Press Release from Johnson-Wolfe Racing Team

Johnson~Wolfe Racing Team sponsored by Trafficade is pleased to announce our team debut on the Grand Prix and Unlimited Light circuit with the purchase of the former GP-2 ‘Pleasure Seeker’.

Phoenix, AZ December 13, 2007: Trafficade (www.trafficadesales.com) is excited to announce their entrance into a brand new class of racing. After cleaning out the boat and retrofitting it to bring it back to championship glory over the winter, the Johnson~Wolfe race team will be getting their sponsons wet in the 2008 season. The boat will have its coming out party in its hometown of Phoenix, AZ at Firebird Lake in April. The boat has won numerous championships in the past, and the team believes that this boat is capable of dominating the series once again. Driver Marty Wolfe states, “This was a championship boat before and the team intends to make it a championship boat again.” The race team looks forward to showing UL, GP, and the fans just how fast we can fly!

The boat will be powered by Wolfe Engines (www.wolfengines.com). Engine builder, Marty Wolfe, is contemplating a return to the boats history with a Chrysler power plant, and is also engineering a Chevrolet power plant option as well. Dennis Johnson, Vice President of Trafficade, will be the boat’s primary owner. Marty Wolfe will be the primary driver, the backup driver will be his sister and Team Manager Elizabeth Wolfe. This sibling rivalry will be overseen by Crew Chief and father Randy Wolfe with assistance from experienced hydroplane racers, Scott Blackwell and Randy Hurst.

About Trafficade

"Trafficade has the signs, traffic safety and personal protection equipment necessary to keep workers and facilities safe. From signs, barricades, and pedestrian fencing to safety vests and gloves. They carry a large inventory of products ready to ship immediately, and their custom sign shop and graphics department can meet all facility, vehicle, work-site and equipment needs. Many of Trafficades products can be seen being used at ULHRA events during the 2008 season. A current catalogue is readily available or visit online at www.trafficadesales.com, or call their knowledgeable staff direct at 866-613-3776, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MST." www.trafficadesales.com

About Johnson~Wolfe Racing

The Johnson~Wolfe and Trafficade race team has enjoyed a long history of success in hydroplane racing. Involved in many forms of boat racing for over 40 years, Dennis Johnson entered the world of limited Inboard Hydroplane racing in 2005 with a 2.5 stock called the "Knot Rod." With driver, Elizabeth Wolfe, at the helm the team performed well in its first partnership season. At the end of 2005, Dennis partnered with Wolfe Engines and brought in an additional driver, Marty Wolfe, to step it up a notch with an additional boat, and form the Johnson-Wolfe race team; from its very beginning, the team made a commitment to become a top competitor.

In its first season out, the brand new state-of-the-art Bergeron hull, made an impressive showing, placing in the top three at every event. In the 2007 season, Desperado competed at over 22 races. Despite some impressive hurdles including a devastating fire and an extreme flip, 2007 also saw a National Championship, a World, North American, and Eastern Divisional Championship for the team. Desperado also recently made its debut on the Unlimited Light circuit at the Firebird raceway in Chandler, AZ. The Wolfe family has also successfully campaigned another championship boat on the limited Inboard circuit, GNH 22 Summer Wine. This team has achieved countless successes over the past 20 years in the sport. Moving forward, the team is excited to focusing its energies to debut a Grand Prix hull in the 2008 season.

If you are interested in discussing more details surrounding Johnson~Wolfe race team please contact us for more information. Please email us at: ewolfe@wolfengines.com Or, please call 312.560.7468

ULHRA 2007 Season DVDs

Well it is that time again, race fans. The ULHRA 2007 Season DVDs will soon be going on sale. Starting January 19^th (the night of the ULHRA Banquet) you can start receiving your personal copies. Pre-orders will be taken from now until Jan 17^th. You can order a copy to be brought to the Banquet or have it mailed out to you on Jan. 21^st. No mail orders will be filled before the presentation at the Banquet.

The 2007 Season DVD (5 disc set) includes all the heats from Richland, TNR, Valleyfield, Seafair, Silverdale, San Diego, Port Angeles, Chamberlain Exhibition, Phoenix Exhibition, Interviews and select Awards. = $35.00 (plus S/H for mail orders)

The Banquet DVD includes the 2007 Highlight Video and Bloopers - $5.00 (plus S/H for mail orders)

Order the 2007 Season DVD set now and receive a special Banquet Bonus. Orders paid for in advance (or paid for at the Banquet) will receive the 2007 Highlight Video and Bloopers free….yes I said FREE!

The LTL and G-Boat DVDs are now available for ordering

LTLs One DVD – Final heats from Richland, Silverdale and Port Angeles and Awards. = $10

G-Boat One DVD – Heats from Valleyfield and Seafair, Awards from Seafair and Interviews = $10

If you are placing an order for DVDs to be mailed to your house and not picked up at the Banquet – the cost for Shipping and Handling is as follows:

Up to $100 worth of product the S/H = $4.50

Anything over $100 of product the S/H = $7.00

So don’t delay – any orders made AFTER Jan. 17 will not receive the free Banquet Bonus.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL....instead, send your orders to: goldcupvideo@charter.net

Sorry, we are unable to accept credit cards

Send check or money order to:

Gold Cup Video

P.O. Box 2055

White City, OR 97503

(please include your E-Mail address with your check so we can notify you that your order was received)

From the Lighter side...

By Bud McKay

A few of the Lighter-than-LIGHTS hydros are fighting hibernation over the winter and working hard through the cold. In the 4-cylinder class, the big news is the class will be racing at River City Racin, at Chamberlain Oacoma, South Dakota, July 12-13, 2008. Barry Eacret, owner of the class 2007 LTL high points champion, the S-6 Lil' Miss Boat Electric, is behind the push. Tom Davis, President of River City Racin has already secured the sponsor support to bring the 4 cylinder class to his event. And it looks as if boats from the mid-west and the east coast will make their way to South Dakota. Right now it looks as if at least eight boats in this class will compete on the Missouri River in July.

Chomping at the bit to get back home to South Dakota is Leslie Poodle Warren, of the Toothpick Racing Team in her new and very competitive hull. And look for Toothpick Racing Team to feature two hulls in 2008. The big change for the class will see Phillip Eacret taking over the driving duties from big brother Kevin in the 4-cylinder, Lil Miss Boat Electric. Kevin will concentrate on the 8-cylinder LTL class hull as well as move up to be the backup driver for Kip Brown in the Baker equipments UL-8. There might be some magic in driving the S-6. This is the second year in a row the driver of that boat has graduated to driving in the UL class. The previous driver of the S-6 was Kayleigh Perkins.

In the 8-cylinder LTL class, Steve Clark continues to be bitten by the bad luck bug. With two hulls sitting in his Belfair yard awaiting new sponsons, Clark was driving home from work and a critter ran in front of his path. Being that hes got a love for all critters, Clark tried to avoid hitting the critter and ended up taking on a fence and a tree. Clark broke his collarbone, not to mention the fence, and had numerous other injuries suffered in the crash. But Clark always has a positive way of looking at things and said, The critter was fine. Clark plans to be out in 2008 with a new sponson and new engine and a stronger shoulder.

Shane Pratt is still riding the high of winning his home-town, season-ending Port Angeles race. Now, that hes over the rookie portion of his career, hes got some repair work to do on the bottom of the hull. The crew of the E-53 Victoria Express presents Maxim Power Sports and Adly Moto has the boat upside down and is currently working on it to be a consistent contender for the title in 2008.

Chris Dreewes, driving the Muncey owned E-83 Wyatt's Diamond Jewelers presents Power Punch Oil Supplements has a new hull coming out for the 2008 season. They have a Karleson kit hull thats in the final stages of being completed. Chris was running strong in the old hull in Silverdale before destroying her in the first heat on one of the roughest courses seen. After its saltwater dunk in Silverdale, the engine is being worked on at Eds Automotive. With limited time in the hull, Chris has shown he can run upfront long as his hull stays together.

The E-36, Lil Miss Boat Electric presents Baker Equipment, will be ready for the 2008 season as well after blow over in only the second race with Kevin Eacret at the wheel. This was the fourth blow over with the hull in less than 10 races. Kevins convinced theres some bad luck incorporated with the boats unique flame paint job, so hes going with a luckier paint scheme in 2008 wanna bet it will have green and silver? Other than the paint job, Kevin will be working with Kip Brown to modify the hull so it stays on the water.

The E-10, GEICO Presents Namron Racing Teams shot at pulling off a three-peat for the class high points title is in jeopardy as a serious buyer is close to purchasing the hull. But if the hull doesnt sell, it will be back out on the water in 2008 trying to score a hat trick in the series high points championship titles.

OFF-SEASON WORK

In addition to overhauling engines, making hull repairs, and updating paint schemes, there is so much work to be done during the racing “off-season”, that off-season becomes something of a misnomer. While the hydroplanes are not on the water between December and March, this is also the time when sponsorship programs are signed, race sites are confirmed and the next edition of Thunder & LIGHTS Magazine is put together.

For example, from December 6^th to the 8^th Muncey Marketing, representing the ULHRA, attended the 20th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida along with a record number of exhibitors and booths. The aisles were packed with racing industry members doing face-to-face business while performance racing parts, services and accessories were exhibited in more than 4,200 booths on the 1-million-square-foot show floor. More than 1,450 companies exhibited at the show coming from 45 countries; making it the world’s largest racing trade show.

Over the course of three days the aisles were walked, contacts made, and 8 cartons of Thunder & LIGHTS magazine were hand-delivered to potential advertisers. Most of the ULHRA’s contingency sponsors were present at the show. 2008 sponsorship programs were reconfirmed plus new manufacturers introduced to the Contingency Awards Program. Always looking for growth in our series, information about the ULHRA’s racing circuit was left with some of the state tourism departments represented at the show who are pursuing new events and tourism attractions in their states.

The weather in Orlando over the course of the show was 80 degrees and sunshine. (Upon returning to the ULHRA’s home state in Washington, it was snowing on December 15^th.)

Next year’s 21st Annual PRI Trade Show will be held December 12-14, 2008, at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.

2 years of planning comes together in South Dakota

River City Racin' debuts next summer in Chamberlain-Oacoma South Dakota where Interstate 90 crosses the mighty Missouri River. This brand new festival is destined to take its place alongside other South Dakota destinations such as Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, Chief Joseph, and, of course, Sturgis. Check out the new River City Racin' Poster for details on this great new event in mid July.