302.  Hopp's victory pushed his lead over Flaherty in the National Championship  points standings to 221 points.
 
In Heat 1B sponsored by Powerboats Northwest, the Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix UL-19 driven by rookie Ryan Mallow started third on the outside, but down the backstretch on lap 1 took the lead over Vince Xaudaro in the UL-929 Team Chapman Lake Havasu City Real Estate. Mallow drove to the fastest heat speed so far this weekend at 111.017 mph.  Xaudaro finished second with Wil Muncey in the UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch Lubricants in 3rd.  
 
In Heat 1A Bob Estes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking went into the infield prior to the start and shut down.  In Heat 1B, Joe Turner returned to the pit area prior to the start with mechanical problems on board the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co. 
 
Brian Perkins in the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation and J. Craig Fletcher in the UL-13 Celtic Racing both scratched from the first round.  However team spokesmen say both teams are trying to make repairs to be able to compete this weekend. 
 
The draw for Heat 2A sponsored by RV Trader.com at 3:45 pm includes
 
Ryan Mallow
Michael Flaherty
Bob Estes 
Vince Xaudaro
 
In Heat 2B, sponsored by Graham Trucking at 4:05 pm the lineup includes
 
Greg Hopp
Wil Muncey
Joe Turner
Paul Becker
 
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights
San Diego Report #1
 
The Unlimited Lights qualifying record has been broken this weekend, and a new contender is showing strength.  Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky broke the record held by Paul Droullard in the UL-9 American Eagle (the same hull that Hopp now drives) with a lap speed of 126.528 mph, topping Droullard's mark set 2 years ago at 122.324pm. on this same Bill Muncey Race Course. Second on the qualifying ladder is the newest winner in Unlimited Light Hydroplane race; the UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix driven by Ryan Mallow.  The Zip Fizz hull became only the second hull in ULHRA history to exceed 120 mph with a lap of 121.203 mph. 
 
Four teams are in the 111 bracket as racing is about to start for the Laughlin, Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge. Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric toured the Bill Muncey course at 111.957, followed by Bob Estes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking at 111.837.  Paul Becker in the UL-14 Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic was right behind at 111.397, just barely ahead of Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro in the UL-929 Team Chapman Lake Havasu City Real Estate at 111.385. 
 
Seventh quickest is Wil Muncey in the UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch Lubricants, at 102.481 followed closely by J. Craig Fletcher in the UL-13 Celtic Racing at 101.467.  Joe Turner in the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co. ran 97.318 mph.  The final entrant at San Diego, the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation sustained race ending engine damage.  The Thunder Valley Racing Team and driver Brian Perkins have withdrawn from the race.
 
Because of the close scheduling of UL Heat 1B and Unlimited Heat 1A, both of which have Greg Hopp competing, Heat 1B for the Unlimited Lights will lead off the racing schedule at 1:15pm Pacific Time followed by Heat 1A at 1:35pm.  You can watch and listen live, right here on ULHRA's video streaming program. 
 
Heats 2A and 2B will be conducted in the 4pm hour this afternoon with the B-Main and Final Heats tomorrow afternoon.  This is race #5 of the 6 race West Coast series for Unlimited Lights sponsored by Powerboatsnw.com
 
Going into today's heats, Greg Hopp leads Michael Flaherty by 121 points in the national championship standings. 
 
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights.
The UL-5 is back in the shop.
 
Freedom Racing Team's popular UL-5 hull that was seriously damaged at San Diego one year ago is being rebuilt.  Here is an update from the FRT-e news.

The crew moved the UL5 into the shop after the Unlimited hit the road for the ABRA tour earlier this summer. To date, the left rear corner has been reattached and fiberglassed, the left front sponson has been glued together, cracks in the right sponson have been repaired, and plastic surgeon/Crew Chief Kevin Braun performed a nose job in preparation for insertion of the new spars. After the bandages are removed, he said the hull will be ready to turn over. At the recommendation of design consultants, a horizontal wing will be added for stability. Braun estimates repairs will be completed in October.

On the water, we aim to exhilarate millions of spectators with the speed and technology of the ultimate in extreme powerboat racing. On the shoreline, it’s our mission to generate funds for children’s charities and excitement for the sport of hydroplane racing by captivating the hearts of fans and attracting media attention for our sponsors. Since Freedom Racing Team’s inception, we’ve helped raise nearly $100,000 for Children's Hospital San Diego. With your support, we’ll continue to contribute to children’s organizations across the nation. When we race, children win.

FRT e-News September 2006 Page 4 of 4 www.U21Racing.com

 Ten boats set for San Diego

Another solid field will tackle the swift racing waters of Mission Bay, San Diego this weekend (Sept 15-17) in the "Laughlin, Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge.  It is race #5 of the 6 race West Coast Series presented by Powerboats Northwest of Tacoma WA.

In addition to the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky, UL-72 Miss Boat Electric and UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz, the contenders will include the 4th team to notch a victory so far in 2006. 


At Tastin' n Racin' 2006 in Issaquah WA, the event launched by Thunder Valley Racing ten years ago, perseverance and dedication were rewarded......to Thunder Valley Racing Team.  The UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation, driven by Brian Perkins in his first ride for Thunder Valley, won the race founded by the team........and it was the team's first ever victory in Unlimited Light competition.  This is a team that in 2003 reach an all time nadir when engine woes later discovered to be caused by hull issues caused many a DNF or DNS.  Then there was the steering failure that ran the UL-40 into a jersey barrier in Valleyfield, plus a season ending injury in a construction accident to then driver Kelly Stocklin, and no heat finishes in the final 3 races of the year earned the team the dubious honor of the "burnt piston award".  A turnaround began in the off season prior to the 2004 season.
Harold Mills took over the driving duties while hull adjustments and hardware improvements corrected problems that lead to engine failures in 2003.  The next two seasons Mills and Thunder Valley and the Miss Red Dot Corporation gained confidence, reliability, and competitiveness, finishing 6th in the UL points standings in 2004 and 4th in 2005.  Mills, from Seattle, decided to step away from the cockpit this season and Brian Perkins of Kent took over.  Perkins had experience driving the UL-136 for Pat Roach in 4 races in 2003 & 2004 plus relieved Greg Hopp in the UL-1 in two preliminary heats in Detroit in 2005, taking first place both times. The competitive growth of the UL-40 program continued this year with their first ever victory in the season opener, and the fastest lap ever run by the UL-40 team at better than 114 mph.  The team has spent a couple of intense work weeks since the Silverdale race making repairs to the 1989 hull, including a 3 x 6 foot hole in the bottom.  They'll be ready for San Diego.

Two teams that haven't had the kind of seasons they expected at the outset hope for a turnaround this weekend.  Bob Estes and the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking returns this hull to San Diego for the first time since Cal Phipps was a Final Heat starter in 2003 and took 2nd in 2002, driving for Wiggins Hydroplane Racing out of Rainbow City, Alabama.  This 1997 Ron Jones Sr. hull is the 3rd winningest boat in Unlimited Lights history but hasn't been to victory lane since Phipps won at Seattle in 2003.  Estes, a former ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS Modified Champion stepped up to the Unlimited Lights series this year with a proven race program but just hasn't had the kind of success they may have expected in this ever increasingly competitive series.  Still, while winless on the campaign, Estes' team currently ranks a very respectable 5th in the points, with hopes of vaulting as high as 3rd with strong runs in the final two races.

Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro has had an up and down season.  The up would be the birth of the next "X-Man...Vince Jr. shortly after the Seattle race.  On the water the UL-929 Team Chapman Lake Havasu Real Estate has had it's share of difficulties, magnified by a huge hole ripped in the bottom of the hull at the recent Silverdale WA regatta. Xaudaro currently sits 7th in the points standings but this remodeled "all black, all the time" Unlimited Light has shown to be very competitive on the Mission Bay course and if all is right with the hull and engine, expect the "X-Man" to give it a good ride this weekend.

So, who's third?  How about the second oldest hull in the fleet?  Yes, Paul Becker and the UL-14 Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic has had his best season in UL competition, and his veteran hull has run it's fastest lap ever in 32 years of racing.  Becker won't catch the two leaders but he has a 913 point edge over Brian Perkins. Becker scored a career best second place finish at the season opener at Issaquah and has parlayed heat victories and consistent finishes into a solid hold on 3rd place.  The retired airline pilot was able to make the eastern trip for the first time, competing at Valleyfield and Detroit, and looks forward to returning there in the future. The 14 hull did sustain some significant damage at Silverdale in August, causing it to miss the Final, but Perkins says the "old girl" will be ready to rock this weekend on Mission Bay.

A year ago a re-debut occurred on the San Diego race course.  The track named for the late Bill Muncey welcomed his son, Wil Muncey back to professional hydroplane racing.  Muncey and his wife Debi had built an Unlimited program and raced in San Diego in the 80's.  They also started a race promotions company, and a magazine publishing business (Boatracing Magazine). In the 90's they left racing to raise their family, and in 2002 they returned to racing in the limited ranks and then joined the new ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS series.  When Pat Roach decided to enter the UL-136 at San Diego shortly before last year's race and needed a driver, Muncey was recruited to return to Mission Bay and debut in Unlimited Lights.  His performance in the "Little Boat that Could" at San Diego and Port Angeles earned him the 2005 ULHRA Rookie of the Year Award.  This year, the Munceys purchased the boat from Roach and renumbered it UL-83 in honor of the year they originally formed Muncey Racing.  Power Punch Lubricants of Bremerton WA  and Wyatt's Watches of Monroe WA came on board as sponsors and the team is looking forward to this year's race after completing upgrades to the fuel system and hull bottom following the Silverdale race. 

The oldest hull in the UL fleet, by about a year, returns to San Diego this weekend.  The UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co, driven by Grapeview WA's Joe Turner is looking for some redemption.  The team had their best season in 2005 but in 2006 they've had some problems....particularly with the rough conditions they encountered racing this year at Tri Cities, Seattle, and Silverdale.  They've developed a quality engine program and Joe knows the limitations of his short, narrow hull, yet gets everything out of the "Purple Thunder" it has available.  Here's a team that, should the opportunity develop to acquire an upgraded hull in the future, could certainly become a contender.  They hope to build on last year's modest success at San Diego where they came within one placement of reaching the Final Heat. 

The 10th entry didn't even exist in ULHRA a year ago.  Well, the boat did, but not Celtic Racing.  At this time a year ago the current UL-13 was owned by Pingree Conflitti in Detroit.  He decided to take the boat to Port Angeles for the final race of the year to compete and hopefully find a new owner.  Conflitti did both, with Joe Souza of Lakewood WA driving, and Conflitti making a deal with a new owner.   Reading the For Sale listing and pre-race stories on this website was none other than Mercer Island WA resident J. Craig Fletcher.  Mercer Island is located on Lake Washington, very near the Seattle hydroplane race course and the sport had captivated Fletcher all of his life.  Last year he decided it was time.  He went to the Port Angeles race and watched Greg Hopp win his third title by 83 points over Michael Flaherty .  More than that, Fletcher left for home with the UL-559 Outlaw in tow.  From spectator to team owner in one weekend!  Fletcher has also become the team's driver and will compete this weekend, hoping to wipe away the memory of a very disappointing weekend in Silverdale where mechanical woes kept him scoreless in points for the weekend.  Fletcher comes into the San Diego race in eleventh position and has a solid opportunity to finish in the top 10 in his first UL campaign. 

The Unlimited Lights will be on the water with 3 qualifying sessions on Friday at 10:00am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm.  There will be a final qualifying session on Saturday morning prior to 4 heats of racing on Saturday afternoon, plus the B-Main and Final on Sunday. 

John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlmited Lights

Repairs continuing on UL-1 for San Diego 

While approaching turn #2 in the Final Heat at Silverdale WA last month, the Mike’s Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky was leading the field.  Then a propeller blade broke and the boat went dead in the water.  At the time it did not appear particularly notable as no one was aware the problem was a broken propeller. However, seldom if ever do you see propeller breakage not result is other damage to the hull, and this was no exception.  

As you can see from these photos, the vibration caused from losing 1 of 3 blades from the propeller caused some series damage.  The transom was shaken and sheared the titanium bolts used to anchor the strut to the transom.  The blade actually flew threw the right rear vertical stabilizer, slicing the metal support in half.   

Team owner Jerry Hopp says his crew is burning the midnight oil (again) in order to be ready to race in San Diego.  He adds, “hopefully the paint will be dry when we leave for San Diego”.   

The "Laughlin. Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge" is this weekend, September 15, 16 & 17 on Mission Bay.  It is race #5 of the 6 race West Coast Series presented by Powerboats Northwest of Tacoma WA. 

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc

San Diego Race Preview #2.  The UL-19 won?

Yes, the 5 Stars Racing Team owned by Everett WA’s Tom Eckenberg produced a very popular win in the most recent Unlimited Lights event: the Boat Trader.com quicksilver regatta at Silverdale WA.

Going into quicksilver, the UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Healthy Energy Drink Mix wasn’t regarded as a leading contender, or a contender at all. The team with the Dale Van Wierengen hull that debuted in 2005 wasn’t able to compete at the season opener at Issaquah WA and didn’t make the eastern trip to Valleyfield Quebec and Detroit MI.  Then when the team showed up at Tri Cities WA for the HAPO Community Credit Union Thunder Cup, they were unable to start a heat or establish a qualifying speed.  The next week in Seattle the team ran in the ACCS program as the hull does fit the size requirements for that new series.  The team was able to turn a respectable lap in testing of better than 109 mph, but again no heat finishes.  Problems with supercharger belts were cropping up.

So two weeks later they are in Silverdale WA hoping for some improvement.  They improved far more than anyone outside of the 5 Stars team imagined. In the early going, more supercharger belt problems.  But over the course of the weekend things got progressively better.  Rookie driver Ryan Mallow of Tacoma WA was able to start the B-Main and it was, as Yogi Berra would say……..”déjà vu all over again”.  In 2005 the high water mark of the season for the Zip Fizz team then driven by Steve Hook who took this season off to concentrate on his insurance business, was the B-Main at Silverdale.  Hook drove to an exciting 1 boat length victory over Harold Mills, then driving the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation.  This time around, rookie Mallow, still on restriction from Referee Dick Lynch and required to start in the outside lane, won the start and drove to victory in the B-Main.  However, more surprises were yet to come.

In the Final, Mallow was permitted to start in any lane for the first time in his Unlimited Lights career and he made the most of it.  The start was thrilling as Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Brian Perkins in the Red Dot and Mallow in the Zip Fizz crossed the line together and raced side by side into turn #1.  Out of the turn, it was Hopp on the inside in first, stretching his lead to nearly half a roostertail length over Mallow, with Perkins another half a roostertail length back in third. Going into turn number 2 and appearing on his way to the first ever win for the former UL-9 American Eagle hull, Hopp’s ride broke a propeller blade and settled in to the water; done for the day.  At this point incredulity set in for all to see.  Ryan Mallow driving the UL-19 which two weeks before could barely turn a lap was running away to a 2 roostertail length lead. 

Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric was behind and outside the field at the start but immediately began reeling in the field.  At the end of lap two the third year driver from Bonney Lake WA drove past Brian Perkins into second, but that was it.  Flaherty could get no closer and Mallow drove the Mz Zip Fizz to his first victory.  For owner Eckenberg, nicknamed Big Bubbah, it was his first victory in hydroplane racing.  He had been a crewman for several years with the late Bob Fendler’s Unlimited team, and when Eckenberg and John Tietz of Idaho first formed an Unlimited Lights team together, they chose the number UL-19 as a salute to Fendler.  The #19, according to Official Historian Fred Farley, has never won a race in Unlimited Lights competition, or even in the Unlimited ranks.  So Ryan Mallow, Tom Eckenberg, the 5 Stars Team, and the #19 all picked up their first ever major hydroplane victory at Silverdale WA.  They’ll try to make it two in a row at San Diego at the "Laughlin. Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge" September 15, 16 & 17 on Mission Bay.

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.


UL teams gear up for Southern California.
 
Gear up is right.  The Mission Bay Bill Muncey Race Course presents the fastest racing water in the country. The "Laughlin Nevada Unlimited Light Hydroplane Challenge" is the next to last stop on the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association's (ULHRA) West Coast Series presented by Powerboats Northwest of Tacoma WA.
 
It's on Mission Bay, San Diego where Paul Droullard  set the all time Unlimited Lights' speed record with a qualifying lap of 122 324 mph in 2004.  That year Droullard didn't make the UL Final due to engine woes but he did set the record.  Last year, in Droullard's last race as owner-driver of the then UL-9 "American Eagle",  the Auburn WA resident who also assembled the "Eagle" qualified number 1 and raced to a solid second place finish, breaking the all time UL heat speed record in the process.  Unfortunately for Droullard, Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky also broke the heat speed record and won the race in a new record of 116.887 miles per hour over the 5 mile distance.  Now, the former American Eagle is the current Mike's Hard Lemonade yet there is one thing that Greg Hopp has in common with Paul Droullard.  So far, neither has had the good fortune to drive the fastest hull in UL racing into victory lane.  Hopp intends to end that situation once and for all at the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta, September 15-17. 
 
Greg Hopp has bigger things that even the San Diego race to contend with. The team he and his father Jerry Hopp operate from their Snohomish WA home port is in a real battle for their 4th consecutive UL points championship. His lead is a precarious 104 points over Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric.  In this century, only Impact Racing (UL-72) and Hopp Racing (UL-1) have won the coveted Unlimited Lights Championship.  So far, after 6 races on the Unlimited Lights eight race 2006 tour, Flaherty and Hopp have each won twice.  Keep in mind that all UL heats (except the B-Main) carry the same number of points so it's possible to score the most points at a given event but fail to win the race.  That's because the race winner is decided in the Final Heat.  This is exactly what happened at the season opener in June when Flaherty scored the most points but due to a penalty in the Final Heat, Brian Perkins in the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation won the Tastin' n Racin' Regatta at Issaquah WA. 
 
With 1240 points available at San Diego, and another 1640 points available at the Victoria Express Strait Thunder in Port Angeles WA Sept 30 & October 1st, this year's championship battle looks like it could repeat last year's epic conclusion. Greg Hopp secured the championship in the Final Heat at the final race of the year on the Strait of Juan De Fuca. 
 
In our next pre-race report, we'll look at other contenders, including the newest winner in Unlimited Lights racing.
 
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights

Click here for updates from August, 2006