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7/13
Well we didn't quite win the Gold Cup this time but did very well in all of our heat racing. Greg got good
starts, lane one, and led in the final going to the first turn. The engine got a fuel system "virus" and lost power. Greg
managed to nurse it to the finish line and drew a huge applause from the crowd. We ended up with
a 5th place. Now it's drive strait though to home, pack up the UL and head to Polson Montana for the ULHRA race this
weekend.
7-11
Greg and I are at the Gold Cup in Detroit this weekend. Greg qualified yesterday at 148.420 2
lap average. Fred has a couple of sponsors this weekend. Bill and Happy Rands and family are helping Fred out. Bill and Happy
are the "Happy Go Lucky" that is on our boat. Bill has his Grandkids names on the tail. Wil, Rebecca, Charlie and JJ. Fred
also has a new sponsor Jarvis Painting. Jarvis is also sponsoring Ken Muscatel's U-25.
Heat racing begins Saturday with the winner-take-all final on Sunday.
Qualifying:
(1) U-16
Miss Elam Plus, Dave Villwock 158.098
(2) U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David 157.379
(3)
U-5 Formulaboats.com, Jeff Bernard 154.022
(4) U-7 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly 151.992
(5)
U-17 Our Gang Racing, Kip Brown 149.763
(6) U-37 Miss DYC, J.W. Myers 149.349
(7)
U-100 Leland Unlimited, Greg Hopp 148.424
(8) U-48 Miss Albert Lee, Brian Perkins 143.851
(9)
U-25 Superior Racing, Ken Muscatel 139.380
(10) U-22 Matrix System Automotive, 138.060
Here are a couple of links for coverage today and tomorrow. First heat is at 11:45 EDT. Also
race information can be found on the ABRA site. Timing and scoring. www.abrahydroplanes.com
7/1
The trip back to Madison was an 47 hour straight through drive. Dan, Bud and Jerry
took turns sleeping and driving. The trip went smoothly. We arrived at 5am Madison time Friday morning. Took a shower and
headed to the pits an hour later to set the boat up and get ready for qualifying.
6/29
Progress still being made. Couple of engines off the dyno, boat back on the trailer, wings and canopy finished.
Packing the truck and trailer is underway. A lot of people bustin' tail
6/28
The thrash is on at the U-100 shop. The boat is painted and going back together. Systems, wings and both
of the engines Jim Harvey has been working on have been dynoed and ran sweet!!! Fred is working on more engines for the
trip back east. The boat should be going back on the trailer shortly. Pack the truck, pack the trailer the usual drill. The
Madison race is this coming weekend and as the boat racing saying goes "If we just had one more week".
6/25
Seafair has added a website page for the Unlimited Lights to their Seafair website. It's really neat, has
video's from Kiro's coverage of last years race. Graham Trucking is the sponsor for the Light race as well as for our boat
the UL-1 Graham Trucking GT. Rob Graham is very excited about the fast approaching Seafair race August 1-2nd.
In the mean time Greg and Jerry are at Fred Leland's shop working on the U-100. The hydro will be leaving
in a few days for the Madison Indiana race. New paint, fresh engines and a lot of man hours.
6/23
Work continues on the U-100. The paint work is finished and systems are being installed. Packing the truck
is in progress. The ABRA Unlimited website has photo's posted of the new paint sceme on the truck, trailer and boat. WOW!!
6/21
U-100
The return of Hopp Racing to the Unlimited Hydroplane
wars. Greg and I and some crew members have been going to Fred Leland's shop to help get Greg's Unlimited ride ready for the
Madison, IN. season kick off event. Jim Harvey is now the team manager and Curt Tavener has been helping along with his brother
Barney. Dan has been working on Fred's equipment all winter. The truck, trailer and boat have been repainted and equipment
is being readied for Madison.
Jim has built a couple of impressive engines and
things are moving right along. The camp has an air of success and a fun season.
The UL-1 will not be going to the Chamberlain South
Dakota race due to lack of sponsorship and funds, so off to Madison and Detroit to race Unlimited's. We will be back with
the UL's at Polson Montana. Stayed tuned for more on the U-100.
Jerry
6/20
Condolences to the Terry Troxell clan. Terry and
Greg were team mates on Fred Leland's Unlimited team during the Zenetix years. Greg and Terry "Ganged Up" on the "Evil" Budweiser
boat to gain Terry his first Unlimited Hydroplane victory. Very well done.
Terry you will be missed.
Hopp Racing Team
6/17
Here is a review written by Julie Sparrowgroves son Chris. This is his first
article that he has written for Hopp Racing and hopes to contribute more. This is about the display that we did and the racing
at Cruisin For Hope foundation chairity. Pictures to folow.
Jerry
Cruisin for hope
was created by community leaders and friends to make a difference in the lives of young people fighting illness. This
year was the second annual Cruisin For Hope event of which the focus family was the Wischnofske’s. I spent a few minutes
with the family as the father of Chance Wischnofske expressed how abnormal it was for him to be as open to the event
as he was. “He is normally shy” Mr. Wischnofske said. The event was a good one, mostly because of the cars &
boats but I can say for sure that I did have fun. Hopp Racing brought their UL-1 Unlimited Light Hydro Plane boat out
in support for the event dry firing it for the crowd that gathered around the large boat. The first day of the event
I decided I would check out the car show. Reaching the top of the hill I heard music so sweet I felt the ground rumble beneath
me. Many classic cars and modern cars entered the car show, but not vary many imports which is good for the economy I guess,
unfortunately its too late though as GM is already bankrupt.
I was surprised to
see the focus family's three kids Chance, Charish, And Chase in a Ferrari of which I spent more time admiring while talking
some more with Mr. Wischnofske. Day 1 was filled with more activities but it seems that if the race does not attract people
the high speed crash's do. In my opinion I guessed who might have caused the crash, but I'm always missing them, so I could
not verify what really happened during this specific chain of events because the races are just too extreme to go around pointing
the finger making claims. The only thing that counts is winning and having fun, so in my opinion the incident was merely an
accident of which no one was at fault". Not everyone can win or go home without finishing a race they started, but complements
to Jason Seather the driver of R64 whom lost "the all spark" (as Transformer movie goers would say) in his engine. Never giving
up the crew and driver desperately attempted to revive the engine a dozen or more times finally giving it one last try as
the engine started up. Jason drove off catching up with the other racers to begin competing for the gold, but unfortunately
he finished in 4th place saying "I'll Keep Tryin" when interviewed. I did not let emotions or complements leave my mouth during
these two days but if there are any talented boat drivers out there you will most likely find them at a hydro racing event.
Chris Sparrowgrove
6/13
The Hopp Racing team took the "Big Yellow Boat" to Milwaukie Oregon this weekend to help a
GREAT cause. It's "Cruisin For Hope". Put together to benefit kids with life threatening illnesses. We couldn't
go on the water, but we made a lot of NOISE!!! We trailer fired the boat several times for TV, and the crowd.
Both loved it! Greg put kids in the cockpit. They all want to be boat racers now. We helped raise a lot
of money.
We took some pictures. The "Pink Panther" Peyton Hopp showing signs as a 3rd generation
boat racer by driving an electric powered cooler to a new speed record. He's so fast, he gave himself the checkered
flag!!! WOW!! The race pits are pictured and look at the boats. Some terrific action with the outboards.
Greg visiting friends he hasn't seen in 12 years. The whole time was a BLAST!! One BIG feel good for Hopp Racing.
Thanks to Mark, Cindy, Erick, and everyone at Cruisin' For Hope. Continued recovery for officer Damon Coates.
A truly "Amazing" individual.
6/12
The Hopp Racing boat is on display in Milwaukie Oregon in conjunction with the "Cruisin For Hope"
Foundation. June 13-14th. Rumor has it that Greg and Jerry will have a grudge match in a couple of C Stock Hydro's.
Jerry will be celebrating his 40th straight season with APBA as an owner/driver.
article about the event and the foundation
6/11
Started a project to make the front wing work from a foot pedal instead of electric. Ed Trihey is making
some parts for us. Looks like the next race for the blower boat will be at Polson MT. The UL-1 should have everything
in good shape for the race.
Greg and I are headed up to Fred Leland's shop to work on Greg's Unlimited ride. Jim Harvey is helping Fred
out also. The first race of the season for us will be at Madison Indiana July 3-5th.
Here are the results from 2009
Tastin and Racin:
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Pro Stock:
1. Dave Rankin
2. Levi Weber
3. Ryan Butler
Super Stock:
1. Dave Rankin
2. Sid Rennels
3. Levi Weber
One Liter:
1. Perkins Glass
2. Robby Dahlquist
3. Bianca Bonacinni
2.5 Mod:
1. Rob Hall
2. Gerry Jarvis
3. Shawn Warren
2.5 Stock:
1. Scott Meyers
2. Joe Gutierez
3. Austin Eacret
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5 Liter:
1. Justin Weymouth
2. Wally Johnston
3. Barry Eacret
National Mod:
1. Rod Bourke
2. Mack Elliott
3. Rob Hall
Grand Prix:
1. Hopp Racing
2. Rick Bridgeman
3. Tom Eckenberg
Debbie Myre,
Chief Scorer
Tastin and
Racin 2009
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6/7
Tastin N Racin Saturday. 5 Grand Prixs were on had
for Saturday. 2 heats were run with Bridgeman's GP-17 winning both heats and Hopp Racing GP-15 finishing second. Some close
racing in the first heat but front wing problems on Greg Hopp's boat kept him from running full tilt. More problems from the
damage received at Firebird Lake a month ago. Dave Warren's GP329 had ignition problem, Tom Eckenburg's GP-19 lost an oil
pump drive belt and hurt the rod bearing, and Baker's GP-8 had an electrical problem. Tom's crew had the engine out of the
boat and were replacing the rod bearings, crank not hurt. Good job Ryan on getting it shut down in time.
All boats are repaired and ready to run Sunday. Should
be a great show. Lots going on today. An almost record number of boats showed up for the TnR race.
Welcome to a new racing organization formed by the
Bridgeman's and Dave Warren. The "GPW" Grand Prix West Hydroplane Association. Shawn Bridgeman is Vice President and Dave
Warren is President. This is an official APBA race club. They have a web site at: www.gpwracing.com Still under construction. The purpose is to promote supercharged Grand Prix boat racing. What the fans
really want to see.
6/5
The GP fleet. Shots from the TnR pits Friday afternoon. Gordy Gilmer has his work in progress on display.
5 GP's showed up to race. They are: GP-15, GP-17, GP-18, GP-19 AND GP-329.
6/4
BIG WALLEY rides again. Greg lit off Big Walley for the first time since the Firebird Lake damage. Ah what
a sweet sound, a blower motor running in the afternoon. But firebird was not completely done with us. For some reason
the impact put the intermediate strut out of line. Another 2 o'clock in the morning shot for the crew to re-bed the strut.
Off to TnR this afternoon and a quick display at Klahanie Fitness.
5/30
Finally a month later the repairs and paint work are finished. We are now where we were a week
before Firebird. Repairs are stronger than the original sponson. Probably the strongest part of the boat now. Getting 'Big
Walley" winner of the APBA GP Moses Lake Regatta 5 weeks ago ready to go back in the boat along with the propeller
shaft line. Then the usual pack the truck and trailer and head to Lake Sammamish next Friday.
We have the return of a former sponsor Klahanie Fitness of Issaquah in the Klahanie Shopping
Center. The GP-15 Graham Trucking GT will be on display there 6-5 Friday afternoon on our way to put the boat in the pits.
Stop by and get an autographed Hero Card of the UL-1/GP-15. Other sponsors include Happy Go Lucky of Detroit, PumpTech and
FestoolNW.com
5/25
Progress, the cowling is painted and repairs on deck, shaft log and sponson. More Work today.
5/22
Work continues. Cowling body work, vacuum bagging sponson, and sawing away. It will be a busy Memorial Day
weekend, more gluing to do.
5/19
Work on repairs continue. Gluing,priming, body work, vacuum bagging, a little bit of everything. Time flies
when you're having fun!!
5/14
Here is the damage caused to our boat when we hit a huge hole in the second turn of
the final heat at Firebird. The force of the impact severely damaged the right sponson side at the back of the sponson. When
Greg went by the radio coral I told him on the radio "Greg you've got parts coming out of the cowling". The boat then
went dead coming out of turn one. The bad news the engine quit, the good news the engine quit.
The bad news. The twisting force had caused a brace between the engine and thrust bearing
to break. That rod got into the blower drive belt and cut it. When the belt broke it hit the cowling scoop and blew that apart.
It also cracked the deck on the left side by the rear of the cockpit.
The good news, had the engine kept running and Greg gone full tilt into the next turn it would
have blown the damaged sponson completely apart. I don't even want to think about what would have happened then. Nothing good.
So back to the shop for major repairs. The pictures show the damage.
5/9
Greg is off to the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum to race in the Hydromod
2009 Celebrity Pro-Am with the other top hydro drivers. Should be a fun day, event starts at 10
AM.
5/3
Some pictures from Firebird last weekend.
4/27
The Phoenix race was nice as usual this time of year. 9 UL's showed up for the race, 2 G/GP's
and 2 LTL's. We had some very exciting racing in heat 3A when the UL-72 with Kayleigh Perkins driving and Greg in the
UL-1. The red boat is very fast off the corners and the blower boat had the top end. Greg had the inside lane and after changing
leads several times he pulled off a win a the finish line. The final heat shaped up to be the same kind of battle only this
time Kayleigh had lane one. Off of the first turn Kayleigh pulled ahead off the exit pin with Greg chasing her down the back
stretch. Half way through turn 2 Greg hit "The Mother of all holes", bounced high in the air landing hard on the right sponson.
Gaining control of the boat again Greg gave chase once again, making up some "ground" on the back stretch. That's when parts
started coming out of the engine cowling. Damage had occurred in the previous turn. The force of the impact broke an engine
support rod. The rod banged around until it made contact with the blower belt and cut it. The boat lost power and came to a stop. Kayleigh went on to win and Elizabeth Wolfe in the UL-93 finished second.
We would like to thank Bill Niedermeyer and Festool Supply for helping with some funding to help
us get the UL-1 Festoolsupply.com-Graham Trucking also sponsored by Happy Go Lucky and Pumptech to the Firebird race. Next
a damage report on the right sponson.
| Place |
|
Driver |
Team |
Total Points |
|
|
UL-72 |
Kayleigh Perkins |
Foster Care - Change a Lifetime |
1400 |
|
|
UL-93 |
Elizabeth Wolfe |
Trafficade - Desperado |
1400 |
|
|
UL-1 |
Greg Hopp |
Festool - Happy Go Lucky - Pump Tech - Graham Trucking |
1200 |
|
|
UL-00 |
Wil Muncey |
Warning Power.Com - Trafficade |
1050 |
|
|
UL-98 |
Charles Xaudaro |
Miss Atomic Screenprinting |
1000 |
|
|
UL-3 |
Chris Grant |
Grant Boat Racing |
694 |
|
|
UL-11 |
Mike Flaherty |
Power Punch - Roxy Radio 94.5 |
400 |
|
|
GNH-8 |
Cal Phipps |
Deel Me In |
0* |
|
|
UL-9 |
Joe Souza |
US Army - Napa Auto Parts |
0 |
| * Not Running as Legal UL | Thanks ULHRA
4/21
Great time had at the Moses Lake race. The GP's put on a fast and fun show.
We had a good day. Sunny 70's and light winds. 3 GP boats, GP-17 Bridgeman, GP-18 Baker and our
boat GP-15. "Big Walley" ran great and Scott's new prop is really fast. Greg won both heats but kinda jumped in the first
heat. The course was a surveyed 1 1/4 mile record course. Our times were 113.708mph for the first heat and 108.985 for the
second heat.
Saturday
Heat 1
1. GP-18
2. GP-15 Jumped
3. GP-17 Jumped DNF
Final
1. GP-15
2. GP-17 Jumped
3. GP-18 DNS
Sunday
Worked until late in the evening Saturday swapping engines out. Big Walley to the truck and BC
to the boat. Had a couple of plumbing issues that took some time to fix but with the help of Ed & Tommy "PumpTech" we
got it done. BC is our 80% UL motor and puts out about 300HP less tan big Walley. It showed in the results. GP-17 won
both heats, we took second and the GP-18 fought more first race bugs. Jerry drove the first heat and Greg drove the final
heat. The overall winner for the weekend was based on total points. So the final order of finish:
GP15 Graham Trucking GT-Happy Go Lucky-PumpTech
GP-17 Ted's Red Apple
GP-18 Baker Equipment
4/12
Pictures of the transom repair. Now the strongest part of the boat. A lot of work do by the crew. Repairs
done, paint work done, boat back on trailer, engine put in, systems going in and the truck is at the transmission doctor.
Everything come together for our first event at Moses Lake WA next weekend 4/18-19. The next event is the Firebird Lake event
in Chandler AZ. This week we be organizing the truck and trailer with everything we need to go racing.
4/2
After a ton of sanding and bondo the bottom is sanded and primed. Then the scary part, turning
the boat over half way out of the shop with the pick on the bumper of the truck and the engine hoist in the shop. Put on the
dolly, roll back in, jack to the ceiling and paint the bottom yellow. Mission complete. Now to the transom repair.
3/20
The mold is finished and it's time to lay up the part. Jeff Minor a former crew member on Uncle Al Thoreson's U-7 Unlimited
and now works for Ellstrom Elam came up to the shop to help us make the new part. Also Bill Niedermeyer was there to lend
a hand. Everything went very and the part was completed.
2/22
OJT on bellypan mold building. Shana, Tim, Brent, Cory and Randy lay down the
first layers of cloth and resin. Alan and Jere picked up a Nordskog oil temp gauge and lend moral support. Work continues.
2/14
Plowing ahead on the bottom repairs, Greg, Jerry, Randy, Cody and Tim were busy gluing and sanding the areas.
Mean while head "Bagger" Shana was kept busy glassing and bagging the areas. Hope to get mould made next week for the belly
pan.
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|
| Greg & Cody |
|
|
| Left Sponson Repair |
|
|
|
| Belly Pan Repair |
|
|
| Airtrap Repair |
|
|
| 2008 UL Hi-Point |
2/2
The Hopp
Racing Team attended the ULHRA Annual Awards Banquet held in Sequim Washington at the 7 Cedars Casino. The Graham Trucking GT/Happy Go Lucky/PumpTech won the Unlimited Light national Hi-Point
championship for the 2008 season edging out Kayleigh Perkins in the UL-72 Miss Boat Electric by 218 points. Kayleigh won the
2008 Driver Hi-Point championship as Greg and Jerry split driving duties during the season.
The team
members attending the banquet were. Greg and Jerry Hopp, Brent, Tiede Randy Erb, Jeri DuBeau, Bob Kelly-Wright, Scott Baker,
Bob Schellhase, Aaron, Bob Donley, Dave & Roberta Penz, Julie Sparrowgrove and Ed & Julie Smith with Pumptech.
1/29
Work on the belly pan mold and sponson repairs have cintinued this week. Back from Eastern Washington Randy Erb and Jeri
Eldredge helped out, also Tim, Bill, Greg, Cody and Shana "bagging" more repairs.
1/24/09
Well snow storms and floods behind us for the time being we are back at it. The season is fast approaching. The boat
is up side down and work has been started on replacing the belly pan, front sponson repairs and other cracks that keep appearing.
Helping out have been Brent, Shana, Tim, Cody, Greg, Jerry, Al Thoreson and Bill Niedermeyer has added some of his skills
and also brought a huge back of fresh Dungeness crab. Seafood frenzy.
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