|
To see photos of the
UL-10 construction project,
give the Power Punch
logo a SOLID PUNCH
|

Or
save your monitor and Click It! |

Taking
apart "Black Beauty;" the engine of the E-10 -- (Feb. 28,
2010)
Ed Bernard
takes apart "Black Beauty," the engine to the E-10.
|
After
taking off the zoomies, Ed gets working on the rest of the engine
of the E-10 so the team can refreshen her.
|

Why
is Bud 'rassling with the runner of the left sponson? (Video link)
Feb. 27, 2010

Click on picture
to start video of
Bud McKay taking off runner of the
left sponson of the E-10

And
the major work on the E-10 starts... -- (Feb. 24, 2010)
Thomas
Sparrowgrove, left, and Bud McKay transport the lift to the
Namron Racing Team's hangar to lift the 5-Litre hydroplane.
(Photo by Julie Sparrowgrove)
|
Thomas,
left, starts lifting the boat off the trailer while Bud runs
for cover. ;) (Photo by Julie Sparrowgrove)
|
As
an insurance measure, while we had to work under Nammy on the
new, untested crib, we left the lifting straps on her. (Photo
by Julie Sparrowgrove)
|
Before
Bud started to cut with the sawsall, he takes a long look at
where he's about to cut into the boat. (Photo by Julie Sparrowgrove)
|
Here's
a scary combination -- Bud and a sawsall. Bud cut a straight
line every six inches along the left airtrap to help form an
inside bevel on the inside edge of the airtrap. As you can see
from the airtrap, it completely upright. In the turn, the air
trap catches the water and acts like a break. By putting an
angle on the leading edge, the hope is the boat will slide rather
than plow. (Photo by Julie Sparrowgrove)
|
It
works! Nammy's safe and secure on the new crib. We got right
to work on her and the trailer. We can multi task!
|

With
Nammy now off the trailer, we made some modifications to the trailer.
We beefed-up the "L" bunk on the left to give it more
strength (above); then we discovered the welded on angle brackets
were slanted inward, so we added some shim material (washers)
on the top portion of the angle bracket to make it straight (right) |
 |

Talk
about planning on the go... -- (Feb. 20, 2010)
Here's
what happens when you find out the lift to pick up a boat is
too big to get into the hangar door. We had to construct a crib
to hold the E-10 so we can lift her outside the hangar and then
move her back into the hangar. We did a quick drawing; ran to
the hardware store to get the supplies and spent four hours
figuring out how to do it.
|
Click
here for a video our our crew day

Half
of the team was working on the crib and the other half wet sanded
the E-10. Oh, she's going to look great with the new paint job
with Commerical Driver Services. She'll look a lot better than
she does now.
|
A
template for the extension on our skid fin. Jon Zimmerman, one
of the classiest and top drivers in our class (and world record
holder), recommended that we scoot the trailing edge of the
skid fin back closer toward the center of gravity. Now we just
have to figure out how! We're basing a lot of it on another
good friend's extension on his "zoomie" 5-Litre --
Jim Mauldin. We'll have to put a support rod about mid-way through
the extension and another at the mid-point of the skid fin itself.
Steve Clark came to the hangar Saturday and gave us some great
ideas. That's what I love about our sport -- we race against
these guys, but all are always available to help out.
|

Here's
a top view of Jim Mauldin's extension and support structure
for his skid fin. We'll mirror his concept and see what it does.
Jim's extension goes back quite a bit as well.
|

More
work on the E-10 -- (Feb. 16, 2010)
Oh
yeah, little Mitchie will fit right right in with our team.
He even comes with his own sound effects.
|
Zane,
left, and Mitchie, team up to work on the back-brace of the
fuel cell plate for the E-10.
|
Just
about there. Scott Wolf on the sander on the E-10.
|
Zane
Courtway applying a little bondo to the decks of the E-10. We'll
be ready to spray on the primer soon.
|

Getting
the E-10 ready for paint -- (Feb. 15, 2010)
Click
here or click on photo to launch video from Feb. 15, 2010.

This
is our newest crewmember, Mitchie Wolf. Mitchie and his dad, Scott
Wolf, were in the hangar today helping remove all of the decals
of the E-10 to help get her ready for her new paint job. |

Feb.
15, 2010 -- Here's Mitchie Wolf in the cockpit. He's a third grader
at Port Orchard's Ollala Elementary School. |

Wrenches
sing, sanders fly on UL-10 -- (Dec. 16, 2009)
Kristen
and Grayson Edsinger work on the UL-10. Kristen works on removing
the strut, and Grayson sands the deck.
|

Grayson
Edsinger sands the rear portion of the UL-10. |

Grayson
tried out the cockpit of the UL-10. |

Bud McKay
does a little body work on the rear portion of the UL-10. |

Namron
Racing Team's "Crew Welcome" party, Bremerton National Airport
-- (Dec. 12, 2009)
Photos by Kristen Edsinger
The
Namron Racing Team held a special "welcome party"
for some of the crew members who are going to be working on
the new Unlimited Lights hull (UL-10).
|

Crew
members swarmed over the new hull and started to take "dibs"
on their projects. Little do they know they'll be working on pretty
much everything! ;) |

The
sun actually came out and warmed up the temperatures to the low
30s. The warmest it's been in a couple of weeks. |

In
a few weeks, no one will be standing around; they'll be working. |
 |

A
big thanks to Kristen Edsinger. What a great treat when we opened
up the hangar doors. She decorated the hangar with stars, balloons,
streamers -- had cake and goodies, sodas, coffee and hot chocolate...and
some beer! She also got everyone together in the Bremerton Airport
Diner before hand and ordered appetizers. Thanks again, Kristen
-- you are the best!
|

Washington
National Guard Display, Camp Murray, Wash.-- (Dec. 11, 2009)
The
West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood on display outside
of the open house for members of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
and community partners for the Washington National Guard at
Camp Murray.
|
Tommy
Carson, at the microphone, the transition assistance coach at
Camp Murray for the Washinton National Guard, speaks to a group
of visitors at the new "Career Counseling, Employment,
Transition Assistance, Problem solving, Resource Connectors,
Etc...Etc...Etc" for the Washington National Guard at Bldg
3-; J9 at Camp Murray.
|

Welcome
UL-10 (Nov. 30, 2009) -- Photos by Kristen Edsinger
We
pull the UL-10 into the hangar Saturday night.
|

Two
"10s" side by side for the first time. The E-10 and
UL-10. |

Bud
McKay's first picture with the UL-10.
|

Bud
climbs into the cockpit to see if he can fit. And...
|

...he
fits! |

Bud's
a happy camper. |
Moving
Day (Nov. 22, 2009) -- Mobile Photos by Bud McKay
Thanks to Bill and Lynn Sleeper for the use of their hangar at
Belfair National Airport
Moving
Day! Here we are pulling up to the hangar.
|

Before
we could move the boat in the hangar, Harley grabbed the broom
and sweept the hangar. |
This
was fun! We're not flying a really big kite; we're air drying
the tarp that's going under the boat in the hangar. It was all
Harley could do to hang onto it.
|

Harley,
sporting her "Namron Cowgirl" hat, waves a big howdy.
Actually I had her hold the measuring tape at the top of the hangar.
Good thing. The top of the entrance is three inches lower than
the top of the truck. So Harley and I had to use the old fashioned
horse power to move the boat in the hangar. |
One
boat in; one boat to go.
|
Nammy's
safe and sound in her new digs. She must feel like a real race
boat now having an official shop.
|

Silverdale
Thunder pictures (Aug. 20, 2009) -- Photos by Walt Ottenad

Matt
Mattson, easy to spot with the white X on the cockpit, brings
the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood down the front
chute. |

Bud McKay up close in turn number 1.
|

Bud
McKay gives the rescue team a wave after completing the final
lap in the final heat. |

Bud McKay, left, Shane Pratt, middle, and Chris Dreewes on the
awards platform at the trophy presentation. |

Silverdale
Thunder pictures (Aug. 19, 2009) -- Photos by Kristen Edsinger

Bud
McKay brings the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood
onto the course for the final at Silverdale Thunder.
|

After
finishing third in the final, Bud McKay gets towed back into the
pits. The pits were pretty packed. All the boats coming in from
the final had no room as the G-boats and UL-boats were in the
water for their final heat. So McKay and the other "little
guys" had to park in front of the pits.
|

If
Kristen was just a little faster on the draw, she could have shot
a picture of Bud playing his air guitar while being towed back
to the pits. |

Nammy
all ready to go after a great weekend of racing. We had a great
turn out of friends, family and fans helping us at the race
this year. I can't wait to do it all over again in 2010.
|

Silverdale
Thunder pictures (Aug. 19, 2009) -- Photos by Julie Sparrowgrove

Bud
McKay races the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood
down the front straightaway at Silverdale Thunder Aug. 16.
|

Bud
McKay waves to the fans as he brings the West Sound Electric Presents
GEICO of Lakewood back to the pits after a third-place finish
in the finals Aug. 16. |

Good
thing Bud McKay has long arms or no one would know what he was
doing when he opens the lid to the cockpit on the course.
|

Bud
McKay waves to the yachts tied up to the marina on Dyess Inlett.
|

Silverdale
Thunder pictures (Aug. 19, 2009) -- Photos by Chris Cluett

This
is what the hired help is supposed to do. Bud McKay tries to keep
cool before going out for the final heat Aug. 16. |

Matt
Mattson gets ready to go out for the first heat on Sunday, Aug.
16. Matt did a great job and make the West Sound Electric Presents
GEICO of Lakewood fly. |
That's
Ted Newton, of Newton Construction (white T-Shirt) holding onto the
back of the
boat as Ron House, CEO of West Sound Electric, holds the front. Matt
Mattson, from Mattson
Construction, just finished strapping in Bud McKay. All three are sponsors
for the Namron
Racing Team. What we love about our sponsors is they're active with
the team. Rick Stevens,
GEICO of Lakewood couldn't make it down to this race, but he was here
last year. He'll be
at Spanaway when we race there Sept. 12-13. Matter of fact, hell even
drive a heat.
THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!

Silverdale
Thunder "fans" pictures (Aug. 16, 2009)
What
can I say? We draw some very interesting fans in our sport and
our hometown. This is none other than Zach Fleury with my steering
wheel on his head. And it shouldn't be too hard to tell that
we're related.
|

Oh,
I wish we had sound effects on this site. This is Zach looking
like he's a tad serious (if he was, this would have been the first
time), but the "hydroplane noises" he was making at
the time were priceless. My cousin, Mike, and his family, stopped
in the pits during the race. It was such a thrill to see them
all and have them at the race. Thanks for coming to the show!
|

Now,
you can't beat a hat like that! |

This
race fan has her hands at the ready to hit the turn! I should
have asked her for some pointers. |

Charlie
Dwyer, left, making his hydroplane racing debut as a crew member,
helps these two young fans into the cockpit. |

At
one time, I was just like this little boy. Sometimes I still feel
like I'm a little boy -- I can just reach the peddles now. |

Thrashing...again
(Aug. 14, 2009)
10:55
p.m.-- Matt Matson, top, and Steve Clark try and secure the
skid fin bracket to the left, repaired sponson on Steve's boat.
Thanks to the Red Apple Team for making the repairs, Steve has
a shot at making the race this weekend, but him and Matt have
a long night ahead of them.
|

10:59
p.m.-- Matt Matson drills a hole intoSteve's new skid fin. A new
one was needed following his accident in Montana July 17. |

Washington
Youth Academy (Aug. 11, 2009)

Bud McKay, in the red shirt, talks with a classroom of cadets
at the Washington Youth Academy, along with racing legend Phil
Bononcini, in the blue, and Bianca Bononcini (hidden). The three
racers talked with almost 150 cadets for the day. |

Both
Bud and Bianca had the cadets start the engines of the boats during
the visit to the academy. Almost every cadet got to sit in one
of the two hydroplanes. Harley McKay, close to the cockpit, was
Bud's assistant for the visit. |

I
like this shot because there were some of the cadets around the
West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood hydroplane...but
for the most part... |

...the
cadets swarmed over Bianca. I have no idea why. :)
|
We need
a spark! (Aug. 11, 2009)
This
is supposed to be the distributor on our engine. If you notice
the wires (they look gold), you'll see they're exposed. It was
rubbing against the intake manifold. So I was losing spark,
which robs me of power. The advance gear inside the distributor
was shot as well. So this one found it's way into the garbage.
|
Matt
removes the bracing from the vacuum advance on the new distributor.
He's removing the vacuum advance, but saving the bracing. We
don't need the vacuum portion, but the brace is required to
keep the components balanced.
|

I swear, Matt just likes working on the hydroplane so he can
play with his toys. Here he is cleaning up the brace and welding
the piece it's solid without the chance that it could come apart.
|
Matt
puts in the shiny, brand-new distributor into the engine. You
can't see it, but the parts he worked on a are picture perfect.
|
Fast
forward about an hour. Now we're back at Island View Marine
Center, just down the street from Matt's house in Poulsbo, so
we can use the dyno again to time in the new distributor. That's
Charlie Dwyer in the hat. That massive arm on the right belongs
to Hadley Kentner. Thanks for their help in the dyno setup.
Matt likes to time the engine under load -- that's where the
dyno comes in real handy. Thanks again to Island View Marine.
|
Want
to see more photos of our "needing a spark day?"
Check Aug. 14's Kitsap
Sun. The article
by reporter Nathan Joyce and the photos by Jesse Beals were
on the front page -- not the sports front page; the front,
front-page. Click
here to check it out! Thanks Nathan and Jesse! Great job.
|

Radio
Waves Regatta on Flathead Lake, Polson, Mont. (July 17, 2009)
-- All photos by Julie Sparrowgrove
Kip
Brown, right, Travis Johnston, middle, and Bud McKay, in the
West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood, head to the
start of the 5-Litre 8-boat final on July 17. Brown won the
final. Johnston was second. McKay finished fourth.
|

Bud
McKay brings the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood
around the tight second turn. The turns were almost as tight as
the turns in Phoenix. One thing is for sure, the entire western
Montana area has to be the most beautiful country in the United
States. |
Our good
friend Steve Clark, who just beat us at the line in South Dakota
the weekend before, zips down the course to the start of Heat
1.
|

This
accident was close to being tragic. Steve Clark's boat, right,
starts to sink after he barrel rolled his hydroplane in turn one
at the start of the race. The other driver, on the left, had nowhere
to go and ran over the top of Steve. Clark's cockpit door didn't
open right away, and his airline was pinched. Trapped underwater
for almost a minute without air, Clark was finally able to muscle
the hatch open and escape after sucking in a lot of water. He
was released from the ambulance on site about an hour later. The
other driver was not hurt. |

Pepsi
Racing Power Cup Challenge, Chamberlain-Oacoma, S.D. (July 11-12,
2009)
Many
thanks to our South Dakota crew! RJ Moseman and Serena Walsh, from
Winner, S.D.;
and Ken and Betty Frentz, from Sioux Falls, for helping us out.
Bud
McKay, left, owner-driver of the West Sound Electric Presents
GIECO of Lakewood, poses with Ms.
Cody Ryckman, an 11-year-old junior dragster sensation.
The Pepsi Racing Power Cup Challenge race was one of my favorite
race courses, events and people I've been associated with since
coming into this sport in 2005. This fantastic event was like
a mini-Seafair to me! I can't wait to go in 2010.
|

Shelly's
Photography
Steve
Clark, in the E-222, just beats Bud McKay in the West Sound
Electric Presents GIECO of Lakewood in the final heat at the
Pepsi Racing Power Cup Challenge, in Chamberlain-Oacoma, S.D.,
on July 12. More great photos are coming from Shelly's Photography.
Stand by.
|

Little
Big Horn (on drive to South Dakota) -- (July 8, 2009)
Along
the entire battle front of Little Big Horn, were markers of
interest and facts about the battle. If you're into American
history like me, this is one spot you need to visit.
|

This
monument stands at the top of Little Big Horn with the names of
the soldiers killed in the battle. |

Adding
a little accent to go with the new paint job -- (July 4, 2009)

Check
out the thin blue line againse the cockpit.

The
challenge was trying to put the pinstriping on flat surface, to
a vertical surface and back to a flat surface and maintaing the
angle. As you can see, we have a little bit of a "whoop-ti-do"
where all of those angles collide. We figure if we put a picture
here with Matt Mattson's logo on it, he'll want to fix it really
fast!. |

Here's
the other side of the boat. I figure if I post these photos online
-- Matt won't like them and he'll fix them.
|

Who
needs sun block? We fixed the awning -- (July 4, 2009)

Ha!
There are things that Bud McKay can fix. This is our blue awning.
At the Relay for Life in Silverdale, the awning broke. Bud found
a strong piece of aluminum that worked great. What a surprise
- no duct tape either. |

Here's
the inside portion. Schweet! |

DYNOmite!
Island View Marine Center -- (July 3, 2009)
Check
this contraption out. This is a dynometer. Matt Mattson came
up with the configuration to secure it. We ran the engine for
about 15 minutes and dialed her in -- sweeet!
|

Matt
readies the dynometer in place and calls it good.
|
|

Since
we needed to run the engine at 2,000 rpm, 3,000 rpm and 4,000
rpm with the engine coupled (simulating a load on the propeller
shaft), we need to run engine to the block. We also need to
run water to the bushing in the prop shaft -- if not, it would
melt. I'm proud to say duct-taping the second hose so it points
to the strut was my idea. The duct-tape more than likely gave
it away to you already.
|

That's
Jesse Roksa, left with Matt, as we called the dyno run great!
I want to thank Jesse and Island View Marine Center, in Poulsbo,
for the use of the dyno. Not only the dyno, but coming to the
rescue with wet towells for the deck - Nammy was smokin'.
|

A little
'crabby' on the water -- (July 3, 2009)

Matt
Mattson took me out for a spin in one of his boats to check
his crab pots out on Puget Sound. Here Matt lines the pot
with a can of cat food. I don't know how many crab he expects
to catch, but I bet the catfish will fight over it. ;)
|

Matt
asked me, "This isn't like how they do it on 'Deadlist Catch,
is it?'" Matt should know, he worked on the Alaskan crab
boats for 10 years. |
Matt
can only keep the male's that are something like 6-and-one-
half inches long. He threw four back. These were keepers. Do I smell
butter?
Thunderstruck's
closer to making some thunder -- (July 3, 2009)
Steve
Clark, left, guides in Namron Racing Team's Matt Mattson lowering
Clark's engine in his hydroplane. Matt's backhoe pulled double
duty on Friday. Not only did Matt use it to lower in Steve's
engine; Matt had to use the backhoe to pull Steve's tow vehicle
up Matt's very steep hill when they got done. Steve is our teammate
and drives the "Power Punch Performance Lubricants / Thunderstruck"
hydroplane. If it wasn't for bad luck this season, Steve wouldn't
have any. He went through two engines already. Matt came up
with this engine for Steve.
|

Matt,
left, and Steve put on the finishing touches of Steve's new engine.
Steve says, "Matt's cool!" I told him that he was, but
if Steve passes me, "Matt's toast!" |

Matt
watches Steve's hand signals in lowering the new engine
into Steve's boat. Steve should make the South Dakota and
Montana races with ease. Now all that is left is the packing.
The
'Big Weigh In' (June 29, 2009)
Thank
you Jon, JoAnne and Jack "Speed Racer" Zimmerman
That's
world record holder Jon Zimmerman lifting the boat off the trailer
so we can weigh "Nammy" and find our balance points.
Jon offered his shop and, more importantly, his expertise in
weighing our grand lady -- something we've never done. All we've
ever done was guess at her weight -- baby, we were way off!
|

The
process is pretty simple -- but crazy. Under each sponson is an
electronic scale. The corner of the sponsons rested ontop of the
scale. The scale rested ontop of...a bucket. This photo is interesting
as well. You can see owners in the past have built up this sponson
so the running surface is flat. The inside portion, toward the
right, should actually be about 1/2 inch higher (or toward the
top) than the edge of the outside (or left) corner. Jon pointed
out that in the turn, the inside of the sponson digs in rather
than skims the surface -- another one of our turning issues.
|
Another
scale is placed under the strut so all three of the places the
boat touches the water are weighed. We found out that 26 percent
of the weight of the boat is on the strut when Bud McKay sits
in the cockpit. It needs to be at least 30 percent. This explains
why the prop seems to spin out of the water coming out of the
turn, when we need the power of the prop to dig in -- there's
not enough of the weight in the back of the boat to keep the
prop in the water.
|
Here
Jon gets some expert help in taking some hull measurements.
That's Jack Zimmerman holding the tape measure for his dad while
Jack explains the process to Bud.
|
I
was amazed at the detail Jon went to find points of the boat
that I can't pronounce or spell in determining the balance points.
Here Jon goes under the boat to find where...well...I can't
spell it, but this is where he noticed the sponson is angled
wrong. Even his wife, JoAnne took a peek under the boat to try
and figure out what Jon was talking about.
|

While
Jon wrote down all sorts of numbers -- weights and measurements
-- his wife, JoAnne, did the number crunching to come up with
all of the percentages. So I finally discovered the true power
behind the Zimmerman speed secrets -- JoAnne! Take a look at the
cell phone she was using for the calculator -- even it's green
-- just like Jon's boat. |
This
is the total weight of "Nammy" without Bud in the cockpit
--
1,649 pounds. With Bud in the cockpit, the boat weighed -- more. :)
To be exact, 1,956. But you have to remember, we just had some great
Garlic Jim's pizza delivered to Jon's boat shop. And to save you all
from
doing math, that put Bud's weight at 307 pounds -- fully dressed (and
full of pizza).

The
'Sand Man' returns (June 28, 2009)

This
is basically a new Karelson hull owned by Debi Muncey and driven
by her son, Chris Dreews. Between working on two Unlimited Lights
hydroplanes with the UL-00 team, Chris is almost ready to go this
his hull. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll have her ready
for the South Dakota race. |
I
went over to the Muncey's farm/boat house/hydroplane museum
on a gorgeous Sunday and helped sand the deck of the 5-Litre.
How Chris has any time to work on her, I have no idea. But it
was a fun day shooting the breeze with the Munceys and Chris
and their crew-- in between eating a ton of fiberglass dust
-- and watching the UL send up smoke signals when they fired
her up.
|

Bremerton-Central
Kitsap Relay for Life display (June 27, 2009)
You don't
have to be crazy to race with the Namron Racing Team, but it
doesn't hurt either. Here are Harley and Bud McKay as they get
ready to start the 2009 Bremerton-Central Kitsap Relay for Life
at Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale.
|

Harley
decided that she wanted to trade sunglasses with dad. OK! Now
the two were ready to start the Relay.
|
We
were asked to start the engine just before the Relay started.
The crowd needed a little wake-up call. Five-year-old Harley
McKay brought the engine to life to kickstart the Relay.
|

Some
of the smaller relayers came into the cockpit to cool off from
the Relay. |
|

This
relayer was in the boat just long enough to get her picture
taken, and then she was gone....and then...
|

...we
couldn't get this relayer out of the boat. He's retired Air Force
-- what do you expect? It's not often any Airman can walk by anything
called a "cockpit" and not climb in. |

The
young relayer in the cockpit asked how much the boat cost. I asked
him, "How much do you have?" |

This
relayer was ho-hum about sitting in the hydroplane -- until we
closed the lid, shook and bounced the trailer and made silly-"hydroplane
noise." Then she thought it was the bomb! |
|

This
little relayer grabbed a hold of the steering wheel and instantly
started to turn left -- a star is born!
|

Usually
at the Relay for Life events, we have a number of children who
come back and back and back to sit in the boat and "earning"
Gecko tattoos. Surprisingly, this was our only repeat relayer
at this event. |
In
this "aerial view," the West Sound Electric Presents
GEICO of Lakewood hydroplane was parked near the entrance of
the first turn at the Relay for Life. Yes, stuck in the outside
lane ... again.
|

After
leaving the Relay on Saturday, Bud wanted to be sure he was the
first boat in the pits in Silverdale for the Aug. 15-16 race.
Here's proof! |
North
Mason Relay for Life display (June 13, 2009)
Harley
McKay, cleans the cockpit so the boat's nice and clean for "customers"
on Saturday for the Relay for Life."
|
Two
young Relayers give the thumbs-up for their mom at the Relay
for Life.
|
A
few of the kids rode on top of the hydroplane as we pushed her
to show-center before the final "Survivors Victory Lap"
of the Relay.
|
Racing
fan, and I do mean racing fan, Spencer Pruitt, of Belfair, won
the raffle to start the engine at the Relay. Here he poses for
his "hero" photo for the crowd. Spencer just finished
the 1st grade at Belfair Elementary School.
|
In
the cockpit, Spencer was all business as he watched the gauges
and revved the engine more than owner Bud McKay told him, too
-- a natural "racer" is born. Congratulations Spencer!
|

Once
Spencer fired off the engine, it was time to start the final "Survivors
Victory Lap" to end the Relay for Life at North Mason High
School. Here, the front of the survivors round the final corner
heading to the finish line. The West Sound Electric Presents GEICO
of Lakewood raised $100 for the Relay in raffle ticket sales.
Thanks so much to ULHRA veteran driver Joe Turner who purchased
$10 worth of tickets for Spencer. |

North
Mason Relay for Life display (June 12, 2009)
|

On
display at the North Mason Relay for Life June 12. There is
one other child inside the cockpit.
|
Harley
McKay gives the thumbs up that all is ready for the display
at the North Mason Relay for Life June 12.
|
We
even had some older 'Kids' come out and sit in the cockpit during
the Relay for Life.
|

We
stayed on Display until 11 p.m. when they turned out the lights.
Harley and Bud McKay then joined the others in walking a memorial
lap around the track. They walked for Mr. Namron himself -- Bud's
day, Norman McKay, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2003. |
A
future racer, that's for sure.
|
Harley
McKay showing off her new face painting at the Relay for Life
at North Mason High School.
|

Matt
Mattson's day two (June 7, 2009)-- all photos by Chris Denslow

Matt Mattson
was more comfortable on his second day of racing and got a little
air time on the water. |

That's no
way to treat a rookie -- Matt hits a rough patch. No doubt he
was yelling "Yahoo!" |
Tastin'
n' Racin' 2009 -- (June 6-7, 2009)
Rookie
Matt Mattson posing for his driver's mug shot.
|
Matt
Mattson points to his rookie "X" marking on the hull
of the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood.
|
I'm sorry,
but when Chip Hanauer stops in your pits, it's time to stop
the action and shoot the breeze. Chip is one of the sport's
top drivers, and arguably the best who has ever driven a hydroplane.
Even so, when he heard Matt was getting ready to go out on the
course for the first time ever in a hydroplane, Chip was excited
for him and wished him the best of luck.
|
Having
a little fun with the rookie -- I don't know if Matt exactly
knew why we told him we want a shot of him walking away from
the camera.
|
Our good
friend and teammate Steve Clark, and his son Jeff, were on hand
to lend a hand with the boat all weekend.
|
Now
even though this picture is a little blury, isn't it clear what
is about to happen? If not, look at the photos below.
|

Matt
Mattson's rookie debut (June 6, 2009)-- all photos by Chris Denslow

Matt
Mattson brings the West Sound Electric Presents the GEICO of Lakewood
into the first turn. The "X" on the cockpit is not a
target -- it's to signify there's a rookie driver inside.
|

Matt
Mattson enjoys a little company on the course at "Tastin'
n' Racin' 2009" on Lake Sammamish June 6.
|
Bud
McKay, left, owner/driver of the West Sound Electric Presents
GEICO of Lakewood, accidently slipped in the water as he was
carrying the "rookie" Matt Mattson from the boat to
the shore after Mattson made his rookie debut. OK, so it wasn't
accidental. Is that a big surprise?
|
Bud
McKay congratulates Matt Mattson as Mattson heads to the shore
to meet up with his friends and fans as McKay went back to get
the boat. Rookies!
|

Painting
"Nammy" (May 23, 2009)
That's
Matt Matson making some preparations to the back of the hull
before painting "Nammy." On the right, Matt does some
minor hull modifications before painting the boat. OK, so he's
grinding away some of my "improvements" from before.
|
 |
 |
On
the left, Matt Matson puts on the first coat of the white base
paint. On the right, the boat is ready for the blue portion
to make the boat red, white and blue.
|

|
On
the left, Matt puts the blue portion on the hull. On the right,
the first clear coat is applied. Woo hoo!
|
|
Matt
Mattson poses in front of his fantastic painting work -- thanks,
Matt!
|
|

Here
she is. We didn't put the engine cowl on the boat to ensure
the hull stays clean.
|

Phoenix
Trip III -- all photos by Tim Crowley (Thanks Tim -- great shots as
always!)
Bud
McKay, in the West Sound Electric Presents GEICO of Lakewood,
runs in front of the grandstands at Firebird Raceway.
|
Bud
McKay exits out of turn 2 at Firebird Raceway.
|

Bud
McKay heads down the front straightaway at Firebird Raceway.
|

Bud
McKay exits out of turn 1 at Firebird Raceway.
|

Phoenix
Trip II -- all photos by Julie Sparrowgrove (Thanks Julie -- they're
amazing!)
Isn't
this cool? Kevin Eacret, left, and Bud McKay fly toward the
start line at Firebird Raceway.
|

Bud
McKay makes a run down the front straightaway at Firebird Raceway.
|

When
there are whitecaps on the shallow water at Firebird Raceway,
it's best to hold on. Here Bud McKay, on the inside, leads Kevin
Eacret to the first turn of Heat 1. |

Kevin
Eacret, E-36, and Bud McKay make the start at Firebird Raceway.
|

Phoenix
trip

We don't have many cactus plants in Belfair -- so I'm guessing
I'm in Arizona now.
|

I
made it! Finally unpacked and set up. Now it's time to work
on the boat. This is about 2 p.m. on Friday. It may not look
warm, but it was.
|
This
is the start of the second heat on Saturday.
|
Travis
Johnston, the APBA 5-Litre national champion, straps in Bud
McKay before the third heat on Sunday.
|

Primer
on-- April 19, 2009 (though it's really 2:36 a.m. April 20)

Thanks to Kevin Shearer, of Shearer Excavating, for letting us use
his shop to put the primer on the boat. So nice to have plenty of
room.

Skid
fin mounted -- April 18, 2009

The
skid fin is in place. If you look at the photos from April 11
(below), you'll see the "beefed up" area inside the
non-trip section of the boat that Steve Clark fabricated. You
see in the picture above a red plate -- this is like one mega
washer that helps spread the load as well. On top of that is another
brace plate. That all connects with the bracket inside of the
boat and makes it about three times as strong as it was before.
I like that.
|
Here's
a final picture of the complete skid fin mounted. I painted
the plate and brace plate Namron red -- just because.
|

Engine
tweaking -- April 17, 2009
Tony Milo,
left, juices the carburetor to "Black Beauty," while
Bud McKay gets all excited hearing the roar of the engine. This
is Bud at his mechanical peak!
|
Tony Milo,
left, is doing something so classified, we can't show you or
tell you. Come to the race, and you'll see for yourself.
|
Engine
Firing (YAHOO!) -- April 16, 2009

Matt
Mattson, left, and Tony Milo bring "Black Beauty" to
life! All went well with the engine break in. |

Matt
Mattson, left, and Tony Milo break in the new engine. That's Joshua
Milo peeking out of the cockpit. |
Engine
Assembly-- April 16, 2009
(1:45 a.m.)
Tony
Milo, on the left, and Matt Mattson bolt the oil pan to the
block of the Namron Racing Team's new engine.
|
Talk
about your teamwork, Matt Mattson, left, and Tony Milo work
together to get the last bolt into the engine. The duo worked
through 1:30 a.m. April 16. Thanks to these two gentlemen, the
engine will be brought to life later today (April 16) to break
in the engine. Thanks Matt and Tony!
|

The
new engine -- April 11, 2009

Two
Buds -- Bud Williams, left, owner of "Bud's Machine &
Engine Shop," in Lakewood, and "the other" Bud
pose in front of the new engine for the Namron Racing Team. |

How
much does Bud McKay love his new engine? His "fu"
got stuck in the springs of the valves when he planted a kiss
on it.
|
 |
The
Namron Racing Team has been going to "Bud's Machine &
Engine Shop" since July 2006. The first engine "Bud's
Machine & Engine Shop" worked on helped the team
win its first-ever race in TriCities just days after getting
the engine back from the shop. The shop is right down the
street from McChord Air Force Base. If you're close by and
need machine work done, we highly recommend "Bud's Machine
& Engine Shop" for all of your work. Even if you're
not close by and need machine work, it's worth your while
to make the trip -- they are that good. "Call the Pros"
at 253-588-BUDS.
253-588-BUDS
(253-588-2837)
|

New
skid fin -- April 11, 2009
|

Steve
Clark, wondering why Bud has the camera in his hands rather
than a wrench, works by drop light to strengthen the new skid
fin.
|

A
close up look at the angle-bracket beefing up the area where the
new skid fin mounts to the boat. On the top side of the photo,
the plate will attach to the inside wall of the air trap. On the
bottom side of the photo, the plate connects to the inside of
the non-trip of the hull where the skid fin connects to the hull.
The new skid fin is three inches longer and three inches deeper
than the previous one. The new skid fin will have a tremendous
amount of force pulling against it. Now, two walls inside the
boat, rather than just one, will provide support as the skid fin
holds the boat in the turn. |

Hull
repairs and new skid fin -- April 4, 2009
|

That's
Bud McKay on the left looking over the shoulder of friend, competitor
and owner driver of the team's sister boat Steve Clark.
|

Bud, on
the right, is about to give Steve a helping hand as Steve works
on beefing up the areas on the boat holding the new longer and
deeper skid fin in place. Steve is helping Bud beef up the areas
of the boat that hold the skid fin in place. With more surface
area (three inches longer and three inches wider than the previous
skid fin), a lot more torque is going to be applied to help
Bud stay in the turn. The areas that secure the fin need to
be much stronger than they were.
|
Where's
the Beef? Steve fits a series of angle brackets inside that
will help support the skid fin bracket.
|

This is Harley
McKay's "foreman's" look. "Sand! Go Sand!"
|

Spring
Training, Lake Washington, 2008

Firebird
Raceway, Chandler, Ariz,
2008 (pre-flip)

North
Mason Relay for Life, 2008

Flathead
Lake, Polson, Montana, 2008

Display,
Kitsap Bluejackets baseball game, 2008

Display,
MiniSturgis Motorcycle Ride, Seabeck, Wash,, 2008
Pateros,
Wash., 2008

Silverdale,
Wash., 2008

Display,
Wilder RV, Port Angeles, Wash., 2008

Port
Angeles , Wash., 2008


Bud
McKay at Silverdale.
|

Bud McKay
at Silverdale.
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Another
helicopter shot from Silverdale.
|

Bud McKay,
on the inside, Gigi
McKay
on the outside at Moses Lake in 2006
|

Bud
McKay in the GEICO 1 at Moses Lake in 2006
|

Gigi
McKay in the GEICO 2 at Moses Lake in 2006
|
|

GEICO
1 (Bud McKay) on the outside, being passed (again) by Gigi
McKay in GEICO 2 at Moses Lake in 2006
|

Harley,
Carsey and Shadey McKay on display at the
North Mason Relay for Life even in 2006.
|