February, 2000

Want to learn more about the UL-21 Thunder Valley Racing?
Thunder Valley Racing, Inc. (TVR) is composed of a group of Southend Seattle guys who grew up in the Rainier Valley close to the Stan Sayres Pits and with the love of hydroplanes and racing. As professionals in the adult world, and with the desire for these friends to spend some time together in wholesome activities- while doing the things they love- hydroplane ownership came to mind.

In 1991, TVR formed a merger of individual racing talents with a combined hydroplane racing and automotive experience totaling 50 years. Jon Courtright and Kelly Stocklin, both veteran Unlimited Hydroplane crewmembers having worked on the Miss Budweiser and Squire Shop. Nick Badaloto , driver who was past Region 10 Highpoint Champion in 1979 and 1984. The balance of TVR completes the spectrum of a unified racing contingent including seasoned automotive repair specialists, designers, promoters and their own legal counsel. Team members include, Chuck Dow, Tom Olson, Kenny Eng, Glen Davis, Bob Bryant, John Spears, and Dale VanWeiringen bring over 40 years of expertise in high performance engine building and aerodynamic hull design respectively.

TVR, is a proactive organization not only participating in racing, but creating hydroplane racing! They created and started Tastin’ n Racin’ at Lake Sammamish, the best attended Limited hydroplane race on the West Coast. This group was also behind the 1998 Seafair Texaco Cup entry "Miss Sammamish Lake Watch". TVR also actively supports the Issaquah, WA. DARE program with fund raising and their display boat. TVR is bringing the Unlimited Light Racing Series to race on Lake Sammamish at Tastin’ n Racin’ 2000 on June 3^rd and 4^th.!
 

New repair photos and a brief update added to the UL-23 site...
Bob Larimore just sent us a new five photo series depicting the current state of repairs on the UL-23.  In addition to the photos there's a brief text update as the team prepares for the 2000 season.  Just look for the "what's new" text link on their site's front page for all the latest.
 

Second weekend Grand Prix World Championships results!
As we reported earlier this week, the Grand Prix World Championships are taking place in New Zealand on Lake Karapiro.  Thanks to Marc Perrier, we have results to share...

The GP-7 Casino Montreal driven by Jean Theoret won the Grand Prix Hydroplane World Championships.  The 1999 Grand Prix North American Champion won all three races on Saturday (New Zealand time) to take the title.

GP-22 Big Chief, driven by Warwock Jones, took second place.  At the time of Marc's update there was no word on results for the other two boats in attendance.  One of those two boats is the GP-2000 Rat Attack Partmaster, the former UL-111 of Carl and Randy Haas!

You can learn more about the Grand Prix Hydro class at http://www.grandprixhydroplane.com/!
 

McIntosh Marketing Services launches its own Tastin' n Racin' page.
McIntosh Marketing Services is working with Tastin' n Racin' to assist in the event's promotion.  In conjunction with our new race site, MMS just launched a new page dedicated to Tastin' n Racin'.  They've also tweaked the overall site with an increased focus on the race.

Doug's new page is a great way to stay on top of developments leading up to Tastin' n Racin' 2000.  Between ULRS.org, the official Tastin' n Racin' website and Doug's new page, it's safe to say we have this new ULRS event covered on the web!
 

More on Tastin' n Racin' 2000!
We're just added the latest press release relating to the 4th annual Tastin' n Racin' at Lake Sammamish.  June is right around the corner so make your plans to attend now!

Tastin’ n Racin’ and the Unlimited Lights Racing Series (ULRS) are proud to announce that Tastin’ n Racin’ 2000 and Lake Sammamish State Park, will host the ULRS, as the featured hydroplane racing class! Negotiations and planning have taken place for the past year in order for this Professional Motorsport event to happen. The Unlimited Lights are a companion fleet to the Unlimited Hydroplanes, both making up Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association (UHRA), racing at events such as the Seattle Seafair Regatta. With this announcement, it opens up a whole new opportunity to the boat racing fan to get more thunder! The Unlimited Lights resemble and sound like the boats that made the Pacific Northwest famous for hydroplane racing. The pure speed, the sound of thunder from the powerful engines, and the close racing duels makes this class one of the most exciting classes to watch! Tastin’ n Racin’ 2000 takes place at Lake Sammamish State Park June 3rd & 4th, 11am – 7pm. There will be a variety of great family entertainment, lots of food and plenty of action on and off the water! The best part is its free!!! Free Parking and Free attendance. Over the last three years, 90,000 people have experienced this fast growing festival positioned on the beautiful shores of Lake Sammamish State Park. Don’t miss the action and the fun!

 Visit our web sites at www.tastinracin.com or www.ulrs.org!
 

UL-10 site adds a bit of historical perspective thanks to Fred Farley
Recently, Fred Farley welcomed the return of Tom Sheehy in a short look back on his career on the powerboat list.  Those reflections have been reprinted on the UL-10 news page.  Tom Sheehy is currently working with the UL-10 Wiggins Racing team to help secure sponsorships for the upcoming season.
 

First weekend Grand Prix World Championships results!
The first or two weekends making up the Grand Prix World Championships on Lake Karapiro near Cambridge are complete and we have results to share. Big Chief driven by Warwick Jones is in first place with 1000 points after two second place finishes and one win. He's followed by Maple Grove, Quebec's own Jean Theoret and the GP-7 with 800 points. The team's 800 points arose from two wins and one DNF due to a broken water pick-up and a blown engine.

The first of the remaining two boats in attendance did not fare so well over the weekend. The GP-2000 Rat Attack Partmaster of Graeme Weller was damaged while testing Friday afternoon. The Rat Attack Partmaster is a Balcer hull with an Auld cockpit and cowling that just might sound a bit familiar. It's the former UL-111 Miss Leroi of Carl and Randy Haas. You can get an updated look at the former UL-111 on the Rat Attack Partmaster homepage. There's also a more recent photo on the Seen-n-Heard page of the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club site.

Also is attendance is the GP-007 Annihilator of owner/driver Warwick Lupton. The Annihilator is a brand new Staudacher design with capsule. This weekend marked the first run for the new hull. The Annihilator has a web page where you can learn more about their team.

All 4 boats will be back next weekend for the last three races on Saturday. The third race (sixth overall) will be double pointer.

ULRS press information needed ... PRONTO!
This is just a reminder that we need all Unlimited Light teams to submit updated team biographies for inclusion in our 2000 press information.  We're beginning to receive requests from race sites for the updated information.

Please send team information (including owner, driver, sponsor, crew list, and racing accomplishments) and boat information (including number, name, hull, and engine information) to chuck@ulrs.org as soon as possible.

If you would prefer to mail the information, please feel free to contact Chuck Moore at (606) 271-3213.  You can also fax the information via that same number.
 

Tastin' n Racin' has been added to the 2000 ULRS schedule!
I am happy to report that Chris Courtright, Jon Courtright, John O'Brien and Patty Darling announced today that Tastin' n Racin' has invited the Unlimited Lights Racing Series and we have officially accepted. The event will take place on Lake Sammamish in Issaquah, Washington, June 3rd and 4th 2000.

This race will be a new National High Points race on the ULRS schedule! 

Tastin' n Racin' is a free event and a great way to spend a weekend. Be sure to make your plans now to attend this exciting new ULRS event.
 

Lake Sammamish's Tastin' n Racin' looks to be a "go" for the ULRS in 2000!
(2/17/00)  I am pleased to report that the ULRS Board of Directors has approved adding Lake Sammamish to this year's schedule.  The Unlimited Lights are working toward finalizing arrangements for the 2000 Tastin' n Racin' event on June 3rd and 4th 2000.  There are still a few details being hammered out, but we have successfully crossed the first hurdle to adding this new site to the series.  More information will come soon.
 

An update on the Grand Prix...
If you haven't visited the Grand Prix Hydroplane homepage in a while, you might have missed their recent series of 2000 updates.  The site has been redesigned and filled with new details on the Grand Prix series.  Just this month they've added a series of team updates and new information about the upcoming GP World Championships in New Zealand to their news page.  The New Zealand races will take place in Lake Karapiro near Cambridge February 19-20 and 26-27, 2000.
 

Thanks are offered to Powerboat Magazine!
We just wanted to show a little appreciation to Doug Thompson and the editors of Powerboat.  I recently had the chance to speak with Doug and following that conversation, ULRS.org has been added to their website.  They've linked our site into Powerboat Online's Boat Races page.  Throughout the upcoming season we're going to be sending Doug press releases and stories relating to the series.  Powerboat Magazine has had a long history of covering the UHRA and we offer our thanks for their efforts.
 

UL-23 Team Pegasus is hard at work repairing their hull!
Over on the UL-23 Team Pegasus website, a new series of photos has been added showing repair work already underway.  Be sure to check out the photo of Bob Larimore celebrating an early victory in the repairs.  Along with the photos there's a brief team update and an additional shot of Zak and JW Myers in Hawaii!  Just look for the "what's new" text on their front page for all the latest.
 

UL-15 Hopp Racing update...
A new front canard is set to be installed in Ron Jones Sr.'s Tacoma, WA shop as the team prepares for the 2000 season. Rumored plans for a new UL hull appear on hold. The team will officially kick off their season at the Western Divisionals where they return as defending Champions. 

You can learn more about the team on the Hopp Racing website. You can learn more about this story on the McIntosh Marketing Services news page!
 

The ULRS welcomes Northwest Hydro Racing!
Late last week we had the opportunity to talk with Andy Purdue via e-mail.  Andy is the primary individual behind the new Northwest Hydro Racing site. This new site is an on-line publication of the Tri-City Herald and expands their already outstanding web coverage of the hydro series.  ULRS.org will be working directly with Northwest Hydro Racing during the upcoming season to ensure that they have all the Unlimited Light information they need to cover the series. They have expressed a lot of interest in the series and we look forward to assisting them with photos, results and other materials throughout the 2000 season. You can visit the Northwest Hydro Racing site at http://www.hydroracing.com/!
 

An update on Dick Sanders UL-136!
We've learned that the UL-136 is headed for Tacoma, WA for a new cockpit and vertical uprights.  The work will take place in Ron Jones Sr.'s shop sometime this month.  Also, Wayne Howard Jr. will get his first look at the hull during the visit.  Wayne will serve as a co-driver along with Scott Schatz who drove the hull during the 1999 season.

You can learn more about the team and this story on the UL-136 Sander Racing Team website and the McIntosh Marketing Services news page!
 

More on the UL-2's plans to return this season!
Earlier today I had another chance to speak with Mike Wiener of Cincinnati, Ohio.  The UL-2 Country Boy (a working name for the team at this point) plans to return in style this season and hopes to attend Lake Havasu, Madison, Norfolk, Detroit, Evansville and the Washington races.  The team has two hulls that are essentially "show and go" as Mike put it.  They will race one and show the other, but both should be ready for the water.

The hull that will predominantly be used for show is about 700 pounds lighter than their primary hull and has an engine designed by Jack Roush of NASCAR fame.  Combine that with a new design by John Staudacher and an engine that rests in a third sponsor at the front of the hull and you have a very unique design to say the least.  From Mike's description this is a hull we're all going to want to see once the season gets underway.

Mike also plans to attend five to six Grand National races.  The team has been working on a return to racing and feel that they are ready to get back on the water.  
 

More photos on the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic site!
A couple days back we loaded a brief story pointing you to the UL-72 site for new photos from their shop.  Tonight we noticed that they have added two additional photos.  Is that Miss Budweiser driver Dave Villwock we see hanging out in the UL-72 shop?
 

Miss CompAir on the road...
Last night (2/7/00) we had the pleasure of speaking with Judy Haas. During the call we learned that repairs on the UL-110 took a bit longer than expected and Randy Haas, driver of the Miss CompAir, has the boat and is bringing it back across the country. If you happen to be out on the highway and spot the boat, be sure to say hello because that's Randy behind the wheel of the truck.
 

ULRS turns up in this month's Propeller Magazine.
We would like to thank the APBA and the editors of Propeller Magazine for the great coverage they've offered the series this month.  If you pass through the pages of the February 2000 issue you'll find Dr. Ken Muscatel's UHRA State of the Sport report on page 8, Patty Darling's ULRS State of the Sport report on page 9 and a brief piece on the ULRS administrative changes on page 23. Also on page 23 there's a another story titled "Let there be lights" written by UL-49 Hook Racing's own Steve Hook.
 

The UL-2 plans a return this season!
I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Wiener earlier today and I have good news to share regarding the UL-2 Country Boy. After a couple years working toward this point, they plan to make a return to the UL circuit this season.  We'll have more details soon as we follow-up with Mike, but the team does plan to be at Lake Havasu in May.

The UL-2 marks the 25th team either hoping or planning to race in 2000. Final plans are developing for many of the teams and we will learn more as the winter progresses, but it is certainly safe to say that the UL's are going to put the sound of thunder on the water this summer!
 

Droullard Motorsports Dedicates their 2000 Season...
Earlier today (2/6/00) the UL-9 Droullard Motorsports site was updated to reflect their dedication of the 2000 season to the memory of Ted Jones.  Ron Jones Jr. is supervising the designing and building of their new hull and the team has chosen this dedication as a tribute to Ted Jones memory.

Also new today, they've updated their team page adding new photos and information offering fans a new way to learn more about the people associated with the UL-9.
 

The latest on the Pocket Mechanic...
Over on the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic site, a new shop photo of the boat has been added to the front page of their site.  Work is taking place on the hull in preparation for the 2000 season.
 

Welcome to the UL-333 Demon Chaser!
Over the last two nights we've been talking with David Coes via e-mail.  He's been giving us an update on the UL-333's plans for the 2000 season.  We can certainly add another boat to the "working toward 2000" list and we're glad to have them onboard!

Quoting David, "Yes, I hope to be up for this season and most certainly for the Norfolk race."  David lives just outside Norfolk.  He went on to add, "If I appear to be hesitant about saying I'm going to be up and running, it's because I thought that I would be running last season."  The team ran into a couple glitches during their preparations for the '99 season and simply ran out of time.  David was so certain he would race he had his second engine air freighted from Washington State to Virginia last April because he expected to be on the water.

David's boat is the former "Flyin' Hawaiian".  He has re-done the entire boat to ensure that it's UL legal.  It now has tails, an escape hatch and canopy.  In truth, the boat has been fully reworked.  It has been reconstructed in composite material and the woodwork which was required was done by both Steve Lewis and Henry Lauterbach. Currently, they are in the process of re-wiring the entire boat.  Everything is new-- dash, gauges, wiring.... you name it and it's been re-done.  It has also been fitted with an air system because of the canopy.  There were other cosmetic changes and David assured us that the paint job is going to be spectacular. They had planned to paint this coming weekend, but will hold off for about three weeks due to work commitments.

We couldn't post this update without mentioning David's other boat.  It's a 2.5 Liter Stock that will be driven this season by Tracy Morgan. She has written articles for Propeller and her father runs a GNH on the east coast. The name of his other team is "Bad Attitude Hydroplane Racing Team" and the logo is a picture of the 2.5 Liter taken at an extreme (bad attitude!!) angle.

Want more information on the team?  Their team profile also joined the site this evening!

Click here for updates from January, 2000.

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