Jean Theoret managed to grab the inside lane in the U-37 Beacon Plumbing and used the position to his advantage to outduel Dave Villwock, who was driving the U-1 Miss E-Lam Plus from lane two.
Villwock led the field out of turn one, with Theoret on his inside hip. Theoret exchanged positions with Villwock in the next turn and held off hard charges by the defending champion to cross the finish line half a roostertail ahead.
At the start of the second lap, Villwocks Miss E-Lam got way out of shape, but he was able to collect the boat before it flipped, then charge back to challenge Theoret again within a lap.
Villwock ended up second, followed by J. Michael Kelly in the U-13 Graham Trucking.
Brian Perkins finished fourth in the U-50 Miss Albert Lee, narrowly edging Greg Hopp in the U-100 MirageBoats.com as they charged for the finish line.
Jimmy Shane finished sixth in the U-7 FormulaBoats.com II after losing a cowling, and teammate Jeff Bernard returned the U-5 FormulaBoats.com to the dock before the start.
The third heat has been condensed into two flights, with heat 3B coming up in just about 10 minutes. More to come from HydroTown!
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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.
HYDROS: David steers Oberto to Oryx Cup title
HYDROS: David steers Oberto to Oryx Cup title
Steve David and the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto may not have defended their national high points championship, but at least they finished the season on a winning note.
David, running from lane 3, hit the start-finish line almost perfectly and was never threatened after that in the 5-lap final of the Oryx Cup World Championship unlimited hydroplane race Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
Rookie Scott Liddycoat, driving the U-7 Valken.com, had the inside lane in the seven-boat final. But he couldn't overtake David. Liddycoat still finished second.
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.
Liddycoat declared of hydro race in Qatar
Liddycoat declared of hydro race in Qatar
Driver Scott Liddycoat completed a magical rookie season Saturday by capturing his first unlimited hydroplane victory during a controversial finish at the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship.
Liddycoat was declared the winner by officials after they reviewed film of the start and saw that drivers Steve David, Dave Villwock and J Michael Kelly had crossed the start line early. Those drivers were given a 1-minute penalty and Liddycoat got his first career victory on the H1 Unlimited tour.
“It’s not the way I would have liked to win the first one but I’ll take it,” Liddycoat said. “This year has been unreal. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.”
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.
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