Perkins
goes back to back at Silverdale Thunder
By AARON MANAGHAN
Aug 16
2008
Above, Kayleigh Perkins celebrates her second-straight win at Silverdale
Thunder during an interview with ULHRA announcer John Lynch. Right top,
Perkins’ UL-72 Miss Boat Electric flies across the waters of Dyes Inlet
Sunday. Below right, Greg Hopp (right), Paul Becker (center) and Perkins come
around turn four on the first lap neck and neck. Becker would flip his boat going
into the final lap.
Jesse
Beals/staff photos
Some people have a lucky charm, like a penny, rabbit’s
foot or a four-leaf clover.
Kayleigh Perkins has Dyes Inlet.
“I love Silverdale,” Perkins said. “It’s
been my lucky race.”
The only female winner in the history of Unlimited Lights
Hydroplane Racing Association’s UL class claimed her fourth victory last
weekend at Silverdale Thunder, defending the title that earned Perkins her
historic first victory.
But even beyond taking a second Thunder, Perkins said the win
was great for bigger reasons.
“It means a lot just because we’re also running in
the points championship,” she said. “But the fact this is where I
got my first one means quite a lot today.”
Perkins’ UL-72 Miss Boat Electric held off Greg Hopp and
the Graham Trucking GT-Happy Go Lucky boat for the second year to win
Silverdale Thunder, earning 1,200 points and supplanting then-points standing
leader Paul Becker for the lead. Perkins now leads with 7,072 total points,
with Becker just 100 behind at 6,902. Hopp is third with 5,640. No other driver
has even topped 4,000.
With the points race so close, Perkins said the race was more
exciting than ever.
“It always makes it more exciting for everybody,”
she said. “Every heat counts.” While Ryan Mallow took an official
second at last year’s Silverdale Thunder, Hopp was leading until he lost
a propeller blade, locking up the first win for a close-behind Perkins.
This year, leading wire to wire, Perkins’ UL-72 Miss Boat
Electric dominated the final in defeating Hopp by two roostertail lengths.
Mike Sadlon in the UL-89 Lake Trash Apparel and
For part of the weekend, racing was no certainty. In fact, due
to choppy waters, Saturday’s racing was called off altogether.
“I was kind of worried,” Perkins said. “I was
worried we wouldn’t race at all. But Sunday was just beautiful.”
While the weather decided to oblige, it was still less than
smooth sailing for some.
Becker, in the UL-14 Miss Critical Logic, was leading going into
lap two and as he approached the first turn with Perkins to his inside and Hopp
to his right.
“He was really trying to get that lead on me,”
Perkins said. “He just drove it too hard.”
On that turn, Becker’s boat caught a wind gust and blew
over while going close to 150 mph, landing right-side up.
“We were right next to each other,” Perkins said.
“I knew it was bad right when it happened.”
Becker immediately radioed his crew, letting them know he was
alright, but a medical exam subsequently revealed both a fractured ankle and
vertebrae.
With only
If he is unable to go, Perkins would be a virtual lock on the
driver point title, another chance for a repeat performance.
Still, Perkins said she’s just another driver. She said
very few are still surprised by her accomplishments as a female racer.
“Yes, but not too much anymore,” she said.
“Everyone thinks of me as just another racer.”
Even if Becker is unable to race, Perkins still has reason to go
all out.
Her boat, the Miss Boat Electric, is second in the boat point
standings with 7,982. Hopp’s UL-15 Graham Trucking GT-Happy Go Lucky,
also driven by his dad and fellow racing vet Jerry Hopp, leads with 8,265
points. Becker’s Miss Critical Logic is third in that points race with
7,842.
With PA being the last tour stop for the season, Perkins said
her team will look at little things to improve prior to the race.
“Probably,” she said with a hint of slyness in her
voice. “But if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. Then my competitors
could read it.”
Really, Perkins said in all seriousness it all comes down to the
start.
“It’s just perfecting our starts more,” she
said. “At times, I’m amazed at how lucky I can get.”
While there’s a lot more racing before the end of the
season, Perkins hopes the Silverdale event will continue to grow. After all,
she for one certainly wouldn’t mind a three-peat.
“I just hope we’re still invited back next
year,” Perkins said. “Just get bigger and bigger as the years go
on. Maybe I can get it three times in a row.”
The Unlimited Lights boats weren’t the only ones racing at
Silverdale Thunder Sunday.
Steve Clark, in the E-222 Power Punch-Thunderstruck, won the
8-cylinder Lighter Than Light series race, earning him 1,100 points to Kevin
Eacret’s (E-36 Baker Equipment Blockhead Machine) 700. Belfair resident
Bud McKay and his E-10 GEICO presents Namron Racing Team took fourth, adding
450 points to his season total. McKay still owns a commanding lead in the
series with 3,750 points to Eacret’s 1,900.
In 4-cylinder Lighter than Lights action, Austin Eacret, in the
S-36 The Trainer, won, adding 925 points to his season total. The combination
of driver’s Bianca Bononcini and Joseph Perkins in the Y-28 Perkins Glass
finished second overall with 800 points. The Y-28 boat now leads the 4-cylinder
standings with 3,6000 points this season.