Latest News

UL-9 Announces New Sponsor

Xaudaro-Wilmot Racing is proud to announce Horse Trailer Restoration,LLC as an associate sponsor of our race team. Located in Battle Ground, Washington. Proprietors Dave Bodin and Lee Goodison have more than 40 years of experience repairing, rebuilding, upgrading, and restoring horse trailers. Although the primary focus is horse trailer restoration, they can fix just about anything that is towed behind a vehicle. Horse Trailer Restoration offers a mobile repair service, trailer location services, and safety inspections to ensure the vehicle you are towing is not only safe but also meets DOT Code.

Recently when the UL-9 Xaudaro-Wilmot racing hull was returning from the race in Phoenix, AZ, the springs on one of our axles broke and our hydroplane was stranded on the side of the freeway. After several calls and searches we came upon Horse Trailer Restoration, LLC. Dave Bodin came to our rescue and we now have a significantly safer and smoother towing Unlimited Light Hydroplane trailer. Not only did he fix the spring, we have an upgraded brake system and look forward to doing more business with Dave in the future. Whether it is a horse trailer, utility trailer, travel trailer or hydroplane trailer, Horse Trailer Restoration, LLC can help you with your needs. Please feel free to contact Dave or Lee by email at horsetrailerrestoration@yahoo.com or by phone - (360) 687-4226. You can also visit their website at http://www.handyrider.com

For more information on this story, Contact: Muncey Marketing 360-805-0805

Debi Muncey
ULHRA Director of Promotions
20511 Crescent Lk Rd, Monroe WA 98272
phone: 360-805-0805 cell 360-961-1632

Yachts and Hydroplanes

Platypus Marine becomes Sponsor of San Diego Hydro Races

In much the same manner as horse races a hundred years ago used to serve as network opportunities for businesses to get acquainted, Captain Charlie Crane of Platypus Marine recognizes the opportunity to meet with current and potential customers in ports such as San Diego and Seattle . A long-time sponsor in the Lighter-than-LIGHTS hydroplane class, Platypus Marine has stepped up as a sponsor-partner of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association’s season finale at the San Diego Bay Fair Regatta. Platypus will use the event to entertain clients and develop brand awareness in new markets. “ San Diego represents an important client base for us”, said Crane “It seems that anyone affiliated with large vessels is intrigued with hydroplanes.”

Platypus Marine services ships and yachts from around the world. Whether it’s Alaska or San Diego , Hong Kong or Detroit , customers that hail from ports of origin far and wide often have to rely on quality construction and repairs when away from home. Sometimes without a choice, the Captain of the vessel has to prevail on local referrals to address his individual needs and this can come down to a conversation and a handshake. Although it’s highly unlikely that a hydroplane competing on Mission Bay September 18th, 19th and 20th will ever be one hundred feet long, it is not without the realm of possibility that a one hundred foot Christensen yacht will attend the race as a spectator. The log boom in Seattle during the annual Seafair race, as an example has dozens of boats serving as water bleachers for spectators. This is both an ideal place from which to watch a boat race and a substantial client base for the internationally recognized yacht repair facility from the Pacific Northwest . yacht Located in Port Angeles , Washington the full service yacht center facility spanning four acres features a 330 ton heavy haul out and a 50-ton Grove crane. A visit to www.platypusmarine.com can provide examples of the expert attention to detail and craftsmanship routinely applied to the interior work on vessels ranging in all sizes. One two- bay ‘Commander ‘building is 200 by 150 feet and capable of full refits as well as new construction. Another building of similar size is dedicated solely to fiberglass work. Virtually any customer can cruise to Port Angeles and tie up to the facilities at Platypus Marine while enjoying shore power hook ups, phone and DSL connections.

“While some industries are slowing down”, said General Manager Bruce Bryant, “Platypus is ramping up its efforts to get acquainted and acquire new business. Our facilities and services are expanding and we find marine motorsports a great way to advertise that.” The networking feature of marine motorsports is not a fact lost on the President of the ULHRA. “Our growing circuit provides a good platform for our sponsoring partners to gain presence in new markets”, said Joe Frauenheim. “Our regattas can help establish brand awareness for franchise-oriented organizations such as the Famous Dave’s restaurants which became the Official Caterer of the ULHRA this year, or create a setting in which to develop relationships with new prospects. Business and boat racing will forever be linked because of the environment’s ability to open doors, close deals, increase brand exposure and entertain key clients in an exciting, but low pressure setting. We are looking forward to getting better acquainted and working closely with Platypus Marine.”

The Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association is an automotive-powered class which continues to gain popularity especially with fans seeking affordable, exciting family entertainment. Although they utilize today's technology, the thundering engines produce a sound that echoes back to the classic days of hydroplane racing. For more information regarding the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, please visit www.ulhra.org.

Perkins wins again at Silverdale, and finishes second too!

Keeping it all in the family it was a 1-2 punch from the Perkins' clan at Silverdale Thunder 2009 in Silverdale WA (Sunday Aug 16th). However, it wasn't Kayleigh Perkins at the top of the Podium. After winning the previous 5 races this season, this time Kayleigh's older brother Brian Perkins took home top honors for winning his second ever Unlimited Lights race driving the UL-11 Power Punch Performance Lubricants-ROXY Radio 94.5-K&N Filters. This was not just any UL-11 however. It was the record holding UL-12 hull owned by Bob Schellhase the former Paul Droullard American Eagle contracted to Darren Bartels UL-11 program for the Silverdale race and the upcoming San Diego race, September 19th & 20th.

As Brian Perkins noted, he wasn't even supposed to drive that boat and was planning to skip the Silverdale race altogether. However when announced driver Mark Evans wound up with a scheduling conflict Perkins was called to substitute and made the most of the opportunity. Kayleigh Perkins in the UL-72 Foster Care-Vitamin Water took second.

Brian Perkins was driving the only supercharged boat in the Final Heat so by rule he had to start in lane #4. Kayleigh Perkins chose lane three with Wil Muncey and Joe Souza to the inside and Chris Grant trailing the front line by 5 seconds. At the start Souza, in the UL-9 US Army - NAPA Auto Parts, had to back off his run to avoid jumping the gun but still broke the clock along with Perkins & Perkins. Brian Perkins made an excellent flying start on the outside and rode that momentum through a crisp turn #1 taking the lead from sister Kayleigh and was never headed after that. Ms. Perkins stayed within a roostertail length for the better part of 3 laps but in the end Brian won with open water between he and the second place hydroplane.. Later, the points leading Perkins said she gave her brother nothing in that heat. She was going all out for the win but this time Brian came out first. However Ms. Perkins clinched her 2nd Unlimited Lights National Championship with her second place finish and 1,000 point weekend.

"Smokin Joe" Souza's UL-9 ride was damaged in a heat on Saturday and the crew, with many volunteers from other teams, worked till nearly midnight on Saturday to make repairs which they continued on Sunday morning. The effort paid off as Souza first won the B-Main to earn a Final Heat berth and garner the Stout Tool cordless band saw that goes to the B-Main winning team, and Crew Chief Tim Van Hollebeke. After starting the Final in lane 1 Souza earned himself and UL-9 owners Jim & Karon Wilmot their career best Unlimited Lights finish with a third place trophy.

Another team with challenges over the weekend made do with what they had available. The problem dealt with the engine valve assembly and they couldn't make the repairs they wanted because the proper parts weren't available. However, crew chief Chris Dreewes and the WarningPower.com UL-00 team cobbled together a temporary fix they believed and hoped would work, and it did. Wil Muncey drove to a solid 4th place finish; all the more impressive because of the severe engine issues they had to overcome to earn that placement. With San Diego just a few weeks away and that course being the fastest the Unlimited Lights will race, the big UL-00 hull is rounding into competitive shape. Wil and the rest of the Unlimited Lights drivers will be racing for the award named in honor of his famous father, the Bill Muncey Trophy.

In fifth place at Silverdale was Chris Grant in the UL-3 TheSuperTravelZone.com. After consulting with tandem wing hydroplane creator Ron Jones Sr, the Grant's hull performed its best yet, including a preliminary heat victory on Saturday. The race for second place in the Unlimited Lights series points can't get much tighter as, unofficially, Warning Power.com holds second over TheSuperTravelzone.com by a skinny 28 points. How skinny is 28 points? Well an 8th place finish in a heat, which is feasible on the big course at San Diego next month, is worth 53 points. Muncey's team has the performance edge on the Grant's program but Chris Grant's team has been improving significantly and is quite reliable, finishing all but 2 heats started this season. Even though the championship has been decided with Kayleigh Perkins the titlist, the race for 2nd place which now also includes Muncey, Grant, Greg Hopp, Joe Souza. Paul Becker and the UL-11 after Brian Perkins win at Silverdale, makes San Diego a very interesting season finale, indeed.

John Lynch

"Voice" of ULHRA Racing

Photos; Julie Sparrowgrove, Mark Sharley

Silverdale Thunder Poster

News release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 13, 2009.
For more information, call Bud McKay at 360-801-1626
or go to www.namronracing.com

Thundering for 'Cell Phones for Soldiers'

Belfair’s West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood will once again be collecting old or outdated cell phones for the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” drive at this weekend’s Silverdale Thunder hydroplane race. Bud McKay, owner/driver of the three-time defending 8-cylinder Lighter-Than-LIGHTS series champion, hopes to collect the championship trophy for the race and hundreds of cell phones.
“Silverdale has always been the race where we’ve collected the most cell phones,” McKay said, who is also leading the series high points race going into this weekend. "Just one cell phone turned in means an hour's worth of a calling card for a family of a deployed member of our military. One phone can really make a difference."
"Cell Phones for Soldiers," collects used and outdated cell phones and recycles them to earn prepaid calling cards donated to deployed military members and their families. The cell phones turned in this weekend will be delivered to Bremerton’s West Sound Electric.
West Sound Electric is just one of 3,000 collection sites across the country for "Cell Phones for Soldiers." The overall goal is to collect 50,000 each month nationwide. Teenagers Robbie and Brittany Berquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money, founded "Cell Phones for Soldiers." Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
Through increased fundraising efforts, "Cell Phones for Soldiers" hopes to raise nearly $10 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing videophones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
Even if people can’t make the race, they can drop off their cell phones on weekdays year-round at West Sound Electric’s Bremerton office -- 5889 State Highway 303 NE.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2009

Contact: Muncey Marketing 360-805-0805

STRAIT THUNDER ON HIATUS

In a difficult decision announced today, the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association and Peninsula Water Sports Association have jointly agreed to postpone the Strait Thunder hydroplane races scheduled for September 26-27 until the 2010 season.

The depressed economy has taken its toll on event sponsorships across the country and Port Angeles has been no exception. Some of the festivals’ major supporters have recently had to reprioritize their discretionary spending during the deepest economic downturn in a century. A lack of support at the local level from both sponsorships and volunteers who help conduct the event contributed to today’s decision.

This would have been the 7th annual running of Strait Thunder and the hydroplane championships. In most cases, corporate supporters have expressed a hope to bring the event back to the Port Angeles harbor next year. In fact, an organizing meeting scheduled for this Wednesday will continue with the agenda centered around a 2010 event.

Strait Thunder’s major sponsor, Victoria Express Ferries, will shift focus and become the Presenting Sponsor of Silverdale Thunder in Silverdale, Washington August 15-16, as well as have a major presence at the Bayfair on Mission Bay hydroplane races in San Diego, California September 18-20. For more information on those events, please visit www.ulhra.org

ULHRA on a Mission

Mission Bay that is, in San Diego.

The Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. has accepted an invitation to compete at the annual regatta on Mission Bay, September 19th & 20th. ULHRA will be sending its legacy series, the Unlimited Light Hydroplanes, along with the G-Class Thunderboats competing in the finale of The Westport Series, and the Lighter than LIGHTS. Competition will be held on the swift 1 2/3's mile Mission Bay course where Greg Hopp already holds the records for the fastest Unlimited Light qualifying lap and racing heat. Hopp, the winningest driver in Unlimited Lights with 20 race victories dating back to 2001 is still looking for race victory #21 because the 2009 season has been dominated by 21 year old Kayleigh Perkins. The third year driver of the UL-72 Foster Care-Vitamin Water has won all 5 UL races in 2009 and holds a commanding lead in the points race. Ms. Perkins, a bright, rising star in hydroplane racing solidified her hold on the 2009 UL Championship Points lead with two remarkable performances on race course's she'd never previously won. Both at Tri Cities and Seattle, Perkins overcame average starts where she crossed the line in mid pack and went on take the lead before the end of lap #1 and won "going away" in each case.

Since the Unlimited Lights Racing Series was launched in 1995 San Diego has been part of the series every year except two, and the high speeds and enthusiastic crowds at Mission Bay are a strong attraction for the racing teams. This will be the first time the Lighter than LIGHTS teams will be included at San Diego.

In announcing this addition to the racing schedule, ULHRA President Joe Frauenheim said. "The ULHRA looks forward to racing again in San Diego's beautiful Mission Bay where we will be able to put noise on the water for all the hydroplane racing fans".

This will also be the Season finale for the ACCS " Series within a Series", the concluding race of the four race series sponsored by the Westport Chamber of Commerce.

Qualifying will be held Saturday morning with preliminary heat races beginning on Saturday afternoon, concluding with a big 8 boat Final for the Bill Muncey Trophy at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing