Photo credits: Tim
Crowley, Madison
Swenson, Linda
Amundsen, Mark
Sharley
2010 is upon us and in the world of motorsports everyone is hoping for a better economic climate than in 2009. Regardless, teams are looking forward to the 2010 season which for ULHRA teams begins with the annual open test session known as Spring Training on April 15th in Seattle, WA. First race of the season is at Firebird International Raceway at Phoenix (Chandler) AZ on May 1st & 2nd.
You may not be aware of the "inclusionary history" of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series. If you're a hydroplane racer using small or big block V-8 power chances are your race craft fits the criteria to be UL eligible.
The Unlimited Lights series began in 1995 as an outgrowth of the GNH class and its predecessor, the 7 Liter class. Today, those that were originally eligible for UL competition are still eligible and others have been added over the years. The UL-98, Miss Atomic Screen Printing, for example, began life in 1974 as a 7 Liter Division II craft, yet
today, remains competitive in the Unlimited Lights series.
Any inboard hydroplane which fits in the twenty foot to twenty six foot length with an automotive powered V-8 engine is eligible to compete in Unlimited Lights races. Generous tow money is offered at each UL race. Even teams that fit the UL size requirements but don't have safety capsules and tails can race and collect tow money. Teams with "caps & tails" also receive national points and are eligible for prize money that's awarded in th
e
Final Heat. Race
craft that are legal
to compete as
National Modified
and Grand National
and even longer 5
Liter hydroplanes
can compete in the
UL series along with
Unlimited Lights
that either race
naturally aspirated
big block V-8's or
supercharged
engines. The "blower
motor rules" allow
for 468 cu.in
supercharged engines
in the UL class with
limitations on
supercharger speed
compared to the
Grand Prix class.
The GP class is
included in ULHRA's
G-Class Thunderboat
North American
Challenge Cup Series
which are scheduled
to race at Arizona,
South Dakota,
Montana and California.
The UL rules have evolved over the past 15 years to create an equitable competitive opportunity for each category
of hydroplane. The
result is fans can
view a "David vs
Goliath" style of
competition with
small blocks an
d
shorter boats
competing against
big blocks and
larger boats, and
also competing
against
superchargers.
Nowhere else that
I'm aware have
naturally aspirated
engines been paired
successfully against
supercharged engines
in the same "class"
but they compete and
succeed in the
Unlimited Lights'
series every race
weekend.
Over the past three seasons the record of race wins by carburetor teams and supercharged teams is nearly 50-50. From 2000 through 2009 the UL
championship was won
five times by
naturally aspirated
teams and five times
by supercharged
teams. Opportunity
is found in ULHRA
for teams looking to
expand their racing
and marketing
program, especially
when one takes into
account that two
ULHRA events are
televised live on
local CBS and NBC
affiliates and all
ULHRA events are
webcast live.
ULHRA's fu
rthest
eastern race
currently is in
Chamberlain-Oacoma,
South Dakota. This
is one of the most
enjoyable race
programs in the
country for racers,
and the folks in
South Dakota are
outstanding race
organizers and fans
even though they've
only been at this
for two years. It's
simple to get to,
right on Interstate
90 where it crosses
the Missou
ri
River in South
Dakota.
Now when I write simple I don't necessarily mean easy. Easy is a 30 minute drive downtown. For a lot of Unlimited Lights racers that describes the Seattle race where quite a few teams are home ported. Chamberlain-Oacoma SD is about three hours east of Rapid City and about two hours west of Sioux Falls. Because it's right on Interstate 90 it's simple to get to; just not easy for teams in the Pacific and Eastern time zones. However for the teams that have
competed there they know racing in South Dakota is something special. The race is moving to the weekend of June 19th & 20th. My point is, to race in South Dakota is well worth the effort and for teams around the country that don't regularly race as Unlimited Lights, such as National Modified and Grand National Hydroplanes, South Dakota is a great opportunity to experience what we call Racing, ULHRA Style.
ULHRA is working to expand to race sites in the east & south. In the past couple of seasons the series has added South Dakota, Montana and Arizona. As this expansion continues it will become more convenient for teams not based in the Pac
ific
time zone to race in
the Unlimited Lights
series. Till then,
South Dakota and
Montana, moving to
mid August, are two
excellent and well
attended events to
start competing with
the Unlimited
Lights, plus Phoenix
in the middle of
springtime is a nice
getaway from the
northern winter
cold.
Some teams have asked if they could base their racing program with ULHRA teams in the west so they could race more often in the Unlimited Lights series and those teams could commute by air. The answer is yes. Others have asked if they could have their racing program operated by a western based team. The answer to that also is yes, and is happening right now as UL-11 team owner Darren Bartels will be campaigning Pat Rankin's new Balcer UL-10 to be driven by 3 time Lighter than LIGHTS champion Bud McKay.
In the "Coming Attractions" department, ULHRA will conduct its first ever Driver Training program and it will be held in conjunction with the season opener in Arizona the weekend of May 1st & 2nd. This will involve classroom instruction, capsule training and the opportunity to drive a racing hydroplane on the course at Phoenix. This program is both for novices who've always wanted to try driving a hydroplane as well as veterans who'd like to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Details will be posted on www.ulhra.org soon. Note that the training program
will be on Thursday & Friday, April 29th & 30th in Phoenix (Chandler) AZ.
John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing
2010 is upon us and in the world of motorsports everyone is hoping for a better economic climate than in 2009. Regardless, teams are looking forward to the 2010 season which for ULHRA teams begins with the annual open test session known as Spring Training on April 15th in Seattle, WA. First race of the season is at Firebird International Raceway at Phoenix (Chandler) AZ on May 1st & 2nd.
You may not be aware of the "inclusionary history" of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series. If you're a hydroplane racer using small or big block V-8 power chances are your race craft fits the criteria to be UL eligible.
The Unlimited Lights series began in 1995 as an outgrowth of the GNH class and its predecessor, the 7 Liter class. Today, those that were originally eligible for UL competition are still eligible and others have been added over the years. The UL-98, Miss Atomic Screen Printing, for example, began life in 1974 as a 7 Liter Division II craft, yet
today, remains competitive in the Unlimited Lights series.
Any inboard hydroplane which fits in the twenty foot to twenty six foot length with an automotive powered V-8 engine is eligible to compete in Unlimited Lights races. Generous tow money is offered at each UL race. Even teams that fit the UL size requirements but don't have safety capsules and tails can race and collect tow money. Teams with "caps & tails" also receive national points and are eligible for prize money that's awarded in th
e
Final Heat. Race
craft that are legal
to compete as
National Modified
and Grand National
and even longer 5
Liter hydroplanes
can compete in the
UL series along with
Unlimited Lights
that either race
naturally aspirated
big block V-8's or
supercharged
engines. The "blower
motor rules" allow
for 468 cu.in
supercharged engines
in the UL class with
limitations on
supercharger speed
compared to the
Grand Prix class.
The GP class is
included in ULHRA's
G-Class Thunderboat
North American
Challenge Cup Series
which are scheduled
to race at Arizona,
South Dakota, Montana and California.
The UL rules have evolved over the past 15 years to create an equitable competitive opportunity for each category
of hydroplane. The
result is fans can
view a "David vs
Goliath" style of
competition with
small blocks an
d
shorter boats
competing against
big blocks and
larger boats, and
also competing
against
superchargers.
Nowhere else that
I'm aware have
naturally aspirated
engines been paired
successfully against
supercharged engines
in the same "class"
but they compete and
succeed in the
Unlimited Lights'
series every race
weekend.Over the past three seasons the record of race wins by carburetor teams and supercharged teams is nearly 50-50. From 2000 through 2009 the UL
championship was won
five times by
naturally aspirated
teams and five times
by supercharged
teams. Opportunity
is found in ULHRA
for teams looking to
expand their racing
and marketing
program, especially
when one takes into
account that two
ULHRA events are
televised live on
local CBS and NBC
affiliates and all
ULHRA events are
webcast live. ULHRA's fu
rthest
eastern race
currently is in
Chamberlain-Oacoma,
South Dakota. This
is one of the most
enjoyable race
programs in the
country for racers,
and the folks in
South Dakota are
outstanding race
organizers and fans
even though they've
only been at this
for two years. It's
simple to get to,
right on Interstate
90 where it crosses
the Missou
ri
River in South
Dakota. Now when I write simple I don't necessarily mean easy. Easy is a 30 minute drive downtown. For a lot of Unlimited Lights racers that describes the Seattle race where quite a few teams are home ported. Chamberlain-Oacoma SD is about three hours east of Rapid City and about two hours west of Sioux Falls. Because it's right on Interstate 90 it's simple to get to; just not easy for teams in the Pacific and Eastern time zones. However for the teams that have
competed there they know racing in South Dakota is something special. The race is moving to the weekend of June 19th & 20th. My point is, to race in South Dakota is well worth the effort and for teams around the country that don't regularly race as Unlimited Lights, such as National Modified and Grand National Hydroplanes, South Dakota is a great opportunity to experience what we call Racing, ULHRA Style.
ULHRA is working to expand to race sites in the east & south. In the past couple of seasons the series has added South Dakota, Montana and Arizona. As this expansion continues it will become more convenient for teams not based in the Pac
ific
time zone to race in
the Unlimited Lights
series. Till then,
South Dakota and
Montana, moving to
mid August, are two
excellent and well
attended events to
start competing with
the Unlimited
Lights, plus Phoenix
in the middle of
springtime is a nice
getaway from the
northern winter
cold. Some teams have asked if they could base their racing program with ULHRA teams in the west so they could race more often in the Unlimited Lights series and those teams could commute by air. The answer is yes. Others have asked if they could have their racing program operated by a western based team. The answer to that also is yes, and is happening right now as UL-11 team owner Darren Bartels will be campaigning Pat Rankin's new Balcer UL-10 to be driven by 3 time Lighter than LIGHTS champion Bud McKay.
In the "Coming Attractions" department, ULHRA will conduct its first ever Driver Training program and it will be held in conjunction with the season opener in Arizona the weekend of May 1st & 2nd. This will involve classroom instruction, capsule training and the opportunity to drive a racing hydroplane on the course at Phoenix. This program is both for novices who've always wanted to try driving a hydroplane as well as veterans who'd like to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Details will be posted on www.ulhra.org soon. Note that the training program
will be on Thursday & Friday, April 29th & 30th in Phoenix (Chandler) AZ.
John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing
