Villwock Top Oryx Cup Qualifier
Driver Dave Villwock celebrates being the top qualifier.
No one is better at qualifying a boat this year than Spirit of Qatar driver Dave Villwock. For the sixth time this season, Villwock was the fastest qualifier setting the standard Thursday at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Villwock posted a 153.547 mph lap, setting a record for the 2-mile course. Oh Boy! Oberto driver Steve David was the second-fastest qualifier with a run of 148.023 mph.
“We try to play well at home,” said Villwock, who is the sport’s all-time winningest driver. “For Sheik Hassan and the people of Qatar, it’s great a thing to put the Qatar boat on top.”
It looked like that might not happen early in qualifying when the team’s first qualifying attempt of 150.244 mph was disallowed because of an engine over-speed violation. Villwock returned to the course to set the record.
David, meanwhile, has been the second-fastest qualifier at the five races he’s competed in this season.
“If we ran 160 mph out here, they would run 165 mph,” David said. “They know the right gears and props to run. We can’t run a thin prop like they can run.”
The Oh Boy! Oberto team is chasing Kip Brown and the Miss Red Dot team for second place in the national high points championship. They cut Miss Red Dot’s lead by 40 points in the qualification.
Rookie driver Scott Liddycoat in the Valken.com was the third-fastest qualifier with a run of 147.031 mph and the Degree Men boat driven by J. Michael Kelly was fourth at 146.287 mph. Fifth was Jeff Bernard in Graham Trucking at 145.181 mph.
Villwock is looking to earn his team the national high points championship today with strong showings in two rounds of heats. The Oryx Cup UIM World Championships concludes Saturday with more heats and the final.
Villwock Top Oryx Cup Qualifier
Driver Dave Villwock celebrates being the top qualifier.
No one is better at qualifying a boat this year than Spirit of Qatar driver Dave Villwock. For the sixth time this season, Villwock was the fastest qualifier setting the standard Thursday at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Villwock posted a 153.547 mph lap, setting a record for the 2-mile course. Oh Boy! Oberto driver Steve David was the second-fastest qualifier with a run of 148.023 mph.
“We try to play well at home,” said Villwock, who is the sport’s all-time winningest driver. “For Sheik Hassan and the people of Qatar, it’s great a thing to put the Qatar boat on top.”
It looked like that might not happen early in qualifying when the team’s first qualifying attempt of 150.244 mph was disallowed because of an engine over-speed violation. Villwock returned to the course to set the record.
David, meanwhile, has been the second-fastest qualifier at the five races he’s competed in this season.
“If we ran 160 mph out here, they would run 165 mph,” David said. “They know the right gears and props to run. We can’t run a thin prop like they can run.”
The Oh Boy! Oberto team is chasing Kip Brown and the Miss Red Dot team for second place in the national high points championship. They cut Miss Red Dot’s lead by 40 points in the qualification.
Rookie driver Scott Liddycoat in the Valken.com was the third-fastest qualifier with a run of 147.031 mph and the Degree Men boat driven by J. Michael Kelly was fourth at 146.287 mph. Fifth was Jeff Bernard in Graham Trucking at 145.181 mph.
Villwock is looking to earn his team the national high points championship today with strong showings in two rounds of heats. The Oryx Cup UIM World Championships concludes Saturday with more heats and the final.