ULHRA Banquet

The annual ULHRA Awards Banquet is set for Saturday night, January 16, 2010. This year it returns to the 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim WA, near Port Angeles. It begins at 5:00pm and racing fans are invited to attend to meet and mingle with ULHRA Racers and enjoy a time to reflect on the completed racing campaign.

The evening opens with a no-host cocktail hour, followed by a welcome from the evening's on stage host, ULHRA "Voice" John Lynch. and the 2009 season highlights produced by Gold Cup Video.

The Buffet Dinner featuring Prime Rib & Seafood begins at 6:30pm followed by presentations of the 2009 Awards at 7:30pm. The awards program recognizes all who participated in Racing, ULHRA Style in 2009 including APBA class racers competing with the Lighter than LIGHTS teams, and the Thunderboats G-Class and Unlimited Lights. Presentation of the 2009 Driver and Team Championship Awards to Kayleigh Perkins and the UL-72 Foster Care-Vitamin Water will conclude the stage portion of the evening followed by entertainment in the casino.

Pre-Registration is $35.00 per person and as noted on the invitation posted here must be received by January 12th. After January 12th the cost is $39.00 per person. Hotel Accommodations are available nearby at the Sequim Quality Inn and Sequim Bay Lodge.

Invitation Registration (Both files are in Word format)

Power Punch Racing Team Announces New Driver for 2010

PDF File

Hydroplane Hero "Smiling George" Dies

Before the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, hydroplane racing was the big sport to follow in the Puget Sound region.

Among its heroes was Eatonville resident "Smiling George" Henley.

George Henley's magical year was 1974. At the helm of the unlimited hydroplane Pay 'n Pak, he won the Gold Cup on Lake Washington when the race returned to Seafair after a seven-year hiatus.

That same season he won seven races and the national points championship. He beat all comers, including the "Thunderboat King," Bill Muncey.

Henley, who retired from racing in 1976 and went on to own Henley's Silver Lake Resort near Eatonville, died Monday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. He was 73.

"It was sudden," his wife, Mary Henley, said. "It was just one of those things."

Born in Ketchikan, Alaska, Henley was 13 when he came to Silver Lake in 1950 after his parents bought the Silver Lake Resort.

He used to sneak off to watch the boat races on Spanaway Lake and fell in love with the sport, his wife said.

"He always had something to do with the water," she said.

Marc Blau, president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame, recalled Henley as an unassuming man with a constant smile. Henley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

Henley began building his reputation as a boat racer in 1955 when he started racing outboards. He then moved up to inboards and made the jump to unlimited hydroplanes in 1970. He won 12 of 34 races he entered over the next five years.

In 1974, he joined forces with Dave Heerensperger on the Pay 'n Pak. The previous year the boat won a National High Point Championship with a different driver at the controls.

Henley was up to the challenge and drove the boat to its second straight championship, which earned him an invitation to the White House to meet President Gerald Ford.

Henley retired but came back the next season as partial owner of the Pay 'n Pak and won another national points championship.

In 1976, Henley left unlimited racing for good.

"He said it was a dangerous sport and why put your life on the line all the time with a family when you have fulfilled all your goals," said his wife, who recalled that his 1954 Eatonville High School prophecy was that he'd win the Gold Cup.

Legendary hydroplane racing designer Ron Jones Sr. of Renton called Henley "my most favorite boat racer."

"He got boats around the racecourse others could not," Jones wrote in an online memorial set up for Henley.

Carol Parsons of Harts Lake Resort and Deli in southeast Pierce County remembered Henley as a businessman who "loved that resort and was so devoted to it."

Henley also is survived by two sons, a daughter and grandchildren.

Plans for a memorial are pending.

Mike Archbold: 253-597-8692

mike.archbold@thenewstribune.com

ULHRA Board modifies "blower motor rules".

In a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. one element of the rules applied to supercharged engines in the Unlimited Lights' series has been rescinded.

The Unlimited Lights' program is the only racing series to successfully combine small block V-8's, big block V-8's and supercharged V-8 engines all in the same "class" with rules and specifications designed to provide an equitable competitive opportunity for all three engine types.  Due to the wide variety of courses raced by the UL teams there are some "tracks" where small blocks may have an advantage and others where big blocks may have an advantage, and others where "blowers" may have an advantage. 

This change approved by the board came from a recommendation made by Howard Shaw, ULHRA Director of Competition.  After reviewing the data over the past few seasons Shaw proposed and the Board adopted this specific change.  Whereas for the past few years supercharged Unlimited Lights have been required to start outside of carburetor boats AND maintain their starting line lane for one complete lap in order to equalize compettive opportunity, the requirement for holding the starting line lane for one complete lap has now been dropped.

For example, in a typical six boat heat let's say the lineup includes four "naturally aspirated" hydroplanes and two supercharged hydroplanes.  The two "blower boats" battle for lanes 5 & 6 at the start while the four "carb boats" battle for lanes 1-4 at the start.  That element remains intact.  It's after the start where the the rules become the same both for naturally aspirated and supercharged engines.   All UL's must maintain their starting line lane through turn one to the exit pin.  After the exit pin of turn one they can move inside IF they have an overlap of the boat to their inside.  The overlap rule is one roostertail length. 

The next time on the water for the Unlimited Lights will be April 15th for Spring Training; the ULHRA annual pre-season test session.  The 2010 season is scheduled to open in Phoenix (Chandler) AZ, at Firebird International Raceway on May 1st & 2nd. 

John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing
 

Article from Powerboat Magazine

Performance Racing Industry Show Ramps Up

The motorsports industry will be doing its share to help the economy as buyers from more than 60 countries are expected to attend the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Orlando, Fla.

Taking place at the Orange County Convention Center from Dec. 10-12, the show is recognized as one of the best places to conduct motorsports business internationally. Last year, it attracted more than 40,000 attendees.

"The racing products and machinery that will provide new revenue streams and new sources of profit for racing entrepreneurs in 2010 will all be on display in Orlando," said John Kilroy, editor of Performance Racing Industry magazine. "It's a remarkable and unique opportunity for racing professionals to see it all in one hall—thousands of new racing products. There's nothing like it."

But PRI is more than just a trade show where buyers can receive hands-on sales demonstrations of new products and make purchases to ensure the components are in stock for the start of the next season. Kilroy said the show offers a full package for racing industry professionals, including special events that provide valuable business learning opportunities or the chance to mix and mingle with industry friends.

The show will once again feature PRI's annual Industry Roundtable and the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference. And new this year is the Motor Sports Business Forum's conference focusing on the commercial side of motorsports. Many of the industry's biggest names and sponsors will take part in the two-day event on Dec. 8-9.

For more on the show, visit www.performanceracing.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 1, 2009
Contact: Muncey Marketing 360-805-0805
 

You CAN see it from here!
Alpen Optics teams up with the ULHRA
 
Issaquah, WA: Alpen Optics, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga , California just confirmed its relationship with the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, Inc. by acquiring the licensing rights for the Official Binocular of the ULHRA.  Along with sponsors such as  Trafficade of Phoenix, Arizona or Victoria Express in Port Angeles, Washington, Alpen Optics joins the growing ranks of sponsors utilizing motorsports on the water to promote its brand.

Recognizing that hydroplane racing is a spectacular and eye-catching show it caught the attention of Alpen’s President Tim Gardner. “It would be difficult to find a motorsport that lends itself so well to our product,” Gardner said. “At most regattas the number of visual obstructions between the fan and the competitors are minimal. The main limitation to prime viewing is simply distance.”

Already popular and well established with hunters and birdwatchers, Alpen Optics was originated over fourteen years ago and currently has over a thousand dealers across the country.  

Having been a marine motorsport competitor himself, Alpen Vice President Tony Proper coordinates closely with in-the-field representation of his products and their points of sale. Hailing from the Offshore Powerboat racing ranks, Tony was formerly employed by Mercury Marine and is no stranger to the promotional capabilities of marine motorsports. Part of the agreement with Alpen Optics will feature their logo on all ULHRA officials and Rescue team uniforms. The Alpen logo will also appear alongside other sponsors on the tails of every Unlimited Light hydroplane.
 
“Alpen Optics sells binoculars across the country. They provide products that are popular with our fans”, said Joe Frauenheim, President of the ULHRA. “It’s a natural relationship between a manufacturer and a sport that truly shares an interest.”

Pictured: Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger shows his interest in Alpen products.

"We are considering creating an Official ULHRA model of binocular especially selected for the strong spectator interest supporting marine motorsports”, said Proper. “This is a family friendly sport and there could be significant cross-over for some of our social marketing causes such as the NBCF. A pink model sporting the ULHRA logo could make an important statement at the shoreline.” The Official Binocular may be available in time for Christmas.

Alpen Optics is a supporter of breast cancer research and has developed products to help bring attention to this important cause. “Pink is the color most associated with breast-cancer research”, says Vickie Gardner, vice president of Alpen Optics. “Our new line Alpen Pink is more than just a pink binocular. With more than 40,000 Americans dying each year of breast cancer (400,000 worldwide), Alpen Optics has created its Pink binoculars to help focus on a cure, while delivering the best binocular for the best price in the marketplace. It’s also personal to us as we lost a young niece to this terrible disease ourselves.”

Alpen – Bringing your world into focus. For more information on Alpen products, please visit www.ALPENOUTDOOR.com .

The Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association is an automotive-powered class of inboard hydroplanes 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 turns heads, pumps adrenaline and compels innocent bystanders to transform into hard-core racers. For more information regarding the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association, please visit www.ulhra.org.