Latest News

Spring Training Details

Saturday, May 8th, promises to be a very busy day on picturesque Lake Sammamish in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah WA. It's the 2nd annual Spring Training for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association.

Spring Training is an open testing session for all teams registered with ULHRA, Inc. Race teams planning to test don't have to compete on the ULHRA circuit, but must be registered as ULHRA members for insurance purposes. There is no charge to register, according to ULHRA President, Joe Frauenheim.

Frauenheim said "all teams testing must present capsule training certification for their drivers, along with a current driver physicals. All boats will be given a ULHRA safety check". In addition, the ULHRA President noted " we will be prepared to weigh boats and inspect engines but there are no restrictions on engines for testing. Teams may run a combination that is not legal per the rules. However it makes most sense to run your legal combinations and get the "bugs" out for the season opener".

Each team testing on May 8th will be assessed a $50.00 fee to help defray expenses of the test session. All teams will be allotted testing time, with priority granted to Unlimited Lights teams, and Lighter than LIGHTS (4 cylinder and 8 cylinder) teams competing on the ULHRA circuit. Spring Training will take place one week prior to a record course event in Yelm WA on Lawrence Lake so it's expected that some teams not on the ULHRA circuit but planning to compete on the record course may want to participate in Spring Training. President Frauenheim says, all race teams are welcome from Unlimited Lights, to the smaller inboard hydroplanes such as 1 Liter and larger.

ULHRA Executive Vice President and General Manager, Pat Malara, says "Spring Training is not only a testing session for the teams, it's also a testing session for the ULHRA. The new Rescue Team will be onsite, as well as the ULHRA Pit Team with crane supplied by Ness Cranes. ULHRA Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Frieda Eng will review all medical requirements and Chief Inspector Peter Thompson will be examining the teams for technical compliance. The day's activities will be coordinated by newly appointed ULHRA Chief Referee, Dave Cossette and a 1 1/4 mile course will be set. We'll even have a small P.A. system so the "Voice" (John Lynch) can get ready for the season opener".

Testing will take place from 10:00am till 4pm on Saturday, May 8th. All teams planning to test must be on site at Lake Sammamish State Park, no later than 8:30am on the morning of Spring Training.

Testing is open to the public for viewing from Lake Sammamish State Park. There is no admission charge, however there is a $5.00 parking fee per vehicle collected by the State Park staff.

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA

ULHRA on Internet Radio

ULHRA Board Member and 2002 Unlimited Light Rookie of the Year Kelly Stocklin, will be the guest on this week's edition of Fast, Wet & Wild. The show is a feature on the only 24 hour motorsports radio station and you can listen in on your computer. In fact, everyone can. It's internet radio station RSBN.NET. Host Steve Cowin has invited Kelly for a second appearance, after a successful stint a few weeks ago.

The show first appears at 6:00pm Pacific Time on Thursday, April 22nd, and will be repeated many times over the next several days. Be sure to tune in, and send your comments to the show's host. Just log on to www.rsbn.net for Fast, Wet & Wild, which presents a new show every Thursday at 9:00pm Eastern, 6:00pm Pacific Time.

John Lynch

"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights

A Message of Peace and Sorrow

The Unlimited Light Racing family sends a message of peace and sorrow to those closest to Doug Jancura. Doug was testing his flatbottom on American Lake when the boat flipped and he lost his life. Friends knew him as a strong
competitor, and a real asset to the racing community.

Patricia Darling, ULHRA

Spring Training 2004 is just ahead, in suburban Seattle

Lake Sammamish State Park, the picturesque site of the annual Tastin & Racin Festival, will also be the host location for Spring Training 2004 for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. The Unlimited Lights and the Lighter than LIGHTS Hydroplane series for 4 cylinder and 8 cylinder limited hydroplanes will conduct an open testing session on Saturday, May 8th at Issaquah WA.

This is the second year of Spring Training for the ULHRA. It provides an opportunity for all race teams competing in the Unlimited Lights and the Lighter than LIGHTS series to test and tune their race craft prior to the season opener in June.

Executive Vice President and General Manager of ULHRA, Inc. Pat Malara says the testing program will be conducted from 1000am till 400pm, the day preceding Mother's Day. Sunday May 9th is available in reserve in case weather conditions prevent testing on Saturday the 8th. With the growth of both series, Malara says "I expect we'll see 20 or more teams taking advantage of this testing opportunity".

Teams must check into the Lake Sammamish pit area no later than 830am on Spring Training day.

The public is welcome to attend. There is no admission charged, however the Washington State Parks Department collects a parking fee of $5.00 per vehicle. There will be no parking on the beach. All vehicles, except hydroplane team Tow Vehicles, will be kept in the sizeable parking lot.

More details will be released soon.

John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights

A member of the Unlimited Lights family bids farewell
A note from Chuck Moore, the outgoing webmaster of www.ulhra.org

For almost five years I have had the distinct pleasure of working with the Unlimited Lights and serving as the series website designer. Since I first launched the site on 9/23/99, I have had a blast chronicling the series progress while watching it mature into the dynamic organization that it is today. Along the way I made some amazing friendships that I hope to keep with me as I go through life. It is with sadness in my heart and a bit of excitement regarding my own future that I share with you that I am retiring from my work with the series.

I would like to personally thank Bo Darling, Patty Darling and Joe Frauenheim. They are just a few taken from a very long list of people who have made the Lights a very special home for me over the years. There isn't space here (and you know this is the web so it's a pretty big place) to list everyone who has impacted me within this series and what they have meant to me. That said, I will take a moment to tip my hat to Patty Darling who first welcomed me to the Lights doing promotion work in late 1998. She along with Bo and Joe have been friends and family in the world of boat racing.

What does this mean for the website? Hopefully very little. I am leaving the site design and content in the capable hands of Ed Nelson who is already building a team within the organization. He will be taking over the site effective immediately and will usher in a new era for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association on the web. Check back regularly as it should be exciting to watch!

I wish the new web design team and the series much success in the upcoming years and thank you all for the great memories.

Cheers,
Chuck Moore
4/14/04

ACCS Notice of Intent to Build form available
The ACCS Notice of Intent to Build form is now available. Click here to get your copy. Anyone wishing to build or convert an existing boat for competition in the ACCS must complete and send this form in to the ULHRA. This begins the assignment of a "G" number and the inspection processes.

Click here for updates from March, 2004