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.
KENNEWICK -- Bernie's tree goes back to the Ellstrom family.
KENNEWICK Dave Villwock, driver of the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, talks about winning the 2011 Columbia Cup.
Erick Ellstrom, crew chief of the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, talks about the winning the 2011 Columbia Cup on Sunday, July 31 on the Columbia River in Kennewick, Wash.
Here is the 2011 unlimited hydroplane racing season point standings through the Columbia Cup, which was run July 31 in Kennewick, Wash.
KENNEWICK -- Dave Villwock never originally intended to drive an unlimited hydroplane.
KENNEWICK -- Erick Ellstrom, team owner and crew chief for the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, pointed out if his team was to win Sunday's final, it would make the U-96 the winningest hull ever in the sport with 24 victories.
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.
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.
Hull No.: U-96
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.
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.
SEATTLE -- In 22 years of racing unlimited hydroplanes, Dave Villwock has learned a thing or two about Seafair.
SEATTLE -- A few months ago, it looked like the hydros would be on hiatus in Seattle this summer.
Steve David saw Chip Hanauer approaching him in Lampson Pits on Sunday afternoon.
For those who follow the race for the national championship, Sunday's Lamb Weston Columbia Cup had plenty of drama.
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.
KENNEWICK -- Twenty points.
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.
KENNEWICK -- Dave Villwock can be a polarizing figure.
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.
KENNEWICK -- When it comes to racing unlimited hydroplanes, the Columbia River is known as a superspeedway.
The 44th version of the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup gets under way this Friday.
DETROIT -- Dave Villwock has found many different ways to earn his 58 career unlimited hydroplane victories.
MADISON, Ind. -- A blowover upstaged the qualifying heats Saturday at the Madison (Ind.) Regatta unlimited hydroplane race.
At the age of 55, Steve David has to be considered the senior statesman of the unlimited hydroplane circuit.
