Gold Cup Video on Saturday at quicksilver
 

Mike's Hard Lemonade/Miss Graham Trucking at 2006 Harvey Corn Roast by Jim Wilmot

LtLs at Silverdale by Mark Sharley

Mike's Hard Lemonade/Miss Graham Trucking on display at 2006 Harvey Corn Roast and Fly-in. The free corn roast will be from noon until 4PM Saturday 8/26. www.harveyfield.com/cornroast/cornroast.htm 

2006 Harvey Corn Roast and Fly-in

Harvey Field Announces an Aviation Open House to celebrate the 54th Annual Corn Roast and Fly-In scheduled for Saturday, August 26, 2006 from 12 Noon until 4PM at Harvey Field in Snohomish. The Corn Roast and Fly-In is Sponsored by Snohomish Flying Service, Skydive Snohomish and the Harvey Field Chapter of the Washington Pilot's Association. Skydive Snohomish will kick off this fun-filled day of aviation activity with a daring demonstration skydive above the airport drop zone at 12 noon.

Fresh-picked, hot, buttered Snohomish Valley Sweet Corn will be served all day long with a variety of other mouth-watering food choices including seafood, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, strawberry shortcake and kettle corn.

Don't miss the helicopter and biplane rides offered throughout the day. For those wishing to experience the ultimate freedom, Skydive Snohomish will offer walk-in Tandem Skydives, and Snohomish Flying Service will offer walk-in Introductory Flight Lessons for the day. Come out to watch the Spot Landing and Flour Bombing contests for airplanes, ultralights, and helicopters beginning at 11:30am with an awards ceremony-taking place at 3:00 pm.

Airplane, balloon, and ultralight static displays will be set up on the main ramp and the Snohomish Firefighters will be back again this year with their entertaining "Dunk Tank" fundraiser. Activities for children include the Balsa Paper Airplane Flying Contest, Candy Hay Toss, face painting, and a Bouncy House.

So gather the family together for a special day of aviation excitement, great food, and family fun! For more information contact the Harvey Field airport office at 360-568-1541.

For more information contact Heather Harvey-Waldow or Christi Otness at 360-568-1541 or visit the web at www.harveyfield.com.

Mark Sharley at Silverdale
 

GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team wins quicksilver

‘Gecko’ powered hull grabs share of series points lead
 
BELFAIR, Wash. – It was a case of déjà vu for Belfair’s GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team at the 2006 quicksilver race in picturesque Dyes Inlet in Silverdale on Sunday. It wasn’t because Bud McKay won for the second consecutive time in the Lighter Than Lights 8-Cylindar Stock class of the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association.

For the second consecutive race, McKay, missed a buoy on the course that cost him 400-first-place points, but more importantly, he lost 400 valuable series points.

“I’d really love to do Saturday’s first heat all over,” McKay said. “Those points would have put our team in first place, by ourselves, in the series points lead. With only one more race in the series in Port Angeles, I needed to get the team every point we can.”
GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team shares the series lead with SeaTac’s Jon Zimmerman in his “Chop Chop” hull with 1,600 points.

Race referee Dick Lynch notified McKay Sunday morning that he was disqualified for running outside the course markers of a very tight second turn on Saturday – right in front of the large gathering of fans – and officials.
“I didn’t have much of an excuse,” McKay said. “The larger and much faster Unlimited Lights all made that turn with no problems – I should have been able to make it; I just didn’t; and it ended up costing my team points we needed. But I did give the fans a very close look at our flying ‘Gecko.’”

With the other 8-Cylindar Stock boats on the beach after suffering damage, that left McKay as the sole racer for the class on Sunday. Pat Malara, Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association general manager and Lynch both agreed to let McKay run on Sunday with the 4-Cylindar Stock hydroplanes. McKay was not competing with the class, but simply allowed to run at the same time. Lynch had McKay start 10 seconds behind the field of the 4-cylindar boats and told to stay to the outside of the boats at all times.

“I want to thank the ULHRA and all of the 4-cylindar teams for letting me go out there with them – that was huge,” McKay said. “If just one of them said no, I’m on the beach with no points for the weekend. Robby Dahlquist and Kayleigh Perkins were putting on a great show up front. Joe Gutierrez and Eric Christensen were going at it trying to chase down the leaders. It was a blast being out there with them.

“It was a blast just being a part of quicksilver.”

During the break in the action on Sunday, the ULHRA opened the pits to allow fans into see the boats and drivers up close. This is a time the GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team lets the children sit in the cockpit of their hydroplane. Kevin “The Busman,” from Q-Country 102.9, was also in the GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team’s pit on Sunday to meet with fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures as well.

“I’m already excited about quicksilver 2007,” McKay said. “With the Great Western Sports/Back the Track folks stepping up to make this race possible, and Wicked Home Entertainment sponsoring our class, it was another great event. I would not be surprised if the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce doesn’t pull off another ‘Best race site in the ULHRA’ for a second, consecutive year.”

The yellow boat won.  Surprise! not THAT yellow boat;

BOATTRADER.COM presents quicksilver at Silverdale, Washington
Report #3
(Silverdale WA)

The Final Heat Lineup is set, and it’s a mixed set of expected teams and surprises.

Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike’s Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky has 3 victories and the number 1 qualifying spot in the former “American Eagle” hull. Michael Flaherty has a first place and 2 seconds in the Miss Boat Electric presented by Powerboats NW. Both were seeded into the Final from the preliminary heats, along with the UL-6 JesField Construction presents Gresham Pump and Well Drilling driven by Al Carstensen. The pleasant surprise is the UL-2 Red Hot from Reading PA. Mike Webster qualified on points for the Final.

Out of the B-Main, another pleasant surprise. Rookie Ryan Mallow of Tacoma WA won the start and won the B-Main in the UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Healthy Energy Drink Mix. Mallow defeated Brian Perkins in the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation and Paul Becker in the UL-14 James Robinson Construction presents Miss Critical Logic. Fourth place went to Mark Echols in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking.

After the B-Main hull damage was discovered on the UL-14 caused when the boat fell into a hole in the water during the B-Main and the Miss Critical Logic has been declared out of action by ULHRA Inspector Bill Thompson. That moves the Miss Graham Trucking into the seven boat Final.

The lineup with points for the weekend.

UL-1 Greg Hopp 1200
UL-2 Mike Webster 750
UL-6 Al Carstensen 869
UL-19 Ryan Mallow 225 1st B-Main
UL-33 Mark Echols 169 4th B-Main
UL-40 Brian Perkins 569 2nd B-Main
UL-72 Michael Flaherty 1000

3rd Place B-Main UL-14 withdrawn due to hull damage.

John Lynch
“Voice” of the Unlimited Lights

The UL Final Heat can be seen here at approximately 6:10pm Pacific Daylight Time.

BOATTRADER.COM presents quicksilver at Silverdale, Washington
Report #2
Sunday, August 20, 2006
(Silverdale WA)

No doubt it was a tough day at the office. The racing office for Unlimited Lights and Lighter than Lights teams, that is. Silverdale WA and the Dyes Inlet race course proved very demanding on Saturday. The 14 boat field of Unlimited Lights has been reduced to 9, plus one of three 8 cylinder stock hydroplanes has been scratched for the weekend. Along the way what may well have been the most exciting finish ever in Unlimited Lights racing took place. All in all a very eventful day one of the Boat Trader.com quicksilver Regatta.

As expected the day began slowly due to tides. The teams were unable to get on the water till almost 2pm for qualifying. At the conclusion, Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky (the ex UL-9 hull) led the way with a speed of better than 105 mph on the 1 1/4 mile course. Second was Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric at better than 98 mph. That earned Hopp 40 points to Flaherty's 30 and pushed Hopp's national championship points lead to 204.

One incident in qualifying found Wil Muncey's UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch spinning out and taking on water. Repairs were made just in time for the team to enter Heat 1A as the one minute gun approached, but the boat spun out again before the start and Muncey was done for that heat. In fact the boat took on more water leading to the heat being stopped early. As a result, Greg Hopp picked up the win after completing 2.5 miles of the 5 mile distance with Vince Xaudaro in second and Mike Webster in third, plus Rod Bourke in 4th. However it was a costly heat. Both Xaudaro's UL-929 and Bourke's UL-62 sustained damage that has knocked them out of the race. Steering issues will be corrected by Bourke's team following a cable failure. More serious bottom failure on the UL-929 will have Xaudaro Racing very busy prior to the San Diego race in 4 weeks.

In Heat 1B, Michael Flaherty took the victory over Al Carstensen in the UL-6 JesField Construction presents Gresham Pump & Well Drilling, with Paul Becker in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic in third and Brian Perkins in the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation in fourth. Joe Turner in the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co, plus J. Craig Fletcher in the UL-13 Celtic Racing did not start and Ryan Mallow in the UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Healthy Energy Drink Mix did not finish. Mallow's boat coasted to a stop in the 2nd turn on lap 2 with the same malady experienced 2 weeks ago in Seattle; a failed supercharger belt. However this happened after the most impressive run........albeit briefly.......this Five Stars Racing Team entry has made yet. Mallow had gotten around Brian Perkins with a great run down the backstretch and was in the process of overhauling Becker when the belt went flying.

In the second round all eyes were directed toward Heat 2B where Hopp and Flaherty would be matched. But it was Heat 2A that will be remembered for years to come. It started off inauspiciously as J. Craig Fletcher was forced to return to the pits prior to the start in the UL-13. But then..............

Mike Webster in lane 4 in the UL-2 Red Hot grabbed the lead at the start. Paul Becker was on the inside, he and Webster entered the backstretch dead even, with Mark Echols in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking in third and Al Carstensen, bogged down by rough first turn water, dropped to 4th in the UL-6. Becker grabbed the lead from Webster who stayed close till the end in another improving performance by the Webster Family Racing Team. Meanwhile Echols ride came to a halt, putting Carstensen in third. Al, from nearby Belfair, was going to settle for 3rd. By the end of lap 3 he'd overhauled Webster for 2nd and took off after Becker. Down the backstretch Carstensen went for lane one, trying to squeeze inside Becker, and succeeded. As they hit the exit pin the UL-14 and UL-6 were side by side. Becker's boat accelerated better and pulled to a boat and half lead but Carstensen stayed strong and in the last 100 feet eked out an 18 inch victory...........possibly the closest finish ever in Unlimted Lights racing. It took a review of the finish line video to officially determine the outcome of this photo finish. The sizeable crowd was on their feet for that thrilling last lap and gave both drivers a tremendous ovation. Webster wound up third.

In Heat 2B, it was almost anticlimactic. Greg Hopp won the start and led through turn 1. At the exit pin Michael Flaherty, running inside of Hopp, ran afoul of Hopp's roostertail. No call was made and Flaherty was able to continue and finished second, well behind Hopp. Third place went to Wil Muncey after Brian Perkins in the UL-40 was unable to finish.

After the first day, Hopp leads Flaherty and Carstensen with 800 points to each of his closest pursuers with 700 points. Heats 3A and 3B will be conducted early on Sunday afternoon Pacific time due to the tides in Dyes Inlet this weekend with the Final Heat expected around 5pm.

Live coverage will be available through video webstreaming on this website. Check the home page frequently on Sunday for updates on racing times.

John Lynch
P.R. Director. ULHRA, Inc.

Report #1 Silverdale quicksilver.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

 

(Silverdale WA)

 

ULHRA officials told the committee that produced the first quicksilver that the 7 boat field in 2005 would be exceeded in 2006.  However when that statement was made a year ago, no one envisioned what's happened this weekend.  The fleet has doubled!  Fourteen Unlimited Light Hydroplanes are set to compete for the 2nd annual Boat Trader.com quicksilver Regatta (yes, lower case "q" is correct) on picturesque Dyes Inlet at Silverdale WA, across Puget Sound from Seattle.

 

The 14 teams include the top two in the series.  The UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky is driven by the winningest racer in Unlimited Lights' history.  Greg Hopp has thirteen victories in his UL career, one more than retired drivers Bo Schide and Phil Bononcini.  Hopp leads Michael Flaherty and the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric by 194 points.  1,640 points are possible with a perfect weekend, meaning 4 heat victories and the #1 qualifying spot.  Plus, two races remain after this weekend so the championship battle is wide open. 

 

Hopp will be driving the former UL-9 American Eagle, acquired by Hopp Racing and Bob Schellhase last winter.  However, this hull is still seeking its first victory.  Former owner Paul Droullard set the Unlimited Lights qualifying speed record 2 years ago at San Diego at 122.324 mph.  Droullard also had a career best 2nd place finish at San Diego in 2005.  So far this year, when Hopp has driven the ex Droullard hull, he's wound up fourth and third at Issaquah & Seattle.  When driving the original Mike's hull this season, Hopp has a 2nd and two firsts.

 

Finishing the 3 race "Western Swing" for the first time is Reading PA's Webster Family racing team with the UL-2 Red Hot driven by Mike Webster.  The team continues to upgrade their race craft, working on improving the balance of this former champion 7 liter hull.  They just may find the 1 1/4 mile quicksilver course to their liking.

 

UL-62 IRS Environmental presents Benz Electric and owner-driver Rod Bourke returns after sustaining engine and hull damage at Tri Cities.  Bourke missed the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair but has successfully made repairs for this weekend.  This hull began showing impressive speeds on this race course last year in the ULHRA's Lighter than LIGHTS Modified division. 

 

Another returnee is Joe Turner, who's team sustained significant hull damage at Seafair just two weeks ago, but made repairs and are ready to run the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co at the site of the team's career best finish:  4th place at quicksilver 2005. 

 

UL-33 owner-driver Bob Estes and his Miss Graham Trucking entry is looking to rebound from a disappointing Seattle race two weeks ago.  Due to a penalty called in the B-Main, Estes missed the UL Final by a single placing.  Luck of the draw sometimes plays a part as UL-4 driver Bryan Richards benefited from other teams failing to start or finish and finished 2nd in a preliminary heat, putting him into the Final, a mere 19 points ahead of Estes........otherwise Estes would've been in the Final instead of the B-Main.

 

BCS Enterprises Racing is having their best season in their third UL campaign.  Driver Al Carstensen drove to second place at Seattle which was a team and driver career best in ULHRA competition.  Now on their "home track" the team hopes to move up the final rung to the quicksilver title in the JesField Construction presents Gresham Pump & Well Drilling UL-6. 

 

The quicksilver entry list includes...........

 

UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade - Happy Go Lucky.               Greg Hopp

UL-2 Red Hot                                                                     Mike Webster

UL-4 Miss Peninsula Subaru/Suzuki                                     Bryan Richards

UL-6 JefField Construction /Gresham Pump & Well Drilling Al Carstensen

UL-13 Celtic Racing                                                            J. Craig Fletcher

UL-14 Miss Critical Logic                                                    Paul Becker

UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co.                                           Joe Turner

UL-19 Mz Zip Fizz Healthy Energy Mix                               Ryan Mallow

UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking                                              Bob Estes

UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation                                        Brian Perkins

UL-62 IRS Environmental presents Benz Electric                  Rod Bourke

UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric            Michael Flaherty

UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch                    Wil Muncey

UL-929 Xaudaro Racing                                                      Vince Xaudaro

 

The Unlimited Lights will be joined by up to 10 teams in the Lighter than LIGHTS series' 4 cylinder stock and 8 cylinder stock categories.  Racing will commence each day around 12:30pm Pacific time due to low tides in the morning hours.  Racing will conclude around 6:30pm each day.

 

Live coverage is available right here.  Check the home page of this website for times of live video webstreaming updates. 

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

E-83 display helps fight leukemia

For some unexplained reason, and what has been described as a freak coincidence, there seems to be a high incidence of leukemia in Monroe, Washington. Children of three police officers have been diagnosed with the disease and are battling it in various stages. Very often for a leukemia patient, a bone marrow transplant may be their only chance for survival.  These patients' lives may depend on finding an unrelated individual with a compatible tissue type - who is willing to donate marrow. Jim Keppler of Wyatts Diamond Jewelers asked the Munceys to bring one of their hydroplanes and park it at the Monroe Police Station to help draw attention locally. The boat was used to help draw people in to give blood samples in order to find compatible bone marrow donors. Shown here are officers and staff of the Monroe Police Department in front of the E-83 Wyatts Diamond Jewelers presents Elaine's American Maid. Elaine's American Maid provides free housekeeping services to families battling cancer.

Seafair Awards by Gold Cup Video
 

David Warren G-329	Ken Brodi II G-555	Dick Lynch G-13	Jerry Hopp first place G-15	Joe Malich from Powerboats NW	Mike Webster takes the Wyatts Watch Award for best start
Bill Strain UL-56	Joe Turner UL-18	Mike Sadlon UL-89	J.Craig Fletcher UL-13	Bob Estes UL-33	Bryan Richards UL-4
Wil Muncey seventh place UL-83	Seafair Officials Eric Corning and Beth Knox	Mike Webster sixth place UL-2	Paul Becker fifth place UL-14	Vince Xaudaro fourth place UL-929	Greg Hopp third place UL-1

Bob Schellhase of the UL-1	Al Carstensen second place UL-6	Michael Flaherty first place UL-72	The entire UL-72 team	All the UL Drivers and G-Boat drivers

Gold Cup Video at Seafair on Sunday

Boat Trader.com quicksilver Regatta preview. Race # 4 in the Powerboats NW West Coast Series.

Tradition has been, over the past 4 seasons, Greg Hopp and Hopp Racing battling the Impact Racing Team for the Unlimited Lights Championship. In 2006, the tradition continues and the competition is tighter than ever before at the 6th race of the 8 race season. In 2002 Phil Bononcini won his 3rd straight title for Impact Racing and won a 4th driver's title in 2003 before retiring. Bononcini remains a co-owner of Impact Racing. George Woods took over behind the wheel for Impact Racing in 2004 and won the driver's title. Then in 2005 after Jerry Hopp took the year off from driving, Greg Hopp won his first driver's title and the third straight Team title for Hopp Racing, edging Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 by 83 points in a competition that wasn't settled till the final heat of the year.

Today, Greg Hopp from Snohomish WA in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky holds a 194 point advantage over Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric. When you realize that a single 3rd place heat finish is worth 225 points, this is a very slim gap with 1640 points possible this weekend at the Boat Trader.com quicksilver Regatta which is the 4th race in the Powerboats NW West Coast Series for Unlimited Light Hydroplanes.

Winning the championship is all about consistency. Flaherty, from Auburn WA, had just that in the beginning of the year, winning at Valleyfield, Quebec and winning overall 7 of 12 heats entered without a Did Not Finish in the first 3 races. That consistency took a hit the past two races, although Flaherty did step up for victory at the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair on August 6th.

The 1 1/4 mile course on Dyes Inlet at Silverdale WA is quick due to the salt water and good protection against wind. However 4 laps on any race course can create difficult racing conditions toward the end of any heat and there are plenty of capable teams ready to pounce should the leading contenders falter.

Third place in the standings, having their best season ever in Unlimited Lights competition, is the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic. Driven by Bellevue WA based airline pilot Paul Becker, with the series youngest crew and nearly the oldest boat, it's been a remarkable campaign so far. Included is the fastest lap this craft has ever turned: 113 + mph at Tri Cities on a 1 2/3's mile course. The hull was built by the renowned Ron Jones Sr. back in 1974.

Fourth in points and looking for a breakout race is the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking of Bob and Janet Estes of Shelton WA. Estes, a UL rookie in 2006,just missed the Final at Seafair, but so did the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation with driver Brian Perkins of Black Diamond WA. Those two teams are separated by only 33 points in the battle for 4th place. Perkins does have a victory this season, at the season opener at Issaquah. However the team had problems in Seattle with only 1 heat finish. Also in the hunt for 4th place is the "all black, all the time" UL-929 Security Race Products of Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro.....a mere 307 points behind the 4th place Estes.

The home town contingent has two strong players this season. Unable to race last year due to mechanical woes, the UL-6 Port Orchard Signs presents MAACO of Bremerton driven by Al Carstensen had a career best run at Seafair. The team took second place and made a big jump in the points standings. Currently the BCS Racing Enterprises team holds 7th place, 990 points behind Estes in 4th. BCS is home ported at Mason Lake WA.

The other local entrant is a bit of a surprise, only because of significant damage sustained at Seafair. However, Grapeview's Joe Turner and the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co. have made repairs and will be ready for quicksilver where they took a career best 4th place last year.

Some of the smaller craft in the UL fleet ought to find the Dyes Inlet course much more to their liking than Seattle. Look for solid runs from Reading PA's Mike Webster in the UL-2 Red Hot and Wil Muncey in the UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch, sponsored by the lubrication company headquartered in Bremerton. Both teams reached the Final at Seattle.

Rookie J. Craig Fletcher continues to improve in his first season of racing. Driving his UL-13 Celtic Racing Team entry, Fletcher made the Final Heat in his first race at Issaquah in June. The Mercer Island WA resident has been gradually raising the performance of himself as driver as well as his race craft. This course should suit the Celtic Team just fine after a bit of a rough go at Seattle.

Twelve Unlimited Lights are set for quicksilver with the potential of one or two more late entrants. It will nearly double the turnout of Unlimited Lights for this race one year ago.

The Lighter than LIGHTS series will also be competing with several 4 cylinder stock and 8 cylinder stock teams competing. The last time out for the LTL's was a first ever appearance at the Tri Cities HAPO Community Thunder Cup at the end of July. Racing on the Columbia River was a new experience for these teams and it proved to be a popular addition to that event, despite the difficult water conditions on race day Sunday due to unseasonably high winds. The 8 Cylinder Stock race at the Tri Cities was won by Bud McKay in the GEICO presents NAMRON Racing E-10. It was the first victory for the Belfair based team which also includes wife Gigi McKay as co-driver, and sometimes competitor. Gigi drove another boat at Tri Cities but won't be competing at Silverdale as this weekend is her parent's 50th wedding anniversary.

Eric Christensen of Bremerton, who was very instrumental is creating the quicksilver event, will be racing his S-35 Heads Up Brewing presents Graham Trucking entry. At Tri Cities the boat nearly sank after striking what Christensen later said was a very large Sturgeon. Repairs will be complete in time for quicksilver.

There will be a variety of activities all day and into the evening this weekend. Due to the tides, racing will be from 12:30pm till 6:30pm on Saturday & Sunday. All teams will race in 3 preliminary heats.......2 per team on Saturday plus a third on Sunday. There will be a B-Main for the Unlimited Lights on Sunday afternoon to complete the field for the Final Heat which will conclude racing just before evening arrives on Sunday.

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

Peninsula Subaru/Suzuki to sponsor UL-4
Silverdale, WA August 12, 2006—

        When the hydroplanes come out of the pits for the start of ‘quicksilver 2006” racing next Saturday look for the Peninsula Subaru/Suzuki entry to be among the contenders. The blue Unlimited Light Hydroplane was a final heat competitor last weekend at Seafair running as Tropical Tan Salons for that event. The same UL-4 will change names for Silverdale and be entered as Miss Peninsula Subaru/Suzuki sponsored by the Bremerton car dealership. Bryan Richards of Shoreline, Washington, with the support of most of the Richards family, drives the boat.
        Becoming affiliated with this dynamic and competitive family fits perfectly with the philosophy of Peninsula Subaru and Suzuki. Probably one of the friendliest car dealers on the peninsula, all of the staff treat each and every customer with respect and as if they were one of the family. This service starts at the top with Subaru Sales Manager, Steve Taylor, and Suzuki Sales Manager Amir Donyea leading the teams. Owner John Dionas values his personal relationships with all of his customers. Integrity, hard work and family values are important, and he sees those same values in what the Richards bring to their racing business. The racing team includes the father/team manager Mick Richards; son Bryan who drives the boat and several brothers share in the crew responsibilities. Mick Richards says, “Making this boat a family project has definitely brought our family closer together”.
        Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing will begin Saturday August 19th at Noon in Dyes Inlet, Silverdale, Washington. The weekend promises to deliver fun for the whole family and two days of action-packed racing. For schedules and more information: http://www.quicksilverhydroraces.com.

For more information on Peninsula Subaru: http://www.peninsula.subaru.com

Photo Credit – Mark Sharley

Display at Taste of Edmonds by Jim Wilmot
 

LOCAL COMPANY IS MAKING A BIG IMPRESSION WITH BOAT RACING
Silverdale, WA August 10, 2006—

When Pete Morey of Power Punch located in Bremerton, Washington first saw the bright red Unlimited Light hydroplane, he knew it was destined to happen. Power Punch, a long-time local manufacturer of lubricants and oil supplements, participates as a contingency sponsor of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association. Morey attended the first race of the season at Tastin n Racin in Issaquah, and was immediately drawn to the UL-83, driven by Wil Muncey.

“Frankly, I was surprised it took them so long to ask me,” said Pete of the sponsorship. “It seemed like such an obvious connection to me. The boat was even already Power Punch red”.

Power Punch sponsored Muncey’s boat at the Tri-Cities hydroplane races the end of July, and again last week at Seafair. The team did not let Morey down. The Power Punch hydroplane is as small as allowed in its class, just over 20 feet, earning it the nickname of “The Little Boat that Could”. And even on the rough Lake Washington course, it challenged the larger boats all weekend right through to the final heat.

Next on the racing circuit is ‘quicksilver’, when the Unlimited Light Hydroplanes return to Dyes Inlet August 18, 19, and 20. “I am very excited that the racing is coming right to our backyard where all our employees can watch and cheer their hydro on”, said Morey. “We are quickly developing quite a following.”

After ‘quicksilver’ in Silverdale, the Power Punch team will make the long journey to San Diego to compete in Mission Bay on the Bill Muncey Memorial Course, named after Wil’s father. Bill Muncey, the winningest driver in the history of the sport was tragically killed in a hydroplane race in 1981. Wil began racing Unlimited Hydroplanes the following year. After a long hiatus from racing, Wil and his wife, Debi returned to the sport a few years ago after attending an Unlimited Light Hydroplane Race. “When I saw the thunder was back in racing, I knew it was time the Munceys got back into racing”, said Wil, referring to the thundering sound of the automotive-powered class.

The Munceys just bought their current hydroplane last May and this will be its first time racing on Dyes Inlet. Says Muncey, “Let’s not tell Pete that the boat is actually Chevrolet Red!”

For more information on quicksilver, visit the website: www.quicksilverhydroraces.com
For more information on Power Punch Lubricants: www.powerpunch.biz
Contact: Debi Muncey, Muncey Racing 360-805-0805 Dmuncey922@AOL.com 

NOTE: Photo Credit – Mark Sharley

Mark Sharley on Gs at Seafair
 

More Alan Lagervall at Seafair

UL-72 on display at Boats to Go show at Totem Lake Mall (updated)

The UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric is on display, now through Sunday August 13th at the "Boats to Go" Show at Totem Lake Mall near Kirkland WA.  UL-72 supporting sponsor Sportboat Northwest  is showing off the winner of the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair in their 50 x 80 foot space.  The race craft, driven by Michael Flaherty, is being displayed along with numerous boats representing Sportboat Northwest's lines of pleasure craft including Crownline and Pro-Line boats.

The UL-72 has won 17 Unlimited Lights races since the year 2000, along with three series championships.  Presently it is only 194 points out of the lead with 3 races remaining in the team's quest for a 4th ULHRA title.

The next race for the UL-72 team, supported by Sportboat Northwest will be August 19 & 20; the second annual quicksilver regatta at Silverdale WA.

John Flaherty  Team Manager
UL-72 Impact Racing "Miss Boat Electric"
 

Gold Cup Video at Seafair

UL-18 sponsor to host event this Saturday.

Black Top Brawl III  (Pacific Rim Brewing Co. Block Party) Pacific Rim Brewing Co, proud sponsors of Joe & Jackie Turner's UL-18 Unlimited Light Hydroplane, will be holding their annual Block Party on Saturday August 12, 2006. The event will be held between the hours of 12:00pm and 10:00pm and will feature some of the premiere bands of the Seattle Area including; Vine Ripe, Hell’s Belles, Post Stardom Depression, The Enemies Of, Los Burbanks, Xymurgy, and Beat Senseless. The Event will also feature a guest appearance from the Rat City Rollergirls. The show is all ages with a 21 and over beer garden and only $10.00 cover to enter. The Brewery will also be pre-selling tickets for their upcoming benefit concert for the White Center Food Bank on September 23, 2006.

For further information contact Erik Barber (206) 819-1694

Mark Sharley at Seafair
 

Alan Lagervall at Seafair

Flaherty wins Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair.  Hopp edges Lynch in ACCS.

 

Michael Flaherty took the lead out of turn number 1 over Al Carstensen, Vince Xaudaro and Paul Becker and raced to an impressive victory at Seattle.  Driving the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric, Flaherty secured lane 3 and crossed the starting line even with Carstensen in the UL-6 Port Orchard Signs presents MAACO of Bremerton.  Carstensen was within a couple of boat lengths for about a lap but gradually slipped to a couple of roostertail lengths behind.  However it was a career best 2nd place finish for Carstensen, partner Kerry Beynon, and the BCS Racing Enterprises team. 

 

Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky was third after a late start resulting from a tightly packed field in turn 2 prior to the start.  Hopp was able to gain from 5th to third place by the end of the 5 mile heat but had no chance of catching Flaherty who recorded an average speed of 112.819 mph in the Final. On Saturday in better water conditions, Greg Hopp raced to an average speed of 114.614 mph in a weekend of impressive speeds by the Unlimited Lights.

 

4th place went to Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro in the UL-929 Graham Trucking Too-Graham Real Ventures.  Fifth place was secured by Paul Becker in the UL-14 Underwater Sports presents Miss Critical Logic while Pennsylvania's Mike Webster in the UL-2 Red Hot ran sixth.  After being penalized one minute for a DMZ violation prior to the start, Wil Muncey wound up 7th in the UL-83 Wyatt's Watches presents Power Punch.  The 8th entrant in the Final, Bryan Richards in the UL-4 Shoreline Sign & Awning presents Tropical Tan Salons exited the pit area but was not running at the start.

 

As a result of Flaherty's victory, the UL points lead held by Greg Hopp has been shortened to 158 points with 3 races remaining.  Next up on the UL schedule: quicksilver at Silverdale WA on August 19 & 20. 

 

In the American Challenge Cup Series, a popular new addition for ULHRA Inc, Jerry Hopp in the G-15 Graham Trucking and R.W. "Dick" Lynch in the G-13 Tempo swapped the lead multiple times over the five mile distance.  In the final turn Hopp, with the inside advantage, snared victory in a closely fought battle.  Third place went to Grand Island NY's Ken Brodie II in the GP 50 Precision Engineering G-555 and 4th place went to David Warren in the G-329 Lakeside Construction.  Warren may have been the happiest of all as his entry finally completed a heat of competition.  At the awards ceremony Warren said he was thrilled that for the first time in his two seasons with ACCS he won't be rebuilding an engine!  Ryan Mallow in the G-19 Mz Zip Fizz Energy Drink Mix was quick but the engine didn't last and Mallow wound up with a Did Not Finish (DNF). The ACCS program for hydroplanes larger than Unlimited Lights and with bigger and louder supercharged automotive engines proved to be a fan favorite. 

 

It was a productive weekend for the Webster Family racing team out of Reading PA.  Mike Webster parlayed a virtually perfect start in the B-Main into the team's first Final Heat berth in their now 4 race Unlimited Lights career.  That performance also earned Webster the Wyatt's Watches of Monroe WA "Best Start of the Race" award. Webster is taking home a stylish Wyatt's Watch presented by company owner Jim Keppler. 

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

ULHRA teams watching the Blue Angels

Jim Wilmot at Seafair on Saturday

Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair
Report #3
August 5, 2006

CARSTENSEN TAKES HEAT 1A

(Seattle WA) Despite contact in Turn 2 prior to the start, Al Carstensen drove the UL-6 Port Orchard Signs presents MAACO of Bremerton to a wire to wire victory in Heat 1A at the Graham Trucking cup at Seafair in Seattle.

Forming up for the start, Carstensen was in lane 3 with Joe Turner and Brian Perkins inside. Turner, driving the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co. collided with Carstensen and both boats sustained damage. After the start in turn 1 Turner's boat violently hooked. Turner soldiered on but then on lap 2 he turned the craft off the course as it was taking on water. After the heat Turner noted it was the same sponson that was rebuilt in the off season following damage from a traffic accident prior to Seafair last year. He added that there was damage from the contact that was magnified when the boat hooked. The boat was submerged but recovered by the rescue team.

Carstensen battled for one lap with Perkins in the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation. Carstensen built on his lead while Perkins' ride seemed to struggle and it was revealed after the heat that the boat finished 1A running on 5 cylinders out of eight. Crew Chief Ken Eng later said all will be fine for the next heat in the 5pm hour.

Third place went to Wil Muncey in the UL-83 Power Punch. Muncey started third and held position in "The Little Boat That Could with a strong performance. Fourth place went to Mike Webster of Pennsylvania in the UL-2 Red Hot with Brian Perkins in the UL-4 Shoreline Sign & Awning presents Tropical Tan Salons in 5th. Joe Turner did not finish and Mike Sadlon in the UL-89 No Excuses Racing did not start. Sadlon, from Michigan, has experienced engine problems this weekend but vows to be ready for the second heat section today.

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

GCV on Friday at Seafair

Friday afternoon by Jim Wilmot

Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair
Report #2 August 4, 2006

(Seattle WA)

Greg Hopp continues to lead in qualifying for the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair. Hopp, driving the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky......the former UL-9 American Eagle hull, set a new Seattle course speed record of 118.997 mph, topping the old record set two years ago by Paul Droullard in the then American Eagle, at 117.280 mph.

Second place in qualifying is currently held by Al Carstensen in the UL-6 Port Orchard Signs presents MAACO of Bremerton at 109.6232 mph. Moving into the third slot during the afternoon qualifying session was the UL-929 Graham Trucking Too - Graham Real Ventures driven by Vince Xaudaro at 106.645 mph

Of the 13 Unlimited Lights in the pit area, only the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation with Brian Perkins driving, and the UL-89 No Excuses Racing with Mike Sadlon do not have a qualifying time.

One qualifying session remains for the UL and ACCS teams, at 10:30am Saturday morning. Unlimited Lights heat races begin in the noon hour and also in the 5pm hour, with ACCS scheduled for 2:300m. After the completion of Heat 2B, the top four teams by points will be seeded into the Sunday afternoon Final, while the rest will compete in the B- Main early Sunday afternoon for the remaining 4 spots in the Final.

Live coverage via video streaming is available here at www.ulhra.org every time ULHRA teams are on the water.

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

More Friday morning by Jim Wilmot

Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair
Report #1
August 4, 2006

(Seattle WA) Greg Hopp in the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky leads the field after the first round of qualifying. Hopp, driving the newer of the Mike's entries, the former American Eagle, ran one lap at just under 119 mph. Next in line was Al Carstensen in the UL-6 Port Orchard Signs presents MAACO of Bremerton at 109.6 mph. Paul Becker in the UL-14 Underwater Sports presents Miss Critical Logic is third at 101.9 with Bob Estes in the UL-33 Miss Graham Trucking fourth at 101.6 mph.

Nine teams qualified in the first session. Thirteen teams will compete for the Graham Trucking Cup. A fourteenth team was knocked out of action when Bill Strain's UL-56 Miss Diagnosed blew over on the front straightaway. The boat landed right side up but badly tore the left sponson. Strain was uninjured and quickly exited the cockpit.

There will be a drivers autograph session at 1pm this afternoon. The next ULHRA qualifying session will be from 3:40pm till 4:30pm Pacific time, with a final session at 10:30am tomorrow morning. Heat racing tomorrow will be in the noon hour and the 5pm hour, with the B-Main and Final heats on Sunday.

the American Challenge Cup Series has 5 teams in the Stan Sayers Pits. Two teams tested this morning: Dick Lynch in the G-13 Tempo and Ken Brodie II in the G-555 GP50 Performance.

John Lynch'
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

Friday morning in Seattle pits by Jim Wilmot
 

A new career leader

From 1997-1999, Bo Schide set the mark of a dozen Unlimited Lights victories, on the way to 3 consecutive series championships. He then retired from the series. In 2002 at Detroit, Phil Bononcini matched that mark with his 12th victory and a year later Bononcini retired. It's been Schide and Bononcini atop the career victory ladder since Detroit 2002, but, no more. With victories at Detroit and Tri Cities last month, Greg Hopp has taken over the career wins lead with 13 and doesn't appear to be slowing down. This weekend Hopp tries for victory #3 in a row and a 14th career title in the 2006 Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair. Hopp began racing Unlimited Lights when the series began in 1995 and has driven the UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky exclusively the past 2 seasons after sharing the ride with team owner and father Jerry Hopp since 1995. Jerry had twin knee replacement surgery a year ago necessitating Greg's full time effort in the UL-1, along with driving a turbine hydroplane. Jerry will drive the G-12 Graham Trucking entry in the American Challenge Cup Series this weekend, and "Grandpa" himself holds 6 career Unlimited Lights victories. In addition, the hull they acquired in 2001 is the same hull that Bo Schide drove to a dozen wins. In total, that Jamie Auld creation, built in 1997, is the career wins leader among Unlimited Light hydroplanes with 31.

Overall, 24 drivers have won on the Unlimited Lights circuit since it was formed in 1995. Michael Flaherty picked up his third career win earlier this year at Valleyfield Quebec, and Brian Perkins earned his first career win along with his team's first ever win, at Tastin' n Racin' at Issaquah WA in June. Perkins wheels the UL-40 Miss Red Dot Corporation for Thunder Valley Racing.

Greg Hopp has overcome an early season points lead by Michael Flaherty in the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric and now leads Flaherty by 252 points. However with 400 first place points in each heat and a possible 1240 points for a perfect weekend on Lake Washington, that 252 point gap is anything but secure.

John Lynch
"Voice" of the Unlimited Lights

A full pit area for Graham Trucking Cup

Graham Trucking will sponsor G-12 at Seafair

Graham Trucking will be sponsoring Hopp Racing's entry in the ACCS Thunderbolt division at Seafair this weekend. It's great to have Rob Graham back as a sponsor again this year. Rob sponsored our UL boat in 1997-1999. I use to drive truck for Rob in the mid 1980's and talked him into sponsoring my 145 hydro. Since then Graham trucking has become one of the biggest sponsors in boat racing by sponsoring several boats including the Fred Leyland's 1998 Unlimited that I drove and now a major part of the Seafair event too.

Jerry Hopp

Seafair Hydro Mania Fan Fest by Jim Wilmot

GCV at Tri-Cities on Sunday

Seafair Press Conference by Jim Wilmot

ULHRA Press Releases

UL-929 Graham Trucking Too-Graham Real Ventures Vince Xaudaro

TAN THUNDER

SEAFAIR, Seattle, Washington, August 4-6, 2006

This weekend, the pristine waters of Lake Washington will witness an unusual combination: an Unlimited Light hydroplane thundering around the race course getting a tan; actually getting a TROPICAL TAN.

TROPICAL TAN SALONS will be sponsoring the Richards Racing team’s UL 4 hydroplane at the fifth stop of the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association’s (ULHRA) National Series. Both TROPICAL TAN and Richards Racing hail from the Seattle area.

While Richards Racing is a veteran team, this is the maiden voyage for Dan Mann, the CEO of the salon network which was founded in 1982. With nine locations open seven days a week, Mann saw this as an opportunity to share an ‘umbrella’ with the Seafair tradition that goes back over 50 years. “We are delighted to be participating,” said Mann “in such a community-oriented event. Thunderboats are an inherent part of that event and all of our employees are looking forward to cheering on our team.”

Richards Racing began competing on the ULHRA circuit three years ago. Mick Richards is the patriarch of the family-run team that has become a force to be reckoned with. Bryan, his eldest son will jockey their 22-foot Unlimited Light hydroplane around the 1- 2/3rd mile Seafair Unlimited Light race course.

The team is affecting repairs to the hull from damage sustained at the HAPO Community Thunder Cup at Kennewick WA last weekend. They’ll be ready when qualifying for the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair begins on Friday (8-4).

Mick Richards noted, “Our presenting sponsor, Shoreline Sign and Awning built Dan Mann’s first sign back in 1982. It’s great to see both companies working together to field a competitive team.” Richards went on to say, “Our whole family is proud to be a part of the tradition that is Seafair.”

For more information about Richards Racing or the ULHRA please visit www.ULHRA.org or www.tropicaltan.net

Click here for updates from July, 2006