HIGHLIGHTS IN THE DECEMBER ISSUE
April and December are mini-issues.
1. Nate Davis Helps Pull Off Another Madison Miracle, by Chris Tracy. "Chris had breakfast with (2005) Madison Regatta President, Nate Davis, when he was on vacation and attending the Chevrolet Cup in Seattle. Davis reflected back on the 2005 Madison Regatta." The details behind the race that made money without a title sponsor!
2. Freedom Racing, Southern California's New Unlimited Team, by Emily Estes. Photos from Robert F. Peters and Freedom Racing. All the details and their future plans.
3. Sunday's Near Tragedy, from the UNJ Editor, complete with a Karl Pearson photo. A summary of the UL-5 accident.
4. HydroFile by the UNJ Staff. Brief boat a team news in the mini-issue.
5. News, from Chris Tracy. Details from the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum's Christmas party, Detroit race news, etc.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE
1. 2005 Season in Review; Many Champions, by Brian "Swami" Anderson. A photo of the Swami, by Kirk Pagel. Anderson reviews the season in his annual article and makes suggestions for the future. Expert commentary about each race and a critique of ABRA's efforts, too. The UNJ staff got into the eggnog a little early and included a "vintage" picture of the Swami, for good fun, too!
2. 2005 Season Summary Table, compiled by Jeff Meyer. All the boats, drivers, hull identification numbers, boat names, points, and race-by-race finishes. The information only the UNJ provides and must have statistics for the race fan.
3. A Minute with Jeff Minar, by Duane Dahlum. Background about Minar, a long-time crew member for several teams.
4. HydroFile, Race Team News From the UNJ Staff. Our subscribers say they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month. This month a great photo of the repairs being done to the LLumar, thanks to crew chief Scott Raney.
5. Boats That Fly, by Kirk Pagel, with photos from Pagel, Michael Prophet and Roger Newton. Pagel expertly talks about the boats and the people behind the boats that are on display at the Museum of Flight's special exhibit.
6. Makeovers, by Craig Fjarlie. "Keeping tabs on the history of a hull involves more than just documenting name changes. The task includes keeping track of paint schemes, powerplants, and the U number. One variable that throws historians for a loop is when a boat has undergone a significant rebuild and looks nothing like its former self." Fjarlie talks about such hulls. Great historical information!
Next Month: December Mini-Issue
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ISSUES
The August, September and October issues were devoted primarily to covering every Unlimited event. Each event was covered by expert writers and photographers so that our readers got the most comprehensive coverage. Quotes, gossip, and the full scoop were provided. Only the UNJ has the resources for this kind of complete coverage.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE JULY ISSUE
1. ABRA Era Debuts at Evansville 2005, by Clint Newman. Photos by James Crisp. Statistics box compiled by Allen Stiles. All the details about the race that only the UNJ can provide. Great quotes plus photos of the damage to the U-25, rooke Jean Theoret, the U-3, U-16, U-6 and more. An evaluation of the first ABRA race is included.
2. Madison Mini Race Report, by the UNJ Staff. Just a teaser report; the full race report will be in the August issue.
3. HydroFile, Race Team News From the UNJ Staff. Our subscribers say they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month. Lots of U-3 news and a full description of what is happening at Fred Leland's shop, plus much, much more!
4. Around the Circuit, by Chris Tracy. Details about the changes in the cable TV package, the recipe for the 'Muscatel on the Rocks' drink, a tribute to longtime Seafair volunteer Phil Gai, and more.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE JUNE ISSUE
1. The Dance on Ted Jones' Grave, by Weldon Johnson, complete with a special Slo-mo photo from the David Speer collection. "Ted Jones often said that, in time, it became important for a lot of people to take credit for the Slo-mo IV--including Ted Jones, of course. The long-standing controversy about who really designed Slo-mo-shun IV escalated after Jones died in January 2000." After an all-too-long absence, Johnson pens an UNJ contribution that takes a long look at the Ted Jones/Anchor Jensen controversy. Johnson interviewed them both over the years and puts the issue into prospective. Only the UNJ has articles like this and this piece is a "must read" for all hydroplane history fans. The UNJ is proud to publish this important piece, the last article that E.K. Muller edited before passing away.
2. Gold Cup Test--Columbia Park May 14th; H&RM Exhibition--Stan Sayres Park May 28th; Unlimited Testing--Lake Washington June 16th. All three testing sessions are covered, complete with Karl Pearson and Michael Prophet photos. A photo of the U-16 with a very unusual rear wing is included.
3. HydroFile; Race Team News From the UNJ Staff. All the news from the boat camps. Readers say they turn to this column first when the UNJ arrives!
4. Around the Circuit, by Chris Tracy. Club news, Madison news, changes to take place with Seafair leadership, the new British documentary about Unlimited boat racing, and much more!
5. Start Date, by Craig Fjarlie. In Fjarlie's Heritage column he looks back at the times when the season has started and postulates the advantages of starting the season a bit earlier.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE MAY ISSUE
1. Madison; the Movie From a Fan's Perspective. Movie reviews by Duncan Wilson and Jon Osterberg. Photos from Michael Prophet and Karl Pearson. Details about the "Madison" premier sponsored by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum and reviews from two fans. Great reading.
2. The Swami Sez; 2005-This One is UP fro Grabs, by Brian "Swami" Anderson. An annual feature in the UNJ is this season preview article. "With the dominant team of the last decade deciding not to look for a new sponsor, the title is definitely up for grabs. Three, possibly four teams have a shot at the coveted team championship." Great analysis in a review of each team.
3. Where is the Sport Headed? By Brian Anderson. In this sidebar article, the Swami talks about the strange off season twists and says, "Where this sport is headed is anybody's guess."
4. HydroFile; Race Team News from the UNJ Staff. Subscribers say they read this column first each month. Each team is contacted every month for the latest news and in the season preview issue the UNJ gives all the latest info!
5. Around the Circuit; Race Site Report, by Chris Tracy. ABRA officials, news from Evansville, Madison--including their new format, and much more.
6. Another Slant on That '70s Show, by Craig Fjarlie. In the popular "Heritage" column Fjarlie talks bout the technology in boats in the 70s and reflects on his time at UNJ editor during some of those years.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE APRIL ISSUE
April and December are the UNJ's mini-issues, but there was just too much news in April, so the issue was not all that small. April and December issues are a bit more edgy on news, and this month was no exception.
1. Our Hapless Lady; Interview with Dave Culley, Part III. E.K. Muller photos. "This is the final installment of Dave Culley's story we ran in our February and March issues. A brand-new Ron Jones picklefork failed to change the Notre Dame luck. The hull too was star crossed. It performed no better than the others owned by Shirley Mendelson McDonald. Dave Culley, who was on the crew 1970-72, discusses his last season in this interview with the late E.K. Muller." Included is Dean Chenoweth's time with the Notre Dame. Historical reading with priceless photos.
2. 2004 Season Awards--Their Choice, My Choice, by Chris Tracy. "Each year awards are given at the annual banquet. Some awards are earned through accomplishments...other awards tend to be subjective at-a-boys, or given to promote positive public relations." Tracy includes the awards the ABRA gave, plus his take on who merited receiving each award.
3. Can't Find This on the Internet, by the UNJ Staff. News people are talking about, but not generally in the media; this column only appears in the April and December mini-issues. Sometimes controversial, but usually on the money. Series sponsorship, Madison race news, quotes about ABRA from a race director, details of the cable TV deal, race site hopes, Nashville and San Diego news, and more! Must reading.
4. A Note On the Madison Movie. Editor Michael Prophet's talks about the fans at the Madison movie premier, hosted by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. A full review will be in next month's issue.
5. HydroFile; Race Team News from the UNJ Staff. In the April and December mini-issue, the news and rumors tend to be a bit more controversial...the inside scoop. Readers tell us that they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month.
Next Month--Swami and the Madison Movie Review
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE MARCH ISSUE
1. The Gift of DuPont; Two Nitrogen Boats for Madison, Indiana, by Phil Cole, as told to Craig Fjarlie. Photos from the Madison Courier, Kirk Pagel, Phil Kunz and Bob Greenhow. "Sam du Pont and I (Phil Cole) began to discuss, oh, in '59, him selling one of his boats to Madison. We continued the discussion, and after the '60 race it got hotter. I got kinda close to Sam. We liked each other, and I had a wild hair that Madison should have a race boat." All the details of how Madison, Indiana got their first race boat and the amazing story of how Sam Cole arranged for the town to buy the second boat and the tons of equipment that came with it. Must reading, and only the UNJ has the resources to provide stories like this. Classic photos, too.
2. Our Hapless Lady; An Interview with Dave Colley, Part II. Photos from E.K. Muller and Rich Ombreck. "We continue our story from last month. Dave Culley joined the Notre Dame crew for 1970. Notre Dame was a good second or third place boat that year. It fell short of expectations, however. Owner Shirley Mendelson McDonald had only two trophies to show for her years of campaigning fast, well-turned-out unlimiteds. As our interview continues, Culley tells E.K. Muller about the 1971 preparations under crew chief Bob Espland."
3. HydroFile, from the UNJ Staff. UNJ staff contacts each race team every month for the latest news. Our readers say they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month. The straight talk about what's happening with the U-1. Big news from the Kim Gregory's U-10 team and much, much more.
4. Around the Circuit, by Chris Tracy. Complete details from the ABRA dinner and more.
5. This Kegger is Over, by Owen Blauman. Blauman interviews longtime Miss Budweiser crew chief Mark Smith. And Smith answers all the questions fans want answers to, like "Could anything have been done to keep the Budweiser sponsorship?"
Next Month--The April Mini-Issue (which will not be all that mini) features the return of, Can't Find This on the Internet.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE
1. Our Hapless Lady; Dave Culley Spends Three Years with Notre Dame--Part 1. Kirk Pagel and E.K. Muller photos. E.K. Muller completed a few articles for the UNJ before he passed away and this interview with Dave Culley is one. "Fans always wondered why the popular race team (Shirley Mendelson McDonald's Notre Dame) didn't do better. Maybe some reason can be deduced from the following interview with Dave Culley. Dave went to Notre Dame as a sophomore crewman for the 1970 season."
2. Who is Red Hamilton; He Drove Maverick, Jim McCormick Recalls. Photo from Bob Senior. "Always friendly, Jim granted E.K. Muller comprehensive interviews, from which this memoir of U-22 Maverick and L.C. "Red" Hamilton is drawn." And readers will find out how McCormick got the U-22 and who Red Hamilton was.
3. HydroFile, from the UNJ Staff. UNJ staff contacts each race team every month for the latest news. Our readers say they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month. Why does Bud still have a crewman at the shop, U-10 rumors, ownership changes for the U-19 and much more.
4. Madison, the Movie News, by Bob Senior. Details about the upcoming release.
5. Around the Circuit, by Chris Tracy. Details about the UU tribute to Bill Wurster, ABRA news, changes in Detroit, and more.
6. Dynasties, by Craig Fjarlie. Fjarlie's Heritage column talks about the unlimited hydroplane dynasties: Little family, Schoenith family, Stan Sayres, Willard Rhodes, Ole Bardahl, Dave Heerensperger, Bill and Fran Muncey, and James Thompson. Always great reading.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN THE JANUARY ISSUE
1. Joe Taggart--Part 2, by Steve Nelson. Photographs from MOHAI, the Newton collection, Kirk Pagel and the Taggart family. Nelson profiles Taggart's career from 1955 in part 2 of this special piece. Quotes from former Slo-mo crew members and Taggart's son John. Taggart's life after racing, too. Rare photos. Only the UNJ has the resources for stories like this.
2. Much More than a Driver, an End Note by Dr. John Taggart. Taggart's son, John, profiles his dad's involvement with boats from 1962-2003.
3. HydroFile, from the UNJ Staff. UNJ staff contacts each race team every month for the latest news. Our readers say they read this column first when the UNJ arrives each month.
4. Around the Circuit, by Chris Tracy. Club news, UU awards, ABRA news, 2004 passings and more.
5. Staying Involved, by Craig Fjarlie. Fjarlie's Heritage column talks about unlimited drivers that have participated in other boat racing categories.
Next Month--Our Hapless Lady--Part 1 of the Notre Dame Story