Apollo Columbia Cup Saturday Recap
Saturday Recap:
The Apollo Columbia Cup race weekend got started one day later than initially scheduled in the Tri-Cities, Washington area for the third event of the 2024 H1 Unlimited season. Due to concerns related to low water levels in one portion of the course, H1 officials and Water Follies officials were forced to postpone testing and qualifying for the H1 Unlimited hydroplanes to Saturday in order to allow the course to reconfigured from a two-and-a-half-mile course to a two-mile course.
Saturday morning activities started with a test session for the hydroplanes before getting prepped for qualifying to see which boat would take the Revchem Fastest Lap award and $2500 home this week. For the second time this season, Andrew Tate in the U-91 Goodman Real Estate boat for Miss Madison Racing claimed the check with a speed of 156.185 mph.
The hydroplanes again took to the water for two heat races to round out the afternoon. Four boats lined up for Heat 1A, but when an incident occurred causing a blow over of the U-1 Beacon Electric hydroplane of J. Michael Kelly, the other three were forced back to the pit area to allow safety crews time to get the course clean to continue racing. Kelly was evaluated and released from the on-site medical center following the incident.
While Heat 1A waited to be completed, the boats for Heat 1B took to the water. The winner of the Revchem Fastest Lap award, Tate showcased that speed in Heat 1B as he blasted his way to the lead and remained out front for the full three laps of the heat.
When the three remaining hydroplanes from Heat 1A got back on the water, Dave Villwock in the U-27 Apollo Mechanical hydroplane got a great start and managed to hold the lead and take his first heat win of the 2024 season.
The H1 Unlimited hydroplanes will take to the water again on Sunday for two more heat races and the battle for the Columbia Cup. Fans can tune in on the H1 Unlimited YouTube channel for live coverage.
Driver Quotes:
Andrew Tate, driver, U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate, Miss Madison Racing
What do you think of the new race course in Tri-Cities? Anything to compare it to?
“It’ll probably be about ‘Seafair 2.0’, but even rougher. So, it should be an interesting weekend. I think as long as everyone stays in one piece, we’ll see some really good racing.”
Dave Villwock, driver, U-27 Apollo Mechanical, Wiggins Racing
What did it mean to capture the win in the re-running of heat 1A?
“This means so much to get this win for this family and everyone at Apollo. To come out after a crash and get a good start like that and get the win, it means a lot. Charlie Wiggins (team owner) and everyone at the race shop have been working on this boat for four or five years so this is kind of emotional to get a win for them after all these years. There’s an awful lot of people here in the Tri-Cities area that work for or work with Apollo so this is a special win for everyone involved.
Revchem Composites Fast Lap Qualifying Results:
- Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate 156.185 mph
- Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing 155.450 mph
- Dustin Echols U-40 Flav-R-PAC 154.566 mph
- J. Michael Kelly U-1 Beacon Electric 154.000 mph
- Dave Villwock U-27 Apollo Mechanical 152.322 mph
- Bobby King U-12 Graham Trucking 149.800 mph
- Jamie Nilsen U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee 148.883 mph
- Gunnar O’Farrell U-35 Gutters by Keith presents Boitano Homes 143.778 mph
Heat 1A Results:
Driver: Boat: Avg. Speed:
- Dave Villwock U-27 Apollo Mechanical 144.215 mph
- Dustin Echols U-40 Flav-R-PAC 136.468 mph
- Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing 99.211 mph
- J. Michael Kelly U-1 Beacon Electric DSQ
Heat 1B Results:
Driver: Boat: Avg. Speed:
- Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate 140.926 mph
- Jamie Nilsen U-11 Miss Mercury’s Coffee 138.391 mph
- Gunnar O’Farrell U-35 Gutters by Keith presents Boitano Homes 131.043 mph
- Bobby King U-12 Graham Trucking 130.919 mph
Apollo Columbia Cup Saturday Recap
Saturday Recap:
The Apollo Columbia Cup race weekend got started one day later than initially scheduled in the Tri-Cities, Washington area for the third event of the 2024 H1 Unlimited season. Due to concerns related to low water levels in one portion of the course, H1 officials and Water Follies officials were forced to postpone testing and qualifying for the H1 Unlimited hydroplanes to Saturday in order to allow the course to reconfigured from a two-and-a-half-mile course to a two-mile course.
Saturday morning activities started with a test session for the hydroplanes before getting prepped for qualifying to see which boat would take the Revchem Fastest Lap award and $2500 home this week. For the second time this season, Andrew Tate in the U-91 Goodman Real Estate boat for Miss Madison Racing claimed the check with a speed of 156.185 mph.
The hydroplanes again took to the water for two heat races to round out the afternoon. Four boats lined up for Heat 1A, but when an incident occurred causing a blow over of the U-1 Beacon Electric hydroplane of J. Michael Kelly, the other three were forced back to the pit area to allow safety crews time to get the course clean to continue racing. Kelly was evaluated and released from the on-site medical center following the incident.
While Heat 1A waited to be completed, the boats for Heat 1B took to the water. The winner of the Revchem Fastest Lap award, Tate showcased that speed in Heat 1B as he blasted his way to the lead and remained out front for the full three laps of the heat.
When the three remaining hydroplanes from Heat 1A got back on the water, Dave Villwock in the U-27 Apollo Mechanical hydroplane got a great start and managed to hold the lead and take his first heat win of the 2024 season.
The H1 Unlimited hydroplanes will take to the water again on Sunday for two more heat races and the battle for the Columbia Cup. Fans can tune in on the H1 Unlimited YouTube channel for live coverage.
Driver Quotes:
Andrew Tate, driver, U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate, Miss Madison Racing
What do you think of the new race course in Tri-Cities? Anything to compare it to?
“It’ll probably be about ‘Seafair 2.0’, but even rougher. So, it should be an interesting weekend. I think as long as everyone stays in one piece, we’ll see some really good racing.”
Dave Villwock, driver, U-27 Apollo Mechanical, Wiggins Racing
What did it mean to capture the win in the re-running of heat 1A?
“This means so much to get this win for this family and everyone at Apollo. To come out after a crash and get a good start like that and get the win, it means a lot. Charlie Wiggins (team owner) and everyone at the race shop have been working on this boat for four or five years so this is kind of emotional to get a win for them after all these years. There’s an awful lot of people here in the Tri-Cities area that work for or work with Apollo so this is a special win for everyone involved.
Revchem Composites Fast Lap Qualifying Results:
- Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate 156.185 mph
- Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing 155.450 mph
- Dustin Echols U-40 Flav-R-PAC 154.566 mph
- J. Michael Kelly U-1 Beacon Electric 154.000 mph
- Dave Villwock U-27 Apollo Mechanical 152.322 mph
- Bobby King U-12 Graham Trucking 149.800 mph
- Jamie Nilsen U-11 Miss Mercurys Coffee 148.883 mph
- Gunnar O’Farrell U-35 Gutters by Keith presents Boitano Homes 143.778 mph
Heat 1A Results:
Driver: Boat: Avg. Speed:
- Dave Villwock U-27 Apollo Mechanical 144.215 mph
- Dustin Echols U-40 Flav-R-PAC 136.468 mph
- Corey Peabody U-9 Beacon Plumbing 99.211 mph
- J. Michael Kelly U-1 Beacon Electric DSQ
Heat 1B Results:
Driver: Boat: Avg. Speed:
- Andrew Tate U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate 140.926 mph
- Jamie Nilsen U-11 Miss Mercury’s Coffee 138.391 mph
- Gunnar O’Farrell U-35 Gutters by Keith presents Boitano Homes 131.043 mph
- Bobby King U-12 Graham Trucking 130.919 mph