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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007
CONTACT: MUNCEY MARKETING
360-805-0805
LOCAL CONTACT: Sara Wall, Phoenix, 602-795-7957
TRAFFICADE Presents The Unlimited Lights at Firebird
Trafficade Services, Inc. signed with the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association today to become a Series Partner for the 2008 Racing Series. Trafficade of Phoenix, Arizona becomes the first announced sponsor of the ’08 Season and will have a highly visible presence at all ULHRA races throughout the 2008 season, but debuts their sponsorship as the Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition event in Arizona next month.
The Unlimited Lights will be making a special guest appearance at Firebird International Raceways November 17-18 in conjunction with the IHBA Coors Light World Finals. At least a half dozen of these hydroplanes will make the trek in what is normally their “off-season” to conduct an exhibition race in Arizona and simultaneously create a fun weekend for some of the 6000 children currently in foster care in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Trafficade, with offices in Phoenix and Tucson provides traffic control services and makes traffic control products with applications around the country. The business is owned and managed by the father and son team of Dennis and Jeff Johnson. Dennis Johnson said, “The boat races across the country are an excellent place to demonstrate our products. We are very excited to join forces with the ULHRA and to present this exhibition in our own home town. I am looking forward to seeing the Unlimited Lights arrive in Phoenix and meeting each of the teams personally”.
Unlimited Light hydroplanes will begin arriving in the Phoenix area around Thursday of that week to do displays and appearances around town prior to the racing heats on Saturday and Sunday. By special arrangements with the race track, blocks of discounted tickets are being made available for foster families in the area.
The Unlimited Lights concluded their 2007 racing season with the championship race in Port Angeles, Washington on September 29. For more information on the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, please visit www.ulhra.org.
For more information on Trafficade, visit www.trafficade.com.
For more information on the Arizona Association for Foster & Adoptive Parents, visit www.azafap.org, or for details on Foster Care and Fast Boats at Firebird, please call 602-663-3473
Capsule Training in 2008
Mark your calendar for Capsule Training provided by the Hightowers’.
The fee is $20.00 per person.
Saturday, February 9th, 2008.
Time 3:30pm-6:30pm
Fife Pool
5410 20th St SE,
Tacoma WA
Sunday, February 23rd, 2008.
Time 1:00pm-5:00pm
The City Court Club
1350 N Grant
Kennewick WA
Saturday, March 15th, 2008.
Time 3:30pm-6:30pm
Fife Pool
5410 20th St SE,
Tacoma WA
Salute to Bill Muncey at HARM (10-19) UPDATED
This Friday evening (October 19th) at 7:00pm the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent WA resumes its monthly lecture series. A “Salute to Bill Muncey” will be the topic. Last May the museum unveiled their Bill Muncey Exhibit, and the Museum fleet of restored Unlimited Hydroplanes includes the third Miss Thriftway and also a replica of the first Miss Thriftway, both driven by Bill Muncey.
On Friday night a panel discussion will be featured that includes ULHRA’s own Wil Muncey. Wil, owner-driver of the UL-83 and Bill Muncey’s son will be joined on the panel by Unlimited Hydroplane Racing’s second all time race winner, Chip Hanauer, Bill Muncey’s crew chief with the Atlas Van Lines Jim Lucero, Muncey DVD producer Don Mock and the moderator will be Museum Director David Williams. Two other gentlemen will have a brief presentation. Ron Arnett and Keith Hoskinson were on the Coast Guard Cutter that Bill Muncey hit with the 2nd Miss Thriftway at the 1958 Gold Cup race on Lake Washington.
Admission is free to Museum members and only $5.00 for non members.
For further information contact………
The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum
5917 South 196th Street - Kent, WA 98032
Phone: 206.764.9453 - FAX: 206.766.9620
info@thunderboats.org
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Gillmer and the UL 60 coming together
 Story: It’s been a labor of love for most of this decade and now the finish line is in sight. Veteran inboard racer Gordy Gillmer of Tacoma WA is nearing completion of his UL-60 hydroplane and expects to hit the water next season.
In the photos supplied by Gillmer the paint scheme is finished. Much of the hardware is being powder coated prior to installation. Gillmer says shaft alignment, skid fin bracket installation and the rudder bracket are getting close. The front canard still needs to be completed and the cockpit glass installed, not to mention the engine, tails, latches etc.
 The boat was started by Gillmer while he was assisting Paul Droullard in building the UL-9 American Eagle which later became the Bob Schellhase owned UL-1 driven by Greg Hopp and Jerry Hopp the past two seasons. Visually the Gillmer craft is very similar to the boat Droullard built. For the Tacoman it truly has been a “labor of love”. He’s even rejected purchase offers over the years because he wanted to finish what he started. If Gordy can generate performance levels similar to the boat Greg Hopp drove to the 2006 UL Championship and 2007 runner-up he’ll be thrilled………. and Unlimited Light competitors will have to deal with another contending craft in competition.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing
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Think you have talent? This is a "Call for Photographers"Your photos are needed! Thanks to the contributions of dozens of photographers, 'Thunder and 'LIGHTS', ULHRA's official magazine is in it's fifth year of bringing 'Racing ULHRA Style' to readers in stunning full-color. In the past, the T&L staff's goal has been to publish something from each contributor. However, as the volume of contributions increases, that may not be attainable. So the earlier your photos are received, the better your chances are of being published. The production schedule for the 2008 edition of T&L has also been moved up considerably as compared to past editions. In 2007, boat-racing fans enjoyed the earliest ULHRA season start in history
with the inaugural running of 'Desert Thunder' in Richland, Washington on the third weekend in May. By all indications, the 2008 UL season will begin even earlier, necessitating the earlier production of the magazine. Production has already begun, with a printing deadline of January 1. Yup, first of the year. So now is the time to send in your images. All images are credited to the respective photographer, and all photographers are listed on the masthead as 'Contributing Photographers'.
If you're a writer, we can utilize your talents, too!
Images must be submitted as high-res digital files on disk, with minimal "photoshopping". None is better. Email Editor, Mark Sharley at mcsharley@wamail.net for mailing instructions. Please include the copyright release with your disk(s); 'Thunder and 'LIGHTS' cannot publish any images without the original, signed release.
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Foster kids and the Fast Boats at Firebird
On the weekend of November 17th and 18th, the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association (www.ulhra.org) will be conducting a competitive demonstration on Firebird Lake at the 2007 IHBA World Championships. At a race site hosting up to 200 drag-type race boats, the Unlimited Lights will be adding a new dimension to the world class regatta that will be featuring circle or sprint competition.
Perhaps an even more substantial dimension will be the ULHRA’s effort to invite and act as host for hundreds of foster children and their foster parents to a day at the races. Blocks of discounted tickets are being provided by the Firebird International Raceway proprietors and sponsored by local businesses to create an opportunity for entire families to cheer on their favorite Thunderboat as it hurtles over Firebird Lake at speeds in excess of 150 mph. Earning the title Thunderboat by virtue of the trumpeting open exhaust of their high performance automotive engines, these water bound airplanes are piloted by drivers that hail from as far away as Seattle, Washington and Crete, Illinois.
One of the more popular race drivers is Kayleigh Perkins of Black Diamond, Washington. Recently, her big block powered hydroplane sponsored by Boat Electric cinched the National Championship on the salty water of the Strait of Juan De Fuca in Port Angeles, Washington. At nineteen years of age, she has established a competitive presence in a sport traditionally dominated by men twice her age. Her family has made marine motorsports their passion as she follows in the footsteps of her older brother Brian, who is an accomplished driver in his own right. "Boat racing has been a family sport for us" said Kayleigh, "and I am glad to get the chance to share it with so many other families here in Chandler."
Ms. Sara Wall, a local advocate for Foster Care Awareness was also raised in a marine motorsport environment amongst the rivers and lakes of the Pacific Northwest. Employing administrative skills of herself and her associates toward an activity that entire foster families can enjoy together has brought a Southwest tradition to a new audience.
For more information about Foster Care Awareness call 602-663-347 or email tedandsarawall@cox.net . .
For more information about Firebird International Raceway visit their website at www.firebirdraceway.com
For more information about the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association visit www.ULHRA.org
Two time LTL Champion, “Proud to be your Bud” McKay
 Bud McKay may not be one of the biggest names in the sport of hydroplane racing, but he freely admits to being one of the biggest drivers in the sport. He came to racing just 3 years ago when he acquired his first hydroplane and after adapting the cockpit to accommodate his frame, he’s driven to two successive Lighter than LIGHTS Championships in ULHRA Racing. McKay wrapped up the championship at Port Angeles WA when he finished second to rookie Shane Pratt in the Final Heat.
Bud knows in the annals of hydroplane racing he’ll never be regarded as the next Chip Hanauer. For one, he’s the wrong size. But McKay is a writer who appreciates a good quote such as “I had two goals this season -- repeat as the high points champion in the Lighter-Than-LIGHTS class, and the other was to break even financially. Well, at least we won the high points!” That’s Bud.
However the run to the title was not without challenges. As McKay explains, "when I went dead in the water before the start of the first heat we had forgotten to hook up the waterline to the engine. I saw the gauge coming into the corner was approaching 200 degrees. I saw steam coming out of the water exit line, so I had to shut her down to save the engine. But I was able to park the boat in front of the pier to give everyone a good view our sponsors' decals. I'll never miss a marketing opportunity!” It did give Bud a close-up view of the heat that saw Shane Pratt overhaul Todd Bohnet on the final straightaway for the Port Angeles rookie driver’s first ever heat win. “I have to tell you how electrifying it was to hear the entire crowd on the pier and beach just roar when Shane caught and passed Todd going down the final straightaway! But no one was yelling louder than me because that meant we maintained our high points lead by 88 points over Todd”. In the end McKay’s second place finish in the Final was enough to hold off Bohnet for the LTL championship.
 The Port Angeles race has been known as “Where Champions are Crowned” and that’s been the case for series titles both for the Unlimited Lights and the Lighter than LIGHTS. Both of McKay’s championships were wrapped up on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As McKay puts it “I love racing in Port Angeles. I've had a great time up there both years I've raced. The people are great. The community is totally supportive, even us 'little guys' are treated like royalty”.
Little Guys? As a writer McKay recently compared the Lighter than LIGHTS 8 cylinder drivers to the size of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team. At 6’5” and 301 lbs. no one will ever confuse Bud McKay as one of the “little guys”. They’ll just refer to him by his newest earned honor: "Two time 8 cylinder LTL champion", and the only repeat champion in the history of ULHRA's Lighter than LIGHTS Series.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing.
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Everett Sausage Fest welcomes the UL 19
 Five Star Racing Team will be on display this weekend (10-5 to 10-7) for the 31st annual Everett (WA) Sausage Festival. This event is in the hometown of Five Star Racing Team owner Tom Eckenberg and has been a 3 decade fixture in the city north of Seattle. From the organizer’s website, “The Everett Sausage Festival is a family-oriented weekend fair centered around a  Bavarian theme. From our traditional Bavarian Dinner to a variety of food booths, children's games, the Family Entertainment Stage, bingo, carnival, and Bavarian Beer Garden and Stage, there is something for everyone. Everett Sausage Fest was founded to support Catholic Education at Immaculate Conception/Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and is now in its 31st year.
 Driver Ryan Mallow will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs on Saturday afternoon (10-6). The 26 foot long UL-19 is the largest Unlimited Light in the fleet and its powerful supercharged engine had pushed this team to one of the quickest laps in UL history. This team and driver Mallow have two victories in Unlimited Lights competition. The boat will be on display at the Main Entrance to the Everett Sausage Fest off Cedar Street.
For details, click here. http://www.everettsausagefest.com/
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2007 Champion in Issaquah Parade.
2007 Powerboats NW Unlimited Lights Champion Kayleigh Perkins and the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric will be featured in the annual Issaquah Salmon Days Grande Parade on Saturday (10-6). According to the Salmon Days website the 2 day festival "presented by the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, is the celebration of salmon returning to the area lakes" including Lake Sammamish near Issaquah where the annual Tastin' n Racin' event is held in June. Issaquah is a few miles east of Seattle on Interstate 90.
This will be the first public appearance of Ms. Perkins and the UL-72 since their thrilling series victory at Port Angeles, Washington's Victoria Express Strait Thunder Regatta last Saturday. Perkins and the Miss Boat Electric clinched the Driver's championship with a first heat victory and wrapped up the team title by finishing second in the Final behind Mark Echols in the UL-33 Miss Boat Electric. Kayleigh Perkins accomplished all of this in her first season in Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing, and for good measure added Rookie of the Year to her resume.
John Lynch
P.R. Director, ULHRA Inc.
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PA rookie scores knockout
win on home water
by
Bud McKay
 The
trophy for winning last
weekend's Victoria Express
Strait Thunder Regatta at Port
Angeles, Wash., doesn't have to
be shipped very far for the
Lighter-Than-LIGHTS 8-cylinder
champion. Port Angeles own Shane
Pratt, a rookie driving the E-53
Victoria Express presents Maximm
Power Sports and Adly Moto
hydroplane ran away with the
8-cylinder stock LTL win.
 "Port
Angeles!" he yelled at the top
of his lungs with his arms
stretched out acknowledging a
thunderous ovation from the home
crowd as he came back into the
pits in what turned out to be
the final heat on Saturday
afternoon. Pratt, in only
his second race in a hydroplane,
was never threatened in the
final heat.
Since there was no starting
clock on the beach, the
8-cylinder LTL combatants were
told they'd utilize a flag start
instead of a clock start.
Normally, since Pratt had not
yet been officially qualified to
start up front, race officials
allowed him to but had him stay
to the outside.
Under the flag start, the
outside boat dictates the start
and must cross the start line
first. Bud McKay, in the E-10
Mickey's Sports Bar and Grill
Presents the GEICO Racing Team,
had the inside lane. Todd Bohnet,
driving the E-51 Miss Behavin',
was in the middle. All three
boats were close at the start
and into the first turn. But
that was as close as anyone came
to Pratt.
While Pratt was running away,
McKay and Bohnet were pressing
each other with the
all-important series high points
title on the line. Going into he
final heat, McKay held a slim
88-point lead over Bohnet.
McKay and Bohnet were running
close, but Bohnet started to
fall back as a clogged fuel
filter eventually would cause
him to shut down after
completing the second lap.
 After the race, Pratt walked
peacefully and with a smile to
the end of the dock under the
escort of the 6-foot-6,
250-pound Bohnet and the
6-foot-5, 301-pound McKay for
the ceremonial tossing of Pratt
into the chilly waters to
celebrate his first-ever win to
the delight of the home crowd
and his family and the entire
Victoria Express presents Maximm
Power Sports and Adly Moto team.
Here is a look at the final
standings for the
Lighter-Than-LIGHTS 8-cylinder
class
8-Cyl
E-10 Bud McKay 2,088
E-51 Todd Bohnet 1,700 -388
E-53 Shane Pratt 1,419 -669
E-711 Rob Schueler 1,200 -588
E-108
Barry Eacret 1,100 -888
E-83 Chris Dreewes 746 -1,042
E-65 Marty Porter 300 -1,488
E-222 Steve Clark 225 -1,563
New ULHRA Race Site in 2008
and beyond.
 River
City Racin' joins the Unlimited
Light Hydroplane Racing
Association tour in 2008. The
Chamberlain-Oacoma South Dakota
communities along the Missouri
river where it is crossed by
Interstate 90 will be the site
of ULHRA's newest event on July
12th & 13th 2008.
 Back
in July (2007) an on the water
exhibition was conducted by
several ULHRA teams which was
very well received. Committee
Chair Tom Davis was in Port
Angeles WA for Strait Thunder on
September 29th and presented
ULHRA Executive Vice President
and General Manager Pat Malara
with the signed 3 year
agreement. Davis was
accompanied by several other
members of the River City Racin'
committee to observe the
Victoria Express Strait Thunder
Regatta which began 5 years ago
in a community similar in size
to Chamberlain-Oacoma.
The South Dakota
event is expected to become a
"destination" event attracing
racing fans from up to several
hundred miles away........in its
own way as Mount Rushmore, the
Black Hills, and Sturgis are
other "destination" sites and
events in the state.
Currently ULHRA
Inc. has multi-year race site
deals in place with River City
Racin' along with Port Angeles
Strait Thunder and Seattle
Seafair.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and
"Voice" of ULHRA Inc.
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Click here for updates from September, 2007
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