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12/5
The Moses Lake Christmas Parade
was very cool. In more ways than one. Ana Cappelleti and I rode through the parade on the boat. That was the fun cool part.
The COLD cool part was the air temperature. -10 degrees. We were a couple of ice cubes by the time the half hour parade was
complete. Randy Erb and "Limo Joe" were there to help set up and drive the rig through the parade.
Ed and Julie Smith, the people
that originally introduced us to the PumpTech people, hosted us very well with a warm meal after the parade at the Moses Lake
race sponsor Papa's Casino.
12/3
Back over the mountains again. Hopp Racing will be taking the GP-15/UL-1 Graham Trucking-Happy
Go Lucky-PumpTech to the Moses Lake Christmas parade. The parade will start at 7PM tomorrow Friday 12/4. The boat will
be decorated with Christmas Lights. Jerry will be riding his "Sled" through the parade in his driving gear. "This will
really be fun and a pre-season kickoff for the 2010 APBA Moses Lake race in spring featuring the Grand Prixs and a
host of other inboard classes" Jerry said.
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| Baker Pierce MEvans Erb |
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| Baker Erb Eric Mark Greg Scott P |
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11/29
The test of the blown-gasoline-carbureted motor when off better
than expected. On a very cool day with a little wind Hopp Racing Team tested the gasoline motor out in their GP-15 Region
10 Hi-Point championship hull. The boat was run 3 times and accelerated very well and hit a top speed of 140mph (225km/h).
The course used was the small inboard course that is used at the Chelan Inboard races approximately a 1 mile oval.
Greg said that the boat is as fast as any of the UL boats, naturally
aspired or blown. The boat just "Got with the program". A very good entry level set-up for teams wanting to join the top boats
in the country and run a supercharged motor. He thinks the gas blower motor was quite a bit louder than the methanol motor.
Everyone on the beach agreed.
The boat engine, Big Walley, was built under APBA Grand Prix
engine option #1. A 468ci engine with 9 to 1 compression, a 6-71 supercharger running at 112% of crank speed, twin carbs running
114 Trick racing gas. We estimate the power at about 1,000 HP+. The engine "Started like a Chevy" said Greg. Pump the throttle
twice and hit the starter. A lot easier to start than the blown alcohol motor. It ran like a dream, pulled got and had plenty
of power on the top end.
Any teams wanting more information on the setup and tune spec's
we used including the boat computer run reads outs contact Jerry Hopp Hopp Racing owner. I will be more than happy to share
the information with you.
360-568-7079hm or
finspray@msn.com
BLOWER BOATS RULE!!!
11/28
It works!! The Graham Trucking-Happy Go Lucky-PumpTech
of Hopp racing took to chilly Lake Chelan this weekend. The temperature got down to 35 degrees It's safe
to say the only thing "Hot" was the coffee, and Ed Trihey's latest engine adventure. How about a gasoline fueled dual
carb, blower motor! Greg Hopp took the "Yellow Rocket" to 140 mph on his last of 3 testing periods proving this much
talked about engine program is the way to go for any race team looking to go "Blower Boat" without the expense and hassle
of converting to Methanol. You get the engine. You hook up your oil, gasoline, and water. Start it, and
go racing. It works!! Thanks to Tom Long of PumpTech for bringing the company boom truck. John Walcker for
getting us everything we needed (Including some terrific chicken). Scott Pierce, Mark and Mitch Evans also added to
the festivities. A very cold day, with a very "HOT" result.
BKW
11/26
Hopp Racing gives a little back to the sport. One of the yet untried Grand Prix engine combinations that is
in the rule book in the 468ci engine running twin carburetors with a 6-71 blower run on gasoline. The gasoline motor won’t
make as much power as the alcohol blown motor. It is a good way to get acquainted with the supercharged motor. The motor will
produce about 900HP with a conservative set up, running the supercharger at 110% of crank speed.
One of the benefits is in the fuel system is that engine will use about the same amount of fuel as its naturally
aspirated big block carb motor. That means that the existing fuel tank will be big enough for racing. The alcohol motor uses
twice as much fuel requiring the deck to be pulled off and a 30 gallon tank installed. A fairly big project.
We are installing a 10 gallon fuel tank and putting twin carbs on ”Big Walley” the alcohol motor
that now has 7 seasons on it without any major problems. Just routine maintenance. We are going to take it to Lake Chelan
this Saturday 11/28 to test and work out the tune up for the gasoline motor. It should be a very reliable package. We will
share the information we get with any teams interested in joining the world of superchargers. Pictures of the fuel tank installation
and Big Walley on the way back to the Hopp Racing shop from Ed’s Automotive for installation in the GP-15. More info
to come.
Thanks Joe Turner for donating the fuel tank and Glen Davis for donating the supercharger.
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| Joe Turner's tank |
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| Tank in boat |
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| Big Walley Gas-Blower |
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11/20
Greg overcomes mechanical problems with the U-100 and made out in Heat 1B. Kept it running and finished
fouth. In Heat 2B Greg started on the outside. On the last lap he jumped into lane one and beat Nate Brown in the U-17 to
the finish line. Greg I take what I said back, you do listen to ol' dad. Keeper' runnin'. Rob Graham's Graham Trucking
entry the U-7 driven by J. Michael Kelly won his first heat and took a 3rd in his second heat.
11/17
Greg took off from SeaTac Airport headed to Doha, Qatar to race Fred Leland's U-100 Unlimited hydro. 10
Unlimiteds are on hand for the event. GOOD LUCK GREG!!! Turn up the boost.
Dad
10/31
Eric Christensen GNH-35 in the Halloween mood. Carves a race pumpkin.
10/25
What a truly fun time in Morgan City. Everyone was so friendly
it was great just to be part of the event. The GP's did get out and run and the fans definitely wanted to see more of the
blower boats. Huey Newport’s gang, Mike Weber, Marty Wolfe and all of their team members and friends. What a great group
to race with. Patrick Hayworth was heard to say while white caps blew across the lake "Heck this is calm compared to what
we race in up in Canada...aye"
Saturday evening Greg and I attended the APBA Region 10
Banquet and meeting. Hopp Racing team received for a second year the Region 10 Grand Prix hi-point award. We had some impressive
blower boat races in Washington State with the fans on their feet cheering away.
10/18
The race has been official canceled because of wind. Small craft warnings until 8pm this evening. Thr Grand
Prix class is alive and well. We look foward to a great season next year. The top 4 boats qualifed within 2 seconds of each
other. We ran the fastest lap ever run here at Morgan City. 113.475mph
The problem is:
Saturday's qualifying heat pictures.
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| GP-10 Engine work |
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| Seafood Feed Sat night |
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| GP-10 MIKE WEBER BARELY LEGAL |
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| GP-77 BERT HENDERSON STEELER |
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| GP-15 GREG HOPP |
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The race is on a weather hold. The wind is out of the NNE at about 15mph. Another drivers meeting will be
held at noon CDT.
10/18
A better weather day today. Reduced forcast winds and sunny. Around 70 degrees. Racing will start early today.
Some pictures of the Amelia Belle Casino sponsor and the pits at Lake Palourde. The hospitality here is
great!!
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| Welcome sign |
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| Bruce Woods and office gang |
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| AMELIA BELLE CASINO |
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5pm
The round of qualifying is complete.
GP-15 113MPH
GP-77 110
GP-93 108
GP-777 107
GP-10 97
The course was still windy and the smaller classes didn't make it to the water. The Vintage boats were out
running, neat to see a couple of the Lauterbach 7 liters run. Looking for less wind tomorrow and the finals of the World Championships.
No more racing today. Hope we can get internet tomorrow. Racing to start at 10:00am CDT. See if I can post a couple of pictures
from today.
10/17 4:00pm
YAHOO!!!
We have internet at the race site.
The wind was blowing
about 15 MPH this morning. We finally put the GP's in the water for a test run. 3 boats went out for some and made some
laps. The GP-15 was the fastest at 110mph. The course here in Morgan City is a record 1 1/4 mile course.
There is no record for the GP's since the engine rules were revamped and the current 468 blown motors are now the approved
engine. The previous GP engine was an unrestricted 511 ci motor. All of the GP's records were set to zero. The only record
with the 468 motor is the kilo held by Greg Hopp in the Hopp Racing GP-15 at 155.182mph
10/16
Had a fun day "cruisin'" the town. Did a display in front of the Amelia Belle Casino. The Amellia Belle
is a huge operating river boat. Ed Trihey, our engine guy, wanted to see the engine room and blow the whistle. The boat is
4 stories high with the first two stories the casino and the third floor is the buffet room. GREAT FOOD!!!! Then we took the
boat to the pits and checked in.
10/15
A little clean up
and some sleep and a warm sunny day here in Morgan City, LA. Took the boat to the pits where we met up with Huey Newport and his GP-777 The Crush. The local TV station interviewed both Huey and I for broadcast on the Friday 6 o'clock news. A ton of excitement here in town. See pictures. Both boats were also on display at MAMA G's sports bar. Free drinks and snacks, great crab cakes.
We also picked up
a couple more co-sponsors. Dennis Johnson from Warning Power/Trafficade helped
us get the boat to Morgan City and we made contact with a casino here in Morgan City/Amelia area. The name of the
GP-15's casino sponsor is: AMELIA BELLE CASINO. Give it a "Spin".
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| THE GP-777 & GP-15 |
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| KICK OFF PARTY |
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| MAMA G's |
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| MAMA G's & HUEY |
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11/14
Got to Morgan City this evening after a 2 1/2 day straight through drive. Snow in Wyoming and fog and rain
in Colorado. Doing some displays and a TV interview tomorrow.
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| SNOW WYOMING |
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| 30 DEGREES SNOQUALMIE PASS |
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We will be updating the Grand Prix racing results during the weekend.
Jerry
10-12
We had a successful Grand Prix World Championship
send-off party at the New Red Lotus in Snohomish. We started with a 2 our display at one of our favorite Snohomish places.
Chuck's Seafood Grotto. Chuck's daughter Lizzy was the first of many to sign the bottom of the race boat. Before
the night was over we would have dozens of local well wishes signatures and messages adorning the bottom side of the "Yellow
Rocket". At 6pm we set the boat in front of another of our favorite Snohomish place's, the aforementioned New Red
Lotus .already had a crowd assembled. Howard Chin laid out the welcome mat as the crew and locals got together for a
party in the bar. The Emery Zone donated their time and talent (Thank you). Our group of Local supporters helped
raise almost $600 toward the trip to Morgan City Louisiana, and the GP World's. At 9:05 Greg and Jerry went "Live" on the
popular KRKO 1380 radio show North Sound Racing. Host Steve Mortland and the
guys had a great time talking everything from the World's Record set by Greg in Evansville, to the upcoming chase for the
World Championship of Grand Prix Hydro. The party ended at 10pm, but we stayed until 11. It was to much fun. We felt the love from our Snohomish neighbors.
The "Pride of Snohomish" leaves for Louisiana at 11 am. It's a 60 hour
drive….WOW!! Pictured below is Greg having some laugh with supporters at
the Red Lotus. New Red Lotus owner Howard Chin signs the bottom of the boat. The "Pride of Snohomish" in front of Chuck's Seafood Grotto.
THANKS SNOHOMISH!!!!
| 10-5 Morgan City GP Worlds Fund Raiser |
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Well the final heat is in the history books. Greg was right on the start and led going into the
first turn in lane 2. Echols was in one, Mallow and Evans were on the outside. Greg led coming off the first turn by 3 boat
lengths, then over a roostertail going into turn one again. Loosing oil pressure Greg had to shut the engine down, saving
it from severe rod toss syndrome. Evans went on to win Sunday's final with Mallow a very close second. What a great weekend,
the beach was jamb packed with fans, the race sponsors were happy and the racing unbeatable. Lake Chelan is already making plans
for a bigger and better show next year. GP Nationals again maybe?
A special thanks to the Lake Chelan Winery for sponsoring the prize money for the Grand Prix's and the
wonderful dinner and live band Saturday evening for the teams.
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Final Sunday |
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1 |
GP-12 |
Mark Evans |
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2 |
GP-19 |
Ryan Mallow |
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3 |
GP-17 |
Dustin Echols |
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4 |
GP-329 |
Dave Warren |
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DNF |
GP-15 |
Greg Hopp |
The boats are now going in the water for the Lake Chelan Grand Prix Final. The water is good, wind light.
The first
heat of Sunday racing is now complete. Ryan Mallow nailed the start in the GP-19 and lead the whole way. Evans in the GP-12
got pinched going down to the start. Marked worked his way to 2nd place. GP-17 3rd. Grandpa Hopp drove
the GP-15 to 4th place, Jerry was heard to say after the heat “My brain hurts”. Dave Warren running
very well came in 5th.
GP-19 Interstate
Batteries
GP-12 Power
Punch
GP-17 Ted’s
Red Apple
GP-15 Graham
Trucking-Happy Go Lucky-PumpTech
GP-329 Power
Punch
Finally back on line. Greg let a wire to wire very close at the finish line to edge out Mark Evans in the
GP-12. Greg won the Saturday Final.
Results
GP-15 Greg Hopp
GP-12 Mark Evans
GP-17 Dustin Echols
GP-329 Dave Warren
GP-19 Ryan Mallow DNS throttle cable
9/27
Sunday morning. Nice day today and the wind has died down. It was decided at the drivers meeting to run
Saturdays final heats today. So the 5L are running right now and the GP's are up for the final. The GP's will be going in
the water shortly.
9/26
Final results for Saturday. The first round of racing for all classes was completed before
the wind came up. Saturday was called a complete race.
Greg had lane one at the start. All 5 boat ran into the first turn together. GP-19 Ryan Mallow, GP-329 Dave
Warren and Dustin Echols GP-17 were a bit early and jumped the gun. Mark Evans made a good start on the outside. At the end
of lap one it was Greg and Mark side by side. At the end of the race Greg edged out Evans by 3 boat lengths. What a race.
| RESULTS |
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FINAL SAT |
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| 1 |
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GP-15 |
Greg Hopp |
| 2 |
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GP-12 |
Mark Evans |
| 3 |
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GP-17 |
Dustin Echols |
| 4 |
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GP-329 |
Dave Warren |
| DNF |
|
GP-19 |
Ryan Mallow |
9/26
Saturday pictures. Racing has started and the GP's are headed to the water.
9/25
Couple more club members.
9/21
Bridgeman's GP-17 proudly displays the latest boat racing club LOGO, Grand Prix West. A club formed by Dave
Warren and the Bridgeman's to promote blower boat racing.
9/5 THE RECORD RUN
Here are some pictures of Greg's record run
at Evansville on the Unlimited 2 mile course, including a Certificate of Achievement from the American Boat Racing Association.
It was a scary time going where no GP has gone before. An amazing 132.846 MPH. We definitely had more motor than boat at those
straight away speeds. As you can see "To the victor goes the Hooters"
9/3
A couple of GP pictures from Evansville taken by Mike Flaherty. One is the start of the second heat and
a couple of pictures of the deck to deck dual between Cal Phipps in the GP-10 and Greg Hopp in the GP-15. They were running
120 MPH lap speeds.
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RECORD |
DRIVER |
SPEED |
AVERAGE |
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UL-1 |
APBA/ULHRA |
GREG HOPP |
151.042 |
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|
147.790 |
149.396 |
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G-15 |
APBA/ULHRA |
JERRY HOPP |
151.451 |
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|
141.132 |
146.292 |
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GP-15 |
APBA |
GREG HOPP |
153.530 |
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135.739 |
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|
155.559 |
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154.805 |
155.182 |
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