Today's heat races were victories for the old guard.
Dave Villwock, Steve David and Jimmy King each won their heat races.
"For the looks of the sport, we need those young guys," said King. "But we can still get the job done."
Villwock, driving the U-1 Ellstrom Elam Plus, made his 2008 season debut in Heat 1A, and he did it from lane 2. Jeff Bernard in the U-5 Formulaboats.com started on the inside lane. But Villwock had too much power and took the lead for good coming out of the first turn.
He had a first lap speed of 157 mph to put the race away.
Meanwhile, berand and the U-5 finished second, Brian Perkins in the U-50 were third, and David Williams in the U-48 finished fourth after he was penalized a lap for hitting an exit bouy.
Jimmy Shane and the U-7 Formulaboats.com never got off the beach for a Did Not Start.
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Villwock wins again in San Diego
Villwock wins again in San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Dave Villwock won his second consecutive Air National Guard Championship at San Diego Bayfair on Sunday, sweeping through all of his heats and closing in on his first national championship in four years.
Villwock won for a record ninth time on Mission Bay and as a result his U-96 Spirit of Qatar boat has more wins than any other hull in the sport's history.
Villwock also became the sport's all-time winningest driver earlier this season in Detroit. He has 65 career victories.
David, Villwock win San Diego heats
David, Villwock win San Diego heats
SAN DIEGO -- Steve David and Dave Villwock look to be heading for another Sunday showdown as the duo won their respective heats Saturday at the Air National Guard Championship at San Diego Bayfair.
Villwock and U-7 Valken.com driver Scott Liddycoat ran one of the best heat races of the season.
Liddycoat had the lead for most of the three-lap race when Villwock ran him down just before the finish line and slipped past him.
Villwock top qualifier at San Diego
Villwock top qualifier at San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Dave Villwock took advantage of a second opportunity and was the fastest qualifier in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar on Friday at the Air National Guard San Diego Bayfair.
Villwock posted a head-turning 164.759 mph lap during qualifying, the fastest qualifying speed he's done on the Mission Bay course under the series' current fuel restrictions.
It looked as if rival driver Steve David -- in the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto -- would earn the fastest qualifying speed on the day, but Vilwock and his team opted for a second attempt.
HYDROS: Villwock, David win second heats in Qatar
HYDROS: Villwock, David win second heats in Qatar
Veteran drivers Dave Villwock and Steve David each won their second heat races Friday at the Oryx Cup World Championships for unlimited hydroplanes.
Villwock, whose earlier victory clinched the season championship for his team, the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, had no problem starting in lane 2 of heat 2A as he raced uncontested to the win.
Greg Hopp, starting in lane 1 in the U-100, held off Scott Liddycoat in the U-7 Valken.com and Kip Brown in the U-17 Miss Red Dot to finish second.
Hydros arrive in Qatar with new starting rules
Hydros arrive in Qatar with new starting rules
What's it like trying to race an unlimited hydroplane in the Middle East?
Steve David will tell you it's not easy.
Forget about the fact he completely flipped his U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto two years ago during the Oryx Cup World Championships in Doha, Qatar, landing right-side up, only to turn the ignition on and limp the boat back to the pits.
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