Image courtesy Mike Lauria III
In 2024, it started with a PA system and a simple question.
Before the Tri-Cities Water Follies’ Columbia Cup weekend, Mike Lauria III asked permission to play music during downtime. While there was an official station for race weekend, one thing was missing: Music! There was only talk between commentators throughout the day until the next heat. In the earlier days, fans would have their radios playing, listening to music, but no longer. It was Mike’s thought that the shoreline did not have to sit silent between the roar of the boats.
After being given permission to play music over the PA system, someone asked, “Are you planning to start a radio station?” At the time, he said no, but that he had thought about it. The question sparked something in him. Why not?
He talked with his twin boys about the idea, and they quickly agreed. Of course, the next question was what to call it. Since Mike Lauria III had grown up in the Tri-Cities listening to the races over the Unlimited Race Commission, Mike decided on the name Unlimited Radio Network (URN).
During their first year, they didn’t call the boats by their number or driver, but by their sponsor, which they learned from the original Unlimited Radio Network announcers. In the world of Unlimited Hydroplane racing, sponsors are a part of the story. Recognition matters.
What began as just a person with a PA system quickly became a family operation. Mike’s twin boys helped with the technical setup and brought updates on the Olympics and NASCAR.
As time drew near for the 2025 races, the team procured uniforms, as well as a banner with their name. Passersby frequently asked the group which team they were with, and they explained they were an internet radio station.
URN’s canopy tents were set up along the shoreline, a few hundred yards down from the official tower. The station gave away souvenirs and offered coloring pages to kids. Near the end of the weekend, a fan came by the tent to return a weight they’d borrowed to anchor their canopy. Mike’s son handed him a special edition shirt, and, feeling deeply moved, the man became emotional as he expressed his gratitude to the younger Lauria. When he told his dad about the event, Mike replied, “That’s what legends are built on.”
Going Turbo
When the races ended, the signal did not.
What began as music between heats now carries a charitable dimension. A character from a children’s book about cancer awareness that Mike wrote, Turbo Toad, became the official weekend mascot. Turbo Toad’s shoreline presence helped lead to a partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research — a collaboration that continues today. More recently, URN has also partnered with Ronald McDonald House to help raise funds for some of their core programs.
You can find an adaptation of Mike’s book at unlimitedradionetwork.com.
Unlimited Radio Network secured ASCAP and BMI licensing, partnered with radio.co for streaming, and continues to broadcast year-round. The station developed its core personalities: Six Shooter Mike as the founder and program director, Track Rabbit as a high-energy presence, and Aquarius delivering weekly smooth jazz programming, along with a rotating cast of creative characters.
While rooted in the Tri-Cities, the station has also begun working with independent artists across the globe. Featured musicians include The 286 from the United Kingdom, along with U.S.-based artists Brandon Grajales, William Walton, and Wendell Ray. For the URN, supporting independent artists is a part of the mission — creating a platform where emerging musicians feel they belong alongside established names.
The Unlimited Radio Network began in 2024 with a PA system along the Columbia River. Today, it remains a family-driven, community-supported platform focused on heritage, creativity, independent artists, charitable outreach, and creating a positive escape through music.
This radio station that started on the shoreline continues to build its presence on air.
The Unlimited Radio Network amplifies cancer awareness and promotes interest in the sport of hydroplane racing by broadcasting to a global audience via internet radio and streaming.
