September, 2000 Service to honor George Stratton planned for
Seattle The U-5 team encourages anyone with a recreational boat to bring it to the service. The team wants to pay tribute to George with a victory lap around the course using this flotilla. The service will also include the placement of a flower wreath at the start finish line after the final lap. Please contact Owen Blauman at (206) 399-7417 if you plan to join the fleet. No race boats please. An educational trust fund for the two Stratton children has been established. Donations to the fund are encouraged and can be made to: Nevada State Bank Additional information is available on the USA Racing Partners U-5 team
website at www.u5hydro.com. Talking with Shawn Bridgeman by e-mail, we have an update on the weekend's Lake Chelan race. The boats that participated were UL-17 Ted's Red Apple Markets, UL-15 Wizards Casino/Graham Trucking, UL-3 Hogan Racing, UL-49 Miss Lake Pateros Motor Inn and GNH-150 Pro-Motion (owned by Dale Bartley). Each GNH/UL wore a U-5 decal on their upright wing in memory of George Stratton. Rick Bridgeman's UL-17 Ted's Red Apple Markets finished first in thee heats, but took second in Sunday's final after blowing out a left sponson. Greg Hopp took first in the final race in the UL-15 Wizards Casino/Graham Trucking. The overall weekend results saw the UL-17 take top honors. The UL-15 came in second and the UL-3 finished third. The weekend ended early for Steve Hook (UL-49) who suffered motor
problems. He did make it up on a plane before spinning bearings.
John Hogan (UL-3) had problems with two different motors and was out for Sunday. UL teams set to honor George Stratton on Lake
Chelan
We have lost a member of our family. George Stratton was dedicated, hard-working and he focused on
competing at the Saturday I was the official on the U-5 dock when George
emerged from the boat God, please bless CiCi, Christopher, Natalia, Debbie, Kim and
all God, he earned his wings with us. Patty Darling, Commissioner Trust fund established for the children of George
Stratton Trust fund information: Anyone needing additional infromation should contact Laura Arroyo at (702) 361-5111 x 210 or visit http://www.wildfireracing.com/gstrattonfuneral.htm. USA Racing Partners will be in crew shirts and black slacks for George Stratton's funeral service on Saturday. If other team members attending the service would like to do the same, it will be most appreciated. The U-10 Unlimited hydro will be hooked up to the U-5 truck outside the
Palm Mortuary for Saturday's services in memory of George. In memoriam George Stratton's Funeral Information: Following George's funeral, a reception will be held at the home of In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a trust fund that is being set for George's two children. We will have all the details regarding the Stratton Children Trust Fund posted on our website at http://www.u5hydro.com/ tomorrow (9/20/00) If you would like to mail the family a card or letter here is the address: We want to thank everyone for sending such kind and moving email messages to us since this terrible tragedy. We are forwarding all of your emails to George Stratton's family. Seattle Memorial Service: Cordially, Tragedy on Mission Bay Racing power boats was Stratton's life long passion. Stratton's racing background includes five world speed records, four national championships, three national high point championships and induction into the American Power Boat Association's Hall of Champions. During his two decades of power boat racing, Stratton was a top contender in the flatbottom classes before making the switch to hydroplanes. A long time member of Kim and Debbie Gregory's racing endeavors, Stratton was Crew Chief and Team Manager for teammate Mark Weber in the U-10 hydro before making his debut in the U-5. It was with tremendous pride that Stratton was able to debut the U-5 this season. It was no surprise that Stratton drove the Unlimited like he has driven every other type of race boat, fast and into first place. Stratton wrapped up Rookie of the Year honors before pulling into San Diego this weekend and he was very proud of that accomplishment. Stratton is survived by his wife and two children. Further information regarding funeral services will be posted on
the U-5 web site at http://www.u5hydro.com/. We congratulate the UL-136 team on their win!
Our congratulations are offered to Wayne Howard, Dick Sanders and
the entire UL-136 team for their win in San Diego. Click
here for a look back at Bayfair. Full coverage from San Diego... Just click here as Hydros
brings you all the latest details on the Unlimiteds and the Unlimited Lights
throughout the race weekend. Who is in the pits in San Diego? As of 1:16 PM, we have six teams in the pits setting up. So far we have the UL-23 Index Home Systems/Jose Cuervo, the UL-21 Thunder Valley Racing, the UL-49 Lake Pateros Motor Inn, the UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic, the UL-110 Miss CompAir and the UL-136 Sanders Racing Team. Addition teams are on the way. For photos from the pits, just click
here. Speedvision joins the Lights for Bayfair! Talking with Joe Frauenheim of the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic team,
we've learned that Speedvision will be producing a one hour show during this
weekend's Bayfair race and it will feature the Lights! The show will run
as part of their competitive offshore series and it will air in much the same
way that the Tastin' n Racin' race was handled earlier this year. Initial
reports indicate that the show will be focus on the Lights with some filler from
other classes. Madison, Indiana's WORX 96.7 FM set to cover Bayfair! Unlimited Radio Network station WORX 96.7 FM in Madison, Indiana will carry coverage of this weekend's San Diego Bayfair’s World Series of Powerboat Racing Featuring Ralf’s Food For Less Bill Muncey Cup over the internet! Jim Hendrick with the Unlimited Radio Network will have reports on WORX Friday 9/15 and Saturday 9/16 at 5:00 PM EST. The Sunday 9/17 reports will air at 1:30 PM EST, 4:30 PM EST, 5:36 PM EST, and the live championship heat with the URN can be heard at 6:00 PM EST on WORX 96.7 FM. Jeff Ayler and Tim Torrance of WORX will start their own hydro
show at 4:04 PM EST on Sunday 9/17. This time out, the WORX Hydro Show guests
include 2001 Madison Regatta Festival Chairman Scott Tebbe and Unlimited
Hydroplane Historian Fred Farley. Questions for their guests can sent by
e-mail to worxwxgo@seidata.com.
To connect to the live broadcast throughout the weekend, just visit www.worxradio.com. Lake Lawrence and the UL-3 Hogan Racing team John Hogan had hoped for go for the 1 2/3 mile record during Yelm, Washington's Lake Lawrence Record Regatta held over the weekend, but it was not to be. Only John's UL-3, the UL-17 Johnsonville Brats/Ted's Red Apple Markets and one additional GNH hull made it to the event. Since four legal GNH's are needed to make it a legal run, John will have to wait for another day. The GNH/UL
event may have remained on the sidelines, but we have heard that the other
classes put on an outstanding show during the Seattle Inboard Racing Association
event. Lake Pateros results available! Looking for results from the recent Lake Pateros GNH race? We are happy
to report that the Unlimited Lights own Rick
Bridgeman, driving his UL-17 Johnsonville Brats/Ted's Red Apple Markets, walked
away with wins in all four heats of racing at the event. For the full
rundown of all the results, visit Doug
McIntosh's McIntosh Marketing Services news page. We thank Doug for
sharing all the details from the race. Vince Xaudaro plans to join the fleet! Vince Xaudaro (E-929 and soon to be UL-929) recently sent us an update on his plans to field an unlimited light team next season. He has run into a string of rough luck trying to sell his 5 litre hull. Three purchases have fallen through for various reasons. "I am still headed towards the UL circuit once the boat sells. I just don't have the storage and financial capacity to have two hulls at this time so I have to wait until the 5 litre is sold." In an effort to help Vince spread the word, here are all the details on the hull that he has for sale…
The hull is a nice one and Vince added it's a "very fast" ride. It's all carbon fiber and ready to run. Vince wants to sell the hull but remains open to discuss a GNH/UL trade with or without engines. If you are interested or know of anyone who is, please contact Vince Xaudaro at Vx929@aol.com or give him a call at (425) 652-9693 [cell] or (425) 603-1387 [home]. Vince is eager to get out there and go racing with the lights! Vince will be in San Diego next weekend helping Steve Hook with the UL-49
Lake Pateros Motor Inn. Vince’s plan at this time is to run at least one heat
in the boat. "Steve has experienced some mechanical problems so hopefully
everything will hold up well and I will be able to get some time in. I did get
to drive the boat earlier this year in a Region 10 race and boy was it
exciting." A new way to find the Lights on the web! We've added a new way for you to find the lights on the web. Now, in
addition to the familiar www.ulrs.org address,
you can enter www.unlimitedlights.org.
We thought it might be easier for fans to remember and we renew our invitation
for you to join us daily for all the latest on the lights! Repairs to the UL-10 are underway... Talking with Jason Lowery of the UL-10 Earl's Performance Products team, repairs are continuing on the hull which was damaged earlier this season in the Detroit final. The team has received sponson and deck sections from Ron Jones and will put them to use as they work to rebuild the hull. What does this mean for the future of the team? No word yet, but I certainly wouldn't rule them out. In Seattle, the Unlimited Light group tracked down a cowling and signed it sending it to Charley with several well wishes and some jokes aimed at pulling him out of retirement. John Flaherty of the UL-72 team signed "Retirement Smirement". Randy and Tracy Haas of the UL-110 team added, "The pits are really the pits without you." It's safe to say that everyone misses having Charley and the team with us as the season comes to a close. Here's a quick look at the cowling...
New photos on the UL-110 site! New photos from the Seattle race were just added to the UL-110 Miss CompAir
website. Just stop by their homepage and click
on the "photos" button to check out the new shots. A small set of photos from this year's Seattle race were just added to the
UL-72 Budweiser/Pocket Mechanic site. Just visit www.impacthydros.com
and click on the photo gallery button to check out the latest shots. The UL-15 team is looking sharp on the web! Last updated on August 26th, the UL-15 Hopp Racing Team website is the best way to stay up with the Hopp family's Unlimited Light team. The website offers a great set of post-race-wrapups for each race the team has attended this season. There's also a fun mix of photos to enjoy, all the latest team and sponsor information and an interesting thank you/look back on the Rainier Valley Heritage Parade. Did you know Jerry Hopp has an extensive racing background in the Unlimiteds? You can see the full list of boats he's driven (1981 to the present) under the stats section of their site. Most recently, Jerry returned to the Unlimited ranks during year's Detroit race. During the race he filled in for an injured Charley Wiggins and jumped out of his light boat into the U-6 Miss Madison. Jerry went on to drive it in some late afternoon heat action and the APBA Gold Cup. Jerry took home fifth place honors in the race. He was presented the fifth place trophy by the U-6 team for his achievement. Add this to a second place finish in the Unlimited Light Automotive Gold Cup and a third place finish in the Unlimited Light final and Jerry had a truly remarkable weekend in Detroit. Following the afternoon, Jerry explained that the only thing that could have made the experience better would have been to race his son in the Gold Cup. Greg Hopp, Jerry's son, was unable to attend the race. To visit Jerry Hopp, Greg Hopp and the entire Hopp Racing Team just point
your browser to http://home1.gte.net/hoppster/. UL-17 Ted's Red Apple Markets looks to 2001... Talking with Rick and Shawn Bridgeman, it looks like the team will be missing during the upcoming San Diego race. "We will be unable to attend the San Diego race as our daughter has been selected to pitch for a Fall Classic Tournament and we need to support her at this." The team may be done for this year, but they are already making plans for 2001. "We plan on making all the west coast events including San Diego." The team is working on a possible national sponsor. If this works out, Rick will be at all the events nationwide and Shawn will split the time with fastpitch and racing. The UL-17 will be missed, but we offer their daughter our congratulations on
the tournament and wish her our best. Team Pegasus is ready for San Diego! The UL-23 team took second place during both heats last Sunday in Celina, Ohio during the Celina Governor's Cup Regatta, a GNH event. Owner Bob Larimore drove the hot laps plus one heat and feels he's starting to get more comfortable with the boat. Earlier this week he added, "We have the bugs out for San Diego and we are ready to race! It was an excellent weekend. The boat is REALLY good now!" The UL-23 team will be sponsored by Jose Cuervo and Index Homes in San
Diego. For more on the team be just to visit their internet
homepage. Click here for updates from August, 2000.
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