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“If you want to finish first…………………………
you first have to finish”. In simple terms, Kayleigh did and Greg did not and that’s how the season opener for ULHRA ended as Trafficade Work Zone Services presented the Unlimited Lights at Firebird International Raceway at Chandler AZ.
This was no sprint; it was a marathon; 5 heats of racing over the course of 3 days on what may be the toughest race course for UL teams to compete. Very tight turns on the 1 ¼ mile Firebird International Raceway course challenges the drivers and their crews who set up the hydroplanes.
Through the first four heats Kayleigh Perkins in the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric and Greg & Jerry Hopp in the UL-15 Graham Trucking GT-Happy Go Lucky won all of their preliminaries as the luck of the draws never matched the two leading teams in the series. In the Final they finally met. Greg Hopp took the lead out of turn number 1 and was about a half roostertail length in front going into turn #2. Because my view as race announcer to the second turn was blocked by a truck parked in the wrong spot, I didn’t see what happened to Greg’s ride, but when the teams came into view, Kayleigh Perkins was leading and Paul Becker was second in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic. Greg’s ride succumbed to mechanical problems and ultimately drifted into view.
Nine Unlimited Lights teams made the early season-opening trek to Phoenix. Paul Becker was every bit as consistent as Kayleigh Perkins with one exception. While Kayleigh won all 5 of her heats, Paul finished second in all 5 of his heats and sits third in the ULHRA standings with 1500 points, just behind Greg Hopp in second with 1600 while Ms. Perkins has 2000 competition points.
Oregon’s Bob Smets and his UL-20 Smetco Overtime demonstrated much improvement over 2007. Unfortunately the team ran into engine problems and had to withdraw midway through the weekend, but with a new 509 engine awaiting installation they will be ready to compete at race number two in Richland WA on May 17 & 18.
Wil Muncey in the UL-00……the “Little Red Boat” from the two boat Muncey fleet, took a first and second in preliminary competition before a freak battery failure in the electric fuel pump led to a damaged engine and early withdrawal. That was the story of the Trafficade team at Phoenix as all 3 boats, Muncey’s UL-00, plus the two Dennis Johnson owned race craft; the UL-93 Desperado and the G-93 Johnson-Wolfe Racing Special were ultimately beached due to engine failures, but not before showing all three are quite competitive. This weekend (May 3 & 4) both the Desperado and the Muncey Trafficade will join the Mike Sadlon owned UL-89 Lake Trash Apparel and the G-10 of Milton & Charley Wiggins at Pickwick Landing TN for an exhibition of ULHRA Racing.
Michael Flaherty drove the UL-11 Roxy 94.5 presents Power Punch to a first & second place finish in preliminary competition, but like the Muncey team ran into problems in the third heat and weren’t able to recover. However, considering the team was barely able to finish last minute hull issues in time to leave the Seattle area on Wednesday night and arrived at the pit area on Friday morning at 10:00am, it certainly was a productive weekend for the Darren Bartels owned team from Buckley WA.
Florida’s Mike Sadlon was unable to drive his UL-89 Lake Trash Apparel entry but Illinois’ Marty Wolfe stepped in as substitute driver, picking up a second and a third place finish in the two heats the team completed. Wolfe also provided excellent technical assistance to the Sadlon team.
A new award was presented for the first time; the Grace Under Pressure Award, by Mechanix Gloves. The team earning the honor: ULHRA’s first Texas based team, the UL-39 Rouly Heat Exchangers “Pressure’s On” with driver “Smokin Joe” Souza of Lakewood WA. Souza along with Crew Chief Tom Bock, team owner Bob Scribner and son Kevin Scribner and the rest of the team worked long hours putting the finishing touches on a hydroplane that hadn’t touched the water since 2003. The craft is the original UL-929 of Vince X-Man Xaudaro and was acquired out of Mexico a year ago. It’s a “sister hull” to the UL-20 Smetco Overtime and working overtime is exactly what the team did. Finally, in time for the Semi Final Heat the UL-39 was ready to make a start. Unfortunately no other teams were able to start that heat and the race was black flagged. But the 39 team did make a legal start and their ULHRA career is now underway. Look for marked improvement at Richland.
On the Thunderboat side at Firebird, that “if you want to finish first……….mantra was never better exemplified than by David Warren; sole owner and driver of the G-329 Block Head Machine presents My Town Motors. Finishing a heat, any heat, has been a challenge since this original Thunderboat team began in 2005. This weekend was flawless, except for the broken supercharger belt that derailed the G-329 in one preliminary heat. Otherwise, excellent engine performance from the Block Head Machine built supercharged 572 V-8 and led to a close, exciding, and popular first time victory in the Final over R.W. Dick Lynch in the G-13 Jet Chevrolet.com Tempo. For the fans of nitro drag boat racing at Phoenix, the “Thunderboat Final” was what they liked…….fast, closely contested…and LOUD! To top off things for Dave Warren he was presented the Wyatt’s Diamond Jewelers Outstanding Performance of the Weekend Award: an exquisite Wyatt’s Watch from the Monroe WA company.
For the Jet Chevrolet team the first race of the year was a complete reversal of fortune compared to 2007 when it seemed that if something could go wrong, it did. With 4 heat finishes including one outright victory, the G-13 leads the North American Challenge Cup standings by 200 points over the G-329.
It appeared that the G-17 Checker Auto Parts driven by Dustin Echols was destined for the win with 3 preliminary heat victories. However the boat spun-out in turn one of the Final and Echols did not finish. Co-owner Shawn Bridgeman said their backup engine was a convoluted set of parts that ran far better than they expected after their G-468 engine was damaged in testing. The team knew the backup it didn’t meet the G-468 specs but wanted to run….and run they did! Meahwhile the G-93 Trafficade from Johnson Wolfe Racing driven by Marty Wolfe was also a strong runner. This hull was originally built by Jamie Auld and driven by Jimmy King in the 90’s but had been idle since 1996 till hitting the water on Friday at Firebird. Wolfe won the first heat over David Warren while the G-13 did not start and the G-17 had to withdraw from the first heat when their primary engine failed at the end of testing. In the second round Echols bested Warren and Lynch won after Wolfe’s ride pitched a rod through the bottom of the hull and had to withdraw for the weekend. Note that for the heats they did complete neither the G-17 nor G-93 received competition points because the engines they used at the time were out of compliance with Thunderboat rules. However they do receive the Bonus and Participation Points for the Phoenix event.
The teams from the Phoenix AZ event will be joined by many others for race number two on the ULHRA calendar. It will be Desert Thunder II at Howard Amon Park in Richland WA, May 17th and 18th and broadcast live throughout eastern Washington by 610AM Information Radio KONA.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and “Voice” of ULHRA Racing.
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Sunday Finals at Firebird
Saturday Heats at Firebird
Thunderboats at Firebird
Thunderboats at Firebird Photo courtesy of Phil Bononcini
Perkins and Hopp each 3 for 3.
Greg and Jerry Hopp each secured a heat victory on Saturday at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler AZ while Kayleigh Perkins drove to two victories. With three preliminary heats completed the UL-15 Graham Trucking - Happy Go Lucky and UL-72 Miss Boat Electric are tied with 1200 points. Perkins, the defending Unlimited Lights Champion and Hopp Racing which won the 4 previous titles from 2003-2006 are starting the season as if it'll again be a two boat battle till October.
Other teams are trying hard to end that run of 8 years of either Hopp Racing or Impact Racing winning the Unlimited Lights championship.
Paul Becker and his UL-14 Miss Critical Logic has 3 solid second place finishes for a total of 900 points on the weekend. If the standings hold through the 4th preliminary heat on Sunday morning it will mean that Perkins, Hopp & Becker will race for the Trafficade presents ULHRA Racing at Firebird title. Three boats per heat is the maximum for either the Unlimited Lights (UL) or Thunderboats (G) on the tight 1 1/4 mile long Firebird Lake course. The teams with the 4th, 5th & 6th place point totals after Sunday morning's preliminary heats will also compete in a separate Final to determine 4th, 5th & 6th place.
For Wil Muncey, Marty Wolfe and Randy Hurst it was a day of victory and ultimate defeat. For Muncey in the UL-00 Trafficade he picked up his first heat victory since joining the Unlimited Lights circuit at San Diego in 2005. Muncey defeated Michael Flaherty and Bob Smets for the win in Heat 2B. However in Heat 3A the high of a heat victory was followed by the low of mechanical failure that's knocked out the Muncey Racing team for the rest of this event. Going into tomorrow's preliminary and Final heat Muncey would have been tied for 5th place in points with Michael Flaherty; total of 700 each. Muncey has withdrawn from Sunday's competition. Unfortunately so has Randy Wolfe and Dennis Johnson's two other entries. the UL-93 Desperado and the G-93 Johnson-Wolfe Racing Special following drive train damage to each on Saturday.
On the Thunderboats (G) side of things, R.W. Dick Lynch in the Jet Chevrolet-Tempo G-13 picked up the victory in Heat section 2 following a spirited battle with G-93 driver Marty Wolfe who's boat expired shortly after being passed by Lynch. . Dustin Echolds scored a victrory in Heat section 3. Dave Warner in the G-329 Block Head Machine leads in points over Lynch in the G-13 by 100 going into the 4th heat on Sunday.
For the Lighter than LIGHTS, Bud Mckay and Mike Schroeder traded victories today. McKay's win followed a mechanic failur aboard Schroeder's E-23 Tight Spot and victory went to the E-10 Geico Insurance of Lakewood WA. In the 3rd heat the results were reversed, except that the driver of the E-10 was Steve Clark.....owner driver of the E-222 but in town to help McKay's team.
The 4th preliminary heat section will begin on Sunday around 12 noon Mountain Standard Time and the Final will be around 3:30pm. Sunday.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and "Voice" of ULHRA Racing.
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Lake Trash: The Official Apparel of the ULHRA
Perkins & Hopp win as expected. Flaherty's win unexpected.
The story of the first heat section of the first race of 2008 for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series was more of the same. Separated in the first round Kayleigh Perkins in the Miss Boat Electric, the 2007 UL champion, won over Wil Muncey and Marty Wolfe in Heat 1B at the Trafficade presents ULHRA at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix AZ. The 19 year old Ms. Perkins battled with Muncey for 2 laps before securing the victory on the back stretch of the thrid & final lap. Muncey, driving the UL-00 Trafficade sponsored hydroplane finished about a roostertal length behind in second, while Marty Wolfe, substituting for Mike Sadlon in the UL-89 Miss Lake Trash Apparel wound up third.
In Heat 1A, Greg Hopp, driving the Graham Trucking G.T. - Happy Go Lucky took first over a determined Paul Becker in second in the Miss Critical Logic. Third place went to a strong performance by Oregon's Bob Smets in the UL-20 Smetco-Overtime.
The surprise was Heat 1C. Randy Hurst in the UL-93 Trafficade Safety Sales entry appeared on his way to a convincing victory when his ride went dead in the water at the end of lap #2. Flaherty, the only other starter in 1C motored on to victory in the UL-11 Roxy 94.5 presents Miss Power Punch Oil Supplements. It was the first finish for this team since acquiring this former Grand Prix Hull (Executiff III) a couple of years ago. This team, owned by Darren Bartels of Buckley WA was making it's first run of the season, and to date it's only successful run after an abreviated debut at Silverdale WA last August.
The tight 1 1/4 mile race course on Firebird Lake can handle only 3 boats at a time, particularly with the drag race course being a big consideration. ULHRA teams are racing here at part of the season opener of the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series season opener.
The nine Unlimited Lights were drawn into three preliminary heats. The UL-39 Rouly Heat Exchangers "Pressure's On" entry, to be driven by "Smokin Joe" Souza was unable to start Heat 1C but expects to be racing on Saturday in day 2 of this 3 day event.
Four Thunderboat (G) teams made the trek to the Valley of the Sun and based on test runs earlier in the day it appeared that Marty Wolfe in the G-93 Johnson-Wolfe Racing Special and Dustin Echolls in the G-17 Checker Auto Parts would be the chief combatants. Unfortunately the Checker Auto Parts hydroplane sustained severe engine damage at the end of their test session on Firday morning and was unable to complete an engine swap in time. Wolfe, driving the boat that Dennis Johnson of Trafficade purchased from New Jersey's Roger Mahan over the winter, scored a solid victory over a vastly improved Dave Warren in the G-329 My Town Motors. R.W. Dick Lynch and the G-17 Jet Chevrolet - Tempo was unable to start the Thunderboat heat but that team expects to race on Saturday.
On the Lighter than LIGHTS side, newcomer to ULHRA Mike Schroeder in the 8 cylinder E-23 Tight Spot took first place over Bud McKay in the E-10 Geico Insurance of Lakewood WA. The third starter in the field was 4 cylinder entrant Kevin Eacret in the S-6 Geiko II of Lakewood - Lil' Miss Boat Electric. Eacret had 400 first place points in the 4 cylinder category wrapped up, but his boat faled to finish, going dead in the water at the exit pin of the final turn on the last lap.
Two more heat sections are scheduled on Saturday with the first expected to begin around 11:30am Pacific Daylight Time (2:30pm Eastern time). Live web cast coverage will continue for all heats of ULHRA racing through the weekend here at www.ulhra.org
John Lynch
P.R. Director and "Voice" of ULHRA Racing.
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Pictures at Firebird courtesy of Gold Cup Video
Friday Testing at Firebird Raceway
G 329 Preparing for Testing at Firebird Photo Courtesy of Phil Bononcini
The boats lined up at Firebird for Testing Photo Courtesy of Phil Bononcini
TranquilityHomeCare.com joins the flying ‘Gecko’ and Namron Racing Team for 2008
BELFAIR, Wash. – TranquilityHomeCare.com is the latest sponsor to join Belfair’s GEICO of Lakewood Presents the Namron Racing Team 8-Cylinder Lighter-Than-LIGHTS racing team. The sponsorship became official after the Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association’s Spring Training session on Lake Washington Thursday.
Owned by Elsa and Brent Hall, TranquilityHomeCare.com is a new adult family home provider offering luxury and waterfront adult family homes with top quality care for seniors in the Bothell, Bellevue, Seattle and surrounding areas.
“We’re proud to be one of the sponsors for the Namron Racing Team,” Hall said. “I saw Bud McKay in action at the Spring Training session the other day. He is what he said – ‘the biggest, little kid’ in the pits. He talks to the fans like they’re old friends. He was grabbing kids who were just walking by and putting them in the cockpit. He’s a great spokesman for not only his team but for the sport of hydroplane racing.”
Bud McKay, owner/driver of the GEICO of Lakewood Presents the Namron Racing Team, said TranquilityHomeCare.com’s sponsorship allowed his team to make the trip to Firebird Raceway, in Chandler, Ariz., for this weekend’s season opening Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association hydroplane race.
“TranquilityHomeCare.com made a huge commitment to our team and our program that will give us an opportunity to get every point we can this season in Lighter-Than-LIGHTS racing,” McKay said, the two-time defending series high points champion. “We’ll have the boat out for the residents to see at TranquilityHomeCare.com during the season. This will give the residents a break from watching Brent in the back yard running his radio controlled hydroplanes up and down the Sammamish River. I guess there are two ‘big kids’ in this newly formed partnership.”
TranquilityHomeCare.com joins GEICO of Lakewood, Wash., and McDonough and Sons Inc., as the Namron Racing Team’s primary sponsors for the 2008 season. The GEICO of Lakewood Presents the Namron Racing Team won the 8-Cylinder LTL high points titles in 2006 and 2007.
From the Lighter Side…
By Bud McKay
Three Lighter-Than-LIGHTS team took advantage of the 2008 Spring Training event at Lake Washington on Wednesday. Philip Eacret drove the defending 4-Cylinder LTL champion, Miss Little Boat Electric on the sport’s most famous course. But boat owner Barry Eacret wasn’t too thrilled.
“It was an OK run, but we’re still not getting the RPMs we should,” he said. “The engine was running great. We’re happy with that totally. The hull was riding like she should, too. But we’re going to look for a different prop to see if that helps. We’ll still be right up there, but you know…it’s never enough.”
Eacret’s nephew, Austin Eacret, had the old “Tsunami” hull dancing and running faster than that hull’s ever gone. It’s dialed in, much to the delight of owner, his dad, Paul.
“She’s like a whole new boat,” Paul said. “We’ve changed pretty much everything, and Austin has it just flying.”
Two-time defending 8-Cylinder LTL champion Bud McKay made two runs in his GEICO Presents The Namron Racing Team. Both runs were flawless, I said…I mean, he said.
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Shockwave Racing: News Release
The Dustin Echols driven G-17 will compete at Firebird International Raceway this weekend as Checker Auto Parts, presented by Shockwave Racing. April 25-27 is the Trafficade presents ULHRA Racing at Firebird in Chandler AZ near Phoenix and is the season opener for the Thunderboats in the North American Challenge Cup Series.
The Shockwave team has raced with sponsorship in the Pacific NW from Schucks Auto Supply over the past 3 seasons and the addition of Checker Auto Parts for the Phoenix event expands that relationship. Checker, Schucks, Kragen and Murray's Auto Parts are all part of the CSK company with stores across the USA. The firm is headquartered in the Phoenix area and has become best known in motorsports as the Official Auto Parts Store of the National Hot Rod Association and sponsor of the Del Worsham driven Funny Car. Shockwave Racing is proud to introduce Checker Auto Parts to what we call "Racing, ULHRA Style".
Shockwave RacingSeason opener two days away!
Testing and Qualifying will be held on Friday (4-25) with racing on Saturday and Sunday as Trafficade Presents ULHRA at Firebird International Raceway. The narrow 1 1/4 race course is situated around the 1/4 mile drag boat race course and both ULHRA and the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series will be competing this weekend.
ULHRA Video will have live coverage throughout the weekend here at www.ulhra.org. Because of contractural arrangements ULHRA Video can show only ULHRA racing; not the IHBA drag boats.
It's one thing to race in your home state. It's something else entirely to pack up one's "shop" and raceboat and haul it 1500 miles one-way to a race site, as was discussed in a recent Roostertales feature on this website by Muncey Racing Crew Chief Chris Drewees. Twenty ULHRA teams in three divisions are doing exactly that and for the first time outside of the state of Washington, Unlimited Lights (UL), Thunderboats (G), and Lighter than LIGHTS (LTL) will be competing at the same venue.
All eyes will be on 19 year old Kayleigh Perkins of Black Diamond WA to see if she can repeat a phenomenal first season of Unlimited Lights racing. She won the Driver's title and Rookie of the Year plus the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric team picked up their 4th Unlimited Lights Championship in 2007. The team also won the title with co-owner Phil Bononcini driving from 2000 - 2002. Leading the charge of competitors at Phoenix will be the UL-15 Graham Trucking GT-Happy Go Lucky of Jerry & Greg Hopp. The Hopp Racing Team, along with Schellhase Racing won the UL title from 2003-2006. This year Hopp Racing will field their familiar Jamie Auld hull and Schellhase Racing will also race their UL-12 Jones-Droullard hull. However with the UL-12 still being repaired from last year's Port Angeles flip, Greg & Jerry Hopp are concentrating now on the UL-15. The 12 hull is not expected to be ready to compete until July when the series moves to Chamberlain-Oacoma SD for the debut of the Pepsi Power Cup.
Watch for Paul Becker in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic. His team had the most impressive performance at the recently concluded Spring Training test session. A second year with this hull, which won 4 times from 1999-2003 with Ohio's Randy Haas driving and is a "sister hull" to the UL-15, should result in improved performances.
It's down to cases for the UL-11 team owned by Buckley WA's Darren Bartels. The Michael Flaherty driven supercharged hydroplane team is in "thrash mode" with several items to complete before pulling out of town, hopefully Wednesday night (4-23). It looks promising. Flaherty, a 4 time winner in Unlimited Lights racing has a veteran crew led by ex UL-72 Crew Chief Scott Main and Consultant John Flaherty.
Oregon's Bob Smets enters his second season of Unlimited Lights racing with the UL-20 Smetco-Overtime. Smets was one of the first to arrive in the Phoenix area, along with Wil & Debi Muncey and the UL-00 Trafficade. For the Phoenix event the Muncey's will race their familiar "Little Boat that Could".....formerly the UL-83. Muncey is confident the smaller hull will perform quite well on the narrow race course, while retaining their 2007 acquired former UL-23 hull for the bigger course at next month's Desert Thunder II. The ex-23 hull is about 4 feet longer and at more than a foot wider.
Florida's Mike Sadlon and the UL-89 Lake Trash Apparel will be at Firebird, along with Randy Hurst in the UL-93 Desperado from Illinois. The Desperado showed last November during the Firebird ULHRA exhibition that it will be a contender on this race course. The Kennewick WA based UL-98 Miss Atomic Screen Printing with second year UL driver Charles Xaudaro will compete with the oldest hull in ULHRA racing; originally built by Ron Jones Sr. in 1974. In addition, ULHRA's first Texas based team debuts the UL-39 Rouly Heat Exchangers "Pressure's On", driven by Lakewood WA's "Smokin Joe" Souza.
An unfortunate "casualty" from Spring Training is the loss of the UL-929 for the Phoenix event. Vince "X-Man" Xaudaro and Jim & Karon Wilmot who own the hull are very encouraged by what they've seen so far, however drive line damage that occured at Spring Training couldn't be repaired in time for Phoenix. The 929 team will open the season next month at Richland WA for Desert Thunder II at Howard Amon Park, May 17th & 18th. The 929 hull is the former Thunder Valley UL-21 that launched supercharged engines in the Unlimited Lights series with driver Nick Badolato back in 2001.
For the Thunderboats series, it should be an interesting season opener. The "G" class boats are larger than Unlimited Lights and have larger, more powerful superchnarged engines which the drag boat crowd should really enjoy. Marty Wolfe in the G-93, Dustin Echols in the Checker Auto Parts G-17, David Warren in the G-329 Block Head Machine and Dick Lynch in the G-13 Tempo should provide a glimpse of the future of this growing class.
On the Lighter than LIGHTS side, two-time defending eight cylinder champion Bud McKay leads the field in the E-10 Geiko of Lakewood WA presents Namron Racing. Both 8 cylinder and 4 cylinder stock teams will be competing this weekend.
John Lynch
P.R. Director and "Voice" of ULHRA Racing
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ULHRA: Live Coverage Every
Race, Every Time.
This weekend marks the start of
ULHRA’s third full season of
“live video” coverage of
Unlimited Light Hydroplane
Racing Association events here
at
www.ulhra.org. All it takes
is a computer with a high speed
internet connection to enjoy
full coverage of every ULHRA
event. Just log on……….there’s
no charge! Details will be on
the ULHRA home page every race
weekend.
Firebird International Raceway
in Chandler AZ just outside of
Phoenix opens the UL, G & LTL
season this weekend; the
earliest ever start for ULHRA
racing and the first time the
Lighter than LIGHTS teams have
ventured outside of the state of
Washington.
This weekend’s event is being
held in conjunction with the
IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing
Series on Firebird Lake. ULHRA
Video will provide live coverage
of all ULHRA heats of racing on
Saturday & Sunday, plus Friday
coverage of testing &
qualifying. IHBA Racing is
contracted to a cable television
network and we cannot stream
their quarter mile runs.
ULHRA live video began as did
other ULHRA “firsts”……as an
idea. In this case the idea
came from ULHRA President Joe
Frauenheim that “we should do
this”. Since most ULHRA races
are not televised it was decided
that live video streaming or
“webcasts” as they are called
could be produced. How? Who
knew? That’s where the now
retired Ed Nelson came in. Going
with little guidance beyond “you
figure it out”, Nelson did just
that and as ULHRA Video’s third
season begins, 2 years of toil,
sweat & strain by Ed, along with
tremendous volunteer efforts by
Jim & Karon Wilmot are paying
off with the best video product
we’ve yet produced. The first
time this series went live was
in 2005 at the final race of the
year, Strait Thunder at Port
Angeles WA. For those who saw
the beginning, and now see the
result, the change and growth in
the product is amazing.
See for yourself, starting this
weekend LIVE from Firebird
International Raceway.
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Living
the Dream
Thursday
running on
Lake
Washington (the Yankee stadium of our sport) for the first time in my life, not
only did I get to pit next to my favorite all-time boat as a kid, the Miss
Bardahl, I got to run on the course with her at the same time. The other
“little” boats on the course pulled off when that gorgeous green and yellow
beauty came out on the course – I tried to catch her. Now, they’re only running
the Bardahl at hull half or even quarter throttle. So that means, I had to give
the GEICO Presents the Namron Racing Team all she had (plus run inside the
course to save time – don’t ask). And let me tell you, going as slow as she was,
that was a monster wake – but it was the wake of the Miss Bardahl and I
didn’t care! It was an honor to hit that wake – I can always go to the dentist
to get new fillings after all. But when I passed the Miss Bardahl on the
backstretch heading to the floating bridge turn, I maybe 48 years old, I turned
into that little kid on the beach watching those boats of “yesteryear.” I could
hear legendary broadcaster Pat O’Day in my head. “And there goes Bud McKay in
the GEICO Presents Namron Racing Team passing the Bardahl as they head into the
final turn on Lake Washington….” And I asked anyone who came around me after
that, “Did you see me pass the Bardahl?” What a memory!
My Gecko hat off
to the volunteers at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum (http://www.thunderboats.org)
who dedicate themselves to restoring and maintaining those magical boats into
even better shape than they were when they were in their glory days. And thanks
to Chris Denslow, from NW Speedshots, for taking this
great picture above of the incredibly fast GEICO hull passing the Bardahl.
Bud McKay
Monster Truck and Hydroplanes in Phoenix
Spring Training on Lake Washington.
Spring Training was a success in most respects today on Lake Washington. Unfortunately the planned live web cast didn't occur because of internet connectivity issues. But, that's why we test......hydroplanes and webcast technology......so everything is ready for opening day. ULHRA Video was on the scene and you will see posted videos of the testing teams in the next couple of days, here at www.ulhra.org
The boat turnout was excellent. In addition to the Vintage (1955 replica) Miss Thriftway and (1962) Miss Bardahl from the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, six Unlimited Light hydroplanes and 3 Lighter than LIGHTS teams were on hand.
 The UL contingent was led by defending champion Kayleigh Perkins and the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric. The UL-72 took to the water twice and brought back Kayleigh with a big grin. The UL-72 is ready for the long haul to Firebird.
Vince Xaudaro in his new ride, the UL-929 with Wilmot Racing was on hand testing their recently upgraded hull and engine combination. The freshly painted UL-929 completed a lap and half before carburetor issues started complicate things. The UL-929 was towed in for a second time when the boat experienced a broken shaft log.
 Paul Becker in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic was among the teams testing. Experienced driver Paul Becker managed to keep his boat and crew in tip top shape during testing. The boat showed no signs of complications and Paul Becker showed no signs of slowing down.
In addition, Jerry Hopp brought out the UL-15 Graham Trucking-Happy Go Lucky for display. The 15 hull is their thirty two race winning hull built in 1997.
 Two boats came from the same team; Muncey Racing. Both are numbered UL-00 with Wil Muncey driving. The former UL-83 of Muncey Racing, and the former UL-23 previously campaigned by Ohio's Bob Larimore comprise the Muncey "fleet" and at each race they will select which UL-00 to enter. The smaller of the two boats will be at Phoenix for the season opener next week and the larger hull will be at Richland WA next month. The “little red” UL-00 hit the water first. Due to complication of a fuel pump, it was towed back to the docks. Then “big red” UL-00 was unable to test the course when a hatch leak was noticed by driver Wil Muncey. Minor problems for the Muncey Racing team who are recognized for their drive and great crew.
 Rounding out the UL field of testing teams was the "new" UL-3 of Chris Grant. This boat has been completed over the last year by Grant's team. Construction was originally started by Terry Troxell back in the 90's from a tandem wing design by Ron Jones Sr.
On the LTL side, test runs were conducted by 2 time defending eight cylinder stock champion Bud McKay in the E-10 Geiko of Lakewood presents Namron Racing, along with the S-6 Lil' Miss Boat Electric which will be raced this year by Phillip Eacret, and the S-36 to be raced by Austin Eacret. Kevin Eacret will be driving the E-36 in LTL competition and also is slated to be the backup driver for the UL-8 Boat Trader.com.
Next for these and other ULHRA teams is final packing for the long trek to Phoenix AZ. ULHRA opens the 2008 racing season next weekend, April 25-27 at Firebird International Raceway at Chandler AZ. For the first time, UL, Thunderboats (G) and Lighter than LIGHTS (LTL) will all be competing at the same event; Trafficade presents ULHRA at Firebird.
The following weekend a select group of ULHRA teams will conduct an exhibition at Pickwick Landing TN, May 3rd & 4th. The second points race on the ULHRA 2008 schedule will be Desert Thunder II at Howard Amon Park in Richland WA on May 17th & 18th.
John Lynch and Melissa Davidson contributed to this report.
RCL MOTORSPORTS
Promotions / Public Relations: Thayer Cueter
Phone: (206) 618-7232
Email: eventsinter@aol.com
Larry Garcia returns to ULHRA Racing!
RCL Motorsports purchases the GP-50
EVERETT, WA – Today, it has been confirmed. The announcement made by RCL Motorsports that they have left Grand Island, NY and heading to Seattle with the newly purchased UL-99 in tow.
Ken Brodie of Grand Island, NY and former owner of the GP-50 met with Larry Garcia and his family to make the deal early today. “ I would like to thank Ken for all his help, generosity and hospitality these past two months and we look forward to an uneventful return trip back to Everett, WA.” says Larry.
Larry Garcia is out of Everett, WA. He currently works at Boeing. He is the previous owner / driver of the E-41, The Joker Hydroplane. After a four-year hiatus he and his two children, Connor and Veronica are eager to get back to racing.
RCI Motorsports will prepare for the 2009-racing season as the UL-99 with some possible testing this summer. Dates will be announced. If you’re interested in being a crewmember for RCI Motorsports please contact: Larry Garcia: rclmotorsports@clearwire.net.
BOAT STATISTICS: Length: 24.5 ft. Width: 11 ft. Tunnel: 64”
Weight with engine: 2,700 lbs.
HULL HISTORY: This hull was last raced in 2005 at Evansville and Valleyfield. The boat was completely rebuilt in 2006 by Matt Arlt with Jamie Auld's input. The hull has new decks, bottom, cowling, and new frames throughout with Jamie Auld composite sponsons.
ENGINE BUILDER: Glen Davis / George Woods
ENGINE: 468 c.i. Supercharged Chevrolet
Foster Kids and Fast Boats at Firebird
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