ULHRA Inc. and Seafair Inc. made history in 2007 when the two organizations agreed to a three year contract that guaranteed the Unlimited Lights would race at Seafair through 2009. That was the first mult-year agreement by any racing organization such as ULHRA, Inc and a major race site. It also set the stage for more such agreements. Shortly thereafter the race sites at Chamberlain-Oacoma SD and Polson MT were launched with three year deals that continue in 2010.
This type of arrangement works quite well for both sides. The racers know where they'll be competing for the next three years and the promoters can count on ULHRA to deliver an entertaining program, enabling race sites to capitalize on that promise with their own sponsors.
When it comes to BIG, that's Seafair in Seattle. It's the race event that towers over all other hydroplane regattas.
According to Seafair Inc, 300,000 attend the event each year over the course of a three day weekend. Seven hours of live coverage on KIRO TV Channel 7 in Seattle accounts for over a million viewers. The event, the fans, the exciting racing, the logboom and the spectacular site of Lake Washington on a sunny weekend in Seattle makes the Seafair regatta one of the Pacific Northwest's premier events and a great summertime party.
Now, why do I mention all of this? Well for two reasons. One, because it's true, and the other, because Seafair and ULHRA just renewed their agreement for another three years! Due to pit area restrictions the UL "fleet" at Seattle is limited to fourteen teams. The Unlimited Lights will have to qualify for the Seattle race via points earned in the races prior to Seattle. Those fourteen teams will square off for the most prestigious prize in Unlimited Lights' racing; the Graham Trucking Cup for Unlimited Lights at Seafair, presented by Power Punch Performance Lubricants.
But wait! There's more!. One of the most popular elements of the Seafair celebration in Seattle is the annual Seafair-Alaska Airlines Torchlight Parade. It attracts an audience size in downtown Seattle that rivals the size of the race audience around Lake Washington, and the parade is also televised live on KIRO TV Channel 7. This year, the Top 10 Unlimited Lights teams in points that qualify for the Seattle race will be featured in the Torchlight Parade on Saturday night, July 31st.
Yes, these are three big news items for ULHRA, Inc and the fans of "Racing, ULHRA Style". In addition to the three year contract with Seafair and inclusion in the Torchlight Parade, Power Punch Performance Lubricants has signed on as the newest Series Partner of ULHRA, Inc. This continues an aggressive expansion program for the Power Punch product line, based in Bremerton WA. The company has earned quite a reputation for superior lubricants and additives both for over the road use and in farming and industry. In addition to presenting the UL race in Seattle, Power Punch will have a major involvement in the UL series and webcasts all season long, and they will continue sponsorship of Darren Bartel's UL-11 team, to be driven in 2010 by Rookie of the Year contender and 2009 Eight Cylinder Lighter than LIGHTS Champion, Kevin Eacret.
Spring Training is upon us and you are welcome to attend if you can be at Stan Sayers Pits on Thursday, April 15th. Yes, you can drop off your IRS return at the post office and head for the annual ULHRA and HARM pre-season test session. Several Unlimited Lights teams will be testing that day on the Lake Washington course along with vintage race craft from the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum. There is no admission charge however fans are reminded they cannot park in the pits nor block access by emergency vehicles under penalty of law. Live coverage will be available on this website from ULHRA Video.
Spring Training sets up the teams for two weeks later when it will be the season opener April 30, May 1st and 2nd in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix (Chandler) AZ for the third consecutive year is the site where the ULHRA season begins, with Unlimited Lights racing joined by Cracker Box racers and the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. This will be the Lucas TV Production Team's first event of many in 2010 and the Unlimited Lights will be part of the inaugural telecast. The race site is Firebird International Raceway on unique Firebird Lake, built with a center "berm" to cut the wakes from drag boat competition. That berm runs the length of the drag boat straightaway so the Unlimited Lights oval track goes around the berm. That means at Phoenix there's no "cutting the course".
Is this a challenging economy? Most definitely, however when combining a new three year race site contract and a new Series Partner, it's certainly an endorsement of the ULHRA product despite the doom and gloom rampant on the internet. As ULHRA Director of Marketing and UL-00 driver Wil Muncey states, "there were a lot of rumors about financial trouble for marine motorsport groups and a lot of speculation about what direction the sport was going. This unquestionably answers a lot of that speculation with irrefutable proof that boat racing ULHRA style is the most progressive and rewarding on behalf of the individual racer and fan". As Muncey says, "new contracts such as these mean more money per team and more reliable appearances for the fan".
On this website when you're back on the home page, if you haven't clicked on this headline " PRI Marine Market Article" , do so. Performance Racing Industry is the leading trade organization for professional and amateur motor sports. ULHRA has been part of the PRI program for the past four years and this article highlights the industry involvement. It also features excellent photography supplied by ULHRA's Mark Sharley and an overview of where the industry has been and where it's going. Take a few minutes. It's a good read.
Next month, as our old friend and team owner, the late Doug McIntosh would always say, "Let's Go Boat Racing"!
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