Photos: Shelly Luke, Chris Denslow, Tim Crowley, Mark Sharley


I get asked regularly "what's ahead for ULHRA?" Usually at this time of year my answer would be "you'll have to wait and find out, just like me". But that was then. Fact is, Autumn 2009 is different, at least for ULHRA, Inc., and that's good for the fans.

This is anything but the expected "slow news" period for Racing, ULHRA Style. You may have seen that Bay Bank has signed on as the Official Bank of ULHRA, Inc. That is no small accomplishment. It's the result of a company "trying out" marketing with ULHRA, seeing that it does work to their advantage, and then stepping up their involvement.

Maybe you also saw that ULHRA now has an official radio station, a "50,000 watt blowtorch" in Southern California. The famed KCBQ in San Diego is that station where Dave Stahl "The Car Guy" show is featured on Saturdays and Sundays and Dave Stahl features ULHRA guests each weekend. Fans in California can listen to the station and The Car Guy show is streamed live around the world..

There are a multitude of teams out seeking sponsorship for the 2010 season in order to grow their respective programs and many are now turning to professional representation. In the world of professional motorsports this is an important development. For ULHRA teams this is the critical time of year for 2010 when it comes to sponsorship recruitment as the corporate world works many months in advance. So while the teams aren't racing they are doing all they can to be prepared for the upcoming season. Sponsorship recruitment this time of year is a key component. The appeal of ULHRA Racing for teams and sponsors is growing noticeably which, if you've been following the business trends lately, is running "against the grain" for most motorsports organizations.

In some quarters and in some racing series you may hear or read "so and so is really close to getting a deal done". Let me tell you after more than 3 decades in broadcasting and sports marketing there is no such thing as "close to getting a deal done". There's no gray area in this endeavor. It's black & white, yes & no, done, or not done. The only "done deal" is the one where the contract is signed and the check has been deposited. That's when you'll see an announcement here about sponsorships, new teams, new race sites and the rest.

I can tell you about one team making a comeback in 2010. Vince "X-Man Xaudaro will be bringing back the "all black, all the time" UL-929 which was severely damaged in 2007 at Silverdale. VInce is not just repairing the boat, he is upgrading the hull to be the most competitive he's ever been. In that year of 2007 the X-Man led the points race going into that fateful Silverdale race, much like Paul Becker did the next year when he met with severe boat and physical damage. Becker came back to race in 2009. Xaudaro has kept active with Jim & Karon Wilmot's UL-9 program the past couple seasons. Oh by the way, if you're wondering if the UL-929 will still be "all black, all the time" this is one where you'll have to "stay tuned".

Another team we'll be seeing is based in Evansville IN. One time ULHRA driver Mike Cashin is returning, as he's acquired the UL-89 from Florida's Mike Sadlon. Cashin will be campaigning from his home state in Unlimited Lights races in 2010 and will be joined by other eastern based teams.

There are a lot of great opportunities in ULHRA for what are termed "marketing partners". Great stories abound like the young and successful Kayleigh Perkins with nine wins and two championships in three short years plus an ever growing legion of fans. There's the winning return of talented and colorful Mark Evans, and Wil Muncey, son of the legendary Bill Muncey having his most successful season and getting closer to that elusive first ever victory. Let's not ignore the aforementioned Becker and Xaudaro. Noteworthy are Chris & David Grant showing one must first finish if one wants to finish first.........and they've got that finishing part down very well, along with Ryan Mallow having a speedy and successful, albeit shortened season. We saw the debut of Dan McCulloch as the newest owner-driver in the Unlimited Lights series. And there are many, many more stories and personalities with plenty to look forward to in 2010.

In December there's an event in Orlando, Fl called the Performance Racing Industry show. ULHRA will be there. It's where anyone and everyone in the business of high performance parts, products, services and motorsports convene. ULHRA will have about as impressive a display as any entity there because, from Alabama, Milton & Charley Wiggins' San Diego race winning G-10 Thunderboat, the Frazee Paint-Titeflex Special will be on display. 26 feet long, over 3600 lbs, and a dazzling paint scheme by driver Cal Phipps will certainly attract attention along with its 1600 hp 572 cubic inch supercharged V-8 engine. In fact the G-10 will attract attention just as Phipps did with his Final Heat winning drive on Mission Bay back in September.

Plans are well underway for the second annual Safety Seminar, produced by ULHRA and other racing organizations, and the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum. It will be held next Spring and is a must for any hydroplane racing team. The area of safety is no place for compromise and the latest technology and information will be presented. Last year one of the most important elements demonstrated was what some might have thought minor. However, radio communication from race driver to crew member is critically important and the attendees learned about the right type of antenna, and how the wrong antenna on a hydroplane can lead to "blind spots" on the race course. In a sport where visibility is so restricted by the mandatory safety canopies, communication must be 100% at all times or serious consequences can occur. A new feature of the Safety Seminar will be ULHRA race boat inspections on the morning of the event. This is where teams can have ULHRA inspectors approve off season upgrades and safety improvements, or find out if more work is needed before the season opener. If you're serious about boat racing you need to take in this program.

Shortly thereafter it will be the beginning of the 2010 season commencing with our annual Spring Training test session in April. That session is more important than ever because, as the value of ULHRA Racing continues to grow, the value of performing well also grows. Teams that are working nights & weekends now to prepare for 2010 will get their first real look at how well their "non racing season" went, next April.

The 2010 ULHRA racing season begins once again in the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix (Chandler) AZ at Firebird International Raceway on Saturday & Sunday, May 1st & 2nd, 2010.

It'll be here before you know it.

John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing