Contingency Award Program Grows
 
The 2006 racing season saw the introduction of the Contingency Award Program to the individual teams. This enabled virtually every team that made the final heat to acquire cash and certificates of up to $300.00 in value at every race on the national ULHRA circuit. After the season ended every sponsor involved rededicated their commitment to the CAP for 2007. The 2007 season sees the sponsor ranks grow with the addition of John's Fuel Systems & Carburetion.
 
Although he has over thirty years experience in the development of high performance fuel systems, John Gwyerdoo hadn't attended his first ULHRA event until San Diego in 2006. At the drivers meeting John was introduced by General Manager Pat Malara as being available in an advisory position to teams seeking to fine tune their induction programs. John Flaherty of the Boat Electric team and Joe Turner of Turner Racing were amongst the teams that promptly gained benefit from Mr.Gwyerdoo's insight and experience.
 
Over the years, car racing teams on the drag and circle courses have sought out JFSC's seasoned input. Growing speeds and greater fuel demands have compelled motorsports to be more creative to that extra advantage. As an example, one idea that John tendered for circle racing was to turn the carburetor sideways. "Most carburetors aren't designed for the high lateral loads. The hydroplane teams are very receptive to new ideas and trying a different approach. They have found that in order to be competitive they have to be creative" said John of JFSC. 
 
Greg Stanfield from the Pro Stock drag racing ranks and Rick Santos in Top Fuel NHRA Drag Racing are among John's customers. In circle track dirt competition, Willy Fraser seeks out John's sage advice. This year John will be available to personally support on site at Tri Cities and San Diego. Having expanded his experience base to include aircraft applications his services and support have been available for the V-12 powered hydroplane owned by Ed Cooper which also occasionally appears at ULHRA events under a different venue.
 
For more information about JFSC call 510-786-2505 or email jfcarburetion@sbcglobal.net

Wil Muncey
Muncey Marketing
wmuncey83@aol.com

New Ownership/Sponsorship in Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing

Issaquah, WA February 22, 2007 Muncey Racing is pleased to announce the sale of the UL-21 hydroplane to Wilmot Performance Engineering & Metal Processing, LLC of Issaquah, WA. This represents a coming full circle for this race craft with the return to its Issaquah homeport.

Wilmot Performance Engineering & Metal Processing is owned by Jim and Karon Wilmot of Issaquah. The new company will be primarily devoted to the metal processing aspects and featuring the Metalax Metal Relaxation system patented by Bonal Industries. The ownership/sponsorship of the Unlimited Light hydroplane will feature and promote the system which has tremendous application in the racing industry. Current Metalax users include ABRA's U-3 Cooper Racing, NASCAR's Joe Gibbs Racing, Pfaff Racing Engines, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to name just a few. A quote from a recent Performance Racing Industry article states; "As the cost of racing escalates, racers are seeking products and equipment that will last longer. Not only are they buying higher quality components, they're also looking for new ways to make the parts they already have more durable. And as more racers seek this durability, the popularity and acceptance of materials treatment processes is growing."

The UL-21, formerly campaigned by Thunder Valley Racing of Issaquah and driven by Nick Badolato had an admirable racing record prior to being sold to a Mexican businessman. The Munceys recently retrieved the craft from Mexico where it had been in storage for the last three years. Wilmot Performance Engineering is looking forward to returning the UL-21 to competition on the ULHRA circuit as soon as the team structure and engine program can be brought on line.

Crew and driver assignments as well as further releases will be made regarding the business at a later date. To better understand the advantages of the Metalax process check out the website at http://www.metalax.com.

For More Information, Call 206-650-4792

Regates de Valleyfield confirms association for '07 season.

Regates de Valleyfield are please to confirm their association with Thunderboats (G) and ULHRA for the upcoming 2007 season. The GP rules have been adopted by the G Class and will allow GP boats to run with them at ULHRA events. At the same time, G boats will be allowed to run with their own set of rules where GP is scheduled. Both groups will have a year to take a long hard look at the Pros and Cons of each motor program and see what the possibilities are for 2008.

An article published on the ULHRA website, by John Lynch, created confusion and generated a lot of phone calls and questioning of the situation. The Valleyfield Organisation would like to clarify the statement by Mr. Lynch and state for the record that the Valleyfield Organisation is responsible for all the rules concerning the new GP Class. At the same time we will work with ULHRA to promote and conduct races where both classes participate under their own set of rules says Michel Poirier, General Manager of the Valleyfield Event.

A 3 year business plan by Regates de Valleyfield brings 2 new boats to the GP class in 2007, 4 more in 08 and 3 more in 09. With competitive and reliable existing teams and the return of the former GP 154 with Claude Bergeron in it, the 2007 season looks very exiting as does the future. And lets not forget the efforts of ULHRA who brought several new G boats to the sport over the last 2 years. Regates de Valleyfield and ULHRA are looking forward to promote races at sites on both the East and West Coasts. At this time a potential field of 12 Racing Teams could be part of this new development program.

Millennium Digital Media Crosses the Starting Line

While a lot of racing teams are still waiting to see if the groundhog is going to see his shadow, Richards Racing is announcing the results of a winter of working, planning and preparing for 2007.

The UL-4 Hydroplane has teamed up with Millennium Digital Media as the Title Sponsor for six northwest race sites in the 2007 racing season including Issaquah, Lake Chelan, Port Angeles, Pateros, Silverdale, and of course Seafair. Millennium is one of the twenty-five largest cable providers in the U.S. and the Official Cable Television and High Speed Internet Service Provider for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association. Rob Goolsby, Sales and Marketing Manager, for the Northwest Region of Millennium Digital Media said, “Our two organizations have a lot in common. Millennium is a rapidly growing company focused on the evolving future of broadband communications. It is easy to see why we were attracted to this up-and-coming high energy racing team. I am very much looking forward to seeing this dynamic group display our logo.”

High energy is a good description of the UL-4 racing team. By the time the Millennium Digital Media hydroplane debuts at Tastin' n Racin' in Issaquah Washington on June 9th, it will be obvious the team put the winter months to good use. The boat will have been outfitted with an entirely new center section in anticipation of faster speeds and more heats of hard driving action. The new and aggressive engine program has doubled the horsepower from last year. This relatively young team saw its first Unlimited Light racing heat in 2005 as an invitee at Seafair. In 2006, the team raced at all of the Washington Unlimited Light events and was a final heat contender at Seafair. Mick Richards said, “We are very excited about the 2007 racing season. Not only are we proud of our association with this sponsor, but we also have the best boat our team has ever had. We will be more active, see more races and I have every reason to think we will be more competitive than ever before.”

Millennium Digital Media is a fast growing Broadband Services Company serving more than 130,000 customers. Millennium offers basic and premium cable television services, including state-of-the-art digital cable products together with High-Speed Internet and phone in five states. For more information on Millennium Digital Media, visit the website at: www.mdm.net. For more information on the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series, the schedule and the teams, visit www.ulhra.org.

For more information
CONTACT: Muncey Marketing
360-805-0805

Steve Clark aims for LTL title in 2007.

Steve Clark, owner-driver of the E-222 Thunderstruck Racing Team has "struck" a deal to aid in his efforts to capture the 2007 ULHRA Lighter than LIGHTS 8 cylinder title.  Clark has acquired the former E-58 "Terminator" Ron Jones hull from Bob Donley and will campaign it in 2007 in the LTL series across Washington State.

Clark had a memorable season opener..........memorable for the wrong reasons.  While the rebuilt E-222 Norberg hull showed considerable quickness the team and driver Clark were unable to finish one heat.  Adding to that scenario was the boat losing the left sponson in the Final Heat at Issaquah while in second place.  Clark was able to maneuver close to the shoreline of Lake Sammamish before the boat capsized in shallow water.  As Clark recalls "we thought we were done for the year". 

Well, they weren't.  With assistance from Bud McKay, who himself went on to win the 2006 LTL 8 cylinder Title in his E-10 Geico Namron, Steve Clark was introduced to Bob Donley and a working relationship developed.  Following the quicksilver regatta at Silverdale WA when Donley's engine was broken Donley allowed Clark and his team to fit their running gear onto the Terminator hull.  The combination proved quite successful as they finished the year with 3 overall second place finishes and third in the LTL standings.  At the end of the season Steve Clark accepted Bob Donley's offer to sell, and Clark now proudly owns the ex- Terminator.  He'll be aiming for his first LTL race win and hopes to challenge for the series title in 2007.  Clark also says the Thunderstruck hull is being repaired.  They hope to have 2 boats on the water by midseason 2007 as the LTL program continues to grow and gain acceptance among Pacific NW racers with ten teams committed in the 8 cylinder category so far.  As Clark put it, "we can't wait for 2007 to get started!"

John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.

Click here for updates from January, 2007