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4/10/08
The 2008 season starts this weekend. The boat and truck are all packed
up to go to the Moses Lake race this weekend 4/12&13. Our sponsors this year are Graham Trucking GT and Happy Go Lucky.
There may be more that a dozen events to attend this year. One big welcome is the return of the Tri-Cities race 7/25-27. Greg
will be driving for Leland Unlimited and Greg and I will be sharing the driving in the UL-15/GP-15. Weather at Moses Lake
looks inviting, 76º and sunny. The following Thursday 4/17
the boat will be at Spring Training at Stan Sayres pits in Seattle.
3/18/08
Paul Roald Pedersen
April 27th 1972 - March 14th 2008
Big Pauly's Gone
Pauly was a member of Hopp Racing for many years. One of a group of Greg's friend's That helped run the UL-15 and the
Unlimited U-15 in 1999. Greg got rookie of the year in the Unlimiteds that year with Pauly's help. There is a web
site set up in memory of Paul.
www.paulpedersen.org
 Paul Roald Pedersen, 35, passed away unexpectedly as a result of a tragic work related accident on Friday
March 14th.
Paul lived a full life. One that was filled with helping others. He used his
mechanical knowledge and gift to bless people. When he wasn't fixing a lawn mower, working on someone's vehicle or tinkering
in his shop, you could find him hanging out with fa mily and friends. A get together wasn't complete unless Paul showed up
wearing his trusted hickory shirt and "uptown" romeos, carrying a batch of hot wings.
Paul loved his yearly trips to Alaska where he would fish with his family
aboard the Inger B. We all missed him when he was away for the summer but were comforted knowing that he was exactly where
he loved to be. Now we can have that same comfort as we know that he is in a better place with his Heavenly Father.
Paul is survived by his parents Roald & Inger Pedersen, brothers Peter
(and wife, Rebecca) and David, and many family and close friends.
12/27Salt Water Damage
As you can see from the pictures this switch panel is one unhappy camper. The panel is out of
Bob Schellhase's UL-1 boat that flipped during qualifying at Port Angeles. After the boat flipped it was towed back to the
pits. We waited for a crane problem and let the boats getting ready for heat 1 A to get in the water. The boat was washed
down the best we could. One week later we pulled out everything we could and washed it and lubed it. One of the things pulled
out was the main switch panel. You can see all of the corrosion and rust on the back side of the switches. Some of those switches
were new at the beginning of this season, the others looked like new and were one season old. All of the rust and corrosion
including the instrument panel and gauges looked like this the next morning (Sunday). The boat went upside down with the main
power on and the 12 volts from the battery cause all the corrosion to take place so rapidly. The MSD ingnition module was
new the race before, San Diego. Sent the box in to MSD. They couldn't save it, totally destroyed. Beside the physical damage
to the boat we are looking at a month of rewiring and thousands of dollars damage to the electrical systems. Racing in salt
water is really tough on your equipment even if you don't tip the boat over. Make sure you inspect your whole boat and clean,
clean, clean.
11/19
Firebird Lake-what a blast. Plenty of action all day with the Drag's including 250+MPH Top Fuel Hydro's, SS and K-Boat
circle races and of course the Unlimited Lights. Everyone tested Friday and Jim Wilmonts boat had and engine problem. Saturday
morning when we came in to warm up the motor on the Woodcraft Presents FestoolSupply.com/Happy Go Lucky we discovere that
Big Walley (our 5 seanons running engine) had a broken roller lifter. We missed all of Saturday's heats. The UL-17, UL-72,
UL-83 and the UL-93 had some exciting racing during the day.
Our crew went to work. Pulled the engine out of the boat, borrowed parts and a rollover stand from the drag and K-boat
guys. We spent the rest of Saturday until 10 PM tearing the engine down and replacing the damaged parts and rebuilding the
oil pump. Sunday morning we talked the crane guy into coming in early to put the engine back in the boat so that we could
hook it back up. Cost us a Hopp Racing hat and a couple of hero cards. Thanks "Crane Guy". The engine started up and ran fine,
good to go racing Sunday. Thanks to the teams hard work.
Jerry drove the first heat Sunday. Matched up with Kayleigh Prekins in the UL-72 and Marty Wolfe UL-93. It was an exciting
race with several lead changes and Jerry coming from behind on the out side to take the win at the finish line. Dustin Echols
finished ahead of Wil Muncey in their 3rd heat. Both boats had mechanical problems and were out for the day.
Greg drove the final heat matched agaisnt the UL-72 and UL-93. Marty lead at the start. Kayleigh had the lead with Greg
in second place for lap two with Greg winning at the finish line lap 3.. The crowd was on it's feet cheering. Greg stopped
in front of the grandstands and got out on the boat and gave them a big wave to a standing-O. Part of the course ran down
the drag course and the Firebird lake people had the timing equipment running. Greg was timed at 144 MPH at the end of the
drag 1/4 mile. Very exciting day with all the action going on. If you like blower boats, this was the place to be.
11/15
Woodcraft of Phoeinx Arizona will be on board as a Festool dealer at the Firebird Lake race this weekend. The photos
are from a display we did today at the business location in Phoenix. The boat is in the pits and we are scheduled to test
Friday afternoon. Greg and crew flew in this evening.
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| Woodcraft Presents Festools Supply |
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| Dwayne Ernest at Woodcraft |
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11/15
The season ended with Greg flipping the boat in Port Angeles. Greg OK boat not so lucky. Left sponson tip broken
off and the cowling and wings were destroyed. Engine came through OK. The electrical was really eaten up by the salt water.
The boat is at Jones Jr's getting repairs made.
Congratulations to Kayleigh Perkins on her driver championship and the UL-72 Team for the National title.
We have the Alamo boat with us down here at Firebird Lake in Phoenix Arizona for a demonstration run with 5 other UL's.
If all goes well it should be on the schedule for April of 08.
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