|
Terry Troxel begins
rehabilitation therapy
Unlimited Hydroplane driver Terry Troxel of Gig Harbor WA is beginning rehabilitation therapy at a Tacoma Hospital after suffering two "minor" strokes earlier this week. The 2005 Gold Cup winner has driven in several Unlimited Lights races in his career, most recently taking second place in 2000 at Tastin n Racin in Issaquah WA. Terry is also the stepfather of 2003 ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS champion driver Jeff Bernard . According to his wife, Sue Troxel, he's improving daily and there is no paralysis, but speech is a challenge. She says as of today (9-30) "Yesterday he was in a great mood, made me laugh several times. He's trying so hard to get his thoughts out and was making much more sense of things yesterday (Thursday, 9-29)".
Mrs. Troxel says Terry
will undergo
rehabilitation treatment
for about a week and
then will be released to
his home. She added,
"Tell everyone thank you
for the emails, cards
and the beautiful
flowers. I think I love
the flowers most of all,
they are wonderful and
put a smile on my face
every time I walk into
the room. I am trying
to answer emails at
least once a day".
John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA
Inc.
UL-929 Team Manager out of surgery.
Eric Burke, long time team
manager for Vince Xaudaro's
Conover Insurance UL-929
team is recovering from
surgery performed on Monday
9-26 in Seattle. He
was released from the
hospital on Tuesday 9-27. Burke
was injured in the San Diego
pit area when his footing
slipped while climbing down
from the deck of the trailered UL-929.
His fall to the pavement
resulted in a dislocated
ankle, torn ligaments, and a
broken fibula. Burke was
treated initially in a San
Diego hospital, and then
surgery was performed in
Seattle after allowing time
for the
swelling to be reduced.
According to team owner
Xaudaro, "Eric is in a lot
of pain but he still plans
on being in Port Angeles".
The Victoria Express Strait
Thunder Regatta is scheduled
for this weekend, October
1st and 2nd in the NW
Washington State city along
the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Xaudaro
said surgeons inserted a
steel plate and a number of
screws to aid the heeling
process. The popular
owner-driver added, slightly
tongue in cheek, "Eric will
be in a cast till December
which will be just in time
for him to start working on
the boat for 2006!"
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited
Lights
Shadowing the competition?  All
season long, the UL-72 Miss Boat
Electric has been chasing 2 time
defending champion UL-1 Mike's
Hard Lemonade-Happy Go
Lucky. So what does this
picture have to do with that?
The building is Chuck's Seafood
Grotto in Snohomish WA, a new
sponsor of the UL-1 Hopp Racing
Team. The rig in the foreground
belongs to Pile Contracting,
owned by Joe Frauenheim and Phil
Bononcini who also own the UL-72
Impact Equipment Racing Team.
We're told it's just a
coincidence that Pile
Contracting has a job near
Chuck's Seafood Grotto, but
we wonder if it's just another
means of keeping an eye on the
competition?
Seriously, the most competitive
run for the ULHRA Championship
concludes this weekend in Port
Angeles WA at the third annual
Victoria Express Strait Thunder
Regatta. Currently, Greg Hopp
in the UL-1 leads Michael
Flaherty in the UL-72 by 350
points. A total of 1640 points
can be earned this weekend,
meaning for the third straight
year the ULHRA Championship will
be decided in Port Angeles.
Racing will be held on Saturday
and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd on
the stadium-like Bay of Port
Angeles race course.
Champions are crowned at Port Angeles WA
For the
third consecutive year, the
Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing
Association (ULHRA) Championship
will be decided at this
northwest Washington State coastal
city. Port Angeles WA is the site
of the third annual Victoria Express
Strait Thunder, named for the
waterway Strait of Juan De Fuca that
separates Washington State with
Vancouver Island, BC.
This
year the race for the title is the
closest in many years going into the
final event. Greg Hopp and the UL-1
Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky
leads Michael Flaherty in the UL-72
Miss Boat Electric by 350 points.
With each boat scheduled to run 4
points paying heats in Port Angeles,
plus qualifying, there are 1640
points available if either driver
"runs the table" by qualifying
number 1 and winning all 4 heats.
Each heat victory is worth 400
points. Two preliminary heats will
be conducted on Saturday and a third
preliminary heat will be held on
Sunday, plus the Final Heat on
Sunday afternoon. In addition,
points representing 10% of those
available in heat races are awarded
in qualifying for the top 8 teams.
Thus, the number 1 qualifier gets 40
ULHRA National Points, #2 gets
30 points, number 3 gets 23 points,
number 4 gets 17, followed by 13 for
fifth, 10 for sixth, 7 for seventh
and 5 points for 8th fastest
qualifier. These points are part of
the national championship tally but
have no impact on scoring of an
individual race event.
Flaherty's team went into the San
Diego race (Sept 16-18) trailing by
319 points. In qualifying they had
a golden opportunity as Hopp's boat
was unable to reach the top 8 in
speed due to mechanical problems.
Unfortunately for Flaherty, the same
happened to his team so heading into
the preliminary heat races the gap
was still 319 points. That gap was
nearly eliminated as Flaherty took
second place and 300 points in his
first heat, while Hopp failed to
finish. But in the end, Greg Hopp
was able to reach the Final by way
of the "B-Main" and garnered his
first ever San Diego victory while
Flaherty wound up 4th, putting the
points gap at 350.
Qualifying will take place Saturday
morning on the stadium-like Bay of
Port Angeles 1 1/4 mile race
course. Whichever team scores the
2005 Title, that driver will also be
the driving champion for 2005. For
the past couple of seasons, Hopp
Racing took the team title, but
because father & son Jerry & Greg
Hopp shared the driving duties the
driving title went to Phil Bononcini
in 2003 and George Woods in 2004,
both driving the UL-72 that's now
helmed by Flaherty. This year
following twin knee replacement
surgery in the spring, Jerry Hopp
elected not to race any of the
"points heats" so Greg is in line
for his first ever Driver's
Championship.
Kevin
Aylesworth and his UL-5 Freedom
Racing team will probably finish 4th
for the 3rd consecutive season.
Nothing wrong with 4th, of course,
but Aylesworth was trying hard to
secure third place. He qualified
2nd, picking up 30 points but in his
effort to win his hometown
race, disaster struck. The UL-5
suffered a "blow-over" accident
while challenging for the lead in
the B-Main. Aylesworth was
hospitalized and at one time was
listed as critical, but survived the
accident and is now at home
recuperating. He's expected to make
a full recovery but it could take
anywhere from 6 to 12 months
according to his doctors. So what
was an even closer points battle
than the race for first, will likely
see Vince Xaudaro and the UL-929
Conover Insurance take 3rd for the
second straight season.
In the
previous paragraph, the words
"probably" and "likely" were used,
for good reason. Mathematically, it
is possible for the UL-40 Miss Red
Dot Corporation and driver Harold
Mills to improve a spot or two.
Mills and the "Fabulous Forty" from
Thunder Valley Racing are having
their best ever Unlimited Lights
season. Just by finishing heats at
Port Angeles, Mills will vault past
Aylesworth for 4th place in the
driver's standings, because
Aylesworth had his backup driver,
key team member, and brother in law
Jon Church race the UL-5 at
Silverdale WA last month. So those
points went to Jon, not Kevin in the
driver's standings. On the team
side, the UL-40 would need a strong
Port Angeles weekend to advance, but
it is possible. The team qualified
#3 in San Diego and won heat 1A.
They trail the UL-5 by 1,219 points,
and are 1,258 points behind
Xaudaro's UL-929.
For the
"X-Man" Vince Xaudaro, it's been
quite a year.........not just
season. In the off-season he and
Scott Raney of the U-8 team greatly
modified the UL-929 hull. They did
more than just paint the red, black
and white boat to what is now known
as "all black, all the time". They
also added 2 feet in length, 1 foot
in width, installed new, larger
tails and the largest non
supercharged engine allowed in
Unlimited Lights competition: 509
cubic inches. Xaudaro won his first
ever UL race this year at Evansville
IN at the end of June, and looks for
his second victory this weekend in
Port Angeles.
One of
the great stories of the 2005 season
may also have quite an ending. As
you've read here previously, after a
traffic accident knocked out the
UL-18 Jackie's Purple Thunder
hydroplane for the year starting
with the Seattle race, Ron Doumont
from Windermere B.C. provided his
UL-117 hull and Joe Turner provided
the drive train, and the two have
had a successful collaboration.
Because the 3 boats ahead of the
Turner-Doumont UL-18 team in the
standings are not expected to
compete at Port Angeles, Joe Turner
could be in for his best ever finish
in the Unlimited Lights racing; a
potential 6th place, up from a 13
place finish in 2004. Prior to last
year, in 2 years of effort Turner
managed one 7th place qualifying run
for 7 ULHRA points in 2002, and not
one heat finish. The progress this
team has made the past 2 seasons has
been remarkable.
9
Unlimited Lights are set for the
third annual Victoria Express Strait
Thunder. They include...........
UL-1
Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go
Lucky Driver, Greg Hopp -
Snohomish WA
UL-6
BCS
Enterprises
Driver, Kerry Beynon - Grapeview WA
UL-18
Pacific Rim Brewing Co.-Escapeius
Maximus Driver, Joe Turner -
Grapeview WA
UL-40 Miss Red Dot
Corporation Driver,
Harold Mills - Seattle WA
UL-58
Union Dooz
Driver, Bob Smets - Aurora OR
UL-72
Miss Boat
Electric
Driver, Michael Flaherty - Auburn WA
UL-136 La Cucaracha
IV
Driver, Wil Muncey - Monroe WA
UL-559 7 Cedars
Casino
Driver, Joe Souza - Lakewood WA
UL-929
Conover
Insurance
Driver, Vince Xaudaro - Bellevue WA
John
Lynch
"Voice"
of the Unlimited Lights
Strait
Thunder 2005 will mark at least a
temporary end of ULHRA competition
for colorful owner-driver Pingree
Conflitti of Detroit MI. Conflitti
joined the series in 2002 by
purchasing a UL team from Olympia's
Rick Bridgeman. He promptly won his
first full race of competition that
year at Valleyfield, Quebec. In
2004 Conflitti, inspired by the
effort of fellow ULHRA members to
produce the Evansville race on 2 1/2
weeks notice, promptly went out and
bought a 2nd race team the day after
the Evansville race, and had both
teams in Valleyfield the following
weekend. Now, however, due to
health issues within his family, Conflitti
has elected to put both race teams
up for sale click
for UL-58
click for UL-559 and
enter them one last time at the
third annual Victoria Express Strait
Thunder in Port Angeles WA. The
UL-58 Union Dooz, which won at
Valleyfield in 2002, and the UL-559
Outlaw which scored a heat victory
last June in Evansville, will be
driven by northwest drivers as
Conflitti is recovering from hand
surgery. He's bringing the boats
here for two reasons: To enter them
one last time as team owner, and to
hopefully attract buyers. Those
interested in entering Unlimited
Lights competition have two
excellent opportunities to view at
Port Angeles this weekend, and
Conflitti is ready to make immediate
sales.
Bob
Smets of Aurora OR, who competed in
the Lighter than LIGHTS series this
year prior to selling his NM225
"Wild Turkey" will debut in UL
competition driving Conflitti's
UL-58 Union Dooz. Lakewood
Washington's Joe Souza will be
behind the wheel of the UL-559
Outlaw. Souza, known as "Smokin
Joe", is a former Unlimited Lights
competitor from the mid 90's,
returning to the series this weekend
as a prelude to full time
competition with his own S&S
Motorsports UL-106 in 2006.
Conflitti is entertaining offers
this weekend, and certainly could
return to Detroit without either
team. Interested parties can
contact the owner at Strait Thunder
on Saturday & Sunday. Both programs
are being offered as "turnkey" race
teams, with all elements needed to
begin UL racing included.
There
will be one other "long distance"
team entered at Port Angeles this
weekend. Following a successful
first time collaboration at San
Diego this month, the UL-136 La
Cucaracha IV from San Diego CA will
be entered at Strait Thunder with
driver Wil Muncey. Yes, he's the
son of the legendary Bill Muncey,
career wins leader in Unlimited
Hydroplane racing. Wil Muncey, of
Monroe WA, returned to racing 3
years ago after a decade long hiatus
to raise his family. He and his
wife Debi campaign the E-83 Wyatt's
Diamond Jewelers presents Elaine's
American Maid 8 cylinder stock
hydroplane in ULHRA's "Lighter than
LIGHTS" series. This year, Muncey
leads the field and is trying for
his first ever 8 cylinder stock
title. Crew Chief and stepson Chris
Drewees will be busy prepping the
E-83 for the title run at Port
Angeles, and also assisting Crew
Chief John Barrett with the UL-136.
In San Diego, Muncey showed he
shares more than just his father's
name. In Heat 2B, driving the
undersized and underpowered La
Cucaracha IV, Muncey drove his way
to an impressive 2nd place finish
and wound up as the alternate for
the Final Heat in his first time
ever competing in the Unlimited
Lights series. It was also the
first time in 20 years that Muncey
had raced in San Diego. He and Debi
campaigned their own Unlimited team
in the mid 80's.
John
Lynch
"Voice"
of the Unlimited Lights
Gold Cup Video at San Diego
The owner-driver of the UL-5 Sycuan
Resort & Casino Unlimited Light
Hydroplane is home from the hospital and
beginning his recovery. 37 year old
Kevin Aylesworth of Santee CA was
injured severely by ingesting a huge
amount of salt water, while escaping his
flipped hydroplane on Mission Bay at the
San Diego Thunderboat Regatta. The
accident occured on lap 1 of the
"B-Main" as Aylesworth was racing
alongside Greg Hopp in a battle for the
lead. A wind gust from the side
appeared to throw the UL-5 out of
control.
According to his sister Julie Church, "Kevin
had a good day today, however is amazed of
how much effort it is to even take a
breath. The doctor has ordered 3-4
weeks bed rest and 6-12 months for a
full recovery. They also said that
Kevin being in terrific shape most
definitely saved his life. His lungs
have been severely damaged and it's just
going to take some time. Kevin said for
now, his biggest goal is just to make it
up the stairs in his house and he is
enjoying watching the sun rise in the
morning."
Mrs. Church
says there was a press conference at
Aylesworth's home last night (Thurs
9-22) with 6 southern California TV
crews on hand to interview him.
John Lynch
P.R.
Director, ULHRA Inc.
Kevin Aylesworth update - Thursday 9-22-05 According to Crew Chief Kevin Braun of Freedom Racing Team, owner-driver Kevin Aylesworth has been released from the hospital and has returned home to recuperate following last Sunday's flip in the B-Main at the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta. Further information will be released when available. Kevin Aylesworth: ""boy am I glad to be here!".
Story: Kevin
Aylesworth, owner-driver of the UL-5 Sycuan
Resort & Casino Unlimited Light spoke those
words on Wednesday 9-21. According to his
sister, Julie Church, the 37 year old racer
from Santee CA was able to smile as he was
taken off life support and breathing on his
own. A ventilator had been assisting
Aylesworth's breathing since he was admitted
to UCSD Medical Center after the accident
last Sunday in the "B-Main" of the Unlimited
Lights race at the San Diego Thunderboat
Regatta on Mission Bay. His boat flipped
while entering turn two as he was racing
alongside Greg Hopp. A gust of cross wind
appeared to send the boat out of control.
Mrs. Church
added "The
power of prayer has really paid off. Kevin
understands that his work here is not done
and he is very lucky to be alive. He also
knows that this road to recovery will not be
a short one. His lungs suffered severe
damage from ingesting a great deal of salt
water and he has a lot of work to do in
order to get well. Kevin wants you to know
how much he appreciates all of your concerns
and well wishes".
Aylesworth will remain in the hospital another day or two. Information is available on the team website www.freedomracingteam.com According to Mrs. Church, Kevin will issue a press release to all of his young fans by the end of this week.
John Lynch
P.R. Director,
ULHRA, Inc.
Aylesworth improving; remains hospitalized
Kevin Aylesworth,
owner driver of the UL-5 Sycuan Resort & Casino,
remains in Intensive Care at the UCSD Medical
Center in San Diego CA. Aylesworth was injured
when his boat flipped while racing for the lead
in the B-Main at the San Diego Thunderboat
Regatta on Sunday 9-18. According to his sister
Julie Church, "His condition is
improving every hour. His body is fighting an
infection from all the salt water he inhaled.
The nurses encouraged him to take some breaths
on his own with the ventilators assistance. He
did struggle a bit and was pretty worn out after
a few hours. Last night they let the machine
breath for him so he could rest comfortably and
let his body heal.
Mrs. Church went on
to say, "He is very aware of
everything that happened during the accident and
was glad to hear that he was all in one
piece. He is fighting with everything he has and
was trying to communicate that he is O.K. and
wants all of you to know that. For more
details, video and updates, please visit our
site at
www.freedomracingteam.com
John Lynch
P.R. Director,
ULHRA, Inc.
Hopp wins San Diego Aylesworth was able to extricate himself from the cockpit of the upside down race craft, but ingested a large amount of salt water. Rescue personnel were on the scene within 30 seconds of the accident.
John Lynch
Aylesworth transported
to hospital after accident
Hopp wins Heat 2B, but
must run the B-Main
Harold Mills and Paul
Droullard capture First Heats at San Diego
Qualifying complete at
San Diego
Fourth Qualifying Session at San Diego
Third Qualifying Session at San Diego
Second Qualifying Session at San Diego
First Qualifying Session at San Diego
UL Schedule at San Diego Friday, September 16, 2005 10:00-11:00 Unlimited Light Hydroplanes Qualifying 1 2/3 Course 12:30-1:30 Unlimited Light Hydroplanes Qualifying 1 2/3 Course 3:30-4:30 Unlimited Light Hydroplanes Qualifying 1 2/3 Course Saturday, September 17, 2005 9:45-10:30 Unlimited Light Hydroplanes Testing/Qualifying 1 2/3 Course 12:30-1:00 Unlimited Light Driver Autograph Session Ski Beach 2:20-2:25 Unlimited Lights Heat “1A” 1 2/3 Mile Course 2:40- 2:45 Unlimited Lights Heat “1B” 1 2/3 Mile Course 4:05-4:10 Unlimited Light Heat “2A” 1 2/3 Mile Course 4:25-4:30 Unlimited Light Heat “2B” 1 2/3 Mile Course Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:45-10:30 Unlimited Light Hydroplane Testing 1 2/3 Course 1:20-1:25 Unlimited Light “B” Main 1 2/3 Course 4:10-4:20 Unlimited Light Final 1 2/3 Course Muncey returns to the Bill Muncey Race Course  Wil Muncey, son of
racing legend Bill Muncey, returns to Mission Bay
this weekend at the wheel of the UL-136
LaCucaracha IV,
owned by San Diego's Pat Roach. Muncey will
be making his debut in Unlimited Lights competition
but has been involved in hydroplane racing for much
of his life. For the past 3 seasons the 52
year old Monroe,
Washington resident has been competing in limited
hydroplanes in the Pacific NW and currently leads
the 8 cylinder stock hydroplane class in the
Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association's "Lighter
than LIGHTS"
series.
Muncey is no stranger to
this race. He competed at
San Diego in the mid 80's as a driver,
and formed his
own Unlimited
team with is wife Debi Muncey in 1983. In
fact, the Munceys
were married on the Unlimited Hydroplane
circuit just outside of Madison IN.
Photo by Alyce Dreewes
Born February 4,
1953 in Greenwich, CT, his real name is William E.
Muncey. To give him a separate identity from his
father, Bill Muncey, his mother settled on the
nickname Wil, spelling it with only one “L”. Wil
lived in Straubing, Germany and Detroit, Michigan
before settling on Mercer Island, WA at age 4. Wil
drove in his first motorsport event at 5 years. It
was an open-wheel open-cockpit quarter midget race
car, given to Wil by his father for a Christmas
gift. He raced a small outboard powered boat at age
eight.
Wil crewed on his first Unlimited Hydroplane team, the Miss U.S., at age 12, and crewed on several other teams over the next ten years. Over the years Wil has raced D-Class runabout, crackerbox inboard, OPC tunnel, 5 litre inboard hydro, 280 class inboard hydro and unlimited hydroplanes. He drove his first Unlimited hydroplane, the Kawaguchi Travel Service, in 1982 at age 29 at Seattle, Tri-Cities and San Diego.
Wil Muncey founded
Boatracing Magazine in
1980 and published it for ten years. He and Debi
also promoted a series of races in the
Pacific Northwest, prior to taking a self
imposed 10 year hiatus from the sport
to concentrate on raising their family.
John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited
Lights
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, MADISON comes to DVD September 13th!
The DVD is available at the Hydroplane and Raceboat
Museum.
http://www.thunderboats.org/
Chuck's Seafood Grotto to
sponsor UL-1 at Port Angeles
Hopp Racing would like to welcome a new sponsor for
the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade/Happy Go Lucky. They
will be on board for the Port Angeles race.
 Chuck's
Seafood Grotto & A Fresh Seafood BarLocated at the north end of the Snohomish river bridge on 1st street in Historic Downtown Snohomish. They have a full selection of fresh shellfish and seafood. A quote from the Seattle Seafair Pirates "The best seafood, this side of the Columbia River"
This is a great opportunity to see them up close and meet the teams. Don't miss out! Port Angeles is the season finale, they will be Walking on the Wild Side. Get your registration in today!
Strait Thunder meets Street Thunder
Check it out: www.StraitThunder.com www.ULHRA.com SEE THEM AT: STREET THUNDER
Destination Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Downtown Harley-Davidson
Eastside Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Skagit Harley-Davidson
Northwest Harley-Davidson Thanks,
Lewis PS. Please download the registration form. Street Thunder Registration Form Here are some pictures from our display at the Harvey Airfield Corn Roast Fly-In. Had a good time and ate a lot of fresh corn
UL-5 Freedom Racing Team will compete as "Sycuan Resort & Casino" in San Diego Click here for updates from August, 2005
Questions, comments? E-mail
the site's
webmaster. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
