Seattle 1999

1999 General Motors Cup at Seafair
Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington, August 8, 1999

GENERAL MOTORS CUP AT SEAFAIR

UNLIMTED LIGHTS RACING:
In Unlimited Lights competition, Randy Haas in the Wizards Casino/CompAir took the checkered flag in this weekend's final. Haas battled with Graham Trucking presents Pocket Mechanic driver Phil Bononcini, but it was determined that Bononcini had jumped the start.

This is a long overdue win for Haas, who has been in a dry spell for more than three years.

"We keep tearing stuff up," said Haas. "I tore the canard off of it, I tore the cowling off of it, and I tore the wings off of it. It's been a hard road to go, but everybody keeps pitching in and working. We've finally done it."

UL FINAL:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph), Points
UL110 Randy Haas, Wizards Casino/CompAir, 106.551, 700
UL10 Charley Wiggins, Freddie's Club Light , 100.857, 1000
UL17 Rick Bridgeman, Ted's Red Apple Markets, 94.108, 394
UL38 Dave Bender, Aqua Tropics/Shields Auto Glass, 91.139, 694
UL72 Phil Bononcini, Graham Trucking/Pocket Mechanic, NA, 827
UL15 Jerry Hopp, Graham Trucking/Commercial Sealant, 78.550, 545
UL16 Bo Schide, ALAMO, DNF, 800

FAST LAP:
#1, UL110, Randy Haas, 106.551 mph.
* One minute penalty

UNLIMTED LIGHT HEATS 2A and 2B:

Heat 2A featured Bo Schide and the UL16 ALAMO on the ragged edge as he passed Phil Bononcini on the front stretch of lap number two.

"The water's a bit rough out there and I gave it a bit too much wing," said Schide. "It was a little light reacting so it got high until I got the boat down. I'm trying to get as good a ride as I can and still maintain speed. Once in awhile the boat does get a little more air under it. But that's the fastest way around the course."

Schide went on to win. Bononcini was second and Dave Bender was third.

Charley Wiggins got the inside lane on Randy Haas in Heat 2B and that proved to be just enough advantage to win. Haas kept his boat within a roostertail of Wiggins for all three laps and finished second.

Wiggins is locked in a national high points battle with Bo Schide. The outcome of this weekend's racing may well determine if Wiggins' Freddie's Club team travels North to Kelowna.

"We still haven't booked any flights home. We're just kind of holding our breath," said Wiggins. "We did lose a hundred points to ALAMO this morning in the first heat. The national points are important, the race wins are what we really want. We didn't enter this year thinking we could win the championship. We just wanted to win a few races. It's turned out better than we expected. Our focus is still on winning races."

HEAT 2A:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph)
UL16 Bo Schide, ALAMO, 108.408, 800
UL72 Phil Bononcini, Graham Trucking/Pocket Mechanic, 107.026, 700
UL38 Dave Bender, Aqua Tropics/Shields Auto Glass, 96.845, 525
UL24 Dave Bibby, Emerald Queen Casino, DNS, 0
UL23 Terry Troxell, Supercuts/Apex Laser, DNS, 0

FAST LAP: #2, UL16, Bo Schide, 110.470

HEAT 2B:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph)
UL10 Charley Wiggins, Freddie's Club Light, 104.935, 700
UL110 Randy Haas, Wizards Casino/CompAir, 101.447, 300
UL15 Jerry Hopp, Graham Trucking/Commercial Sealants, 82.492, 450
UL17 Rick Bridgeman, Ted's Red Apple Markets, N.A., 169

FAST LAP: #1, UL10, Charley Wiggins, 105.734

NOTE: The UL course is 1-2/3 miles.

UL FINAL HEAT LINEUP:
UL16 Bo Schide, ALAMO
UL72 Phil Bononcini, Graham Trucking/Pocket Mechanic
UL10 Charley Wiggins, Freddie's Club Light
UL38 Dave Bender, Aqua Tropics/Shields Auto Glass
UL15 Jerry Hopp, Graham Trucking/Commercial Sealant
UL110 Randy Haas, Wizards Casino/CompAir
UL17 Rick Bridgeman, Ted's Red Apple Markets
UL3 Doug Brow, Miss VNODE.com

UNLIMTED LIGHT HEATS 1A and 1B:

Phil Bononcini ran well as his competitors faltered one by one. Randy Haas challenged for one lap before going dead in the water at the entrance of turn one. Dave Bender kept it together and finished a distant second.

"I kind of thought that was going to be an easy one," said Bononcini. "We tried a couple of different carburetors yesterday and found one we think we like. It's going to go pretty good this weekend."

Charley Wiggins and Bo Schide ran like they were glued together until Wiggins hooked at the apex of turn one. Schide went on to win the heat in the UL16 ALAMO. Wiggins, after quick spin through the infield, was able to finish second. Jerry Hopp was third.

HEAT 1A:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph)
UL72 Phil Bononcini, Graham Trucking/Pocket Mechanic, 102.188, 400
UL38 Dave Bender, Aqua Tropics/Shields Auto Glass, 97.281, 300
UL24 Dave Bibby, Emerald Queen Casino, DNF, 0
UL110 Randy Haas, Wizards Casino/CompAir, DNS, 0
UL3 Doug Brow, Miss VNODE.com, DNF, 0

FAST LAP: #1, UL72, Phil Bononcini, 108.982

HEAT 1B:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph)
UL16 Bo Schide, ALAMO, 101.977, 400
UL10 Charley Wiggins, Freddie's Club Light, 93.589, 300
UL15 Jerry Hopp, Graham Trucking/Commercial Sealants, 83.662, 225
UL23 Terry Troxell, Supercuts/Apex Laser, DNF, 0
UL17 Rick Bridgeman, Ted's Red Apple Markets, DNF, 0

FAST LAP: #1, UL16, Bo Schide, 110.193

UNLIMITED LIGHT QUALIFYING RESULTS:
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph), Points
UL16 Bo Schide, ALAMO, 116.016, 40
UL72 Phil Bononcini, Graham Trucking/ Pocket Mechanic, 110.913, 30
UL10 Charley Wiggins, Freddie's Club Light, 110.605, 23
UL110 Randy Haas, Wizards Casino/CompAir, 107.001, 17
UL15 Jerry Hopp, Graham Trucking/Commercial Sealant, 98.375, 13
UL23 Terry Troxell, Supercuts/Apex Lasar, 91.474, 10

UL3 Doug Brow, Miss VNODE.com, 102.628
UL17 Rick Bridgeman, Miss Ted's Red Apple Markets
UL24 Dave Bibby, Emerald Queen Casino
UL38 Dave Bender, Aqua Tropics/Shields Auto Glass
UL102 Scott McGregor, Miss Propulsion

UNLIMITED QUALIFYING RESULTS (ROUND ONE):
Team, Driver, Sponsor, Speed (mph)
U1 Dave Villwock, Miss Budweiser (T5), 161.907
U16 N. Mark Evans, Miss E-Lam Plus, 149.782
U10 Mark Weber, York Intl./Miss Pizza Time, 146.231
U15 Greg Hopp, United Furniture Warehouse, 145.053
U20 Mitch Evans, Appian Jeronimo, 143.155
U3 Mike Weber, Graham Trucking, 127.945

GENERAL MOTORS CUP AT SEAFAIR
Since the early 1950's unlimited hydroplanes have become synonymous with the Pacific Northwest. Therefore, it is only fitting that the General Motors Cup be associated with SEAFAIR, one of the largest festivals in the Northwest. For the past 49 years, SEAFAIR has been a part of some of the best hydroplane races in history. For many SEAFAIR goers, the term, "hydroplane" evokes images of roaring water crafts barely skimming the surface of the water as they tear around the course leaving only their signature "rooster-tails" in their wake.

1999 GENERAL MOTORS CUP & U S WEST AIR SHOW TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 5

10:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Circle & Arrival Maneuvers

Friday, August 6

9:00 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:00 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
11:00 a.m. U S WEST Air Show Preview
11:30 a.m. Drivers Autograph Session
11:50 a.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels C-130 Hercules Demo
12:00 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Practice Performance
1:00 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
3:00 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
4:00 p.m. Unlimited Light Testing
5:00 p.m. Done for the day

Saturday, August 7

8:30 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
9:00 a.m. Unlimited Qualifying
10:00 a.m. Unlimited Light Hydroplane
10:30 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
11:30 a.m. U S WEST Air Show
11:45 a.m. Driver’s Autograph Session
11:50 a.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels C-130 Hercules Demo
12:00 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Performance
1:00 p.m. Unlimited Lights Heat 1A presented by Hooters
1:10 p.m. U S WEST Airshow
1:30 p.m. Unlimited Lights Heat 1B presented by Graham Trucking
1:40 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
2:10 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying
3:10 p.m. Unlimited Lights Heat 2A presented by Sicklesteel Crane
3:20 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
3:40 p.m. Unlimited Lights Heat 2B presented by Cavanaughs on Fifth Avenue
3:50 p.m. U S WEST Airshow
4:05 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
5:10 p.m. Unlimited Lights Final presented by Buick
5:25 p.m. Unlimited Lights Awards Ceremony

Sunday, August 8

9:00 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Testing
10:00 a.m. U S WEST Air Show: All Performers Fly-By
10:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
11:05 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1A presented by United Parcel Service
11:25 a.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 1B presented by Johnsonville Foods
11:35 a.m. U S WEST Air Show
11:50 a.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels C-130 Hercules Demo
12:00 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels Performance
1:05 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2A
1:15 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
1:35 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 2B presented by Cadillac
1:45 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
2:15 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
2:25 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3A presented by Johnson & Johnson
2:45 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Heat 3B presented by Oldsmobile
2:55 p.m. PEMCO Vintage Hydro Heat
3:30 p.m. Provisional Heat presented by Pontiac•GMC
3:40 p.m. U S WEST Air Show
4:10 p.m. General Motors Cup, SEAFAIR Final Heat presented by Chevrolet
4:30 p.m. Unlimited Hydroplane Awards Ceremony