Pickwick Landing

Saturday, February 02, 2008

In a move reminiscent of the successful invitation from the International Hot Boat Association to appear at Firebird Lake in Phoenix, the ChampBoat Grand Prix Series has invited the Unlimited Lights to augment their upcoming race at Pickwick Landing, Tennessee.

ChampBoats are the very light weight outboard-powered tunnel variety of race boat that has been driven by competitors such as Billy and Tim Seebold and Carlos Buitron. Most recently you may have seen them on the Speed channel competing at various race sites across the country.

Pickwick Landing http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/PickwickLanding is located on the Tennessee River about one and a half hours from Memphis. A renowned vacation destination, Pickwick Landing has hosted offshore-type racing over the last three years and now the ChampBoat Grand Prix takes center stage at the Pickwick Challenge. www.pickwickchallenge.com.  ChampBoat Series http://www.champboat.com/ President Mike Schriefer extended the invitation to ULHRA to bring the Unlimited Lights to Tennessee.

The May 2nd through May 4th event would lend itself well to the ULHRA’s developing national circuit, and corporate America is watching.  Occurring one week after “Trafficade presents the Unlimited Lights at Firebird”at Chandler AZ April 25-27, many of the UL teams will already be within striking distance of the Volunteer State.  Marty Wolfe, driver of the Trafficade said, “If my sponsor wants me to be there, we’re there.”

Other race sites on the west coast have also been discussed with Champ Boat representatives.  The opportunities to share fan bases and mutually enjoy the cross-over support of non-conflicting sponsors enables the two groups to enhance each others circuits. Dennis Johnson, representative of Trafficade Sign and Safety Products, said, “We can sell our products in Tennessee as well as South Dakota or Washington.”

A significant allure for the UL teams and their sponsors at Pickwick Landing is the assurance of a portion of SPEED Channel air time for the Unlimited Lights.  Already partial sponsorship has been secured for the ULHRA’s participation at Pickwick Landing and more marketing partners are being recruited   ChampBoat’s Mike Schriefer said, “this would be a great start to our working relationship which I am confident will prove to be mutually beneficial.”  

John Lynch, Director of Public Relations of the ULHRA said, “The national circuit of the ULHRA is expanding into markets previously unaddressed by inboard circle competition.  The venue shared with the IHBA in Phoenix demonstrated that marine motorsports has come a long way toward delivering what the fans and sponsors want. There is no reason that we can’t repeat that success with the Champ Boats.  2008 has been a monumental year already for ULHRA with the addition of several new teams along with new series events in Arizona, South Dakota, and Montana plus this first foray into Tennessee…….and the season has not yet begun!” 

 

Debi Muncey

Member, Board of Directors, ULHRA Inc.

 

John Lynch, ULHRA P.R. Director contributed to this report.

 

 

Hopp Racing Repairs, Part 2

 

In this edition owner and co-driver Jerry Hopp details the steps taken after the initial inspection, outlined in the first report. 

 

In these pictures we found a 5 inch crack, one that we had previously repaired but it came back.  The crack is located at the right rear of the “engine well”.  We cut a piece out of the decking to look for additional damage but found none.  I suspect that flexing of the boat due to the broken ribs in the sponson could be the cause of this crack.  Nonetheless we glued an additional frame to the back in order to beef up this area.  Then we cut out a new piece of honeycombs and glued that back into the deck.  After that we vacuum bag some glass over the repair, add some Bondo, paint, etc.  A good bit of work for a “backup-display boat” but that’s why we have both hulls. When the “Eagle” hull is racing” the “Auld Hull” can be on display or in a parade for our sponsors.  Plus, after this off season work we know the “Auld” will be race ready, and with the amount of damage caused in the flip at Port Angeles, the Auld may have to start the season for Hopp Racing-Schellhase Racing in Phoenix. 

 

Jerry Hopp

 

Just how important is preseason inspection? 

 

Answer:  Absolutely essential. 

 

Team owner-driver Jerry Hopp checks in with the first installment of off season work for the Hopp Racing-Schellhase Racing organization.  This combined team has two successful racing hulls with which to compete.  The newer of the two is the UL-12 owned by Bob Schellhase and originally built by Paul Droullard, Jim Mowrey, Ron Jones Jr. and others as the American Eagle. This craft has twice set the ULHRA single lap speed record, once by Paul Droullard in 2004 at San Diego at 122.324 mph and broken two years later by Greg Hopp at 126.528.  The “Eagle hull” flipped at the season ending race in Port Angeles and will be the topic of a future report. This feature is based on what Jerry calls the “Old Alamo Boat” and what we like to call the “Auld Alamo Boat” in honor of builder Jamie Auld.  The boat debuted as the Alamo Rent A Car and was driven to 12 victories and 3 titles by Bo Schide from 1997-1999.  Acquired by Hopp Racing in 2001 the boat was driven by Jerry Hopp to the team’s first ever UL victory at Seattle (also Jerry’s first ever victory at Seafair) in 2002 (Hopp Racing began competing in Unlimited Lights in 1995) in one of the most exciting final heat duals on record with 4 teams battling for the lead to begin the final lap.  From there the team won the Unlimited Lights title from 2003 through 2006 and was runner-up in 2007. The Auld hull opened the 2007 season for Hopp Racing-Schellhase racing while the ex Eagle hull was undergoing cockpit updates and other work.  Greg drove the Auld hull to its 32nd race victory at Richland in May and later won the Phoenix exhibition in November.  Incidentally, next closest in all time wins is the “Red Boat”, the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric which has 22 race victories for Impact Racing out of Issaquah WA.  The Hopp Racing and Impact Racing teams have won all 8 of this decade’s UL series championships with the 72 team capturing top honors from 2000 through 2002 and in 2007. 

 

What follows is Jerry Hopp detailing of what was found on the “Auld” boat in pre-season inspection.

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing.

 

Take the boat that hasn't run too much in the last two seasons and placed first in its last race at Firebird Lake in Phoenix, AZ. The boat looks to be in great shape. One 5" crack in the right rear of the engine compartment. So we get out the inspection sheet that you can download from the Forms page of the ULHRA web site.       

 

__A. Check for looseness from frames          You get the picture.

__B. Check for loose fiberglass

__C. Check for cracks

__D. Check for loose trim

 

Two of us start inspecting the hull from the back of the boat, one on each side. Remove all of the deck hatches on the whole boat. We were using the "Quarter Test". You take a quarter (25 cent piece or equivalent in size) and start tapping every couple of inches on the sponson shoes, non trip, deck and bottom. You should hear a nice sharp click. If you get a dull sound, tap around that area and mark out the spot with tape so you can see the size of the soft spot. Some spots are OK some could be more serious. Depending on how big, how many and location maybe it's just a spot that has or needs some Bondo, or maybe it’s more serious. Map out the whole boat, see what you have, and if you don't know the cause ask for some help.

 

On the "Old Alamo Boat" we found a soft spot on the front bottom of one sponsons. The other sponson had some funny clicks around it. So we got out the drop light and took a real good look inside the deck hatches. Well we found a crack in a rib inside the right sponson. So we cut part of the deck off so we could get a better look. Now we have two ribs broken in half top to bottom. So more deck come off. more damage inside. We end up with some separated frames. Now we end up with 8 feet of the deck taken off so that we can make the repairs. The following is some photos of what we found and are in the process of repairing. Then paint work, decals etc. When these boat's take those great photogenic leaps out of the water the landing is anything but kind to the hull.

 

We also pull the rudder, fin and strut to clean and check for corrosion, cracks or damage that you can't find when it's all bolted together.

 

These pictures show the two smaller holes growing into most of the sponson deck removed and then the frames pulled out.

 

 

Jerry Hopp

 

 

Press Release: Team Toothpick Racing:

 

Team Toothpick Racing is proud to announce they we will be fielding a two boat team for the upcoming 2008 ULHRA Lighter than Lights 4 cylinder series. Leslie “Poodle” Warren will be driving the all new “Beck Electric Supply Presents” My Joy II. Poodle is coming off of a great rookie season where she proved that she belongs behind the wheel and the team has stepped up and delivered a new boat for her going into her sophomore season.

 

Team is also ecstatic to announce that Port Angeles’ Dave Solway will be piloting the teams other boat, the S-136 My Joy. Dave has been a test driver for the team and was the teams assistant crew chief in ’07. Dave brings a great attitude and a ton of excitement to the team. We look forward to a great year and can’t wait for it to get started.

 

See everyone in the pits,

Shawn “Big Dog” Warren

Team Manager, Team Toothpick Racing

 

The “Lights” are back on at Tri Cities.

 

(Tukwila WA February 12, 2008)

The Unlimited Lights, that is.  Unlimited Light Hydroplanes to be exact.

 

Ron Hue, President of the Tri Cities Water Follies Association (TCWF) and Joe Frauenheim, President of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. (ULHRA) announce today the return of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing series to the Columbia Cup event after a one year hiatus. .

 

The UL class features the brightest new star in hydroplane racing.  Ms. Kayleigh Perkins from Black Diamond WA and not yet 20 years of age took Unlimited Light racing by storm in 2007 with a boat racing equivalent of the “hat trick”.  She earned Rookie of the Year honors, her team along with co-driver Patrick Haworth of Valleyfield, Quebec won the Unlimited Lights Championship and Perkins herself was the Driver Champion in 2007 behind the wheel of the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric.  She became the first woman in the modern era to not only win a race (Silverdale WA 2007) but also win a championship in major hydroplane racing. In 2008 Ms. Perkins and the 72 team will resume their rivalry with Hopp Racing / Schellhase Racing.  Those two teams have won all 8 championships since the ye ar 2000.  Greg Hopp of Snohomish WA has 17 career victories to lead all UL drivers since the series was formed in 1995.  Those 17 wins go along 4 team titles (2002-2006) and two driving titles in his Unlimited Light Racing Series career.

 

On the Columbia River course local race fans can always expect a supreme effort by the Xaudaro brothers.  Vince “X-Man” Xaudaro, a 1985 graduate of Kamiakin High School and a veteran Unlimited Light owner-driver comes into the new season with a different ride.  Xaudaro has teamed with Jim & Karon Wilmot to combine racing assets around the Wilmot’s former UL-21 hull that was the first Unlimited Light to race with a supercharged engine back in 2001.  Xaudaro and Wilmot are racing what’s called a “naturally aspirated” or non supercharged engine, which allows the team both greater cubic inches in the engine well and less weight overall.  Younger brother Charles Xaudaro along with team owners Greg & Lora Walden bring the U L-98 Miss Atomic Screen Printing out for their second campaign; one that was cut short at Silverdale last August due to hull damage.  This July will be Charles’ first time competing in an Unlimited Light on the The Waldens, the first Tri Cities area team owners in ULHRA history acquired the oldest hull in the UL fleet in 2007, a hull that continues to amaze with its ability to compete.  It began racing life after being constructed by Ron Jones Sr. for what was then called the 7 Liter class back in 1974.

 

Plenty of competition awaits racing fans at the Tri Cities event.  In 2007 a total of twenty three teams competed including a ULHRA record 17 teams at one event.  That mark could well be exceeded at Tri Cities in 2008.  Top competitors in the UL series include Paul Becker in the UL-14 Compuware Presents Miss Critical Logic.  Becker, a retired airline and US Navy pilot is an aggressive driver with a new more competitive ride.  Third year team owner-driver J. Craig Fletcher of Mercer Island WA made the biggest move in the off-season, acquiring the UL-33 team from retired owners Bob & Janet Estes.  The 33 is the predecessor to the UL-72, both created by Ron Jones Sr, and it has 12 career victories in the Unlimited Light series including the season ending race of 2007 in Port Angeles WA where it wa s driven to victory by Duvall WA’s March Echolls.

 

Another top competitor is the largest Unlimited Light in the fleet checking in at 26 feet in length and over 3500 lbs.  The UL-19 from Five Star Racing out of Everett WA and driven by Tacoma’s Ryan Mallow won two races in 2006 but had an off campaign in 2007.  Expect a major comeback by this team with the Dale Van Wierengen design that clocked over 121 mph in 2006, only the second hull in ULHRA history to surpass 121 for a single lap.  That’s a mark that could fall on the swift Columbia River course.

 

The 2008 season will also feature a brother-sister rivalry for the first time as both Kayleigh and older brother Brian Perkins will compete.  Brian returns to the helm of the UL-40, owned by Chuck Dow of Auburn WA and Thunder Valley Racing.  Brian won the race at Issaquah in 2006 in this ride and while driving a turbine last year he subbed a couple times in the UL-40; winning two heats.  

 

Wil & Debi Muncey and their UL-00 expect to be a stronger entrant at Tri Cities. The team is running two boats this season; their UL-83 for shorter-tighter race courses and the UL-00, the former UL-23 Pegasus on longer courses like the 1 2/3’s mile oval at Columbia Park.  Muncey, the son of racing legend Bill Muncey will now have a more capable ride for the big course and the Muncey team could well be one to reckon with at the end of July, possibly with a gasoline fueled supercharged engine.

 

Also from the “blower” contingent is the UL-8 Baker Equipment entry.  Bob & Kathleen Baker’s tandem wing hull will be driven in 2008 by Kip Brown, nephew of U-17 owner and retired driver Nate Brown.  Kip may pull double duty at Tri Cities as Greg Hopp has often done at a race with both Unlimited Lights and turbines, or backup driver Kevin Eacret may get the call.  Eacret becomes the 14th graduate from ULHRA’s “Lighter than LIGHTS” series for limited inboard hydroplanes as he moves up to the ranks of the Unlimited Lights.

 

The Tri Cities event will become the third of “Five in a Row” for the Unlimited Lights’ fleet; the most aggressive scheduling ever in ULHRA history.  The five week run begins in Chamberlain-Oacoma, South Dakota on July12th & 13th.  This is a brand new event called “River City Racin” followed by another brand new event, the Anderson Broadcasting RADIO WAVES Regatta on Flathead Lake at Polson MT, July 19 & 20.  Then it’s the Columbia Cup event followed by Seattle and Silverdale WA.  Due to pit area limitations in Seattle that allow only 14 Unlimited Lights to compete, and because entry at Seafair will be decided by ULHRA points at the end of the Tri Cities event, the Columbia River race could see the largest turnout ever of Unlimited Light Hydroplanes at a single race.

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing

 

Anderson Broadcasting returns hydroplane racing to Flathead Lake MT

 

(Tukwila WA  February 11, 2008)

RADIO WAVES Regatta brings the powerful and exciting Unlimited Light Hydroplanes to Polson MT this July.  Anderson Broadcasting President Dennis Anderson and Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association President Joe Frauenheim announced today that Regatta Beach at Polson MT on Flathead Lake will be the site as a full fleet of high speed automotive powered hydroplanes return to this picturesque setting.  The RADIO WAVES Regatta will be held the weekend of July 19th & 20th at Regatta Beach.

Anderson Radio Broadcasting, Inc. is owned and operated by Dennis and Nila Anderson, and includes 4 stations serving the Flathead Lake region; KERR AM Polson, KQRK FM Ronan/Kalispell, KIBG FM Bigfork/Kalispell, and KKMT FM Pablo/Kalispell, with more under construction this year.  Dennis Anderson says "my father, Andy Anderson promoted the races at this very same site back in the 70's and 80's so we're proud to bring back a great tradition of exciting family fun on Flathead Lake, and a destination event in a spectacular location."

ULHRA President Joe Frauenheim, from Issaquah WA, noted “there’s a rich history of racing on Flathead Lake and we at ULHRA are proud to mark the return of hydros to Regatta Beach and are just as proud of our association with Anderson Broadcasting, one of Montana's leading independent radio station companies. Dennis Anderson has signed a 3 year agreement and this will truly become one of the hallmark events on our circuit”.  Frauenheim went on to say that mid-July is perfect for racing in Montana and this brand new event follows another brand new event, River City Racin’ in Chamberlain-Oacoma South Dakota, July 12th & 13th.   Frauenheim took a personal interest in this race site as he recalled that band leader Guy Lombardo’s Tempo VII was the winner of all three heats when the then Copper Cup featured WWII powered hydroplanes in 1955.  The ULHRA President acquired and restored Lombardo’s previous hull, the Tempo VI which won the 1946 Gold Cup.   

The ULHRA’s legacy series, Unlimited Light Hydroplanes, features the newest star in boat racing and she made quite an impression in her rookie campaign.  19 year old Kayleigh Perkins co-drove the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric to the Unlimited Light Championship.  In the process she earned the driving championship as well as Rookie of the Year.  This season Ms. Perkins, from Black Diamond WA hopes to avoid the proverbial “sophomore slump” but notes she has an outstanding crew and consistency is what won the championship in 2007.  Reminding audiences that "in order to finish first, you first have to finish" Perkins became the first woman in the modern era to win a major hydroplane race, at Silverdale WA in 2007 as well as win the driving championship.  Co-driver Patrick Haworth of Valleyfield, Quebec Canada took first in his hometown race and second at San Diego to help propel the Boat Electric team to their 4th championship, all the while finishing every heat but one through the 2007 season. The team also secured 3 titles from 2000 through 2002 when the driver was Frauenheim’s business partner and co-owner of the UL-72, Phil Bononcini of Redmond WA. 

 

ULHRA has become the fastest growing circuit in hydroplane racing.  The series set a one event record last year when 17 teams entered a race in Issaquah WA.  That number may well be exceeded in 2008, and it’s possible Flathead Lake could be the place.  A total of 23 Unlimited Hydroplanes competed in 2007 and more teams have joined the “fleet” for 2008. Further building interest from teams to race in Polson MT is the Graham Trucking Cup at Seattle, two weeks after the RADIO WAVES Regatta. Because of pit area limitations in Seattle only 14 Unlimited Lights can be entered.  Series points will decide whi ch teams qualify to race at Seattle and Polson MT may well be the location that decides who’s out and who’s in. 

 

Ms. Perkins and the UL-72 will face stiff competition all season long.  After a string of 4 series championships was ended by the Miss Boat Electric in 2007, Greg Hopp and the UL-12 Schellhase Racing entry look to start a new streak of championships. Hopp from Snohomish WA is the career leader in race victories in Unlimited Light Hydroplanes with 17.  He was on his way to a fifth consecutive championship when his season ended in a spectacular flip while attempting to qualify for the 2007 series finale at Port Angeles WA.  Another strong runner is owner-driver Paul Becker and his UL-14 Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic.  Becker, from Bellevue WA is a retired Northwest Airlines and US Navy pilot.  The race craft Becker acquired last year has 4 victories in Unlimited L ights and Becker is aiming for his first career win in 2008.

 

Two time winner in 2006, Ryan Mallow and the UL-19 Five Star Racing entry expects to be a prime contender in 2008.  Mallow, from Tacoma WA, wheels the largest Unlimited Light on the circuit, the supercharged UL-19 which stretches the tape to the UL limit of 26 feet, and weighs over 3,500 lbs.  The Unlimited Light minimum weight for hydroplanes with supercharged engines is 2,700 lbs.  Teams that don’t use superchargers can weigh 2,500 lbs with the maximum 511 cubic inch “naturally aspirated” engine.  Smaller powerplants allow UL hydroplanes to weigh as little as 2,000 lbs.

 

The team that won the final race of 2007 has been acquired by third year racer J. Craig Fletcher of Mercer Island WA and is one of the quickest hydroplanes on the circuit. Four previous drivers have taken the UL-33 to twelve victories since debuting in 1997.    Still another entrant with an improving team is veteran racer Wil Muncey.  If that name sounds a bit familiar, yes Wil is the son of hydroplane racing legend, the late Bill Muncey who himself competed on Flathead Lake. 

 

Unlimited Light hydroplanes can range from 20 feet in length to 26 feet in length and are powered by purpose built automotive based racing engines, either naturally aspirated or supercharged.  The 2008 Unlimited Light season begins April 25-27th in Phoenix AZ at Firebird International Raceway.  

For more information on the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association and to follow the sport all year long, log on to www.ulhra.org  

 

John Lynch

P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing

 

ULHRA 2007 Annual Banquet...Meet the Family

 

     

Photos Courtesy: Gold Cup Video

 

On the Lighter side…

4-cylinder stock champ paints his way to the big time

By Bud McKay

It’s been a busy off-season for the 2007 4-Cylinder Stock Lighter-Than-LIGHTS champion Kevin Eacret. He’s got two bigger boats to fix for the 2008 season – one of them is a really big boat.

Driving double duty in the Lighter-Than-LIGHTS series in 2007, Eacret piloted the Lil’ Miss Boat Electric on the 4-cylinder side as well as the 8-Cylinder Stock hydroplane Baker Equipment. Both boats owned by Eacret’s dad, Barry. After winning the Graham Trucking Cup at Silverdale Thunder in August in his first time in the 8-cylinder hull, Eacret blew the red-flamed hull over in his second race. The damage was minor, but the boat was out for the remainder of the season.

That left him able to concentrate on the smaller boat. And considering that he was in his rookie season, that made his 2007 title even that much more impressive.

"What turned out to be the key to me winning the high points was making the decision to race in Richland and getting double points," he said.

To increase boat counts at two, separate one-day races on the same weekend, the LTLs earned double points if they raced at Richland’s Desert Thunder on May 19 and then at Spanaway May 20. Eacret nearly pulled off a final heat win over Brian Perkins at Desert Thunder, but Perkins came back to win by one boat length. It would be the closest Eacret came to winning a final heat in the 4-cylinders in 2007, still he finished strong in every race of the season earning solid points. And the 32-year-old Lake Stevens resident did end up winning the 8-cylinder race at Silverdale.

During the off season, Eacret’s been repairing the 8-cylinder hull and is just about done. Of course, he gets a little extra help from his 6-year-old daughter Alexis.

"She pretty much goes where I go when I’m working on the boats," Eacret said. "She’s a crew chief in training, you might say. But give her a broom and she’s occupied for hours."

Eacret’s currently occupied with the UL-8 Boat Trader.com presents Baker Equipment Racing, driven by Kip Brown and owned by Bob and Kathleen Baker. At first, Eacret was just helping paint the Bakers’ hull. Now, he’s officially the backup driver for the team.

"I was just talking with Bob about painting the boat when I heard he was looking for a driver," Eacret said. "I told him that I’d like to put my name in for it."

Eacret said that he didn’t think he’d get much consideration with his one year of experience on his resume. But week after week Eacret showed up at the UL-8 shop and was doing far more with the team than he planned to. Besides that, Baker partly sponsored his dad’s 8-cylinder hydro as well and already knew Eacret showed the talent as a driver.

"If they needed a second or third set of hands, I just jumped in," he said.

Baker rewarded him by offering him the backup role for the UL-8.

"I can’t wait – I’m so excited," Eacret said. "That’s a lot of boat and power."

Eacret splits his time between the two boat shops. Eacret still plans to race the 8-cylinder hull in the LTL series in 2008. His brother, Phil, will take over as driver of the 4-cylinder hull.

Eacret plans to be at Phoenix for the season opening Trafficade presents Unlimited Lights at Firebird in April. He’ll get some practice time in the UL-8, but he plans to bring the 8-cylinder hull to race as well. Either way, he’s eager to get the 2008 season off and running.

"You know, I can’t sit here and tell you that my number one goal is to be a high points champion," Eacret said. "What I really want to do this year is concentrate on improving my driving skills – hit good starts, run clean races and be right up there competitively. If I do that, then the points will add up and we might just win the high points."

The head painter for Collision Precision in Monroe, Eacret said that the people at work have been very supportive in his racing pursuit and allowing him time off when he has to travel to race. It could be he’ll lean on them even a little more as the bigger boat and racing for two teams means more travel plans to race.

Click here for updates from January 2008