2010 is upon us and in the world of motorsports everyone is hoping for a better economic climate than in 2009. Regardless, teams are looking forward to the 2010 season, which for ULHRA teams begins with the annual open test session known as Spring Training on April 15th in Seattle, WA. First race of the season is at Firebird International Raceway at Phoenix (Chandler) AZ on May 1st & 2nd.

You may not be aware of the "inclusionary history" of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series. If you're a hydroplane racer using small or big block V-8 power chances are your race craft fits the criteria to be UL eligible.

The Unlimited Lights series began in 1995 as an outgrowth of the GNH class and its predecessor, the 7 Liter class. Today, those that were originally eligible for UL competition are still eligible and others have been added over the years. The UL-98, Miss Atomic Screen Printing, for example, began life in 1974 as a 7 Liter Division II craft, yet
today, remains competitive in the Unlimited Lights series.

Any inboard hydroplane which fits in the twenty foot to twenty six foot length with an automotive powered V-8 engine is eligible to compete in Unlimited Lights races. Generous tow money is offered at each UL race. Even teams that fit the UL size requirements but don't have safety capsules and tails can race and collect tow money. Teams with "caps & tails" also receive national points and are eligible for prize money that's awarded in the Final Heat. Race craft that are legal to compete as National Modified and Grand National and even longer 5 Liter hydroplanes can compete in the UL series along with Unlimited Lights that either race naturally aspirated big block V-8's or supercharged engines. The "blower motor rules" allow for 468 cu.in supercharged engines in the UL class with limitations on supercharger speed compared to the Grand Prix class. The GP class is included in ULHRA's G-Class Thunderboat North American Challenge Cup Series, which are scheduled to race at Arizona, South Dakota,
Montana and California.

The UL rules have evolved over the past 15 years to create an equitable competitive opportunity for each category of hydroplane. The result is fans can view a "David vs. Goliath" style of competition with small blocks and shorter boats competing against big blocks and larger boats, and also competing against superchargers. Nowhere else that I'm aware have naturally aspirated engines been paired successfully against supercharged engines in the same "class" but they compete and succeed in the Unlimited Lights' series every race weekend.

Over the past three seasons the record of race wins by carburetor teams and supercharged teams is nearly 50-50. From 2000 through 2009 the UL championship was won five times by naturally aspirated teams and five times by supercharged teams. Opportunity is found in ULHRA for teams looking to expand their racing and marketing program, especially when one takes into account that two ULHRA events are televised live on local CBS and NBC affiliates and all ULHRA events are webcast live.

ULHRA's furthest eastern race currently is in Chamberlain-Oacoma, South Dakota. This is one of the most enjoyable race programs in the country for racers, and the folks in South Dakota are outstanding race organizers and fans even though they've only been at this for two years. It's simple to get to, right on Interstate 90 where it crosses the Missouri River in South Dakota.

Now when I write simple I don't necessarily mean easy. Easy is a 30 minute drive downtown. For a lot of Unlimited Lights racers that describe the Seattle race where quite a few teams are home ported. Chamberlain-Oacoma, SD is about three hours east of Rapid City and about two hours west of Sioux Falls. Because it's right on Interstate 90 it's simple to get to; just not easy for teams in the Pacific and Eastern Time zones. However for the teams that have
competed there they know racing in South Dakota is something special. The race is moving to the weekend of June 19th & 20th. My point is, to race in South Dakota is well worth the effort and for teams around the country that don't regularly race as Unlimited Lights, such as National Modified and Grand National Hydroplanes, South Dakota is a great opportunity to experience what we call Racing, ULHRA Style.

ULHRA is working to expand to race sites in the east & south. In the past couple of seasons the series has added South Dakota, Montana and Arizona. As this expansion continues it will become more convenient for teams not based in the Pacific time zone to race in the Unlimited Lights series. Till then, South Dakota and Montana, moving to mid August, are two excellent and well-attended events to start competing with the Unlimited Lights, plus Phoenix in the middle of springtime is a nice getaway from the northern winter cold.

Some teams have asked if they could base their racing program with ULHRA teams in the west so they could race more often in the Unlimited Lights series and those teams could commute by air. The answer is yes. Others have asked if they could have their racing program operated by a western-based team. The answer to that also is yes, and is happening right now as UL-11 team owner Darren Bartels will be campaigning Pat Rankin's new Balcer UL-10 to be driven by 3 time Lighter than LIGHTS champion Bud McKay.

In the "Coming Attractions" department, ULHRA will conduct its first ever Driver Training program and it will be held in conjunction with the season opener in Arizona the weekend of May 1st & 2nd. This will involve classroom instruction, capsule training and the opportunity to drive a racing hydroplane on the course at Phoenix. This program is both for novices who've always wanted to try driving a hydroplane as well as veterans who'd like to sharpen their knowledge and skills. Details will be posted on www.ulhra.org soon. Note that the training program
will be on Thursday & Friday, April 29th & 30th in Phoenix (Chandler) AZ.

John Lynch
"Voice" of ULHRA Racing