Big Fast Field Set For Lucas Oil Madison Regatta
Driver Dave Villwock is looking to become the sport’s all-time winningest driver as the Air National Guard Series starts its 2011 season at the 61st annual Madison Regatta in Madison, Indiana this weekend.
But to get the record, Villwock will have to overcome the most competitive fields in decades. Twelve boats are expected to take to the Ohio River as hometown favorite Oh Boy! Oberto, owned by the city of Madison and driven by Steve David, is aiming to win its fourth-consecutive high points national championship. But standing in the way of both drivers are a number teams with either new or significantly improved equipment.
Villwock has amassed 62 race wins during his illustrious unlimited hydroplane career, tying all-time leader Bill Muncey. Muncey’s record has stood for 30 years and was matched last year by Villwock when he won the Oryx Cup in Doha, Qatar.
If there is added pressure on the Spirit of Qatar driver going into Madison, he certainly isn’t showing it. Villwock left his Seattle-area home nearly two weeks before the race to take a leisurely trip in his luxury RV to Madison.
“I’ll run the same way I always have,” Villwock said. “I want to win the race and if I can break (Bill) Muncey’s record that would be great. It’s not something I’m constantly thinking about.”
Oh Boy! Oberto driver Steve David is seeking a repeat in Madison where he had a perfect weekend in 2010. David was the fastest qualifier, won his three preliminary heats and a tough three-boat battle in the final. Driving the hometown boat, David’s goal is to win the Madison Regatta but also keep Villwock from breaking the record in Madison.
“We’d like to have him never break the record but the odds are he’s going to do it at some point,” David said. “We’d like him to do it somewhere else.”
The teams will have to adapt to a substantially smaller racecourse this year in Madison. The Ohio River course is being trimmed from 2.5 miles to 1¾ miles because of bridge construction. That means teams will have to use different gear ratios and propellers to get the boats to accelerate faster on the short course. To run the same distance as in previous years, drivers will do two extra laps in each heat and the final. That could make for even rougher water.
“The course is always known as a bullring and with that many more laps, it’s going to be even rougher,” David said. “It will be about gearing, props, wing settings and the angle of attack on the sponsors on the boats. Everything is going to be changed for us.”
Madison will mark the debut of the new Degree Men boat from Billy Schumacher Racing. The team is arguably coming off its toughest season since it was formed in 2006. During the APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, the boat’s skid fin let loose and the boat was destroyed when it crashed into a seawall. The team completed the season with a backup boat and finished sixth overall.
With a new driver J. Michael Kelly and a new boat with the latest in design technology, the Degree Men team believes it will be a force this season.
“We are so excited for the first race with our new boat,” Schumacher said. “Ron Jones Jr. and Jim Harvey have led a great group of guys who built the boat in less than four months. They have done such a great job, it is so beautiful. It looks like a shiny new grand piano.”
Fans may also see unlimited hydroplane racing’s only female driver as she attempts to get qualified. Formulaboats.com team owner Ted Porter is helping Bianca Bononcini to become a qualified driver in the unlimited class and she would eventually serve as the backup driver to N. Mark Evans.
Bononcini started racing boats in 2008 and quickly made a name for herself in the limited inboard classes. In order to take part in an unlimited heat, she will have to run a minimum of 15 laps during time trials and at least two-thirds of those laps have to be at speeds faster than 130 mph. Porter expects Bononcini will be qualified by the West Coast swing of the Air National Guard Series in late July.
“We’re going to take it one step at a time,” Porter said. “With any new driver, you want to take it slow so they get comfortable.”
The new season brings about a competition change for heat starts and the final. Rather than having pre-assigned lanes to start a race, officials are allowing drivers to fight for preferred lane positions. The change will make for exciting starts and further balance competition.
To celebrate H1 Unlimited’s new partnership with the Air National Guard, the tour is putting on a concert at the Madison Regatta. Country singer Paul Overstreet and friends will perform Friday night, July 1, in Bicentennial Park along the riverfront.
Anyone watching the race in-person, online at www.h1unlimited.com or on the Versus Network television shows will appreciate the new partnership.
“If you haven’t been to a race in a few years, it’s going to be a much different experience,” said Sam Cole, chairman of H1 Unlimited. “The fans will have more opportunities to interact with the drivers and the teams. And with the new Air National Guard stage, it’s going to be a much bigger show than they’ve ever seen.”
The Madison Regatta runs July 1-3 with qualifying and time trials starting on Friday. Heats take place Saturday and Sunday with the final set for Sunday afternoon. The Regatta also includes an airshow and a Saturday night fireworks extravaganza.
Big Fast Field Set For Lucas Oil Madison Regatta
Driver Dave Villwock is looking to become the sport’s all-time winningest driver as the Air National Guard Series starts its 2011 season at the 61st annual Madison Regatta in Madison, Indiana this weekend.
But to get the record, Villwock will have to overcome the most competitive fields in decades. Twelve boats are expected to take to the Ohio River as hometown favorite Oh Boy! Oberto, owned by the city of Madison and driven by Steve David, is aiming to win its fourth-consecutive high points national championship. But standing in the way of both drivers are a number teams with either new or significantly improved equipment.
Villwock has amassed 62 race wins during his illustrious unlimited hydroplane career, tying all-time leader Bill Muncey. Muncey’s record has stood for 30 years and was matched last year by Villwock when he won the Oryx Cup in Doha, Qatar.
If there is added pressure on the Spirit of Qatar driver going into Madison, he certainly isn’t showing it. Villwock left his Seattle-area home nearly two weeks before the race to take a leisurely trip in his luxury RV to Madison.
“I’ll run the same way I always have,” Villwock said. “I want to win the race and if I can break (Bill) Muncey’s record that would be great. It’s not something I’m constantly thinking about.”
Oh Boy! Oberto driver Steve David is seeking a repeat in Madison where he had a perfect weekend in 2010. David was the fastest qualifier, won his three preliminary heats and a tough three-boat battle in the final. Driving the hometown boat, David’s goal is to win the Madison Regatta but also keep Villwock from breaking the record in Madison.
“We’d like to have him never break the record but the odds are he’s going to do it at some point,” David said. “We’d like him to do it somewhere else.”
The teams will have to adapt to a substantially smaller racecourse this year in Madison. The Ohio River course is being trimmed from 2.5 miles to 1¾ miles because of bridge construction. That means teams will have to use different gear ratios and propellers to get the boats to accelerate faster on the short course. To run the same distance as in previous years, drivers will do two extra laps in each heat and the final. That could make for even rougher water.
“The course is always known as a bullring and with that many more laps, it’s going to be even rougher,” David said. “It will be about gearing, props, wing settings and the angle of attack on the sponsors on the boats. Everything is going to be changed for us.”
Madison will mark the debut of the new Degree Men boat from Billy Schumacher Racing. The team is arguably coming off its toughest season since it was formed in 2006. During the APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, the boat’s skid fin let loose and the boat was destroyed when it crashed into a seawall. The team completed the season with a backup boat and finished sixth overall.
With a new driver J. Michael Kelly and a new boat with the latest in design technology, the Degree Men team believes it will be a force this season.
“We are so excited for the first race with our new boat,” Schumacher said. “Ron Jones Jr. and Jim Harvey have led a great group of guys who built the boat in less than four months. They have done such a great job, it is so beautiful. It looks like a shiny new grand piano.”
Fans may also see unlimited hydroplane racing’s only female driver as she attempts to get qualified. Formulaboats.com team owner Ted Porter is helping Bianca Bononcini to become a qualified driver in the unlimited class and she would eventually serve as the backup driver to N. Mark Evans.
Bononcini started racing boats in 2008 and quickly made a name for herself in the limited inboard classes. In order to take part in an unlimited heat, she will have to run a minimum of 15 laps during time trials and at least two-thirds of those laps have to be at speeds faster than 130 mph. Porter expects Bononcini will be qualified by the West Coast swing of the Air National Guard Series in late July.
“We’re going to take it one step at a time,” Porter said. “With any new driver, you want to take it slow so they get comfortable.”
The new season brings about a competition change for heat starts and the final. Rather than having pre-assigned lanes to start a race, officials are allowing drivers to fight for preferred lane positions. The change will make for exciting starts and further balance competition.
To celebrate H1 Unlimited’s new partnership with the Air National Guard, the tour is putting on a concert at the Madison Regatta. Country singer Paul Overstreet and friends will perform Friday night, July 1, in Bicentennial Park along the riverfront.
Anyone watching the race in-person, online at www.h1unlimited.com or on the Versus Network television shows will appreciate the new partnership.
“If you haven’t been to a race in a few years, it’s going to be a much different experience,” said Sam Cole, chairman of H1 Unlimited. “The fans will have more opportunities to interact with the drivers and the teams. And with the new Air National Guard stage, it’s going to be a much bigger show than they’ve ever seen.”
The Madison Regatta runs July 1-3 with qualifying and time trials starting on Friday. Heats take place Saturday and Sunday with the final set for Sunday afternoon. The Regatta also includes an airshow and a Saturday night fireworks extravaganza.