News stories from December 2002 Funeral services set for Doug McIntosh For the many friends of Doug
McIntosh their will be a memorial Galilee Baptist Church
"Thank you for remembering Doug as he truly loved the Hydros." Kelly McIntosh (Photo of Doug McIntosh taken by Chuck Moore during the 2002 Seattle Seafair race weekend.) DOUG McINTOSH REMEMBERED Doug McIntosh, a dear friend of power boat racing, passed away on December 29, 2002. For three decades, Doug made his presence felt in both Unlimited and Unlimited Light racing as an owner, shore mechanic, and internet promoter of the sport. This writer first made the acquaintance of this friendly hard-working man at the 1973 Seattle Seafair Regatta when McIntosh was a crew member for Bob Gilliam's SUNNY JIM (U-88) racing team. Between 1976 and 1978, Doug owned two Unlimited hydroplanes. These were the former TAHOE MISS of 1963 and the former MISS MIAMI of 1971. Operating on a small budget, the McIntosh boats aided many regattas by their participation and helped to fill out many fields when racing needed boats in the pits. His Unlimiteds used names such as VAGABOND, MISS DETROIT RADIOGRAPHIC, SEE SAW, ELLIOTT DOG RATION, SIZZLER, CITY OF KENT, and KIRBY CLASSIC. Doug finished fourth in the 1976 Tri-Cities race with Bob Miller as driver, fifth at Detroit in 1978 with Tom Martin at the wheel, fifth at Madison in 1978 with Martin, and fourth at the Tri-Cities in 1978 with Miller. Over the years, McIntosh never strayed far from the sport that he loved. Whenever a boat crew needed assistance in the pits, Doug was always happy to lend a hand. In recent years, despite ill health, McIntosh maintained a number of internet websites for various Unlimited Light teams. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the fledgling Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association. Doug's last hurrah as a boat racer occurred in 2001. He finished fifth in Unlimited Light High Points with his variously named UL-14 hydroplane. His drivers included the likes of Wayne Howard, Mike McLellan, Dennis Macy, and Mike Chasin. Salute and farewell, Doug McIntosh!
"It is with a sad heart that I let everyone know that we all lost a very good friend this morning. The family has asked me to pass this information along. Doug McIntosh passed away this morning. His family that he loved very much was at his side. I am going to miss my friend." - Rick Thompson writing on December 29th, 2002 Additional details will be posted as they are
available. Bill Bennett Remembered
Mr. Bennett owned and/or sponsored Unlimiteds between 1978 and 1993 under the aegis of MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS. He was also active in Offshore powerboat racing and radio-controlled model competition. The MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS team made its debut at the 1978 San Diego race on Mission Bay where they placed third with Jim Harvey as crew chief and Steve Reynolds as driver. Bennett had promoted a well-known 225 Cubic Inch Class racing team--the WHITE LIGHTNING--to the Unlimited ranks and given them an "unlimited" budget. In 1979, Bennett unveiled a new Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered state-of-the-art hull, designed by Dave Knowlen and built by Norm Berg. The Bennett/Harvey/Reynolds combination, together with co-owner Bill Pennington, finished second in National High Points, scored a victory at San Diego, and established a world lap speed record of 133.136 on a 2.5-mile course at the Tri-Cities, Washington. Pilot Reynolds was also designated as Rookie of the Year. The 1980 season garnered mixed reviews. A steady turn-over in personnel resulted in an uneven performance. Surprisingly, most of the original WHITE LIGHTNING team members were discharged--despite their stellar year in 1979. A second-place by MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS at Evansville, Indiana, was the team's best 1980 performance. Bennett concentrated on an experimental four-point hydroplane in 1981, but it failed to achieve competitive results. The craft was an enlargement of a radio-controlled model that had been highly successful. Unfortunately, something was lost in the transition to a full-sized race boat. With Ron Armstrong driving, the four-point MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS finished only one heat during 1981--in last-place. Bennett had a soft spot for the San Diego race and was the title sponsor for it in 1980, 1981, and 1982. He retired temporarily as an Unlimited owner after 1981 but made a spectacular comeback a few years later. He sponsored one of Fran Muncey's turbine-powered boats in 1988 and won the APBA Gold Cup at Evansville with co-drivers John Prevost and Chip Hanauer. With the retirement from the sport by Mrs. Muncey, Bennett bought her entire equipment inventory, which included two top-notch hulls, and returned as a full-fledged owner in 1989. He hired Hanauer as driver and Dave Villwock as crew chief. The years 1989 and 1990 represented the high water mark for Bill Bennett in Unlimited racing. The pink-with-white-and-blue-trim MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS won nine races during those two seasons and finished second and first in National High Points. At Syracuse, New York, in 1989, MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS was virtually destroyed in a spectacular blow-over accident. The team came back to score victories in Seattle and Las Vegas. The 1990 campaign was an uphill struggle all the way for Bennett, Hanauer, and Villwock. With six down and five races remaining, MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS trailed MISS BUDWEISER by almost a thousand points. The CIRCUS had failed to start in the Final Heat at the Tri-Cities and had been penalized for rule infractions at Detroit and Syracuse. Then, in the last month and a half of the season, the Bennett team sparked one of the great comebacks in racing history. They won four of the next five races and finished five-hundred points ahead of rival MISS BUDWEISER in the final standings. Moreover, MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS raised the world lap speed record for a 2.5-mile course to 168.128 in qualification on Mission Bay. At season's end, it was six race victories for MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS, compared to five wins for MISS BUDWEISER. The CIRCUS also claimed the National Championship throne, which had been occupied the four previous years by the BUDWEISER. Bill Bennett now stood at the very top of Unlimited racing. And he decided to go out a winner. He quit while he was ahead and once again retired as an owner. A few weeks after the end of the season, he sold his boats to Steve Woomer. Bennett's final involvement with the Unlimited sport occurred in 1993, when he briefly sponsored the Ron Jones, Jr., team. But this arrangement was canceled in mid-season after the boat flipped while warming up for the first heat of the Tri-Cities race. Between 1978 and 1993, the various MISS CIRCUS CIRCUS hydroplanes attended a total of 61 Unlimited races and finished in the top-three at 28 of them. They finished first eleven times, second twelve times, and third five times. 1st-Place: (1) 1979 - San Diego, CA - Steve Reynolds 2nd-Place: (1) 1979 - Miami, FL - Steve Reynolds 3rd-Place: (1) 1978 - San Diego, CA - Steve Reynolds Happy Holidays from the ULHRA!
I would like to wish a very happy Holiday to everyone in the ULHRA. It has been a very rewarding year getting to know all of you and I look forward to us growing in 2003. Together will we continue to add to our fleet and put on the best races in the country. I have always felt that those that play together stay together. As our family grows lets not lose touch with each other. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Pat Malara Former NM-1 Stinger now available! George Kennedy dropped us an e-mail letting us
know that the NM-25 (aka NM-1) Shameless (former Stinger), "one of the
fastest National Mods in the Country" is for sale. It's a Jones hull
with a Jones cockpit. The sale includes a complete setup with 2 carbureted
Chevy engines "just freshened up", two props and many extras.
George is willing to sell the hull with or without the 28' enclosed
trailer. If you are interested, simply call (302) 836-4511 or e-mail GP25@aol.com.
To take a look at the hull, George asks that you visit the www.roostertails.net
website! The ULHRA for sale area spells success! We've had two vehicles listed on our for sale page sell over the last few days. Talking with Shawn Bridgeman we received the following update... "THANK YOU for putting our cube van on the website. We sold it so you can remove it! We sold it to Bryan Richards from Shoreline, WA. He will be using it to pull his 5L/NM boat that he purchased from Wayne Howard. He is a new racer for the 2003 season and is excited to get involved with our sport. He will be a great addition to Region 10 Racing!" Talking with Charley Wiggins we received word of a second sale... "You can take our truck off the site. We sold it this weekend. I don't know if the buyer wants anyone know about it or not, so I will leave that confidential. Thanks for your help. Have a great holiday!" Great news for both teams
and we are always happy to help! Have something you would like listed on
our "For Sale" page? Just drop
us an e-mail and we'll see if we can't help. Did you miss seeing any of the 2002 race broadcasts? Videos containing the entire 2002 season are
available! Contact Georgina at the ULHRA office (206-315-2157) for pricing
and delivery options. Also, if you are with a team, Georgina can also give
you all the details on a new four minute highlight video which is great for
promoting the series and adding to sponsor proposals.
Our thanks are offered to Kevin
Braun of the UL-5 team for sending us this great series of photos!
Congratulations to the
ULHRA 2002 Rookie of the Year!
ULHRA TV analyst Mark Evans is Engaged! Elaine Gordon of American Maid has accepted Mark Evans' marriage proposal!
Evans is is a long time Unlimited
racer and has even been known to hop into an Unlimited Light Congratulations Mark and
Elaine! Notes from the ULHRA Fall Business Meeting by John Lynch Sure, it was fun. Awards programs are supposed to be. But during the day some very serious business was discussed by a large contingent of Unlimited Lights participants. While the eastern teams were unable to attend the Seattle program, both California teams were represented. In all more than half of the teams that competed in the ULHRA's record setting 2002 series were in attendance. The "hot button" as expected was the debate regarding continued use of superchargers in UL competition. The case was discussed thoroughly. While not everyone agreed on the issue, the matter will be before the ULHRA Board of Directors next month. From the discussion it appears there will be a recommendation from a committee formed by ULHRA General Manager Pat Malara at that board meeting. While still in the fine tuning stages, based on the discussion the end result may be to continue with superchargers, but with more restrictions than the current rules impose. Presently teams could use either the 671 "blower" or the 871. If using the 671 they could run the supercharger at 10 over. This means, the supercharger could turn 10% faster than the engine crankshaft. More rpm's on the supercharger = more performance from the engine. Meanwhile the 871 blower could be used at 10 under, or 10% slower than the crankshaft speed. The new "spec" may remove the 871 option, and require the 671 to be used as much as 20 under, or 20% slower than the crankshaft speed. Further, the current 2600 lb minimum weight requirement will likely be raised by anywhere from 100 to 200 lbs. The changes are designed to raise competition levels and maintain parity with carbureted motors. Some say that's impossible. But the ULHRA is going to try because as was stated, some teams like the superchargers and some teams prefer normally aspirated. Each side has a significant investment and wants to keep racing. But to be raceworthy, a power source must have a competitive opportunity. Jerry Hopp, co-owner & driver of the UL15 team that finished 2nd in the ULHRA season standings, and won the final 3 races, is leading the effort toward finding a competitive balance. He noted, as did others, that the fans and race sites like the sound brought by the "blower" motors. He also noted that while he turned a qualifying lap of 119 at San Diego, other carbureted boats have run quicker lap speeds. Still Hopp remembers the days when he & partner Al Thoreson campaigned an Allison powered hydroplane when the turbines took over Unlimited racing. Because the turbines, in those days, were cheap to find & cheap to run and much lighter than the Allison & Rolls Royce engines of those days, teams either went turibne or left the sport. That put a dent in the Unlimited fleet that exists to this day. Hopp doesn't want to see the growth of Unlimited Light competition to be stifled and he's pledged his support for finding a "parity" in the powerplant issue. Other proponents include the 3 time ULHRA champions , Joe Frauenheim and Phil Bononcini of the UL72 team. While they run a carbureted motor they like what the superchargers bring to the sport and are in support of finding a relative parity. Gene Bender of the UL38 team has been among the more vocal negative voices on the subject of superchargers. He explained his position and discussed how he became involved in the writing of an engine specification for the Hydro-Prop Inc. version of an Unlimited Light type of class. He stated it was not his desire to harm the ULHRA, but he was asked to participate in the hope that the ULHRA and Hydro-Prop Inc. could work together. How far that matter progresses is unknown at this time. Bender voiced his support for the ULHRA, which he's been a board member since it's inception. Also working on the issue with General Manager Pat Malara's committee have been a couple of the leading engine builders for ULHRA teams. Ed Trihey, working with the UL15 team supercharged engine, and Gary Pugh, builder for the UL72, and the UL929 participated in the committee. It was pointed out that the original supercharger spec, which was developed from a computer software model, in reality allowed a motor to be built that could generate up to 1700 hp....about double what the carburetor motors create.. Now, the committee hopes a new spec will keep the power under 950 hp, and a weight addition to the blower fleet would accomplish the rest of the mission. It was also pointed out that the ULHRA Director of Competition has the final implementation say-so. If, for example, the UL40 which is the heaviest boat in the fleet continues to lag behind the leaders, they may not have to reduce their engine output until their performance significantly improves. In other news, the ULHRA is affiliating with a marketing company to expand sponsorships within the organization. It is hoped that by gaining the services of a professional marketing organization efforts can lead to improving opportunities for the ULHRA and business interests and race sites. The 2003 race schedule is not complete, but if as presented as a "draft" came to fruition it would be the most extensive and aggressive schedule in the ULHRA's history. The season will open again at Tastin & Racin in Issaquah WA on June 6, 7 & 8. The big Regates De Valleyfield in the Canadian Province of Quebec opens the July portion of the schedule with a fleet of 14 or more UL's expected to be the largest ever in UL competition. Depending on the outcome of talks with race sites that feature Unlimited Hydroplanes, it is hoped that the current mix of Detroit MI, Tri Cities & Seattle WA and San Diego CA will continue on the UL schedule. The "Lights" have proven to be a popular series at those locations. Emily Janikowski, director of the Tri Cities Water Follies Columbia Cup event attended the awards program and spoke highly of having the Lights continue at that eastern Washington event. Of two first time venues in 2002, Olympia WA hopes to return and they are currently seeking sponsorship support. Kamsack Saskatchewan was not listed on the proposed 2003 schedule. Other first time locations being discussed include Port Angeles WA on the Washington Coast (a salt water race) and Renton WA where the APBA Nationals were held in 2001 Renton adjoins the city of Seattle and the race site on Lake Washington is just a few miles from the Seattle Seafair race course. There is also a possible return to British Columbia Canada. Under discussion is possibly adding the Unlimited Lights to a popular long time race on the Snake River at Burley Idaho. It's expected the 2003 season will again offer 8 events but the potential for 9 or even 10 races exists. Those decisions will be made in the next 60 -90 days. Canadian Patrick Haworth was reported interested in continuing to race in the UL series. Haworth was not in attendance but the Valleyfield area native has been in contact with ULHRA President Joe Frauenheim. While it appears that Haworth won't have his own program on board for 2003 if a driving opportunity developed we could see Haworth continue in the series. In his lone race of 2002, he drove the UL72 to victory at Tri Cities after driving a couple of "exhibition" heats at Valleyfield. Another Canadian, Mike McLellan is attempting to put a new Canada 1 program together from his home base in Kelowna. It was also mentioned that the other Canadian team owned by Jody Patten may be very close to sponsorship for 2003 and if so could run the whole circuit. Patten's team made all but two races in 2002 but experienced season long mechanical woes. John Hogan of the UL37 Hogan Racing team was in attendance. He said they're in a quandary.....whether to modify their GNH World Champion hull, or sell it and start with a UL Hull. To build a new hull at this date would be difficult for the 2003 season. This team, driven by Doug Brow was quite competitive in 2002 and it's hoped the team can continue racing on the UL circuit A couple of the "under construction" team owners attended. Paul Droullard (UL9) and Gordy Gilmore are each building their own Ron Jones jr. kit boats. Droullard is expected to race in 2002. Gilmore said under his present schedule he might make the September races, or delay till 2004. In a bit of a surprise, Justin Schaller announced via email to the UL group that his new Ron Jones jr. boat is going to race as a Grand Prix. The GP class was credited in the APBA standings with one race in 2002, but Schaller stated he believes the GP class can be revived and that the APBA's designation of the UL's as a "series" or "special event" eliminates the possibility that he could receive a UIM certificate for setting a speed record...a key reason according to his email message that he spends the money to go racing. Meanwhile at the awards program Jerry Hopp, co-owner of the UL15 put in a strong plug for the Kilo trials held every year near Lincoln City OR. after the conclusion of the UL racing season. Last year, Jerry established the UL record of better than 130 mph. This year, son Greg went 161 in the supercharged version of the UL15 for the alltime speed record in an Unlimited Light. The record won't garner a UIM certificate, or even recognition by APBA even though it was set at an APBA sanctioned event. Still, a new record, recognized or not, and 3 victories made 2002 the best season ever for Hopp Racing. Others represented in the "under construction" include 5 liter racers Gary & Barbara Michael. Their new Ron Jones Sr. UL will be supercharged and is nearing completion in Tacoma. Ron Jones was in attendance and indicated the new Michael UL will probably be finished in January. Thunder Valley Racing which campaigned the UL40 and UL21 has the 21 up for sale and plans to be a single boat team in 2003. The 21, with a third place at Issaquah showed lots of life in the class as a supercharged entry and there is interest from some quarters in acquiring this modified Balcer hull. That hull, as well as several others are listed at the For Sale section elsewhere on this site. in addition to the top 5 teams in the 2002 season, there were quite a few other awards given. Popular decisions included the Commissioner's Award to J.W. Meyers of the UL23, the Team Freedom UL5 from San Diego led by Kevin Aylesworth and Kevin Braun selected for the Inspired Team Award. Incidentally, Aylesworth said he and his team plan to convert their Jones two wing hull to supercharged power in 2003, and showed his own tatoo to prove it, which got a big reaction from the 70 plus in attendance. Don't get the wrong idea, though. . Aylesworth's tatoo was on his shoulder. Pingree Conflitti of Detroit was presented the Inspirational Award. "Ping" couldn't attend but he was reached by phone during the presentation. He said that he was very honored to be selected. He noted that he was in Arizona and was enjoying a reunion with his two daughters after many years of separation. Conflitti was the winner at Valleyfield in only his second ever UL race. Also, Kelly Stocklin of the UL40 was named 2002 Rookie of the Year, Ed Nelson, Official of the Year, and Tri Cities WA, race site of the year. Now the off-season gets serious as teams begin building for 2003, and race sites & schedules get firm. We'll keep you posted as things develop. See you in Issaquah WA, June 6, 7 & 8, for Tastin & Racin. John Lynch Click here for updates from November, 2002.
Questions, comments? E-mail the
site's webmaster. |
The
series loses Doug McIntosh... 
Casino owner William G. ("Bill") Bennett, a long-time participant in Unlimited hydroplane racing, passed away on December 22, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 78.
Greetings,
