Perkins & Hopp win as expected. Flaherty's win unexpected.

The story of the first heat section of the first race of 2008 for the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Series was more of the same.  Separated in the first round Kayleigh Perkins in the Miss Boat Electric, the 2007 UL champion, won over Wil Muncey and Marty Wolfe in Heat 1B at the Trafficade presents ULHRA at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix AZ.  The 19 year old Ms. Perkins battled with Muncey for 2 laps before securing the victory on the back stretch of the thrid & final lap.  Muncey, driving the UL-00 Trafficade sponsored hydroplane finished about a roostertal length behind in second, while Marty Wolfe, substituting for Mike Sadlon in the UL-89 Miss Lake Trash Apparel wound up third. 

In Heat 1A, Greg Hopp, driving the Graham Trucking G.T. - Happy Go Lucky took first over a determined Paul Becker in second in the Miss Critical Logic.  Third place went to a strong performance by Oregon's Bob Smets in the UL-20 Smetco-Overtime. 

The surprise was Heat 1C.  Randy Hurst in the UL-93 Trafficade Safety Sales entry appeared on his way to a convincing victory when his ride went dead in the water at the end of lap #2.  Flaherty, the only other starter in 1C motored on to victory in the UL-11 Roxy 94.5 presents Miss Power Punch Oil Supplements.  It was the first finish for this team since acquiring this former Grand Prix Hull (Executiff III) a couple of years ago. This team, owned by Darren Bartels of Buckley WA was making it's first run of the season, and to date it's only successful run after an abreviated debut at Silverdale WA last August. 

The tight 1 1/4 mile race course on Firebird Lake can handle only 3 boats at a time, particularly with the drag race course being a big consideration.  ULHRA teams are racing here at part of the season opener of the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series season opener.

The nine Unlimited Lights were drawn into three preliminary heats.  The UL-39 Rouly Heat Exchangers "Pressure's On" entry, to be driven by "Smokin Joe" Souza was unable to start Heat 1C but expects to be racing on Saturday in day 2 of this 3 day event. 

Four Thunderboat (G) teams made the trek to the Valley of the Sun and based on test runs earlier in the day it appeared that Marty Wolfe in the G-93 Johnson-Wolfe Racing Special and Dustin Echolls in the G-17 Checker Auto Parts would be the chief combatants.  Unfortunately the Checker Auto Parts hydroplane sustained severe engine damage at the end of their test session on Firday morning and was unable to complete an engine swap in time.  Wolfe, driving the boat that Dennis Johnson of Trafficade purchased from New Jersey's Roger Mahan over the winter, scored a solid victory over a vastly improved Dave Warren in the G-329 My Town Motors.  R.W. Dick Lynch and the G-17 Jet Chevrolet - Tempo was unable to start the Thunderboat heat but that team expects to race on Saturday. 

On the Lighter than LIGHTS side, newcomer to ULHRA Mike Schroeder in the 8 cylinder E-23 Tight Spot took first place over Bud McKay in the E-10 Geico Insurance of Lakewood WA. The third starter in the field was 4 cylinder entrant Kevin Eacret in the S-6 Geiko II of Lakewood - Lil' Miss Boat Electric. Eacret had 400 first place points in the 4 cylinder category wrapped up, but his boat faled to finish, going dead in the water at the exit pin of the final turn on the last lap.

Two more heat sections are scheduled on Saturday with the first expected to begin around 11:30am Pacific Daylight Time (2:30pm Eastern time). Live web cast coverage will continue for all heats of ULHRA racing through the weekend here at www.ulhra.org

John Lynch

P.R. Director and "Voice" of ULHRA Racing.