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OLYMPIA POWER BOAT ASSOCIATION SPEEDFEST 2004 SALMON SHORES RESORT, BLACK LAKE, OLYMPIA WASHINGTON AUGUST 14 & 15, 2004
The
only winner in the history of the Olympia (WA) Speedfest, presented
by Ted's Red Apple Market, is Hopp Racing. The UL-1 Mike's Hard
Lemonade, driven by Greg Hopp won the event for the third straight
year in ideal weather conditions in front of a large throng of
racing fans on Sunday (8-15).
In a
Final Heat lineup that included a surprise, Greg Hopp took the lead
right after the start and was never headed. Pushing Hopp for the 4
lap, 5 mile duration was Thunder Valley Racing's Harold Mills in the
UL-40. With their quickest performance of the year, Mills drove the
team to their best ever finish in Unlimited Lights racing; a well
deserved 2nd place. Kevin Aylesworth in the UL-5 Baker Equipment
Co. also improved from his performance at Seafair, logging a solid
3rd place finish, and leading Aylesworth to proclaim they'll be
ready to win in their home town of San Diego CA, September 17-19.
Fourth place went to Michael Flaherty in the UL-51 Miss Boat
Electric, and in 5th was the big surprise; in fact for 2 reasons.
Joe Turner, in the Pacific Rim Brewing Co. Jackie's Purple Thunder
not only qualified for the Final Heat, but if you'd read this space
last week you know that Turner was not expected to compete following
hull damage at Seafair. But the improving Turner Racing Team
brought the repaired UL-18 to Olympia and reached the Final Heat and
earned a 5th place finish. At the end, Turner said, "see you in San
Diego". Granted they had some help, due to teams having mechanical
problems forcing them to withdraw, namely the UL-72 Graham
Trucking-Security Race Products driven by George Woods, the UL929
Western Cascade Truck and Tank, Baker Equipment Co. Neuvant Aviation
driven by Vince Xaudaro, and the UL-6 BCS Racing Team driven by
Kerry Beynon. But that's why they race, instead of just compete "on
paper". Sometimes big surprises occur, and often in the 3rd race in
4 weeks.
Ten
teams competed, led by the UL-1 and U-72. In fact, George Woods led
qualifying with a lap in excess of 121 mph over the estimated 1 1/4
mile Black Lake race course. Greg Hopp's time was 113 mph. The
UL-1 experienced fuel tank difficulties on Saturday, causing the
craft to go dead in the water in turns. Hopp was able to re-fire
but through the first day he had only 3rd place and second place
finishes totaling 525 pts. In a tight points race with George
Woods, this could have been a problem, but for a fluke incident.
Hopp was leading his second heat on Saturday when the UL-1 lost
power in turn one. Hopp was able to re-fire, just as he was being
overtaken by Woods. The resulting blast of water off of the UL-1
propeller inundated the UL-72's engine, and Woods was done for the
heat. The 72 team later installed a replacement engine and went on
to a first place finish in their second Saturday preliminary
heat, but on Sunday the replacement engine failed and the team was
done for the weekend. What was a 395 pt deficit after Seafair in
Seattle, is now over 1300 points, with just two races remaining.
However, in those two races, a total of 2800 points are available so
mathematically the UL-72 remains in the hunt. Woods leads the
driver's standings because Greg & Jerry Hopp alternate driving
assignments.
Hopp
Racing has developed into a strong second half team. Of their 11
career wins, beginning in 2001, eight of those victories have come
in August, September & October. Of those 11 wins, Grandpa Jerry
leads son Greg, 6 victories to 5.
John
Lynch
"Voice"
of the Unlimited Lights
Entering race #2 on the Lighter than LIGHTS schedule for 2004, Brian Perkins, driving the Perkins Glass Presents Miss Breezy for Kent, Washington's Phyllis Pasquinucci, had a perfect score. 4 heats started, 4 heats won, 1600 points. After race #2 at the 3rd annual Olympia WA Speedfest, presented by Ted's Red Apple Market of Westport WA, Perkins now has 8 heats started, 8 heats won and 3200 points. With one race to go, the Pasquinucci Racing Team has dominated the 4 cylinder (2.5 stock) category and will clinch the championship with one more heat finish. The 3rd & final race in the Lighter than LIGHTS series will be October 2nd & 3rd; the second annual Strait Thunder, presented by Victoria Express, in Port Angeles WA. After a season of deck to deck battles with Jeff Bernard in 2003, Perkins has been unstoppable in 2004. Bernard is now concentrating on the 8 cylinder category after picking up 4 second place finishes in Gerry Jarvis' TVR Sign, Yelm National Auto Parts entry at the season opener in June. Taking over the seat in the Jarvis hydroplane at Olympia was UL veteran, Wayne Howard Jr, but the boat's performance in Olympia was below par for the team. Second place, and his best performance in LTL competition, went to Joe Gutierrez in the Miss Dream, owned by Colorado's Jack Kean. Third place was secured by Eric Christensen in his Y-35, followed by Rob Alleger (S-14), Charles Xaudaro (S-32), Jason Carleton (S-10) and Wayne Howard Jr. (S-24). In the 8 cylinder category, Jeff Bernard in the Joya Mia E-136 won 3 of the 4 heats, and only failed to win a 4th because a minor parts failure prevented the boat from starting Sunday's first heat. In fact, till that DNS, Bernard and the E-136 were undefeated in two seasons of LTL competition. However, during post race inspection an engine component was found to be slightly out of compliance with the rules. Because Speedfest was a two day race, the 1200 LTL points earned were forfeited, as well as the Speedfest victory. That action promoted 2nd place finishing Bryan Richards in the E-4 Miss Shoreline Sign & Awning to his first victory in Lighter than LIGHTS competition. Richards' boat is virtually all new, built by the Richard's team in the off season after Bryan's rookie season in 2003. Second place went to Wil Muncey, son of hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey, in the E-83 Expresso, owned by his wife, Debi Muncey. The Muncey's returned to hydroplane racing in 2003 after more than a decade away, and have been steadily improving their performance. Third place was awarded to Chris Grant in the metallic maroon painted Wired 3000 Energy Drink - Time Machine which was unable to finish the Final Heat. Jon Zimmerman, a former 2.5 liter stock champion competed on Saturday in his brand new 8 cylinder stock entry and carved out 2 solid second place finishes, before retiring for the weekend due to a problem with the boat's rudder bracket. Speedfest was also the debut of a new, demonstration category; Modified hydroplane. Sponsored by ESL Enterprises, and Brand Images, the category is being developed to combine 4 cylinder modified hydroplanes (2.5M) and 8 cylinder modified hydroplanes (NM) into a competitive series for non stock hydros. Three teams competed on the weekend; the 4 cylinder A-90 Sidewinder of Chris Bertram, plus two 8 cylinder entries, Rod Bourke's NM-5 Miss I.R.S. Environmental, and Bob Estes NM33 Instigator. All three boats showed competitiveness, with the smaller Sidewinder able to go deck to deck with the other two. In the end, Bourke was declared the victor, followed by Estes and Bertram. Another round for this new Modified category awaits in Port Angeles. John Lynch "Voice" of the Unlimited Lights
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