Secret test sessions involving Mike Sadlon (UL/NM-89 No Excuses Racing & Laketrash.com) and Marty and Elizabeth Wolfe (#93 Trafficade Hydroplane) were conducted taking advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend. Mike and Marty’s teams got together in Morgan City Louisiana to work on engine and prop combinations and the first two days brought about speeds of up to 150 mph around the 1.25-mile course. It was great racing that thrilled the crowds but the most interesting developments of the weekend happened after Marty consumed over 15 pounds of crayfish. It was determined by Marty’s team that in order to reduce the risk of flipping due to a 15-pound mudbug weight increase on the boat and to prepare Elizabeth for the upcoming Chamberlain SD event, maybe Elizabeth should go ahead and take Marty’s place in the #93 for a run or two. During Elizabeth’s sessions on Monday she got the boat clocked at over 140 mph on the radar gun. Things continue to look good for both No Excuses Racing and Marty Wolfe’s teams.

Trafficade presents Unlimited Lights at Firebird

April 25-27, 2008

Running Total Points

UL 72 Kayleigh Perkins Miss Boat Electric 2000 points

UL 15 Greg Hopp Graham Trucking GT - Happy Go Lucky 1600 points

UL 14 Paul Becker Compuware presents Miss Critical Logic 1500 points

UL 00 Wil Muncey Trafficade Racing Team 700 points

UL 11 Michael Flaherty KRXY 94.5 FM presents Power Punch 700 points

UL 89 Marty Wolfe in the Lake Trash & Mike Sadlon presents No Excuses 525 points

UL 20 Bob Smets Smetco Overtime 225 point

UL 39 Joe Souza Rouly Heat Exchange presents Pressure's On 0 points

UL 93 Randy Hurst Desperado by Trafficade 0 points

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Sponsor Increases Participation

As the circuit of the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association grows, so does the appeal and interest to sponsors. The Pickwick Challenge at Pickwick Landing, Tennessee to be held May 2nd, 3rd and 4th is a good example.

“Lake Trash’s target marketing area is from Michigan to North Carolina and Missouri to Florida.” Said Water Gear, Inc. CEO Ricky Treadway , ”Although we partnered with the ULHRA in order to promote the Lake Trash Apparel (LTA) brand and expand that, it’s great that we are also able to maintain our existing markets.” As the Official Apparel of the ULHRA , LTA is stepping up to contribute financially to the production of the Exhibition in the Volunteer State.

The Pickwick Challenge may also be the first ULHRA event that will see LTA’s new vending trailer on site distributing Official ULHRA apparel in addition to their own quality merchandise. “We are very excited about helping to create and distribute the casual wear that will represent the ULHRA.” Treadway went on, ”This is a new aspect to their merchandising that we are glad to help with.”

Teams are scheduled to travel to Pickwick from across the country. From Washington State to Florida and from Texas to Illinois. Marty Wolfe, driver of the Trafficade Presents Desperado Unlimited Light hydroplane said, “We are excited to be a part of bringing ULHRA hydroplane racing to a new part of the country. It has been thirty years since there has been hydroplane racing on the Tennessee River. The Johnson-Wolfe Racing Team would love to make Pickwick Landing a regular stop on the circuit.” Marty’s sister, Elizabeth will be sharing drivers duties this season for the team that hails from Illinois.

With perhaps the shortest distance to travel, Mike Sadlon will be bringing the LTA sponsored Unlimited Light hydroplane up from it’s home base in Vero Beach, Florida. On the other hand, long distances haven’t deterred Mike in the past. Over the last several seasons, he has campaigned his UL as far away as Valleyfield, Quebec and Seattle, Washington. “Lake Trash can bring a lot to the party, both figuratively and literally.” Mike said, “ Most people don’t realize that in addition to an excellent line of leisure wear, Lake Trash provides a nationally organized program of social activities that enables people to share their passion for water born activities.”

The other half of the Johnson-Wolfe Racing Team, Dennis Johnson said, “ Having Lake Trash Apparel step up to be the Presenting sponsor of the ULHRA portion of the Pickwick Challenge is the kind of signal that indicates the growing support for marine motorsports. In addition to providing inexpensive fun for the family at the beach, it also is a good platform for promoting products and services. It’s encouraging to see LTA participate in such thorough way.”

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This is the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association Chapter, Welcome!

The Unlimited Light hydroplanes of today are descendants of the old 7-Litre Class that debuted in the late 1940s.

Gold Cup luminary Lou Fageol is considered the father of the 7-Litre Class, which was nicknamed the "Junior Gold Cup Class" in the years immediately following World War II. Fageol made available to his fellow racers the 404 cubic inch Fageol V-8 bus engine.

The first hydroplane to use a Fageol 404 in competition was SO-LONG, JR., which Lou drove in the 1946 APBA Gold Cup at Detroit. Although nominally a Gold Cup Class "G" boat, SO-LONG, JR., was the forerunner of all the 7-Litre "H" boats that followed.

Officially recognized as an APBA inboard class in 1947, the 7-Litres competed in races sanctioned just for them and--for a number of years--were allowed to participate in Unlimited events, although this didn't happen very often.

Most 7-Litres measured around 20 feet in length in those days and weighed less than a ton. They could theoretically register in both classes, until the Unlimiteds imposed a 25-foot minimum hull length in 1957 and a 5000-pound minimum weight requirement in 1958.

Many of Unlimited racing's biggest names came up through the 7-Litre ranks: Bill Cantrell, Bill Muncey, Don Wilson, Bill Sterett, Bill Brow, Buddy Byers, and Dean Chenoweth to name only a few.

By the 1970s, 7-Litre racing had evolved into two divisions: 7-Litre I, the "H" boats; and 7-Litre II, the "J" boats. The "H" division was modified; the "J" division was stock. Most boats in both divisions measured between 22 and 24 feet.

7-Litre-Division I evolved into the Grand Prix Class; 7-Litre-Division II became the Grand National Hydro (GNH) Class. The GP boats are primarily a Canadian class with a few play dates in the United States.

In 1994, the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association (UHRA) staged a series of exhibition races for the Grand National teams. This led to the formation of the Unlimited Lights Racing Series in 1995 as a support class on the Unlimited hydroplane circuit.

The majority of today's UL fleet consists of hulls built specifically for participation in the Unlimited Light Class. These are not glorified 7-Litre/Grand National boats. And some of the top builders in the business--Auld, Balcer, Ron Jones, Sr.--have all climbed on the UL bandwagon.

At the end of October 2000, the Unlimited Lights began operating under the aegis of their own corporate identity--the Unlimited Light Hydroplane Racing Association (ULHRA). The ULs now determine their own destiny apart from the Unlimiteds and the series continues to grow with each passing year.