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Photos; Mark
Sharley,
Shelly Luke
If I could tell you all that's going on with ULHRA, Inc right now, you'd be amazed. But, I can't. As I wrote last month, until a deal is done it's not a done deal, and here we don't announce deals that aren't done. Some things I can tell you. The major sponsorship just announced with Alpen Optics of Rancho Cucamonga CA is a big endorsement of "Racing, ULHRA Style" and what marketing with ULHRA can do for companies along with entertaining race fans. Details are posted on this website in an announcement titled "You CAN see it from here!" As the Official Binocular of ULHRA, Alpen Optics brings an incredible product to marine motorsports fans. To see the entire news release, click here I have it on good authority that an announcement will soon be made of another LTL graduation. Bud McKay, three time LTL 8 cylinder National Champion was announced recently as the driver and Team Manager for a new team entering the Unlimited Lights Series. He'll be behind the wheel of a new Steve Balcer hydroplane owned by Pat Rankin. McKay and his team are in the process of preparing this craft for its debut; hopefully in time for Spring Training.  The second LTL graduation this offseason? Well I can't reveal whom but I'm told you'll see an announcement from the team involved, possibly later this month. With two drivers advancing to the Unlimited Lights' series in 2010 this marks fifteen (15) drivers who've started in the LTL program and moved up to the Unlimited Light ranks. That's why the Lighter than LIGHTS program was launched in 2003, to provide a platform and opportunity for young drivers in smaller hydroplane classes, or even not so young drivers like McKay, to reach their dream of racing on the big stage in the Unlimited Lights series. Numbers are revealing and again this year The Sponsors' Report compiled by Joyce Julius and Associates is 
impressive.
In fact it's
doubly
impressive
because this
year's ULHRA
report
includes the
Tri Cities
Thunder Cup
on KNDO/KNDU
in Southeast
Washington
plus cable
outlets, and
KIRO TV in
Seattle plus
cable
outlets for
the Graham
Trucking Cup
for
Unlimited
Lights. The
audience for
the Seattle
race is
always huge,
with onsite
and TV
combining
for well
over 1
million fans .
In Tri
Cities, a
much smaller
market, they
pull
impressive
numbers
also; nearly
half the
audience
size of the
Seattle race
which makes
ULHRA racing
very
desireable
and very
affordable
for many
companies to
become
involved at
both venues.One fixture of the past couple of seasons won't return next season. The Gauntlet was exactly how the title implied. It was a rugged 
campaign of
up to 5
races in 6
weeks. In
2010 when
the final
schedule is
released
you'll see
The Gauntlet
has been
dismantled.
Some of The
Gauntlet
race sites
are choosing
to move
their dates
to eliminate
conflicts
and create
better
opportunities
for race
teams to add
to their
schedule.
Last year
ULHRA went
from Phoenix
in late
April, to no
racing until
July. This
year the
schedule
will be more
balanced for
the teams.
Contracts
with race
sites are
being
finalized
with the
target of
posting the
2010
schedule
before the
end of
December.
Yes there
will be some
new sites on
the ULHRA
calendar.
However
since I'm
the "Voice"
they don't
tell me
everything
lest I "blab
it".  Spring Training will be April 15th in Seattle and the season opener will be at Phoenix (Chandler) AZ, May 1st & 2nd. Tri Cities and Seattle will have a weekend off in between their races in 
2010 because
of how the
calendar
falls but
those big
events will
remain, as
always, in
late July
and early
August. That
weekend off
between the
two races
allows ULHRA
teams to
participate
in one of
the most
enjoyable
events of
the year.
The annual
Sea fair
Torchlight
Parade
traditionally
is held the
weekend of
the Tri
Cities race.
This year
the parade
is the
weekend
between the
two races
and with
over 300,000
people
lining the
downtown
streets of
Seattle,
ULHRA teams
will find a
very
appreciative
and
enthusiastic
audience.
The Performance Racing Industry show in Orlando FL is on tap. I and several others from ULHRA including team owners Milton & Charlie Wiggins, David & Chris Grant, and Darren Bartels will be attending, December 10-12. ULHRA's marketing dept. will have new materials "hot off the presses" and ULHRA personnel will participate on The Car Guy show with Dave Stahl on San Diego's KCBQ Radio, the official radio station of ULHRA. The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show is where the industry that is Racing, and trust me; it is an industry, gathers. From performance equipment and parts to safety gear and information on various racing series such as ULHRA, Inc, 
plus
technical
and other
seminars,
this is
where the
industry
meets. The
Convention
Center in
Orlando FL
will be
loaded with
a variety of
displays,
booths, and
exhibits,
including
the 26 foot,
1600 hp,
4,000 lb,
G-10 Frazee
Paint -
Titeflex
Special that
won the San
Diego finale
in ULHRA's
G-Class last
September.
Next month will be ULHRA's Annual Meeting and Banquet where 2009 awards are presented. From the prized Unlimited Lights Championship Trophy to the infamous "Burnt Piston Award", it will all take place in January. To all of our loyal fans and re  aders,
thanks for
being with
ULHRA and we
look forward
to an even
better 2010.
Have a great
holiday
season, with
your family
and friends.
Here is a salute to our many servicemen and women protecting the USA around the world and the many members of our armed forces we met at ULHRA events in 2009. And by the way; I still say Merry Christmas! John Lynch "Voice" of ULHRA Racing |
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Lynch Line November 2009
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