BAY BANK ON BOARD WITH UNLIMITED LIGHT HYDROPLANE RACING IN 2009

Bay Bank, a premier northwest Business Banking financial institution, has signed on as one of the latest ULHRA sponsors participating in Seafair 2009 and 2010.  By securing a multi-year arrangement with the ULHRA, Bay Bank is positioned to capitalize on the growing popularity and national interest in the return of the “thunder”. Thunder is the popular nickname for the noise that resounds against the shoreline as these automotive-powered hydroplanes battle on the water with deck-to-deck racing.

“We are delighted to be part of such an exciting venue that draws so many local and national fans” says Jim Rathbun, VP Marketing for Bay Bank.  “Boat racing is an integral as well as historic component of our Northwest culture and this ULHRA sponsorship reflects the Bank’s on-going commitment to support our local community”. 

Bay Bank initially tied in with hydroplane racing at Seafair 2008 as Official Host of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association’s Hospitality Center on the shores of Lake Washington.  With a long-standing dedication to customer first banking, Bay Bank’s sponsorship will provide customers and fans access to the excitement and atmosphere of this hi-octane motorsport environment.  Maintaining a multi-year presence will afford Bay Bank access to additional marketing opportunities associated with marine motorsports including tie-ins with Thunder and Lights magazine, official publication of the ULHRA.  “Thunder and Lights does an impressive job of introducing fans to, and promoting, the sport” says Jim Rathbun of Bay Bank.  “We see it as an important element to our goal of helping expand awareness and support of the ULHRA and look forward to being in it at each of our on-site annual sponsorships at Seafair”. 

“Event sponsors are making careful investments while recognizing the need to gain a more healthy return on their promotional efforts”, said Joe Frauenheim, President of the ULHRA.  He added “It is gratifying to see that Bay Bank, a prominent Northwest operation engaged in local and international banking, has identified marine motorsports as a viable addition to their marketing agenda”. 

Bay Bank has Business Banking Offices in downtown Seattle and Bellevue as well as in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.   Bay Bank is a division of Cowlitz Bancorp, based in Longview, Washington.  Visit them online at:  www.bay-bank.com

For more information regarding Bay Bank, please contact Wil Muncey, ULHRA Marketing Director at WMuncey83@aol.com

For more on the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, go to:  www.ulhra.org

 

 

 

 

Leaving no stone unturned.

 

-Media Release-

24 Nov 2008

 

 

With only one week left before the biggest and most spectacular Water Show in Australia - Lake Mulwala Power, two top Grand Prix teams have been out on the race track in closed testing sessions in preparation to defend Australian honors.

 

The weekend saw both the defending champion Brett Niddrie piloting Warlord, favorite for back to back titles and Grant Harrison piloting GP1 who is making a return to the racing scene take their craft to Lake Hume, Albury and Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga.

 

Harrison previously campaigned GP101, a GP Hydro that in the four seasons it ran won almost every race entered including back to back E.C Griffith Cups in 2003 and 2004. Harrison also won the World GP Hydroplane Championship in New Zealand in 2004 in GP101, earning him the honour of being Australia’s first ever power boating World Champion.

 

A horrific crash in 2005 saw GP101 destroyed. Next weekend will be Harrison’s return to Grand Prix racing in an effort to help the Aussies retain power boating’s Holy Grail.

 

Friday saw the GP1 racing team put in a final practice session on the lake where, this weekend, the waters will come alive with action as part of the Lake Mulwala Power festival. When pressed for comments on the session Harrison told us he was “quite happy with another chance to get some seat time in the new hull in only its third time out. We are still getting used to the hull’s handling and setup and Lake Mulwala would have to be one of the more difficult water surfaces to read, its like no other, hard water, so to be able to be more familiar with the track and sort handling was our aim”. Asked about his chances Harrison said “We are just really happy to be competing again. We will be happy to make the finals and even happier if an Aussie boat wins – we don’t want the Kiwis taking the Cup away.”

 

Racing lost a true competitor earlier this year and a minutes silence will be held on Saturday to pay respects and honour Paul Burton.

 

Paul was owner driver of Warlord and his dream was to win the E.C. Griffith Cup himself, sadly Paul did not manage the opportunity to drive Warlord to victory in the previous running of the EC Griffith Cup, he handed those duties to his engine builder, friend and former pilot of Radical Rat Brett Niddrie. The smile and satisfaction Paul had when Niddrie piloted the craft to victory was obvious for all to see. Paul was a gentleman and the sport misses him greatly. This year the Warlord team is aiming for back to back titles in memory of Paul and as such, leaving no stone unturned, conducted the weekends testing session at Lake Hume.

 

Entries have now closed and the final entry received by officials was that of crowd favorite John Cross who will be driving John Baker’s Rival entry, a Blown Alcohol Displacement boat. B.A.D boats are not usually in the winners circle when competing with GP Hydroplanes, however this team has been the top B.A.D boat over the last 12 months and with Crossy’s ‘take no prisoner’ driving style he is the one to put Rival on the winner’s podium. 

 

Lake Mulwala Power not only features power boat racing. On the beautiful green lawn foreshore there will be an outdoor leisure show including a market and food stalls, trade displays of outdoor furniture, ski boats, canoes, jet skis and all kinds of water toys.

 

The event commences Friday lunchtime with testing and later, a street parade. Saturday sees racing for the E.C. Griffith Cup and Sunday will feature the Yarrawonga Gold Cup. Over 70 entries are expected in seven different classes of boat racing.

 

Contact the Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism office for further details and special event and accommodation packages on 1800 062 260.

 

 

 

Event co-ordinator: Barb Macdermid

m: 0409 441 989

e:barb@yarrawongamulwala.com.au

 

Trade site & sponsorship enquires: Lisa Francis

m: 0417 571 128

e: lisa@eventsaustralia.net.au

 

Lake Mulwala Power

Yarrawonga-Mulwala Tourism Inc. PO Box 190. Yarrawonga 3730

p: 1800 062 260 or (03) 5744 1989

e: tourism@yarrawongamulwala.com.au * w: www.yarrawongamulwala.com.au

 

 

 

 

RED LION IS THE CENTER OF STRAIT THUNDER

Port Angeles Red Lion Renews Sponsorship

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Muncey Marketing

Telephone:  360-805-0805

Email DMuncey922@AOL.com

 

Photo Courtesy of Mark Sharley

  

The Red Lion Hotel located in downtown Port Angeles has contracted with the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association as the Official Center of Strait Thunder, 2009. 

 

Strait Thunder is one of the races on the ULHRA racing circuit and is named for the body of water called the Strait of Juan de Fuca bordering Washington State and Victoria, British Columbia.  “Thunder” refers to the sound created by the automotive engine powered racing craft reaching straight-away speeds in excess of 140MPH.

 

The Red Lion's unique central location is just steps from the Strait Thunder hydroplane racing, a few minutes from downtown shops, a short block from the Victoria Express Ferries and few miles from the Olympic National Park.  Red Lion was voted the #1 hotel on the Peninsula in a poll of Peninsula Daily News readers.  With waterside rooms that literally provide viewing of the racing action from the comfort of your hotel room, the Red Lion has become the #1 hotel for the event as well. Truly in the Center of Strait Thunder, Red Lion has increased its participation with the event over the years and has steadily become a more active sponsor.

More than 700 events take place on the North Olympic Peninsula each year. However, Donya Alward, Red Lion Director of Sales and Marketing, said “Strait Thunder is an important community event. It is exciting entertainment that the area businesses are able to provide to the community at no cost to the families attending. It is an accomplishment the businesses of Port Angeles and Sequim should be very proud to support.”

Part of Red Lion’s event sponsorship in 2009 will include donation of the hotel’s swimming pool for the racers’ Safety Capsule Training, management of the VIP hospitality area for catered viewing of the racing from the Red Lion ballroom and promotional efforts designed to help grow the event. 

 

ULHRA President Joe Frauenheim said, “We very much enjoy working with the Port Angeles Red Lion and appreciate their support. The staff’s creative and proactive ideas have contributed greatly to the growth of our event in Port Angeles.”

 

The 2008 Strait Thunder hydroplane races saw the best attendance to date and some great racing in spite of difficult weather conditions on one day of the weekend long event. In an effort to slightly improve the odds for better weather, the 2009 Eighth Annual ULHRA Strait Thunder races have been scheduled for the last weekend in September.                 

 

          For more information about the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, please visit www.ulhra.org.  For more information about Red Lion, please visit www.redlion.com/portangeles.

 

 

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please email Debi Muncey @ DMuncey922@AOL.com.

 

 

One Giant Step…

 

If you take a passing thought, add a strong desire… and top that off with passion and commitment, you will have what has now evolved into reality.  For some, the long time dream of having a Safety Capsule to enable the ULHRA Rescue Team to train personnel, divers, and drivers at local and non-local race sites has come to pass. 

 

In years past, the ULHRA relied on the use of the Region 10 Rescue Capsule, when available, to train divers and drivers.  Training drivers on how to get out of a capsule also known as dunk tests and training divers how to safely remove a driver from a capsule when they are unable to do so on their own.  Both are equally important in making the sport of boat racing as safe as possible.  “We saw a need for a capsule to train the rescue personnel and the drivers” say Joe Frauenheim… and the mission began.

 

Pat McQuade and Dennis Olson initiated the ideas and features of the capsule. They wanted the capsule to be able to accommodate every individual, no matter their size. Dale VanWieringen was instrumental in the fiberglass work on the capsule, making all the parts of the capsule base by laying fiberglass in molds. Security Race Products of Issaquah furnished the seat belts and quick steering wheel release.  With everyone working hand in hand, the crew of the UL-72, constructed the capsule pieces, and glued them together to form the base.  They cut the windows out, and finally, made the doors and lids then built skids to allow them to move it around and installed the glass. During this work party, Joe Mayerle, ULHRA’s Rescue crew member and capsule trainer, called upon his long time friend and rescue crew member, Dave White, to join in.  And it was decided that Dave would take on the next step… Metal Fabrication.

 

The capsule was transported to WhiteFab, owned and operated by Dave White, for the metal fabrication where Dave made and installed the steering wheel and footrest plate, adjustable seat bracket with seatbelt slides, release handle, gas struts to cockpit hatch, scuba tank mount and the “turn bar” that allow for the training personnel to flip the capsule upside down. “The capsule is very well built, and shows that it was constructed by master craftsmen. I know absolutely nothing about fiberglass construction, but this thing is a work of art” says Dave.   Dave White donated all his time and materials to this project which came with a deadline… Nov 7th, for the Tacoma Dome Motorsports 2008 show… which they completed on time and the capsule was displayed proudly.

 

With the capsule barely completed and on display at the Tacoma Dome, along comes Jonathan Arreola.  A talented artist that was compelled to offer his services to paint the ULHRA’s newly constructed Safety Capsule. Once completed, it will certainly be spectacular and a one of a kind, to say the least. Some of Jonathans’ recent work has been in local newspapers and Komo 4’s Northwest Afternoon show.  For more information you can go to his website at

www.air-strikefx.com  

 

The capsule is portable and will be on display at the ULHRA race sites for training local rescue personnel and drivers prior to races.  It is also available for any drivers, from any organization, that need to become familiar with being upside down underwater.

 

Muncey Marketing is currently working on sponsors for the capsule and race sites, of which there has been a substantial amount of support and interest.  If you would like more information on becoming a sponsor, contact Wil Muncey at wmuncey83@aol.com

 

A “Special thanks” go to all who donated countless hours, material, know how, and ingenuity in developing the ULHRA Safety Capsule.  Putting the safety concerns for our drivers and our Rescue Crews number one is much more than appreciated…  It is an accomplishment that will be seen by all, and at every race site…

 

 

Linda Amundsen

Public Relations Director

 

 

 

 

VICTORIA EXPRESS FERRIES MAKE A RETURN TRIP

The Harmon Family Renews Their Commitment

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Muncey Marketing

Telephone:  360-805-0805

Email DMuncey922@AOL.com

 

 

 

         

Victoria Express, the passenger ferry serving Port Angeles and Friday Harbor, Washington and Victoria, BC, Canada has announced it will again sponsor the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association as a 2009 Series Partner.

         

The Series Partner concept born in 2008 means the sponsor is a major contributor of the annual Series with the presenting rights for one race on the circuit. While Victoria Express has been the presenting sponsor of the final race of the Series in Port Angeles, Washington for several years running, this year they are keeping options open. Jack Harmon, President of Victoria Express Rapid Transit said, “We love the marriage of fast race boats and our express ferry service, and we appreciate the national advertising opportunities affiliation with this Series presents us.”

         

Victoria Express has concluded its 2008 sailing season between Port Angeles, Washington, Victoria, British Columbia, and the majestic San Juan Islands, but still offers Fall and Winter packages and customized travel arrangements to those locations. The Victoria Express and the Victoria Express II are constructed of aluminum and are gyro-stabilized for a smoother ride and are propelled by turbo-charged, eco-friendly HE (High Efficiency) class diesel engines, enabling the vessels to travel at a cruising speed of approximately 20 knots. Biodiesel is used aboard both vessels. The Victoria Express is a 105-foot vessel with three engines, and the Victoria Express II is a 120-foot vessel with four engines.
         

The Harmons, owners of Victoria Express, were one of the first Series Partners to sign with the ULHRA in 2008 and showed their enthusiasm for the series by sending personnel to every race on the circuit. “We didn’t miss a single race,” Harmon went on to say.

         

The racing schedule for the 2009 series has not yet been published by the Unlimited Light Racing Association, but it could include up to ten events across the country.  While some of the more expensive sports marketing venues are feeling the pinch of a tight economy, the ULHRA, a Washington-based hydroplane racing sanctioning body continues to carry on, nearly unscathed. ULHRA President Joe Frauenheim says, “Because of loyal supporting sponsors like the Harmon family at Victoria Express, we at the ULHRA are able to look forward to 2009 with great optimism.”

         

The Unlimited Light Racing season will begin April 25 in Chandler Arizona at Firebird International Raceways.

 

For more information about the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, please visit www.ulhra.org.  For more information about Victoria Express, please visit victoriaexpress.com

#####

 

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Jack Harmon, please email Debi Muncey @ DMuncey922@AOL.com.

 

 

 

ULHRA GENERAL MEETING AND AWARDS BANQUET

 

 

        Another season has concluded and what a great year it was! To celebrate and memorialize 2008 and bring in the new season, the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association presents the 2009 General Meeting and Awards Banquet.

 

        This year the site of the banquet and meetings will be in the facilities of a long-time supporting sponsor 7 Cedars Casino on SATURDAY JANUARY 31.  Just 52 miles west of Seattle, Washington, the beautiful 7 Cedars Casino is nestled in a lush valley overlooking Sequim Bay, beside the majestic Strait of Juan de Fuca.

 

        Both the meetings and the banquet will take place in the casino’s Club 7 Room which has a well appointed stage complete with a state-of-the-art sound system. All banquet room seats have a great view of the stage.

 

        For those who wish to make a full evening or weekend of it, another long time sponsor, the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles, is offering a special rate for ULHRA banquet attendees. Beautiful waterside rooms will be available for only $99/night. Non water view rooms are just $79. Make hotel reservations thru Cheri Wright. Email:  cheri-wright@sbcglobal.net. 7 Cedars will provide shuttle service transportation between their property and the Red Lion in Port Angeles.

 

Getting to 7 Cedars is simple! You can take a ferry from Edmonds, or drive up Highways 104 & 101. For folks flying into Seattle, you may wish to utilize the commuter flight offered by Rite Bros Aviation which will take you directly from Seattle to Port Angeles where you can check into your room and take the 40 minute shuttle trip over to the casino.

 

        Mark your calendars now.  Exact times, menus, pricing, and all the details will be announced soon.   

 



 

Click here for updates from October 2008