|
Large
crowds attend
the kickoff for
Quicksilver: the
newest ULHRA
event, coming to
Silverdale WA
this August.
Kitsap Mall in
Silverdale was
the site where
three ULHRA
teams displayed
what's ahead.
NAMRON Racing's
8 cylinder stock
and the future 4
Cylinder
Modified of Mike
Jarvis were on
display inside
the mall.
Despite
drenching rain,
and because no
doors were large
enough, the
second
winningest hull
in ULHRA
history, the
UL-72 of Impact
Racing was
displayed in the
parking lot.
Anytime ULHRA is
"on display"
fans flock to
try out a real
racing cockpit.
Photos, courtesy
of Bud & Gigi
McKay of NAMRON
Racing can be
viewed here.
Quicksilver will
be the third
of 3 in a row
for the
Unlimited
Lights in mid
summer, August
12-14. That's
the weekend
after Seafair in
Seattle. The
Unlimited Lights
and the 3
categories of
Lighter than
LIGHTS will all
be in
competition,
bringing more
than 30 race
craft to
the community
near
Bremerton, an
hour ferry ride
across Elliott
Bay from
Seattle.
The third annual ULHRA Spring Training will take place Saturday, May 14th at Columbia Park in Kennewick WA.....site of the annual Columbia Cup Race in late July.
Spring Training is
the Unlimited Light
Hydroplane Racing
Association's annual
Open Test session
for the Unlimited
Light Series, and
this year
Thunderboats ACCS
joins the program.
Better known as the
"G" Class, this new
series of larger,
and more powerful
hydroplanes joins
the continually
growing Unlimited
Lights Class.
Activity at Columbia
Park will take place
all day, with single
boat testing. It's
also ULHRA's
opportunity to test
with ULHRA Rescue,
and the
administrative staff
of scorers, timers,
Referee, etc. The
public is welcome to
attend and there is
no admission charge.
Australia's leading Grand Prix hydroplane owner-driver Grant Harrison was injured in spectacular blowover accident on the Manning River at Taree, Australia.
Harrison was the
favorite for the GP
World Championship,
scheduled to be
contested in June in
Australia. His GP101,
built originally by
Jamie Auld and purchased
from former GP Racer
Daniel Mercier of
Canada, was reported
destroyed in the
accident. Harrison is
said to have sustained
fractures in his neck,
cheekbones, and jaw, but
fortunately no
paralysis.
At one time, Harrison
and his GP101 had scored
victories in 13 straight
events. All members of
ULHRA, Inc wish our
friend Grant a speedy
recovery.
John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA
Inc.
UL-5 update pictures
Hope you enjoy these photos.
Kevin Braun
The 4th entry in the brand
new Thunderboats ACCS, or
"G" Class has been
confirmed. Owner-Driver Ray
West has
registered his brand new
craft as the G-32 and will
compete on the entire ACCS
circuit. West, a former
competitor in the old 6
Liter and 7 Liter classes in
the 80's, is returning to
hydroplane racing with
ULHRA's newest series.
While away from hydroplanes,
West drove in Super Modified
race cars and at one time
was a car owner in the old
CART open wheel series.
As you can see in the photos by Mark Sharley, the boat is nearing completion. West says the target is to debut at ULHRA's Spring Training test session, Saturday May 14th at the Columbia Cup course at Tri Cities WA. West says the G-32 will race the entire ACCS series with himself behind the wheel when his business schedule permits. When he's unable to attend, Terry Troxell will drive which will be his first time in ULHRA sanctioned competition. Troxell competed in several Unlimited Lights races prior to the formation of ULHRA, Inc. Last year he drove the U-16 Ellstrom Mfg. entry to victory at St. Clair MI.
West's business interests
span the globe with
operations in Kent WA,
Mexico, Russia and other
locales. His companies
manufacture components for
high end windows & doors,
and also lubricants for
engine parts and cycle
components.
Propeller and hardware
specialist Rich Timfichuck
is leading the effort to
finish the G-32. It will be
powered by a 572 cubic inch
Chevrolet based engine with
an 871 supercharger
developing over 1400 hp.
The completed G-32 in race
trim is expected to be under
4,000 lbs. The ACCS rules
specify hulls of 25 to 28
feet in length, maximum of
13 feet wide, and a minimum
weight of 3,500 lbs.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the ULHRA
The first G-Class team has their new website up and running.
The
G-17 of Shockwave Racing is now
featured on their brand new
website. Rick & Shawn
Bridgeman's team based in
Olympia WA has been part of the
Unlimited Light series since the
90's competing on a part time
basis. In 2003 they traveled
the circuit for the first time.
In the fall of 2004, they became
the first team to join the new
Thunderboats ACCS series. They
will debut in "G-Class"
configuration at Spring
Training, ULHRA's annual open
test session, May 14th at the
Columbia Cup course at Tri
Cities WA. Rick will continue
as team driver. He has two
career second place finishes in
Unlimited Lights competition.
In the winter of 2003--4, their
boat was completely rebuilt with
an eye toward the ACCS series,
and it will compete at just over
the G-Class weight minimum which
is 3,500 lbs. With about 1400
hp and around 1200 foot pounds
of torque, the G-17 should be
very exciting to watch in 2005.
Team sponsors include Ted's Red
Apple Market in Westport WA,
along with Security Race
Products and Schucks Auto
Supply.
RSBN.NET and RSBN.TV has started its new season of Fast, Wet & Wild, hosted by Steve Cowin. It's a weekly show first aired on Thursday evening at 6:00pm Pacific time, 9:00pm Eastern time. This week's guest is the "Voice" of ULHRA, John Lynch. Throughout the racing season, guests from the 3 ULHRA racing series will often be featured on the program. Each show is aired multiple times over a 7 day span. NM-5 update continues for the 2005 Lighter than LIGHTS season.
You've
heard the term "turning the boat
over" when a hydroplane is being
built, repaired, or upgraded. Ever
wondered how they do it? Here's a
hint. Ron Popeil has not yet
invented the Ronco Hydro Flipper.
Until he does, here's how most teams
do this, including the NM-5 IRS
Environmental of Rod Bourke.
The
volunteer "grunt labor" included
Steve Ness, Bethany Beardslee,
Richard Kromm, Mary Ashley, Wild
Bill and Sharon Strain, Jon
Zimmerman, Dave Cossette, Joe Bielec,
Bob
Donley,
and employees of IRS Environmental.
After the finish work on the bottom
and the new sponsons is concluded
around the first of April, they'll
be back at it, flipping the boat
right side up for final work prior
to the racing season. The group met
on the evening of March 15th at the
NM-5 shop. As team owner Rod Bourke
commented afterward, "help
like this is one reason I love this
sport, GREAT PEOPLE!"
The
Lighter than LIGHTS series begins
June 10-12 at Tastin n Racin on Lake
Sammamish at Issaquah WA, just east
of Seattle.
Unlimited Lights record holder working for more success in 2005.......on and off the race course. Crew Chief Jim Mowrey and Crew member Dean Hendricson work to remove the strut after throwing two propeller blades in San Diego. We were happy with the design of the strut, the boat survived with no damage however the strut it self did sustain slight damaged. We are building a new one, little beefier version for next year.
Thanks to our new crew member Dean we have a wonderful shop to work on the boat through out the winter. Throwing the propellers also vibrated out the main bearing in our motor, pretty much destroying the motor. Ed Trihey is working on building a new one for us for the coming season. This is a major expense we did not forecast. Paul Droullard is building new rear vertical wings at Ron Jones Jr’s shop. Paul and Richard Rivas are also preparing the rear cowling for molding by Nate Brown. The rear cowling was never intended to be anything but a plug for a mold. Paul was a little surprised it survived the season. Richard is our paint master and will touch up the hull and paint the wings and cowling for the coming season.
We are not making any major changes to the boat, we are mostly doing maintenance after the boat's first full year of competition. We are making small changes to insure reliability of all systems. Jim is masterminding the reconstruction of the hauler after a slight brain fade by Paul the afternoon prior to the Tri-Cities race. Paul tried to cut off a low (very low) railroad trestle (oops!) and severely damaged the truck.
We were extremely disappointed in spending most of the year working out system problems and handling problems of the boat. Owner-Driver Paul Droullard was unable to use the speed and power of the boat until we finally removed the onboard cooling system and replaced both the skid fin and the rudder (a very special thanks to Mike Eacrett, owner-driver G-24). By Seattle the boat finally became drivable and we could see the potential we had. We were top qualifier and set a new Seattle qualifying record at 117.280 MPH. Our next outing was San Diego and we repeated by being top qualifier again and setting an all time qualifying record of 122.324 MPH becoming the first ULHRA boat to break the 122 MPH speed anywhere.
As we look ahead to the 2005 season, we know Vince Xaudaro (UL-929) and Kevin Aylesworth (UL-5) are making major changes to go even faster . Jerry and Greg Hopp, well they are the two time National Champions and have the winningest hull in our sport. The UL-72 and the rest of the fleet are not sleeping this winter . We are sure they will all turn up the speed for the coming year.
There are new teams joining us for the 2005 season . What surprises do they bring? We are staring at the best and most competitive season in ULHRA’s history in 2005. We just hope we can let the rest of the teams know we are there and be a major factor at each event.
I would like to say “Thank You” to all the fans that have e-mailed us, and I hope I have not missed anybody in replying and sending the photos you have requested of our boat. We are hoping to do better this year at each of your events. Knowing we have such a tremendously large fans base does help motivate us to do well, “Thanks Again” to you all across the country.
Remember to come back to the races and bring the kids . We again will be offering as much as possible , to put children into the cockpit of the American Eagle get their photos taken. Richard, I believe , had more fun working with the kids last year then he did racing. We also raised a little money from donations for the “Forgotten Children’s Fund” and hope to raise even more this coming year. Paul Droullard, Owner-Driver American Eagle UL-9
Progress
continues toward completion of the brand
new UL-19 of Tom Eckenberg's Five Stars
Racing Team. As you can see in the
photos, the team has completed
installation of the Ed Trihey
supercharged Unlimited Light engine, and
team owner Eckenberg says that the
plumbing has been completed (no small
job) and the windows have been installed
in the cockpit canopy. Just ask UL-9
American Eagle owner-driver Paul
Droullard about cockpit windows. It's a
critical element that's a challenge to
manufacture and install. Droullard's
anticipated debut in 2003 was delayed
till 2004, in part by window issues.
The Dale Van Wierengen hull, started in January 2004, is expected to be ready for Spring Training in the new home of driver Steve Hook. Last year was the first season that Eckenberg's team missed UL competition since joining the series in 2001. Even though he successfully debuted in Unlimited Hydroplanes last year, driver Hook says he's can't wait to return to Unlimited Lights competition.........a real ULHRA kind of guy! Tri Cities Water Follies will host Spring Training 2005 for the Unlimited Lights and the new Thunderboats ACCS "G" Class on Saturday, May 14th on the Columbia River course at Kennewick WA. The season opener will be 4 weeks later, June 10-12 at the hugely popular Tastin n Racin Festival on picturesque Lake Sammamish at Issaquah WA, just east of Seattle. The Lynch Line for March 2005. The monthly column by the Voice of ULHRA ULHRA in demand at ABRA.
At
the recent national meeting in Seattle of
the American Boat Racing Association (ABRA),
the new operation in charge of Unlimited
Hydroplane racing, race sites from around
the country were eager to meet with
officials of ULHRA, Inc which is
headquartered in Seattle. One primary
question often asked was "how many G-boats
do you expect to have"? For a racing series
that was announced just over a year ago and
debuts this summer, there is plenty of
interest and excitement for ULHRA's new
Thunderboats ACCS class and what it can
bring to hydroplane racing.
My own answer
was "5". Know what? That answer might be
low. The acceptance in the racing
fraternity of this new series for 28 foot
long, 575 cubic inch supercharged
hydroplanes racing at speeds approaching 170
mph, has been phenomenal. Consider that
this format was only a concept 15 months
ago, and consider also that lately it's been
taking at least a year to complete new
hydroplane construction. But now in
its first season, at some venues this
summer there could be nearly as many G-Class
boats as Unlimited hydroplanes, and the
U-class dates back to before World War II.
Do we call
him Broadway Jerry? Probably not
but..........
Football fans remember Joe Namath, aka
"Broadway Joe": Famous for his prowess
as an NFL quarterback, his flair and
flamboyant style, and bad knees.
Ultimately, knee replacement was the way
for Broadway Joe long after he hung up
his cleats.
Now, veteran
UL owner-driver and two time defending
ULHRA champion Jerry Hopp has undergone
twin knee replacement surgery. Racing a
150 mph hydroplane is no sedate Sunday
afternoon drive. Accidents, and just
plain jostling around in a cockpit, even
with the excellent restraint systems now
employed, can lead to injury. Jerry's
knee problems developed over the course
of three decades of racing limiteds,
Unlimiteds, and Unlimited Lights.
Jerry's wife
Dorothy reports that the surgery went
very well. Jerry will be in the
hospital through the weekend and then
begin a 4-6 week recuperation period.
Dorothy reports that Jerry is
experiencing considerable pain right
now, which is expected considering he
had both knees replaced at the same
time. Fans hope to see "Grandpa Jerry"
back in the cockpit for Spring Training
at Tri Cities WA May 14th and the season
opener "Tastin n Racin" June 10-12 at
Issaquah Washington's Lake Sammamish.
Meanwhile,
the Hopp Racing Team has installed a
completely new composite bottom on their
champion UL-1 hull as their off season
work continues in preparation for a run
at a 3rd straight ULHRA title.
If
successful it would continue a pattern
that dates back to 1997. Then, Bo
Schide in Ned Allen's Alamo Rent A Car
UL-16 won the first of 3 consecutive
championships, in the same hull that is
now the UL-1 of Hopp Racing. After
Allen and Schide retired from the series
following their 3rd title in 1999, Phil
Bononcini drove the UL-72 Budweiser -
Pocket Mechanic that Phil co-owns with
Joe Frauenheim, to championships in
2000, 2001 & 2002. Jerry and son Greg
Hopp have co-driven to consecutive
titles in 2003 & 2004.
Broadway
Jerry? Well, they used to say Namath
lived his life in the fast lane while in
the NFL. Not the Jerry Hopp lifestyle,
except he spends his racing time in the
fast lane as evidenced by his 6 career
victories and 2 ULHRA championships
behind the wheel of the Mike's Hard
Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky.
UL series
continues to grow.
The Unlimited
Lights Hydroplane Series' outstanding growth
is continuing in 2005. The series
that spawned ULHRA, Inc in Y2K is adding
more teams again this year. One team that's
been anticipated for some time hails from
Canby OR. Terrill Motorsports UL-85 is
expected to debut with Wayne Howard Jr. of
Auburn WA at the wheel. Howard returned to
ULHRA competition last season driving the
S-24 in the Lighter than LIGHTS series.
This is the same Wayne Howard who surprised
the racing world by steering the diminutive
UL-136 of then owner Dick Sanders to victory
at the San Diego Unlimited Lights event in
2000.
Howard says
he'll be driving the UL-85 this season for
Bill Nootenboom and Terrill Motorsports, and
he adds that the UL-85 team is planning to
compete on the entire ULHRA circuit with
supercharged power. He's also been
announced as the driver of the U-7
Unlimited, a twin-automotive engine project
forecast to race this year, and he's also
scheduled to drive the S-24 when his
schedule permits, which looks to be a very
busy schedule indeed.
Always tough to
say goodbye.
The Pacific NW
Racing contingent has sadly been forced
to bid farewell to a pair of popular
participants. 5 Liter Stock hydroplane
owner and former driver Valentine "Val" Lisk
passed away after a lengthy battle with
cancer......on Valentine's Day. His final
appearance in LTL competition was with his
Miss Tons of Fun, driven by son Rob Lisk, at
the 2004 Tastin n Racin. Also, longtime
crewman Michael "Big Mike" Thompson
succumbed to a heart attack on February 26.
Thompson had been part of Gerry Jarvis' S-24
team for the past 7 years and for many years
prior was lead crewman for "Smokin Joe"
Souza of Tacoma WA who raced in Unlimited
Lights in the mid and late 90's.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the
ULHRA.
Unlimited Lights
Hydroplane Series
Thunderboats
ACCS "G" Class
Lighter than
LIGHTS series
Busy off season in the new LTL Modified Class.
Rod Bourke,
owner-driver of the NM-5 IRS Environmental entry
in the Lighter than LIGHTS series continues a
full off-season upgrade. The former 7 Liter
"Enterprise" hull that was built by Mike Hanson
in the 1980's is being extensively remodeled for
the ESL Enterprises Modified Class as part of
ULHRA"s Lighter than LIGHTS series.
Bourke, along
with substantial assistance from Ron Jones Jr.
Jon Zimmerman, Steve Ness, Bethany Beardslee, Mary
Ashlee and Kari Hammon, is crafting all new
composite sponsons to the hull, and extending
them forward which will make the NM-5 measure 20
feet 8 inches. The
photo on the left shows the NM-5 as it raced in
2004.
Other changes
include an all new steering mechanism, extended
non trips and a reduced air trap. As you can
see, plenty of work remains but Bourke's plan is
to be ready to run in May and compete in all of
the ESL Modified Class events, beginning with
Tastin n Racin at Issaquah WA, June 10-12.
The Tennessean returns to Unlimited Lights racing.
Joe
Marshall, retired Air Force officer and lifelong
boating enthusiast and racer, returns to UL
competition in 2005 with his UL-33 Tennessean.
Marshall, a native of Knox County Tennessee, hopes
to make much of the ULHRA circuit this summer. He
was an original Unlimited Lights campaigner back in
1995 when the circuit began.
Marshall grew up on
Lake Norris where his family owned the Hickory Star
Resort, ran an Evinrude dealership, and Lake Flight
Marine.....a fiberglass boat manufacturer which was
later sold to Sea-Ray in 1980. So Joe was well
versed early with life on the water. His dad also
sponsored outboard racers and Joe was a crewman for
10 years before getting his first chance behind the
wheel. Marshall raced outboards, K-Boats, 280's
and moved up to the 7 Liter Class in 1982.
He and his wife
Ginger have been married for more than 3 decades and
have a daughter and 4 grandchildren.
Ginger has her own floral and decorating business and is an Events Coordinator. Besides racing, both get very excited when they discuss Joe's position as an Educator. While in the Air Force where he served as a Helicopter spotter over drug producing areas of South America, Joe was also on the Governor's Drug Task Force. Continuing in that vein, Joe teaches Drug Free Education classes at High Schools in six area counties. A dedicated Christian, he teaches skills to use in life such as: communication, problem solving, core values, and safety, all in "a fun way". 14 years ago he established the "Top Wrench" program as a means to give young people a positive alternative to falling into drug use. Once a year, he brings his boat and a couple of big block engines to McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base and disables the engines. High School student "gear heads", in teams of 4 or 5 compete in timed competition to put the motors back together and get them to run in the boat. Schools are rotated and each year new teams get to compete. The Air Force donates the space and provides lunch while local auto parts dealers, restaurants, the Sertoma Club and the East Tennessee Foundation donate diagnostic equipment and spare parts, as well as the money for FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to technical schools.
Recently, Joe has been joined by a local race car owner who brings his race car. Students are timed at not only building his engines, but also properly executing wheel changes and other associated tasks. This is very serious business as most of these students can't compete on an academic level for scholarships and might turn to drugs, or at least not have a clear path for future employment. The High School drop out rate has been on the rise as local boat manufacturers offer these kids $10/hr. jobs and they quit school. In Joe's program, each student must commit to: 1) graduating 2) staying drug free and 3) being on time. Top Wrench/HS graduates are starting with BMW and Peterbilt for as much as $30,000/year. Putting back into their community is a life focus of Joe & Ginger Marshall.
Since retiring from the Air Force Reserve, Joe can spend more time with the race boat. His crew will be his students from Vocational Schools. In fact, Detroit has contacted him about using students from their local schools as well. His major challenge is to get sponsorships to finance travel and participation in the Unlimited Lights series, especially, the 6 Western races. He is putting out a call for qualified UL drivers who come with some sponsorship to contact him at: 865-983-3115.
If you get Ginger on the line, don't be concerned. Just enjoy. For example, she'll tell you that when they got married on Halloween; she got tricked, and he got treated, and their honeymoon was spent at a boat race. It's great to discover that their honeymoon continues to this day.
This summer watch for them at Unlimited Lights events. Joe & Ginger Marshall and the UL-33 Tennessean.
story by Patty Darling LTL teams say goodbye to "Big Mike" this Saturday (3-5).
A memorial service for
Michael Thompson, longtime crewman in limited and
Unlimited Lights racing, will be held this Saturday at
Powers Funeral Home in Puyallup WA. Thompson had been a
key crewmember for the past 7 years with Jarvis Racing
and the S-24, which won the first Lighter than LIGHTS 4
cylinder stock championship in 2003. Prior to that
association, Thompson had crewed for "Smokin Joe" Souza
of Tacoma WA in the 80's & 90's as Souza began racing in
2.5 stock, advanced to 5 Liter, GNH, and finally
Unlimited Lights. "Big Mike" had also been a longtime
employee of Souza's at Highland Hill Service on Tacoma's
6th Ave. He suffered a fatal heart attack in his sleep
on Saturday night (2-26).
The service will be held on
Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm followed by a reception.
Powers Funeral Home is located at 320 W. Pioneer Avenue
in Puyallup, WA.
(253) 845-0536
Take 167 South to West 512
Merge onto West 512 toward Puyallup Take the Pioneer Ave East exit toward Puyallup Turn left on East Pioneer Avenue Turn left onto 3rd Street SW Click here for updates from February, 2005
Questions, comments? E-mail
the
site's webmaster. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
