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The 2005 edition of Thunder & LIGHTS magazine is now available, from the ULHRA office, and currently on newsstands in western Washington State. The official publication of ULHRA Inc. covers the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series, the Washington State based Lighter than LIGHTS series, and the brand new Thunderboats ACCS class, aka the "G-Boats". This year's edition includes a 4 page "media guide" with results and records for Unlimited Light hydroplanes dating to 1995. There's a feature article on veteran drivers Jerry Hopp and George Woods, information on all of the ULHRA race sites and events, and much more.
Cover price is $4.95 U.S. or $5.95 Canadian funds. The magazine will be available at all ULHRA race sites, and at select newsstands in various markets. You can also mail a check or money order for $4.95 each ($5.95 each Canadian) to.......
Thunder & LIGHTS Magazine
c/o Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association
12065 44th Place, South Tukwila, WA 98178 Fast, Wet & Wild on rsbn.tv and rsbn.net this week.
With two weeks till the season opener for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, the "Voice", John Lynch is Steve Cowin's guest on Fast, Wet & Wild. The popular internet radio show is exclusively about racing, sports, and recreation on the water. Cowin and Lynch will discuss the upcoming ULHRA season, which begins with the ever growing, 9th annual Tastin n Racin Festival featuring the Baker Equipment Cup for Unlimited Lights, and the Lighter than LIGHTS series. The event is held on picturesque Lake Sammamish, just east of Seattle in Issaquah WA.
Fast, Wet, and Wild can be heard at rsbn.net and viewed at rsbn.tv starting at 9pm Pacific time tonight (Thursday 5-26). If will be repeated several times over the next 7 days. For details on this 24 hour motorsports programming service click on http://www.rsbn.net/
Rod Bourke's IRS Environmental NM-5 in the ESL Enterprises 8 Cylinder Modified Class, exits the paint booth.
The Lighter than LIGHTS series begins June 10-12 at Issaquah WA with the 9th Annual Tastin n Racin Festival, featuring the Baker Equipment Cup for Unlimited Light Hydroplanes.
Rod Bourke has spent the off-season in a major upgrade project, installing new sponson-non trip canoes to his hydroplane that was originally built in the 80's by Michael Hanson. Photos at http://members16.clubphoto.com/kari661636/3285473/guest.phtml
The 8 cylinder Modified Class features race boats up to 20 feet in length, with 300 to 360 cubic inch engines with various approved modifications. After the 8 cylinder modifieds, the next step for racers is Unlimited Lights. The ESL Enterprises sponsored class is the first time modified engine hydroplanes have been included in ULHRA's Lighter than LIGHTS series. 6 teams are committed to the series and can be seen on this website. Click on TEAMS.
Three events are scheduled for the LTL program in 2005. Issaquah, June 10-12, Silverdale August 12-14 and Port Angeles, Sept. 30, Oct 1 & 2, all in Washington State.
More Spring Training from Gold Cup Video
After a long winter's effort to upgrade racing programs, ULHRA teams went to Spring Training to determine their results. On Saturday, May 14th, they found out.
5 Unlimited Lights and the brand new G-13 Tempo answered the Spring Training call, along with 3 teams from the Washington State based Lighter than LIGHTS series. Each team left the Columbia River race course at Tri Cities WA with positive results.
 The most impressive performance was that of San Diego based Freedom Racing Team. Those who have followed the Unlimited LIGHTS series closely, particularly here at www.ulhra.org know that over the last 3 winters major changes have been done to the tandem wing Ron Jones Sr. designed hull. Aylesworth and his team believe in the tandem wing concept and their improvement each year has been impressive. Last year they secured their first ever UL race victory at Valleyfield, Quebec. This year their are seeking more wins, and have the stated goal of the ULHRA Championship.
Aylesworth turned the quickest lap of the day at 132.614 mph. That speed computation was based on a 1 2/3 mile race course. The course was not surveyed, and not a full 1 2/3 miles, but the performance of the UL-5 was certainly upgraded from 2004.
Next on the speed chart, in his first ever time behind the wheel of the UL-72, was 2004 Rookie of the Year Michael Flaherty. The driver, the entire team, and the sponsor from last year's UL-51 Miss Boat Electric have moved to the UL-72 which is the winningest non supercharged hull in Unlimited Lights history. Flaherty turned a lap in the bright red Miss Boat Electric at over 131 mph. The crew is headed by John Flaherty, Michael's father, who had many years of experience with the UL-72 hull before moving to the UL-51 two years ago when the craft was acquired by Impact Racing; the same owners as the UL-72. This past winter the 51 hull was sold to former UL-929 Crew Chief David Warren who's upgrading that hull for the new Thunderboats ACCS series.
Part time racers in 2004, BCS Enterprises certainly stepped up their performance at Spring Training. Their UL-6 wore the
 colors of Tri Cities' Unlimited Lights race sponsor HAPO Community Credit Union. On Friday the team was on display at two locations in the Tri Cities area. On Saturday, the team displayed their improvement with a lap by co-owner & driver Al Carstensen at better than 126 mph. His partner, co-driver and Spring Training crew chief Kerry Beynon said they've gained about 40 horsepower from off-season dyno work on the engine. Plus, a new rudder met with Carstensen's approval, saying "down the straightaways, this time it went straight"!
Due to limited sponsorship, the UL-6 team is not expected to race the entire season. Fellow UL teams know the record of this hull. 4 career wins, nearly a 5th victory in Dave Bender's last drive at Seattle's Seafair in 2003, and even with first season challenges in 2004, the BCS entry was third quickest in qualifying at Tri Cities. Both Carstensen and Beynon have many victories in smaller hydroplane classes. They might not be the most widely known team. But opponents know very well that when the UL-6 shows up, they'll be ready to compete.
  Take a look at these before and after photos. This past winter the UL-929 of Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro underwent "major surgery". Not just new tail fins; the boat is now 2 feet longer and 1 foot wider than in 2004, and now it also carries the UL maximum 509 cubic inch normally aspirated engine. The hull cuts an impressive swath, but competitive speed will have to wait till the Baker Equipment Cup at Tastin n Racin, next month. In its first test run the rudder bracket failed, possibly due to hitting a submerged log. The subsequent wild ride was brought under control by the "X-Man" but it forced an early end to Xaudaro's testing day. The rudder was damaged, and it also took out the propeller making for a rather expensive run. But, as Xaudaro noted, "this is why we have Spring Training. Better to have the problem here than at Tastin n Racin". Vince added repairs should be completed in about a week, well before the season opener next month. Added Miss Boat Electric Team Manager John Flaherty, after inspecting the damage to the UL-929, "This testing session was immensely valuable, more than anyone there not involved with a race team would ever know. We are very grateful that the ULHRA organization and all the infrastructure, support crew and rescue crew were available to make it happen."
The 5th UL showed teams they'd better not ignore the "airline pilot" any more. Paul Becker and his 31 year old Ron
 Jones Sr. creation, the Miss Software Prototype, toured the course at better than 116 mph. A year ago the team lengthened the hull by 18 inches to help it maintain attitude and improve cornering capability. This year, a brand new 509 cubic inch engine will take advantage of the hull improvements. The bright light emanating from the Tri Cities area yesterday wasn't just the sunshine. It was the reflection off of the huge smile of owner-driver Becker when he noted "there's a lot more engine that we showed today".
  Fans came out in excellent numbers to also see a bit of history; the first run of a brand new boat for a brand new series. The G-13 Tempo, built by Dale Van Wierengen and the Impact Racing team, debuted with George Woods behind the wheel. After a couple of efforts the boat got up on a plane, toured the course several times and looked excellent for the first time on the water for a brand new boat and brand new engine package. Thunderboats ACCS, the new series created by ULHRA, Inc. opens its first ever season in Valleyfield, Quebec, July 8 -10.
From the Lighter than LIGHTS fleet, 3 teams participated at Spring Training, getting much more time on the water than they would at the average race. Charles Xaudaro in the S-32 WYKNOT turned very consistent and quick laps in the 80-82 mph range in his 4 cylinder stock hydroplane. The same was true for Ed Novak, and his S-34 Just Add Water. It also sported a brand new, and very bright orange paint scheme. The third LTL testing was veteran Pacific NW racer Bob Smets from Oregon. A long time campaigner with his "Wild Turkey" hydroplane as an 8 cylinder stock racer, Smets has shifted to 8 cylinder modified power this year and will be racing in the new ESL Enterprises 8 Cylinder Modified Class in Lighter than LIGHTS competition. Despite some sponson damage at the end of his test.....damage that Smets says will take only a week or so to correct....the new modified powerplant seemed ideal for the NM-225 hull. Smets toured the course very impressively and will certainly be a team to be reckoned with this summer.
Smets was assisted by new UL team owner and a former driver of the "Wild Turkey", Bill Nootenboom of Terrill Motorsports. Nootenboom has headed up development for the past 4 years of a Ron Jones hydroplane that's actually 3 years older than Paul Becker's UL-14. The completely upgraded UL-85 will be on the Unlimited Lights circuit this summer, and Nootenboom says he hopes to be ready by the season opener. If not, they're looking forward to debuting at the HAPO Community Thunder Cup at Tri Cities WA, July 29-31.
John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA, Inc.
Gold Cup Video at Spring Training
Spring Training webcast should start around 8:30 PDT tonight. We're practicing too. The address for the webcast will be on the UL web page shortly before it starts.
There will be repeat web casts at 1 pm PDT Sunday, 11 am PDT and 6 pm PDT Monday.
Spring Training Tomorrow, Saturday, May 14. Update Friday 5-13 Our live web cast will not be available due to technical difficulties. We will web cast taped highlights of the day in the late afternoon or early evening. Check the ULHRA website for broadcast time. We won't be able give a great deal of notice beforehand, so check often.
6 Unlimited LIGHTS teams and a brand new Thunderboats ACCS entry will test this Saturday (May 14) on the swift HAPO Community Thunder Cup Course at Tri Cities WA. The 3rd annual ULHRA Spring Training kicks of the 2005 season which will feature 8 races ranging from the USA's west coast to Quebec Province in Canada. The test session will be preceded by a Press Conference on Friday afternoon at the headquarters of HAPO Community Credit Union in Richland WA.......one of the Tri Cities. The other two are Pasco and Kennewick WA. HAPO Community Credit Union becomes the first Unlimited Light race title sponsor for the Tri Cities event, to be held July 29 - 31 on the Columbia River.
You might expect the test to involve just Pacific Northwest teams. However, the San Diego CA based Freedom Racing team will make the 2,000 mile round trip for one 8 hour period on the water. Explains owner-driver Kevin Aylesworth, "when you add up all the costs of cranes, permits, rescue personnel and other considerations, it will actually cost us less to be at Spring Training in the Tri Cities than to conduct our own test here in southern California". Aylesworth is adamant about making the test. The team has been logging countless hours the past few weeks completing off season upgrades to the only "tandem wing" hull in the Unlimited Lights series. Aylesworth's team picked up their first ever Unlimited Lights victory, at Valleyfield, Quebec in 2004. Now they are aiming for more; their first Unlimited Lights Championship. The energetic Californian knows the team was hampered early last season by missing Spring Training and opening the season untested. Even if they have to drive all night from their California base, they'll be in Tri Cities this Saturday. The team widened their hull, which has shown excellent "chute speed", in an effort to improve cornering and quicken their lap times.
The UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky of Hopp Racing will not be at Spring Training. Co-owner Jerry Hopp said they simply ran out of time with all of the updates and repairs underway on the 2 time defending UL champion hull. Hopp himself continues to recover from twin knee replacement surgery . Hopp Racing will certainly be ready to challenge for a 3rd title, beginning with Tastin & Racin at Issaquah WA, June 10-12.
Another team looking to "see where we're at" is the speed record holding UL-9 American Eagle of Paul Droullard and his Droullard Motor Sports team. After setting an all-time ULHRA single lap speed record of 122.324 mph at San Diego last September, the hull broke two propellers, an engine, and portions of the hull. Major off season repair work is just being completed this week, including installation of a totally rebuilt Ed Trihey supercharged engine.
The runner-up in 2003 & 2004, the UL-72 has also undergone a big change. But this one is personnel. The hull's the same while the team is different. Still owned by the Impact Racing tandem of Joe Frauenheim and Phil Bononcini, last year's UL-51 team takes over the responsibility of the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric. Team Manager John Flaherty and Rookie of the Year in 2004, driver Michael Flaherty, now take over the hull that won the ULHRA title in 2000, 2001 and 2002. It's also won more races as a non supercharged hydroplane than any other in Unlimited Lights racing. The learning curve here will be for driver Flaherty. The UL-72 hull is much lighter over the water than the UL-51 hull and a quick a cornering hull as there is in the UL series. The senior Flaherty formerly crewed on the 72 hull so he knows it well.
One team that debuted in 2004 and showed great potential, hopes to realize that potential in 2005. Starting with a history of winning performances in limited inboards, and then acquiring a very capable UL hull with 4 victories, the BCS Racing Enterprises team enters 2005 with a season of experience, and heightened expectations. Co-owners and co-drivers Kerry Beynon and Al Carstensen showed in 2004 they are to be reckoned with in this Ron Jones hydroplane that was campaigned for 9 seasons by now retired Dave Bender. Beynon says their spirits are raised by a recent engine dyno test where they picked up nearly 40 horsepower over their engine performance in 2004.
Another team with "more beans" in the engine well in 2005 is the venerable UL-14 Miss Software Prototype of Paul Becker. A brand new Trihey 509 cu.in non supercharged engine will provide the greatest power this hull has ever experienced in its more than 3 decades of racing. The new power, coupled to hull upgrades in 2004, aim to make this the most significant season yet for airline pilot Becker who joined the UL series in 2002 and purchased this hull in 2003.
Rounding out the testing team roster this Saturday is the last number in the fleet, but also one of the most intriguing teams in 2005. The UL-929 of owner-driver Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro enters 2005 "bulked up". No, it's not on steroids. But the hull is wider and longer, and we can no longer refer to it as "the little hydro that could". Not only is the hull expanded to handle greater straightaway and corner speeds, it's also capable of same with a brand new Gary Pugh 509 cu.in engine, significantly upping the horsepower rating and torque. After 3 consecutive 2nd place finishes in 2004 and an all time best 3rd place in the Unlimited Lights standings, Xaudaro is clearly aiming higher and gunning for his first ever UL victory.............and a ULHRA championship.
No doubt this will be the most competitive season in ULHRA history with several teams capable of winning races and taking the title. And we haven't even noted the teams that aren't quite ready for Spring Training. There's the brand new UL-19 Five Stars of Tom Eckenberg which is a new Dale Van Wierengen hull to be driven by Steve Hook. There's the ever improving UL-40 Red Dot Corporation entry from the Thunder Valley Racing Team with Harold Mills behind the wheel. It's Mills' second full season with the team and last year was the team's best ever. There's the always competitive UL-10 from Wiggins Hydroplane Racing Team in Alabama with Cal Phipps and Patrick Haworth driving. Phipps won in Seattle in 2003. Haworth won in Valleyfield in 2003. This team plans to head west this year, to Tri Cities and Seattle, making for an incredibly competitive field. There's also a former GP Champion team transferring to the Unlimited Lights. Ken Brodie and Ken Brodie II join the UL series at Evansville and Valleyfield this year and they never race just to fill the field. Don't be surprised if the Brodie tandem find their way on to the podium.
In all, up to 20 UL teams are expected to compete in 2005.
But there's more, and this is what fans have been eagerly awaiting since November 2003. In 2005 it's the debut of Thunderboats ACCS. Also known as the G-Boats because their letter registration is "G", the first G-boat to be on the water will be this Saturday at Spring Training. And it's so new the paint may be primer and it may not be dry. But Joe Frauenheim, Phil Bononcini and the G-13 Tempo will be at Spring Training. The team and builder Dale Van Wierengen have been exhaustively working to complete this hull which was started just after Christmas 2004. The UL-72 team has moved to the G-13 Tempo, including driver George Woods Jr who's also been involved with Gary Pugh and Glen Davis in developing engines for the new G-class. What are the differences? ACCS hulls are longer (up to 28 feet in length), wider (up to 13 feet wide) and heavier (minimum 3500 lbs) compared to Unlimited Lights. If you think they look the size of Unlimiteds, essentially they are. The Unlimited class minimum length is 28 feet, but at nearly 7,000 lbs, the U-boats are double the weight of the G's. Thunderboats ACCS teams will be powered by single 575 cubic inch supercharged V-8 engines, developing about 1500 horsepower. 4 teams are expected for the first race in July, with additional teams possible by the end of the season. Thunderboats ACCS is expected to quickly expand the size of the fleet as more race sites are signed on. Three teams, the G-17 Ted's Red Apple Market - Security Race Products of Rick Bridgeman, the G-24 of returning hydroplane racer Mike Eacrett with Crew Chief Ron Brown, and the G-329 Baker Equipment Co. of new owner and former Crew Chief of the UL-929, Dave Warren, won't be on hand. Each has the same circumstance; brand new engine programs not quite ready to test this weekend. But they'll all be ready when the first Thunderboats ACCS race takes place in July, in Valleyfield.
One final note.
The 2005 edition of Thunder & LIGHTS magazine makes its debut at Spring Training, and will be on newsstands, soon. This year's 80 page publication has a great many features, and includes the work of no less than 3 dozen photographers. There's a 4 page media guide included with records and results that date back to the first year of the Unlimited Lights series, 1995. All three of our series, the Unlimited Lights, the new G-Boats, and our limited inboard series in Washington State known as the Lighter than LIGHTS are featured. If the magazine is not available in your area, you can mail a check or money order for $4.95 per copy (U.S.funds) or $6.95 per copy (Canadian funds) to Unlimited Light Hydroplane Tukwila, WA 98178 Thunder & LIGHTS will be distributed at all ULHRA race sites.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights.
The Lynch Line, May 2005.
Ah springtime. The time when a young man's thoughts turn to........hydroplane racing?!. Well, why not? After a long winter of working in the shop, it's time to learn whether the offseason improvements, really are an improvement.
Spring Training is the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association's open test session for Unlimited Lights and the new Thunderboats ACCS series. It's an all day affair on the Hapo Community Thunder Cup course on the Columbia River at the Tri Cities of Kennewick, Pasco & Richland, WA. Spring Training is sanctioned by ULHRA, Inc and hosted by the Tri Cities Water Follies Association which produces the annual race July 29 - 31.
With just a few days to go till spring training, many teams are "thrashing" to complete off season work. The UL-40 Red Dot Corporation entry of Thunder Valley Racing, driven by Harold Mills, has had both sponsons rebuilt, and a new front spar installed. Mills is excited about the changes for this hull, following the team's best ever ULHRA season in 2004. The concern for Thunder Valley, as it is for several teams, is can they get the work done in time for Spring Training. Sadly, it appears they will miss spring training by a few days, but be completely ready for their own event....the season opening 9th Annual Tastin & Racin Festival featuring the Baker Equipment Cup for Unlimited Lights. Thunder Valley racing launched this event 8 years ago and it's become a premier event in the Pacific Northwest.
Another team in a similar situation is the 2 time defending champion UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky of Hopp Racing. Not only has a new composite bottom been installed, along with major hardware upgrades, team CO- owner-driver "Grandpa" Jerry Hopp had twin knee replacement surgery just a few weeks ago and he is slowly rounding into shape. If the team is able to test at Spring Training, Greg Hopp will drive. As Jerry pointed out, all they have to do is fit & install a new starboard side deck, re-install the upgraded driver's seat and cockpit side windows, paint, and several other chores and "if no one sleeps, we can get it all done!" The team has done major upgrades to the plumbing, hardware and electrical systems on the winningest hull in Unlimited Lights history.
UL-929 Xaudaro Racing and owner-driver Vince Xaudaro is another team fighting the clock. A substantial lengthening and widening of the hull effort is nearly complete, but it may come down to the wire for Spring Training. However, to quote the X-Man, "the UL-929 will be at Spring Training come hell or high water!"
Meanwhile in southern California, the Freedom Racing Team and their UL-5 Sycuan Resort & Casino entry, driven by Kevin Aylesworth is concluding another major upgrade. The hull has been widened to improve cornering. Aylesworth has committed the team to Spring Training in Washington State, noting that driving 2,000 miles round trip for Spring Training is actually cheaper than trying to arrange for a test session in his hometown of San Diego.
One team isn't undergoing major offseason hull work. But they will be seeking all of the testing time they can get at Spring Training. The 3 time ULHRA champion (2000-2002) UL-72 of Impact Racing and co-owners Phil Bononcini and Joe Frauenheim, has been transformed differently. The hull is the same, while the team is different. The UL-51 Miss Boat Electric team, managed by John Flaherty and driven by his son, ULHRA 2004 Rookie of the Year Michael Flaherty found themselves "all geared up with nothing to race". The UL-51 hull they campaigned in 2004 had been sold. But now the Miss Boat Electric Team has been assigned to the UL-72 hull, still one of the best in the UL fleet and a 3 time ULHRA champion.
So, what happened to the UL-51 hull, and the UL-72 team? In a letter......"G".
First, the UL-51 hull was purchased in the offseason by former UL-929 crew chief David Warren. It's been lengthened this offseason to compete in the new Thunderboats ACCS class as the G-329 Baker Equipment Co. entry. Warren and his new G-boat are expected for Spring Training.
For the UL-72 team, get ready for a new number, and a new everything else. They bring back a historic name and number to hydroplane racing, on a brand new, state of the art Dale Van Wierengen ACCS hull. It's the G-13 Tempo and it will make its debut at Spring Training. This 28 foot, 3500 lb boat is the first designed and built Thunderboats ACCS entry. It's so new, they may have to dry the paint in the wind on the drive from their homeport of Issaquah WA to the Tri Cities. Team co-owner Joe Frauenheim says if they have to, they'll run in primer gray paint, but they will be at Spring Training. 2004 Unlimited Lights Driving Champion George Woods will pilot the new Tempo. Bring your cameras!
The G fleet will also include the Ted's Red Apple Market G-17 entry of Rick & Shawn Bridgeman. This should be a very interesting team to watch. They upgraded their hull in 2004 with the idea of transferring to the ACCS series this season. The boat came in heavier than they wanted for UL competition last year and performed below expectations. However, it could be an ideal combination in the new ACCS series. Rick Bridgeman continues as team driver.
It's possible that a 4th G team may be at Spring Training. Mike Eacrett's G-24, a never raced hull originally built for Grand Prix competition, has been completely transformed by crew chief Ron Brown. All Eacrett will say is, everyone will see something unique when they hit the water. The hull's shape is a closely guarded secret. He added they hope to be at Spring Training but it'll be a last minute decision.
Back on the UL side of things, another brand new hull is being worked feverishly in order to be at Spring Training. Owner Tom Eckenberg of the UL-19 Five Stars team, driven by Tri Cities' Steve Hook, says "if we can get it done, we'll be there". The team absolutely wants to be part of Spring Training. The effort to create the new UL-19 has taken a year and a half........yet there are always more things to do when crafting a new boat. Having a fulltime crew to do those things is a great idea, but not yet part of the financial reality of Unlimited Lights competition. You can expect the talented UL-19 team on the Unlimited Lights circuit, but Spring Training is certainly a question mark.
Other teams that are expected for Spring Training include the UL-14 Miss Software Prototype, owned and driven by airline pilot Paul Becker. The oldest boat in the fleet, built originally as a 7 Liter hydroplane in 1974 by Ron Jones Sr, the UL-14 sports brand new power this year. A 511 cu.in. Ed Trihey naturally aspirated Chevy based engine will give the craft a new lease on life. Last year, the team lengthened the hull by 18 inches. With new power, and better cornering, Becker expects to be more of a challenger in 2005.
The UL-18 Jackie's Purple Thunder of Joe Turner is also expected. The team had its most successful season in 2004 and look to build upon that success in 2005. A team best 5th place finish at Olympia highlighted their 2004 campaign.
The team that holds the ULHRA qualifying lap speed record, the UL-9 American Eagle of Paul Droullard also expects to be on hand. After setting the record at 122.324 mph in San Diego last year, the "Eagle" broke two propellers and its engine. Hull damage also occurred as a result, and the off-season has been spent on major repairs.
It appears that about 13 boats will be on hand between the UL and G series. No admission is charged and the best viewing is in Columbia Park on the Kennewick side of the river. Testing will take place from 10am till 6pm on Saturday, May 14th.
DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR.
Have you heard this one? That Unlimited Lights will be allowed to "step up" to the G-Boat class? Let's settle this one right here. NO! Not going to happen, period.
UL and ACCS (the "G" class) are two distinct, separate series. Teams will not be running the same boat in both series.. The rules are different and ULHRA Inc. mandated from the beginning that there would be no intermingling of boats in both classes, to keep each series separate and easily identifiable. In order to compete in both series, a team would have to have two boats; one fitting each of the rules packages. Unlimited Lights can be no longer than 26 feet. Thunderboats ACCS boats must be at least 25 feet long and no more than 28 feet. But the real difference is in weight. UL's with supercharged engines can weigh as little as 2,700 lbs. ACCS boats run a larger engine and must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. Put another way, to even qualify to run as a "G-Boat", the majority of the UL fleet would have spend a lot of time at the hydro buffet table in order to gain up to 800 lbs. In retail terminology, that's a 77% mark-up. In mathematics terms, that's roughly a 30 percent weight gain. Put another way, its an unrealistic weight gain for the bulk of the UL fleet.
CHAMPION HULLS.........where are they now?
Did you know that only 3 boats have ever won the Unlimited Lights season championship, dating back to the days of when the Unlimited Lights were the support series. In the first two years, Bob Larimore campaigned his Pegasus Racing Team's UL-23 to championships in 1995 and 1996. That boat is now owned by Canadian Ron Doumont and his Escapius Maximus UL-117 team. It will be on the display circuit in western Canada.
The other two boats you know well. UL-1, which as Alamo Rent A Car UL-16 driven by Bo Schide, won the championship in 1997, 1998 and 1999. The boat was purchased by Hopp Racing, and returned to its championship ways in 2003 & 2004. In between, Phil Bononcini drove the UL-72, known then as the Budweiser - Pocket Mechanic, to consecutive championships in 2000, 2001 & 2002. In 2003, Phil won the driver's title and then retired from race driving. In 2004, George Woods won the driver's title while the UL-72 Graham Trucking - Security Race Products - Victoria Express finished second in the team standings. Split titles have occurred the past two years because father & son, Jerry & Greg Hopp share the driving duties on the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade - Happy Go Lucky.
THUNDER & LIGHTS MAGAZINE. YEAR #2
The 2005 edition of Thunder & LIGHTS magazine makes its debut at Spring Training, and will be on newsstands, soon. This year's 80 page publication has a great many features, and includes the work of no less than 3 dozen photographers. There's also a 4 page media guide included with records and results that date back to the first year of the Unlimited Lights series, 1995. All three of our series, the Unlimited Lights, the new G-Boats, and our limited inboard series in Washington State known as the Lighter than LIGHTS are all featured.
If the magazine is not available in your area, you can mail a check or money order for $4.95 per copy (U.S.funds) or $6.95 per copy (Canadian funds) to
Unlimited Light Hydroplane
Racing Association 12065 44th Place, South Tukwila, WA 98178
Thunder & LIGHTS will be distributed at all ULHRA race sites.
John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA, Inc.
The Lynch Line is a monthly feature of www.ulhra.org
Schedule for repeats of ULHRA web cast The web cast on Sunday, May 1st will be played again on Thursday, May 5th at 10 am, 3 pm, and 8 pm PDT. The web address is http://66.223.51.157/ed. Future re-plays and specific time requests are possible, contact Ed at enelson501@comcast.net. Click here for updates from April, 2005
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