Villwock Tops Friday Gold Cup Qualifiers
Villwock found himself in a familiar position Friday as the fastest qualifier at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series in Detroit as he attempts to become the sport’s all-time winningest driver.
Less than a week after crashing his boat in the final, Villwock was back in the repaired boat posting a 158.782 mph three-lap average on the Detroit River. He was involved in a collision with driver Steve David during a race last weekend and his team had to scramble to get the boat fixed.
“I think we ran about the same speed last year,” said Villwock, who has won the APBA Gold Cup eight times. “It feels pretty good. We’ll keep running that play.”
With a win this weekend in Detroit, Villwock will become the sport’s all-time winningest driver with 63 career wins. He is currently tied with the late great Bill Muncey at 62 wins.
The second-fastest qualifier was Jeff Bernard. The driver from Kent, Wash., pushed his Graham Trucking boat to an average lap speed of 156.663 mph.
“Being in the top two for qualifying at the Gold Cup is pretty cool,” Bernard said. “We’ve got four heats ahead of us this weekend. We want to get through it with no damage and make it to the finals.
Teammate Scott Liddycoat, who qualified to race on the tour a week earlier in Madison, Ind., ran the third fastest at 153.073 mph. The fourth-fastest qualifier was Detroit area native Cal Phipps, who posted a 149.898-mph mark. Phipps is filling in for Kip Brown, who finished second in the season opener.
Putting up one of the most surprising qualifying speeds of the day was the Oh Boy! Oberto team, which is running in Detroit this weekend with a backup boat and a backup driver. The team’s boat was badly damaged in the collision with Villwock and couldn’t be repaired in time. So the Madison, Ind.-based team leased a boat and it didn’t arrive in the pits until Friday afternoon.
Driver Jon Zimmerman ran a three-lap speed average on the 2.5-mile course of 149.107 mph to finish the day in the Top 5.
This marks the 102nd running of the APBA Gold Cup, the oldest trophy in all of motorsports. Hydroplane races have taken place on the Detroit River since 1916.
Racing action cont Saturday with two sets of heats in the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series. The action concludes Sunday with two more rounds of heats and the final slated for 4:20 p.m.
Top 5 Qualifiers for Air National Guard Hydroplane Series in Detroit
Place, Driver, Boat Name, Average Speed
1. Dave Villwock, U-96 Spirit of Qatar, 158.782 mph
2. Jeff Bernard, U-5 Graham Trucking, 156.663 mph
3. Scott Liddycoat, U-7 Valken Sports, 153.073 mph
4. Cal Phipps, U-17 Miss Red Dot, 149.898 mph
5. Jon Zimmerman, U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, 149.107
Villwock Tops Friday Gold Cup Qualifiers
Villwock found himself in a familiar position Friday as the fastest qualifier at the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series in Detroit as he attempts to become the sport’s all-time winningest driver.
Less than a week after crashing his boat in the final, Villwock was back in the repaired boat posting a 158.782 mph three-lap average on the Detroit River. He was involved in a collision with driver Steve David during a race last weekend and his team had to scramble to get the boat fixed.
“I think we ran about the same speed last year,” said Villwock, who has won the APBA Gold Cup eight times. “It feels pretty good. We’ll keep running that play.”
With a win this weekend in Detroit, Villwock will become the sport’s all-time winningest driver with 63 career wins. He is currently tied with the late great Bill Muncey at 62 wins.
The second-fastest qualifier was Jeff Bernard. The driver from Kent, Wash., pushed his Graham Trucking boat to an average lap speed of 156.663 mph.
“Being in the top two for qualifying at the Gold Cup is pretty cool,” Bernard said. “We’ve got four heats ahead of us this weekend. We want to get through it with no damage and make it to the finals.
Teammate Scott Liddycoat, who qualified to race on the tour a week earlier in Madison, Ind., ran the third fastest at 153.073 mph. The fourth-fastest qualifier was Detroit area native Cal Phipps, who posted a 149.898-mph mark. Phipps is filling in for Kip Brown, who finished second in the season opener.
Putting up one of the most surprising qualifying speeds of the day was the Oh Boy! Oberto team, which is running in Detroit this weekend with a backup boat and a backup driver. The team’s boat was badly damaged in the collision with Villwock and couldn’t be repaired in time. So the Madison, Ind.-based team leased a boat and it didn’t arrive in the pits until Friday afternoon.
Driver Jon Zimmerman ran a three-lap speed average on the 2.5-mile course of 149.107 mph to finish the day in the Top 5.
This marks the 102nd running of the APBA Gold Cup, the oldest trophy in all of motorsports. Hydroplane races have taken place on the Detroit River since 1916.
Racing action cont Saturday with two sets of heats in the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series. The action concludes Sunday with two more rounds of heats and the final slated for 4:20 p.m.
Top 5 Qualifiers for Air National Guard Hydroplane Series in Detroit
Place, Driver, Boat Name, Average Speed
1. Dave Villwock, U-96 Spirit of Qatar, 158.782 mph
2. Jeff Bernard, U-5 Graham Trucking, 156.663 mph
3. Scott Liddycoat, U-7 Valken Sports, 153.073 mph
4. Cal Phipps, U-17 Miss Red Dot, 149.898 mph
5. Jon Zimmerman, U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, 149.107