2006 ULHRA Quicksilver at Silverdale

ULHRA officials told the committee that produced the first quicksilver that the 7 boat field in 2005 would be exceeded in 2006. However when that statement was made a year ago, no one envisioned what's happened this weekend. The fleet has doubled! Fourteen Unlimited Light Hydroplanes are set to compete for the 2nd annual Boat Trader.com quicksilver Regatta (yes, lower case "q" is correct) on picturesque Dyes Inlet at Silverdale WA, across Puget Sound from Seattle.

The 14 teams include the top two in the series. The UL-1 Mike's Hard Lemonade-Happy Go Lucky is driven by the winningest racer in Unlimited Lights' history. Greg Hopp has thirteen victories in his UL career, one more than retired drivers Bo Schide and Phil Bononcini. Hopp leads Michael Flaherty and the UL-72 Powerboats NW presents Miss Boat Electric by 194 points. 1,640 points are possible with a perfect weekend, meaning 4 heat victories and the #1 qualifying spot. Plus, two races remain after this weekend so the championship battle is wide open.

Hopp will be driving the former UL-9 American Eagle, acquired by Hopp Racing and Bob Schellhase last winter. However, this hull is still seeking its first victory. Former owner Paul Droullard set the Unlimited Lights qualifying speed record 2 years ago at San Diego at 122.324 mph. Droullard also had a career best 2nd place finish at San Diego in 2005. So far this year, when Hopp has driven the ex Droullard hull, he's wound up fourth and third at Issaquah & Seattle. When driving the original Mike's hull this season, Hopp has a 2nd and two firsts.

Finishing the 3 race "Western Swing" for the first time is Reading PA's Webster Family racing team with the UL-2 Red Hot driven by Mike Webster. The team continues to upgrade their race craft, working on improving the balance of this former champion 7 liter hull. They just may find the 1 1/4 mile quicksilver course to their liking.

UL-62 IRS Environmental presents Benz Electric and owner-driver Rod Bourke returns after sustaining engine and hull damage at Tri Cities. Bourke missed the Graham Trucking Cup at Seafair but has successfully made repairs for this weekend. This hull began showing impressive speeds on this race course last year in the ULHRA's Lighter than LIGHTS Modified division.

Another returnee is Joe Turner, who's team sustained significant hull damage at Seafair just two weeks ago, but made repairs and are ready to run the UL-18 Pacific Rim Brewing Co at the site of the team's career best finish: 4th place at quicksilver 2005.

UL-33 owner-driver Bob Estes and his Miss Graham Trucking entry is looking to rebound from a disappointing Seattle race two weeks ago. Due to a penalty called in the B-Main, Estes missed the UL Final by a single placing. Luck of the draw sometimes plays a part as UL-4 driver Bryan Richards benefited from other teams failing to start or finish and finished 2nd in a preliminary heat, putting him into the Final, a mere 19 points ahead of Estes........otherwise Estes would've been in the Final instead of the B-Main.

BCS Enterprises Racing is having their best season in their third UL campaign. Driver Al Carstensen drove to second place at Seattle which was a team and driver career best in ULHRA competition. Now on their "home track" the team hopes to move up the final rung to the quicksilver title in the JesField Construction presents Gresham Pump & Well Drilling UL-6.

John Lynch