Going Places?  How about Australia…   According to a press release issued by Lake Mulwala Power in Australia, that is exactly what Elizabeth Wolfe will be doing as she has accepted the offer to attend the 95th running of the E.C. Griffith Cup, Australia’s premier powerboat challenge. The EC Griffith Cup is the oldest international motorsport trophy in the southern hemisphere  Wolfe’s decision was supported by her good friend and previous Lake Mulwala Power Event World Champion, Grant Harrison. Harrison stated, “Elizabeth is a highly respected, aggressive hydroplane driver who likes not only to win, but to go out and have fun while doing it”.   The E.C. Griffith Cup is said to rate in prestige alongside the ‘Gold Cup’ and the British ‘Harmsworth Trophy’.  The event’s trophy races will include 'The Les Spears' Unlimited Displacement, 'The Geoff Horne' Six Litre Hydroplane, 'The Jack Kavanagh' Six Litre Displacement, 'Haebich Trophy' 1.6 Litre Hydroplane, 'Browning Bros. Trophy' 5.2Litre Displacement and 'Weygood Trophy' 4.2 Litre Displacement. The Australian issued media release goes on to say, “Elizabeth will be driving Paul Norrish’s 1.6 ltr  Hydroplane Times R Tuff, which won the Victorian Championship in his comeback drive at Mildura after a serious accident.   Elizabeth, part of the Johnson-Wolfe Team and based out of Chicago, has been driving inboard hydroplanes for eight years. Wolfe made her Unlimited Light (UL) debut this last summer in Chamberlain-Oacoma, South Dakota while driving the UL-93 Desperado, owned by Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association (ULHRA) Series Partner, Dennis Johnson of Trafficade Work Zone Services.   For more information on the EC Griffith Cup, visit www.lakemulwalapower.com.au/     Aksano commits to Official Pace Boat of the ULHRA for 2009. Photo courtesy of Mark Sharley   As if to commemorate the launching of their new F 16 hull, Aksano Catamarans has elected to extend their relationship with the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association on through 2009. As the Official Pace Boat of the ULHRA in 2008, their eighteen foot outboard powered family oriented pleasure boat participated in regatta Opening Ceremonies. Displaying the American flag while motoring in front thousands of marine motorsport fans, Aksano Catamarans did double duty from Seafair in Seattle to the Radio Wave Regatta in Polson, Montana.    In addition to their traditional ceremonial duties, the Aksano 18 also saw substantial action in the role of a Search and Rescue boat on the ULHRA circuit. With onboard SAR personnel, the F18 demonstrated the kind of rapid response and stable operating platform most desired in accident situations. As an example, this catamaran was one of the first on the scene when Vince Xaudaro found his hull planted on top of J,Craig Fletcher's boat at Richland due to a steering malfunction.   'We are very proud to continue our support of the ULHRA circuit for 2009.' said Oz Aksan, CEO of Aksano Catamarans. ' It is rewarding to realize that what we do at Aksano can provide such an important service.' The pride of Aksano Catamarans extends into the newest addition to their line.   The new F 16 is to be offered as center console or dual console like the F 18 Pace Boat. The hull beam is also similar to the F 18. A difference would be the center pod which is square instead of round in order to provide additional lift at speed. The primary ride pad is 5.5 inches wide. Another difference is the angle of attack at the bow which is steeper than the F 18 and the F 3.   A new feature are the three laminar flow breakers on each bow and one in the tunnel ceiling. In the event that the front of the boat lands first, these will help rescue the bow up faster and keep the forward sections drier in rough water.   In order to maintain strength and enhance fuel conservation, the F 16 will also be built with the same 22 Oz Biax fibers as the other hulls to keep the weight down. The F 3 is reported to have achieved 16 to 18 miles per gallon.   Unlike other motorsports, the national circuit of the ULHRA continues to grow. Perhaps unlike other boat builders, so does Aksano Catamarans.   MOTORSPORTS 2008 The largest, most exciting & energetic motorsports show ever held in the Northwest is coming to the Tacoma Dome and Exhibition center on November 7th, 8th and 9th, 2008. The event features 30,000 square feet of cars and motorcycles, with another 11,000 square feet at the exhibition center.  The “Hydro Hall”, being devoted to boat racing of all classes and sizes and will feature a timeline of famous race boats from the last 80 years to current. There will also be a section on “Safety through the Ages” which will have exhibits on the advancements in technology that have been made over the years for the boats and the drivers’ gear.   This will be the “Noah’s Ark of Hydros” through the ages, with approximately 40 big boats.  The 1937 Tempo IV,  2002 Tempo G-13 sponsored Jet Chevrolet; 1955 U-60 Miss Thriftway, UL-00 Trafficade presents WarningPower.com, UL-11 Roxy Radio 94.5 & Power Punch Performance Lubricants presents Miss Exe’cutif III,  U-50 Spirit of the Navy, 1971 Jersey Speed Skiff Blade Runner, UL-72 Boat Electric sponsored by Vitamin Water, Y-82 Perkins Glass and the 2008 ULHRA Rescue Boat sponsored by Aksano Catamaran and Suzuki Marine are but a few of the boats you can expect to see.   Bring the family, sit in the cockpit of a Hydroplane, talk to the drivers and get an autograph.  But whatever you do, don’t forget to bring your cameras as this will be something to see and remember for years to come.   The show is sponsored by Red Wind Casino, Walt’s Auto Care Centers, Schuck’s Auto Parts and the Tacoma Tribune. Tickets will be $12.50 for adults, and kids under 10 are free with a regular adult admission. Proceeds will benefit the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum and LeMay’s Car Museum.          Devil's Lake Proves to be Heaven sent...   Story by Jerry Hopp and Linda Amundsen    As you all know by now, the Hopp Racing team is a group of "Boat Racing Junkies" with a true love for the sport, and never ending dedication to their Sponsors and Supporters. The Kilo's at Devil's Lake in Lincoln City, OR was no different.  If anything, it was a true reflection of the team and its competitive spirit that helped them break 3 separate records last weekend. (pending final ULHRA/APBA commission approval)   The story really began when Hopp Racing took the Jamie Auld Hull UL-15 to the APBA GP Nationals at Lake Chelan, WA September 27-28. During the warm up period of the final heat,  Greg Hopp made a timing run and lost a blade on the prop while at full throttle on "Big Walley", the name of their faithful motor that has helped them through the past six race seasons.  The loss of the blade and vibration caused severe damage to the transom of the boat.  And with only six days until the ULHRA Championships, and with the title on the line, the crew began the grueling work to get the boat fixed.  But they weren't just working on one boat, they were working on two.  They, also, had the Ron Jones Jr. hull, that had crashed in Port Angeles, WA the previous year that was nearly finished but still had a few loose ends to finish up in order for it to be ready.  So the Hopp Racing crew, in typical fashion, lived at the boat shop. With some crew members working on the Jones hull and some on the Auld hull. Soon, reality set in and it was determined that the Auld hull was too severally damaged to get all the repairs done in time for the Port Angeles race October 4-5, and the decision was made to take the Jones hull to Port Angeles to complete the ULHRA season. All the great efforts by the whole team, to put a competitive race boat on the water, is what carried Hopp Racing through to win the ULHRA Championship.     With the ULHRA Championships over it was back to work on the Auld hull in a gallant attempt to finish the repairs so that they could make it for the Kilo's the following weekend at Devils Lake in Lincoln City, OR. More sleepless nights were ahead, as the entire transom and frames in the boat had to be replaced, repaired or beefed up. Parts fabricated and reinstalled. The deck had to be glued back on, the strut reinstalled and the prop shaft realigned.  Putting the engine back in, taking all the equipment out of the Jones trailer then putting it back in the Auld trailer.  Repacked the truck and only one last thing to do... roll some yellow paint on the repairs just before driving down to Devil's Lake that afternoon.  Pulling into Lincoln City at 1:00 am Saturday, and grabbing a couple hours sleep then making it to the drivers meeting at 7am Saturday.   For those of you that have never witnessed a Kilo run, it is an awesome event. The big block blower motor singing out a song of raw horsepower at 8,000+ RPM. The sound of the motor echoing off the canyon walls of Devils Lake is a sound you won't soon forget. Boats barely touching the water for 5/8 of a mile and the huge roos ter tail you could only see at a straightaway run. The overall speed is determined by averaging a run on the course in both directions. With the APBA Grand Prix boat and engine rules being overhauled last November and the ULHRA re-joining forces with APBA, the UL and G series boat were eligible for new APBA/ULHRA records. Although Hopp Racing holds the ULHRA Kilo record at 161.980 MPH with a one way run at 162.332 MPH the combined ULHRA/APBA records had yet to be established. That... was their mission.     Hopps registered the Auld boat in the 3 classes. Unlimited Light, G-NACCS and Grand Prix. On Saturday they had "BC" in the boat. Every boat engine needs a name, and "BC" stands for "whatever good parts we could find to put together a motor in Ed Trihey's shop". BC is Hopp's UL 468ci motor with the blower at 80%. Jerry Hopp drove the G-NACCS to an average speed of 146.292 MPH, and Greg Hopp drove the UL to an average speed of 149.396. Then they put a new Scott Baker prop on the boat for the GP run and averaged 155.182 MPH. (see chart below)    With records established, the plan was to run on Sunday for the GP record with the blower turned up to 120%. This would have added another 300 horsepower and, with the extra ponies, exceeding 155 MPH would have been a walk in the park... But on the return leg of the GP run Greg felt a vibration he didn't like. With the competitive sprit of the Hopp Racing Team, as well as the knowledge and experience, they were faced with yet another difficult decision that needed to be made. To continue racing on Sunday, or to call it quits.  After a good night sleep, something that none of them had experienced over the past 2 weeks, common sense took over and the decision not to run and have the engine inspected was made.     In APBA when a record is set the head has to come off the engine for inspection. Bill Thompson, APBA inspector, checked the blower gearing, compression ratio and cubic inch as well as pulley ratio. The Ed's Automotive engine passed with flying colors.  But... in the process, it was found that a roller rocker stud had broken and would have self-destructed the next time out causing major damage to the engine. Greg's hunch was right, and the decision to not run turned out to be the "right one"...    "Props" go out to you all for your efforts, sleepless nights, and sense of dedication to the sport and your team mates...Great job... and congratulations....    Jerry Hopp stated "Thanks go to the our major sponsors for helping and believing in our team, Graham Trucking GT, Bill and Happy Rands-Happy Go Lucky and Tom Long and PumpTech. Many others have helped us out as well. And of course the crew Brent Tiede, Bob Donley, Randy Erb, Bob Schellhase, Travis Sellers, Cody Holmes, Bob Kelly-Wright, Scott Baker, Ed Trihey and many others". Also Julie Sparrowgrove for taking the pictures       http://picasaweb.google.com/jasparrowgrove/       RECORD DRIVER SPEED AVERAGE UL-1 APBA/ULHRA GREG HOPP 151.042         147.790 149.396           G-15 APBA/ULHRA JERRY HOPP 151.451         141.132 146.292           GP-15 APBA GREG HOPP 153.530         135.739         155.559         154.805 155.182

From the Lighter Side...

LTL titles handed out in Port Angeles

Two high points champions. One champion happy; the other — not so much.

Joe Perkins wanted to go out and keep on racing after he locked up the 4-Cylinder Lighter-Than-LIGHTS high points title Oct. 4 winning the first heat. But team manager Brian Perkins saw enough of the rough water conditions on Saturday to beach the “Perkins Glass” hydroplane for the remainder of the weekend.

“Brian didn’t want to risk the boat or the engine,” Joe Perkins said about his cousin. “I can understand it. But as a racer, I really wanted to go out on the water.” So did Bud McKay.

Both Perkins and McKay just had to finish one heat to lock up the high points titles in their classes. Then it didn’t matter what the other teams did.

While the “Perkins Glass” boat ran a flawless heat, McKay couldn’t finish one heat.

“Three times on the water and three times I was towed in,” said McKay, the owner/driver of the GEICO of Lakewood Presents West Sound Electric. “I knew the last time wasn’t good.”

The team’s brand new engine exploded going into the last turn of the second heat. But because of weather problems, the race was shortened to three heats and eliminated any teams from catching Perkins or McKay in their quest for the high points titles.

This is Perkins’ first high points title — he shared the seat with Bianca Bononcini. For McKay, this is his third consecutive 8-Cylinder LTL title.

“This was such an exciting season for me,” Perkins said in his rookie season. “The plan this year was just to see if I can go out there and race. We didn’t do too bad. I got a lot of support from the family.”

Perkins started to share the ride with Bononcini in Montana. The other “Perkins Glass” boat Bononcini drove was damaged and was set aside for the year.

For McKay, this year has been his most challenging. Two flips and three spinouts have taken a toll on the hull this season.

“I owe the title this year to my sponsors who allowed me to make every race,” McKay said. “I also owe it to all of the people who helped me this season. And last but not least to the inventor of duct tape — I think that’s all we had holding the boat together toward the end of the season.”

Both Perkins and McKay see both classes growing next year, and both are excited about the future of the LTL series.

“They’re talking about a five- or six-boat increase the LTL series next year — true ‘Y’ boats (1-litre modified) where we can have our own class. More competition is always more fun and more exciting. Our plan is to start working on the boat in the next couple of weeks and get ready for next season. I’m hoping that we make the entire series. It’s going to be so much fun next year.”

With the new agreement between the ULHRA and the APBA, more boats are expected to compete in the LTL series as those drivers could earn both ULHRA and APBA points under the “Special Events” sanction for the races.

“The numbers to field a strong class of 8-cylinders are there,” McKay said. “There are a lot of banged up boats that are already being worked on for next season. I can see 10 hulls, even more, showing up for LTL races next year. Who knows what we’ll get when we run in South Dakota with some of the east coast boats joining us, too.

“But one thing I do know, count us as one of the banged up boats that will be ready to go racing in 2009.”


FINAL LTL POINTS

8 Cylinders
1. Bud McKay, GEICO of Lakewood Presents West Sound Electric — 3,750
2. Kevin Eacret, Baker Equipment — 3,100
3. Shane Pratt, Victoria Express Presents Roadrunner 76 & Gordy’s Pizza and Pasta — 1,425
4. Steve Clark, Power Punch Performance Lubricants/Thunderstuck — 1,325
5. Mike Schroder, Manzanita Berry’s Farm Presents Tight Spot — 1,100
6. Greg Sheard, Nasty Ol’ Heffer — 0
7. Craig Bonner/Mark Evans, StraitThunder.com — 0

4 Cylinders
1. Joe Perkins/Bianca Bononcini, Perkins Glass — 4,000
2. Austin Eacret, The Trainer — 2,277
3. Kevin Eacret, Miss Boat Electric — 1,475
4. Jesse Robertson, Meyers’ Auto Tech Inc. — 994
5. Dave Solway, My Joy — 600
5. Leslie Warren, Team Toothpick - 600
7. Bianca Bononcini, Perkins Glass (Y-82) — 563
8. Joe Gutierrez, Cojote — 525

“The Warrens (Shawn and Leslie) were so good to me, allowing me the opportunity to crew with them last year and then drive this season,” Solway said. “It’s so great if you think about it. I’ve raced radio control boats for 19 years and was only able to see the Port Angeles race once before. And then in my first opportunity to race at home, I win the race? Is that not great or what?”

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From the Lighter Side...

Weather robs Eacret shot at LTL title

By Bud McKay

Mukelteo’s Kevin Eacret got two of the three things he needed for a shot at winning the 8-Cylinder Lighter-Than-LIGHTS high points title at the Victoria Express presents Strait Thunder race Oct. 4-5.

What he needed was for Bud McKay not to score any points for the weekend in the “GEICO of Lakewood Presents West Sound Electric.” He also needed to win every heat — which he did. But what he didn’t get was an extra heat. In fact, because of weather conditions on Saturday, the race was shortened to just three heats of racing.

But there was still happiness in the “Block Head Machine/ Baker Equipment” camp as Eacret won all three heats, including the final in the 8-Cylinder LTL class.

“The racing conditions Sunday were excellent,” Eacret said. “When I wanted to stand on the throttle, I could. It was beautiful out there. The boat ran perfect.”

It was a night and day difference in racing conditions from the day before.

“Saturday was crazy,” Eacret said. “There were rollers on top of rollers. And my boat’s flighty enough without the extra help. The weather took the race out of the boats. The fastest boat wouldn’t win — just the strongest boat.”

Sequim’s Shane Pratt in the “Victoria Express Presents Roadrunner 76 & Gordy’s Pizza and Pasta” tried to chase down Eacret over the weekend but just couldn’t stay close enough to put a dent in Eacret’s lead. McKay wasn’t a factor as the boat made one start but never finished. And back in Belfair, another race was underway as Steve Clark worked on his boat all Friday and Saturday night not calling it quits until three hours before the final heat Sunday. He tried to put together a new engine for the race but gremlins got the best of the team.

Luckily for Eacret, things were pretty smooth with his hull. He’s pretty much his own crew with one exception — Ana Cappelletti.

“Ana’s always been a big help to me,” Eacret said. “She’ll hold the boat in the water, strap me in and just be there for me. I can’t thank her enough. I also have to thank Bob Baker’s UL-8 team as they helped me out, too. And I really needed it.”

When he wasn’t working on the boat, Eacret was working the crowds as he was the closest boat to the fence where the fans were peering in.

“I don’t think I’ve signed so many autographs in my life,” Eacret said. “The fans would stare at us through the fence, so I’d go over and talk with them and explain what we were doing. I do love that part about this sport — spending time with the fans. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into this sport, so it’s nice when you have the chance to relax at a race and talk with the people.”

Another thing Eacret liked to do was think about next season and running the entire circuit.

Photo Credits: Mark Sharley and Linda Amundsen