KENNEWICK - Greg Hopp's jubilation was palpable as his GP-12 Bob's 401k returned to the dock after Sunday's Grand Prix West final.

TRI-CITIES, Wash. - Dave Villwock broke Steve David's three-year grip on the Columbia Cup in a thrilling final on the Columbia River.

We asked the U-96 Spirit of Qatar team if there was any thought in trying to get the U-11 team up front in Heat 3A.

Dave Villwock blasted past the field in 3C, starting in lane three, and was first in and out of the east end turn.

By our calculations, the Oberto is not done after all.

Kip Brown is now 3-for-3 this weekend in preliminary heats after he took the U-17 Miss Red Dot to another first-place finish for 400 points.

Steve David bounced back by easily winning the heat in Oberto, never being threatened by 88 Degree Men driver J. Michael Kelly.

Here they are:

Steve David and the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto was moved from second place to fifth after race officials determined he moved into Brian Perkins' U-21 Albert Lee Appliance's path.

Dave Villwock, in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar starting in lane 2, had another great start.

Teammates gave the fans a great show.

Kip Brown drove the U-17 Miss Red Dot to another heat victory after suffering a shut down before the race started.

Ran into H1 Unlimited chairman Sam Cole.

OK, race officials added a Heat 3C to the program today, as there has been no attrition to the field.

Big topic in the pits today: Why are we starting so late?

Came into Columbia Park at 8:45 a.m. today from the east end. Normally there is a line of at least five or six cars at the entrance, but there was no one.

Ryan Mallow got over seven laps in this morning to get closer to getting his unlimited hydroplane driver credentials.

KENNEWICK -- The first day of competition at the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup -- a day-long parade of hydroplanes -- was more notable for who didn't win rather than who did.

KENNEWICK -- Here are the heat draws for today's first three Lamb Weston Columbia Cup unlimited hydroplane races:

KENNEWICK -- Though Jerry and Greg Hopp are driving separate boats this weekend in the Grand Prix West series, the father and son from Snohomish County remain connected on the racing circuit.

KENNEWICK -- When people stand in front of the U-40 Miss Bardahl at the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup this weekend, they are standing in front of greatness.

KENNEWICK -- Boat racers have an illness.

KENNEWICK -- This year's Water Follies has a near-perfect track record so far, officials said. The event has been "very smooth" in Columbia Park, said Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin.

Stay up on all the news, gossip and fun with our hydro live chat from Kennewick's Lampson Pits.

People come to the Tri-City hydroplane races for a number of reasons -- to witness a high-speed wreck, spend the day by the water with friends, party in the beer garden or gawk at bikini-clad women on the promenade.

KENNEWICK Longtime hydroplane fans enjoy the sport for the fond memories it evokes.

Boat racers have an illness.

Here are the heat draws for Sunday's first batch of races.

Steve David called it a brainfart .... and a few other choice words.

Jeff Bernard likes having a teammate to race with in Scott Liddycoat.

Jeff Bernard and Scott Liddycoat, teammate drivers, got a chance to compete in the same heat for the first time this season, and they finished 1-2 in Heat 1B.

OK, back from running around the pits for the last 90 minutes.

Chief referee Mike Noonan just met with the H1 Unlimited drivers and crew chiefs to prep them for today's three heats.

88 Degree Men driver J. Michael Kelly married his long-time girlfriend last weekend and is spending his honeymoon here in the Tri-Cities.

Just saw Art Oberto, the patriarch of the family that owns the Seattle company which produces some of the finest dried meats and jerkeys in all the land, in the U-1 camp.

KENNEWICK -- Some folks associated with the Columbia Cup mark time by the victories by the boat teams.

Here are the heats and draws for Saturday's hydroplane racing.

KENNEWICK -- Dave Villwock never originally intended to drive an unlimited hydroplane.

KENNEWICK -- Watching Scotty Pierce work on his Grand Prix hydroplane this weekend, you would never know he was in a wheelchair two years ago.

KENNEWICK -- The Grand Prix West series is a new addition to the Water Follies lineup this year, and if Scotty Pierce and the rest of the drivers have their way, they will be back next summer.

KENNEWICK -- Kudos to the U-17 Miss Red Dot team and driver Kip Brown, whose 156.565 mph qualifying time was third-best Friday at the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup.

PASCO History buffs, aviation fans and everyone in between can get a rare up-close look at restored World War II bombers -- or even take a flight in one -- this weekend at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco.

KENNEWICK -- For all of the new blood in unlimited hydroplane racing, all of the new changes happening, two things seem to remain constant.

The Grand Prix West series is a new addition to the Water Follies lineup this year, and if Scotty Pierce and the rest of the drivers have their way, they'll be back next summer.

Dave Villwock stood in Lampson Pits on Friday, ready to get in his boat if someone beat his top qualifying speed of 160.892 mph.

Thirteen unlimiteds attempted to qualify Saturday afternoon, with Dave Villwock in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar coming up with the fastest time at 160.892 mph.

Scott Raney, who along with his wife Shannon, owns the U-11 Peters & May, is still learning about his new boat.

KENNEWICK -- Ted Porter, who owns three boats in this weekend's fleet -- the U-5 Graham Trucking, the U-7 Valken.com and the U-57 Formulaboats.com -- loves his new rookie driver, Scott Liddycoat.

Steve David, the driver of the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, has a new flak jacket to wear in the cockpit when he drives the boat.

JW Myers, not Brian Perkins, was driving the U-21 Miss Albert Lee Appliances in testing.