November, 1999 For some time now we've been reporting on the newly formed Riptide Racing team. The Riptide side of the name came from the fact that Steve Hook formerly ran his boat as "Miss Riptide". The Unlimited Light team will be known as Hook Racing. They will run under the UL-46 number and they just launched an information page on MMS. On it they bill themselves as eastern Washington's only Unlimited Light Team and talk of the team's history. Their site is located at http://www.seanet.com/~mms/hook.htm. Las Vegas Meetings & Awards Banquet A Glittering Success! LAS VEGAS, NV (Hydros) - A large contingent of UHRA and ULRS owners, drivers and officials checked into Bill Bennett’s Sahara Resort and Casino on November 18 for three days of very productive meetings and some great Las Vegas style fun. Participants hailed the annual event as one of the sport’s best ever, with the meetings led by Commissioner Dr. Ken Muscatel and COO Bo Darling producing advancements in the critical area of improved competition as well as renewed and improved cooperation and communication between the UHRA, race teams, race sites and other important elements of Hydroplane racing. Nearly 200 attendees donned formal tire for the glittering awards banquet, which capped the weekend’s events on Saturday night. They were treated to a true Las Vegas greeting, courtesy of Curt Davis and the LVCVA, which included the Roby Turner Band, four glamorous Las Vegas Showgirls and Elvis Presley! (Actually a very talented Brendan Paul). Highlight videos recapping 50 years of Hydroplane racing, the 1999 season, and the Budweiser team’s 19th National Championship (produced for the event by Diamond P Sports) were joined by a sneak preview of a newly produced promotional piece for the movie Madison. The dramatic racing footage and a taste of the compelling story that will make up the movie thrilled the very appreciative crowd. Award presenters included new Unlimited Lights Racing Series Commissioner Patty Darling, who presented J.W. Meyers with the series Rookie of the Year Award. Empire Power Systems received the ULRS Sponsor of the Year Award, and the Driver and Team Championship Awards went to Alan “Bo” Schide and team Alamo. Bo Darling presented the UHRA Sponsor of the Year award to Ralph’s, as well as the Commercial Race Sponsor of the Year and an Outstanding Achievement Award to Jasper Engines and Transmissions and the Madison Regatta. Darling was joined on stage by Chief Referee Mike Noonan and the UHRA’s Merry Beth Lewis for Outstanding Contribution Awards to the Patton and Mayhew families, Shirley Schoenith, and MRO’s Jim and Charlotte Riley. Emcees Steve Montgomery and Jim Hendrick presented awards to Budweiser for National Corporate Marketing, WORX 96.7FM in Madison, IN for Outstanding Radio Coverage, Jody Moore of the Tri City Herald for Outstanding Newspaper Coverage, and VNODE.COM for Outstanding Media Coverage. Then a surprised Ryan Kindle from Diamond P Sports was recognized for his two seasons as Producer/Director of the sport’s coverage on ESPN. Outstanding Achievement Awards went to the sponsoring LVCVA and to Team Haas for attending every event since the inception of the ULRS. Major awards in the Unlimited Class went to Rookie of the Year Greg Hopp, and the Unlimited Crew of the Year Award to the U-10 York International Team. The Unlimited Owners of the Year Award went to the Ellstrom family of Ballard, Sven, Eric, Lisa and Tom, owners of Miss E-Lam Plus. Dr. Ken Muscatel presented the Commissioner’s Award to Budweiser team owner Bernie Little, and the Gar Wood award to Miss Pico owner Fred Leland. Then Jim and Steve returned to present Bernie Little and Bud Driver Dave Vilwock with the Unlimited Series Driver and Team O’Doul’s National High Point Championship Awards for the 1999 season. Merry Beth Lewis and Lisa Holmer coordinated the banquet, which put a sparkling exclamation mark on a very successful weekend for the UHRA. In other news to come from the meetings, a contingent of representatives from Sanford, Florida, just North of Orlando, made an impressive presentation promoting the new event they hope to stage in May of 2000, and Kim Gregory announced that his U-10 York International team will indeed merge with Jerry Rise’s Appian Jeronimo operation, but the result will not be the loss of one boat, as some had feared. The Gregory/Rise combination will campaign two boats throughout the 2000 season. Mark Weber will continue as driver of the existing U-10, while Gregory’s new boat (the former “Lobster Boat”} will carry the Appian colors and name and will be driven by George Stratton. John Walters will oversee the Redmond, Washinton engine shop and dyno, with Ken Strickland and crew preparing the racing hulls in their Las Vegas shop. Want to learn more about UL-5 driver Mike McLellan? Thanks to a pointer from Doug McIntosh, we noticed a fair bit of additional detail on Mike McLellan's MMS UL-5 site. Under the title "Proud To Be Canadian - Mike McLellan" you can find information on how the Canadian aspect of his background plays into both his approach to the sport and the marketability of his team. There is additional information on his past accomplishments as a driver, comments on media coverage/exposure as well as a brief bit on Canada's hydroplane racing history. Three new teams firm up plans for the 2000 season... McIntosh Marketing Services just announced the signing of
three new Unlimited Lights Racing Teams they plan to represent for the 2000 racing season! Sanders Racing raced briefly with the series last season as the GNH-136. Dick Sanders & Shirley Sanders joined us for the Las Vegas meetings. We first reported in early October that Riptide Racing would join the fleet. Steve Hook, the owner, is from Chelan, WA and the team plans to run the west coast UL series. Forney Insurance Group, Inc. will be the 2000 sponsor for Riptide Racing. No details on LaBrie Racing at this time, but as soon as we learn more, we'll report it here on ULRS.org. Mike McCormick joins the UL field... Thanks to Fred Farley we have word on a new Unlimited Light racing team! The owner/driver is Mike McCormick and he has asked Fred to serve in a PR capacity. Together, they are proud to announce that the newly formed team expects to be in action at the races in Evansville, Madison, and Detroit...and maybe more depending upon sponsorship. If the number UL-4 is available, that is what Mike would like to use. That's because his Dad, the late Jim McCormick, used the number U-4. The boat has already been purchased from the Rutt brothers by Mike and will be delivered some time in the next few days to Mike's racing team headquarters in Philpot, Kentucky--near Owensboro. The story behind the boat is rather unique. It once briefly ran as an Unlimited! Do you remember a craft called the Miss Mercruiser, owned by John Prevost, that showed up a few times in 1986? It measured 28 feet in length and used a single automotive engine. Designed by Ed Karelsen and built by David Williams (who worked for Karelsen at the time), the Miss Mercruiser was an experiment to see if single automotive power was viable in the Unlimited Class. She was fast but not fast enough to run with the aircraft-engined boats. Cut loose by Prevost, the boat surfaced briefly in 1988 as part of Jerry Schoenith's ill-fated ATA concept and hasn't been in the water since then. This will be the first 28-foot UL hull. With that kind of length, she should be able to run in just about any kind of water. She will also be the first Unlimited to be re-configured as an Unlimited Light. Mike plans to install a modern canopy and will otherwise bring the UL-4 up to current UL specifications. Showgirls, a "young" Elvis Presley, a lively band, and the elegant Gold Room of the Sahara Hotel and Casino provided the backdrop for the 1999 Hydros Unlimited Racing Awards Ceremony and Banquet. Approximately two hundred people were in attendance for the black-tie affair that recognized the outstanding achievements of participants, race sites and sponsors. Here's a full rundown of the awards presented. We'll start with the Unlimited Light awards then move into the rest of the presentations... ULRS Driving Champion - Bo Schide Outstanding Achievement - Team Haas (Perfect attendance at every ULRS event since the series inception) ULRS Sponsor of the Year - Empire Power Systems UHRA Driving Champion - Dave Villwock UHRA Crew of the Year - U10 York International Gar Wood Award - Fred Leland Race Site of the Year - San Diego, Ralphs/Food4Less
Bill Muncey Cup Outstanding Race Site Promotion - Detroit, Chrysler-Jeep APBA
Gold Cup Management Team of the Year - Norfolk, Virginia is for Lovers Cup We offer our sincere congratulations to all the award winners, salute Team Haas for what is truly an outstanding achievement and thank Empire Power Systems and VNode.com for their dedication (along with all the ULRS sponsors who do so much to keep this sport on the water). We also congratulate Bo Schide and the entire Alamo team on their third consecutive National Championship and offer our welcome to the new Rookie of the Year driver, JW Myers. We look forward to what the future holds for him and the entire series. Unlimited Light racing just keeps getting better! Who joined us for the UL meeting is Las Vegas? For those of you curious who was there for the Unlimited Light meeting yesterday, here's a roll call of the participants (in alphabetical order)... Gene Bender (UL-38), Bo Darling (COO/Sales & Marketing Director), Patty Darling (Commissioner), Paul Droullard (UL-9), Billy Bob Dukes (UHRA paramedic), Jim Garza (Detroit site promotions), Carl Haas (UL-110), Randy Haas (UL-110), Jerry Hopp (UL-15), Bob Larimore (UL-23), Doug McIntosh (MMS), Mike McLellan (UL-5), Don Melillo (Chief Referee), Cindy Moore (Administrator), J W Myers (UL-23), Dick Sanders (GNH-136), Shirley Sanders (GNH-136), Rick Sandstrom (APBA referee), Howard Shaw (APBA referee), Eric Stileau (UHRA Medical Director), John Walcker (site promoter), Mark Weber (U-10), Charley Wiggins (UL-10). We thank everyone for joining us and participating in the well attended and productive meeting. A closed ULRS Board meeting followed the morning's open meeting. The UHRA Banquet is underway at the time of this post. We'll be back with details on the awards, celebration and promised surprises soon. New position, new administration and new
appointments! (Las Vegas, NV) In a move clearly marking the development and increasing popularity of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series, the UHRA under the direction of Dr. Ken Muscatel has officially created a Commissioner position for the series. Earlier this week, Patty Darling resigned her position as administrator of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series and accepted the new Commissioner position. Cindy Moore, Director of Communications for the Unlimited Lights Racing Series, has also resigned her position as Director of Communications so she can accept her new appointment as Administrator for the Unlimited Lights Racing Series. Charles Moore, the webmaster of ULRS.org, has been named the new Director of Communications for the series. Our thanks go out to Sean & Tanya Bowsher: Sean and Tanya run the Roostertails.net site (http://www.roostertails.net/). We offer them our thanks for linking to the ULRS.org prominently on the front page of their site! We've talked off and on with them throughout the season, enjoyed their updates and offer congratulations of their daughter's recent birth. If you stop by their Inboard Section, they have two full galleries of photos. It's a mixed set of different inboard classes, but we spotted the UL-16 Alamo and the UL-72 Pocket Mechanic among the mix. In fact, if you look just right of the left sponson in the UL-72 shot you can see the ULRS's own Patty Darling. For an added treat, be sure to visit their vintage boat section. It's made up of sixteen great photos from long ago. Not to be missed! Unlimited Lights found in Propeller: As you leaf through the November 1999 issue of Propeller (the official publication of the APBA), be sure and stop by the bottom third of page 32. They have a brief piece on Charley Wiggins and the Earl's Performance Products UL-10 and Bo Schide and the Alamo UL-16. A good photo of the two racing on the water is included with the piece as well. To quote the text, "Unlimited Lights share the spotlight with the Unlimiteds at races nationwide. Powered by automotive engines, their intense deck-to-deck competition, high speed and maneuverability dazzle the crowds." Our answer to the Propeller quote, "You haven't seen anything yet!" Exciting times are certainly ahead for the Unlimited Lights. I think Fred Farley summed it up well when he wrote, "The Unlimited Lights have come of age. No longer can they be dismissed as glorified 7-Liters. On the contrary, the Lights have evolved in the space of four years into their own unique category. And the competition keeps getting better." Back on 10/8/99 we updated you on the announcement that John O`Brien and J.C. Courtwright of Thunder Valley Racing, Inc. would be adding a UL to the fleet for the 2000 season. We now have more information that the team is moving forward and we would like to welcome the UL-21 Thunder Valley Racing Team to the ULRS fleet! The team has signed on with McIntosh Marketing Services, launched an information page and continue to work toward next season. To quote their webpage, "Thunder Valley Racing, Inc. (TVR) is composed of a bunch of Southend Seattle guys who grew up in the Rainier Valley close to the Stan Sayres Pits and with the love of hydroplanes and racing." Good to have them aboard! The November on-line issue of the APBA Propeller has reprinted the recent Hydro's coverage of all the UL action in Hawaii. They also have all the latest details on the January annual meeting of the APBA. On AOL and have a UL question? If you have an AOL account or use AOL instant messenger, just add "UnlimitedLights" to your buddy list and you can see when Chuck (the webmaster for ULRS.org) or Cindy (the Unlimited Lights Communications Director) are on AOL. Through instant messages, you will be able to chat with us in real time. We recently reactivated our account after seeing how many hydro fans and team members are on AOL. Feel free to send us an instant message and say hello anytime we are online. We love meeting and talking with fans of the sport and would be happy to answer or find answers to your questions about the Unlimited Light Racing Series. UL-17 Ted's Red Apple Market working toward 2000: The UL-17 Ted's Red Apple Market team joined the circuit this year on the west coast, racing in Tri-Cities, Seattle, and Kelowna. They also raced on Lake Chelan and won the race on Lake Sammamish. We were concerned for the team's future when we announce the UL-17 being up for sale earlier this week. We have since spoken with Shawn Bridgeman via e-mail and are happy to report that they are working toward the 2000 season. We've even noticed that they've joined up with McIntosh Marketing Services and launched an informational page through the site. Valerie Collins appointed APBA web site coordinator. Michael K. Jones, President of the American Powerboat Association (APBA) has appointed Valerie Longwell Collins to the position of Web Site coordinator including the sale of website advertising and memberships, effective immediately. Collins, a long time APBA member, has the credentials to do the job with gusto and help bring APBA into the forefront of website E-Commerce. Jones said, "We are fortunate to find
someone of Valerie's caliber who will be able to coordinate our member, club and
race site web effort while also selling advertising and memberships at our web
address Interested in building an Unlimited Light team? Need information on boats that are on the market? Over on the Macintosh Marketing Services site we've learned that there are two more UL's up for sale. In addition to the UL-17 sale we mentioned earlier, the 1985 UL-72 and the UL-15 are both on the market. The 1985 UL-72 is a Ron Jones hull with composite sponsons and a Nate Brown enclosed capsule. It's 22.5 feet in length and about 11.25 feet in width. To quote them, "the tails are on, ready for UL racing." To take it racing you would simply have to add an engine, prop, air system and a battery. All hose (fuel, water, etc), wiring, gauges and switches are included with the sale. They even include the steering wheel, seat belts, bottom hatch and seat. They are asking $16,000 (plus an additional $4,000 if you want them to include a Corky Peterson trailer). If interested, please e-mail Phil Bononcini or Joe Frauenheim. As for the UL-15, it's a Ron Jones, Sr. hull that's 20 feet, 6 inches in length and 12 feet wide weighing 2,500 lbs. It's powered by a 454 c.i. Chevrolet engine (built by Ed Trihey) producing 700 horsepower. The UL-15 finished in 2nd place in Region 10 highpoints in the GNH division and in 7th place nationally in the UL division although only competing in 6 races. They are offering the complete package of the race ready boat and trailer for $27,000. If interested, please e-mail Jerry Hopp. You can see photos of the both boats (plus one of the UL-17) on the MMS What's For Sale page. The current UL-17 Miss Ted's Red Apple Markets is up for sale. In speaking with Rick and Shawn Bridgeman by e-mail we've learned that they are selling their "top notch boat that has been extremely well maintained". The UL-17 runs very competitively as a GNH and a UL on some courses. They are asking $25,000 for the boat, trailer, three shafts, two propellers, and all gauges in boat along with an oil cooler. For more information, you can contact Rick & Shawn Bridgeman at UL17@aol.com by e-mail. Droullard Motorsports gains a new home on the web... I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit the new UL-9 Droullard Motorsports website. You can find it at http://www.ulrs.org/ul9.htm. Paul Droullard and the team are busy building a new UL for the 2000 season. In addition to introducing you to the new team through their site, we plan to give you a look behind the scenes as the boat is built. Join us over the winter and watch as it all comes together. Paul has been great to work with throughout the site's development and we look forward to working with him in the future. If Paul's spirit and personality are any indication of this team's future, it's sure to become a quick fan favorite. Where are those end of season point totals for this year? They are still a work in progress at this time. We've received quite a few questions so we thought we would simply let everyone know that there are no final totals for the 1999 season at this time. The Las Vegas UL Board meeting should provide the final totals. Although this doesn't impact the driver or team championship, we want to have the final word on the totals before posting them to the site. More on the Las Vegas meeting... The November Unlimited Light meeting is almost here. The plan is to have an open meeting through the morning of Friday the 19th. Lunch will be on your own. After lunch, we will have a closed Unlimited Light Board meeting through the afternoon. If you haven't received your invitation and wish to attend, please contact Merry Beth Lewis by phone and e-mail Cindy Moore immediately. Cindy and Merry Beth are working together as the meeting approaches. We need to finalize the names at this time so we can complete the list for the banquet. Thunderboat Magazine is a publication of Unlimiteds Detroit. We would like to take a moment and thank them for the great Unlimited Light coverage in this month's issue. Just leafing through the pages you'll find a good discussion of the San Diego race throughout which they mix in a healthy bit of Unlimited Light results and race detail. There's also a good shot of Randy Haas placed right beside a photo of the UL-110 Miss CompAir. Near the end they've published a full page of photos and standings for both the UL drivers and teams. Our hats off to the club for some great coverage! Click here for updates from October, 1999.
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