Hydros: U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto
Published Sunday, Jul. 31, 2011

Steve David, driver of the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, talks about his second-place finish at the 2011 Columbia Cup.

Published Monday, Aug. 01, 2011

Here is the 2011 unlimited hydroplane racing season point standings through the Columbia Cup, which was run July 31 in Kennewick, Wash.

PTE Hydro
Paul T. Erickson/Tri-City Herald

Dave Villwock, driver of the U-96 Spirit of Qatar pumps his fist celebrating winning the 2011 Lamb Weston Columbia Cup on Sunday. Villwock has 64 unlimited hydroplane victories to his name. See more photos at hydroracing.com.

Published Monday, Aug. 01, 2011

KENNEWICK -- Bernie's tree goes back to the Ellstrom family.

Published Sunday, Jul. 31, 2011

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

Published Sunday, Jul. 31, 2011

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.

Published Saturday, Jul. 30, 2011

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

Published Saturday, Jul. 30, 2011

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.

Published Wednesday, Jul. 27, 2011

KENNEWICK -- Don't underestimate the power of Bernie's tree in Lampson Pits.

Published Monday, Jul. 25, 2011

KENNEWICK -- Two races into the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series and the team sitting atop the points standings is neither of the favorites heading into the season.

Published Friday, Jul. 22, 2011

Hull No.: U-1

Published Monday, Aug. 09, 2010

SEATTLE -- Steve David drove what he called the race of his life to hold off Dave Villwock and win the Albert Lee Cup at Seafair on Sunday.

Published Sunday, Aug. 08, 2010

SEATTLE -- Moments after Kayleigh Perkins left the dock, the boat stalled and her mother's heart sank.

Published Sunday, Aug. 08, 2010

SEATTLE -- As J Michael Kelly surveyed some minor damage to his unlimited hydroplane in the pouring rain, he knew it was something a little fiberglass, duct tape and elbow grease could fix.

Published Friday, Aug. 06, 2010

SEATTLE -- A few months ago, it looked like the hydros would be on hiatus in Seattle this summer.

Published Monday, Jul. 26, 2010

Steve David saw Chip Hanauer approaching him in Lampson Pits on Sunday afternoon.

Published Monday, Jul. 26, 2010

For those who follow the race for the national championship, Sunday's Lamb Weston Columbia Cup had plenty of drama.

Published Sunday, Jul. 25, 2010

KENNEWICK -- Steve David and Dave Villwock beat the rest of the field Saturday in the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, while the boat graveyard on the Columbia River known as the first turn claimed one victim, injured another and nearly got a third.

Published Saturday, Jul. 24, 2010

KENNEWICK -- Twenty points.

Published Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2010

KENNEWICK -- It's interesting how many things you can think about in a matter of seconds when you're flying upside down in a speeding hydroplane.

Published Monday, Jul. 27, 2009

Steve David gave Art Oberto a victory at Seafair two years ago for his 80th birthday present.

Published Sunday, Jul. 26, 2009

KENNEWICK -- Unlimited hydroplane racing has had its share of controversy over the years, and Saturday's Lamb Weston Columbia Cup added to that legacy with another chapter of the soap opera called As the Turbine Turns.

Published Saturday, Jul. 25, 2009

KENNEWICK -- It was the same old story on the unlimited hydroplane circuit Friday at Lampson Pits.

Published Friday, Jul. 24, 2009

KENNEWICK -- Dave Villwock looked so out of place Thursday afternoon as he stood next to the unlimited hydroplane he drives, the U-16 Miss Elam Plus.

Published Thursday, Jul. 23, 2009

KENNEWICK -- The economic chill that's been running up the spines of consumers and business owners in recent months seems to have melted away with the Tri-Cities' July heat, at least when it comes to the area's signature summer event: hydroplane racing.

Published Thursday, Jul. 23, 2009

KENNEWICK -- Steve David looked around the pits at the APBA Detroit Gold Cup a few weeks ago and laughed.

Published Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2009

KENNEWICK -- When it comes to racing unlimited hydroplanes, the Columbia River is known as a superspeedway.

Published Monday, Jul. 20, 2009

The 44th version of the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup gets under way this Friday.

Published Monday, Jul. 13, 2009

DETROIT -- Dave Villwock has found many different ways to earn his 58 career unlimited hydroplane victories.

Published Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

At the age of 55, Steve David has to be considered the senior statesman of the unlimited hydroplane circuit.


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