The 44th version of the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup gets under way this Friday.
Judging by the lineup, Lampson Pits in Columbia Park should be full.
As of this past weekend, 11 unlimiteds are scheduled to compete, as well as 15 Unlimited Lights and two vintage hydroplanes.
The roster of unlimiteds includes the current points leader after two races, the U-16 Miss Elam Plus and driver Dave Villwock (3,377 points); defending national champion U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto and driver Steve David (3,110); and J.Michael Kelly in the U-7 Graham Trucking (2,651).
Other teams scheduled to appear (with national high points):
-- The U-5 Formulaboats.com and driver Jeff Bernard (2,568), the sister team to the U-7 and both owned by Ted Porter.
-- The U-100 Leland Unlimited and driver Greg Hopp (2,259).
-- The U-48 Miss Albert Lee and driver Brian Perkins (1,650).
-- The U-17 Our Gang Racing and driver Kip Brown (1,562).
-- The U-3 Coopers and driver Jimmy King (1,239), the only team in the field with a piston-powered engine.
-- The U-25 Superior Racing and driver Ken Muscatel (1,057).
-- The U-37 Schumacher Racing team with driver Jean Theoret (911), who should be ready to race this week after flipping the boat in Madison, Ind., on July 4. JW Myers drove for Theoret at the Detroit Gold Cup two weeks ago.
-- And the new U-22 with rookie driver Mike Webster (350).
-- Kayleigh Perkins comes into the Tri-Cities this week winning all three of the Unlimited Lights races so far this season.
Perkins was named the winner Sunday at Flathead Lake in Polson, Mont., after bad weather forced the cancellation of the final.
To that point, Perkins had compiled the most points (800) in the UL-72 Foster Care, well ahead of the Hopps, Greg and Jerry, who had 625 points in the UL-1 Graham Trucking.
-- A lack of corporate sponsorships and rising costs have forced the cancellation of the Kelowna Hydrofest, set for Aug. 8-9.
The event was set to be an exhibition for 3-4 boats, with the idea that the site would have an official race in 2010. That now appears highly unlikely.
-- Chip Hanauer, the driver with the second-most unlimited hydroplane victories with 61, will be in town this week to drive the U-787 Biofueld Boeing in an exhibition.
Hanauer will also make an appearance at Hawthorne Court Retirement Community in Kennewick at 2 p.m. Wednesday. He'll speak to residents there about his days of racing and of his mentorship of Taylor Malsam, a driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
-- Bicycle paths on both sides of the Columbia River will be partially closed Friday through Sunday. In Columbia Park, the paths are closed from the Blue Bridge to Edison Street. In Pasco, the path is closed from Road 34 to Road 60.
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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.”
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.
Hydroplane legend Hanauer to speak in Pasco today
Hydroplane legend Hanauer to speak in Pasco today
Chip Hanauer always has loved the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing.
As one of the sport's winningest drivers -- he ranks third with 61 victories, behind all-time leader Dave Villwock's 65 and the late Bill Muncey's 62 -- he has given a lot to boat racing.
"I've put more of my life into the sport than any owner who is out there now," Hanauer said.
On this date in Mid-Columbia sports history
On this date in Mid-Columbia sports history
On Dec. 2 in ...
* 2000 -- The headline screamed "Bulldogs best in show" as Pasco became the first 14-0 team in state history -- and earned its second state championship in three years -- with a 20-3 win over Bethel at Gridiron Classic VI in Tacoma. Meanwhile, Royal was crowned 1A state champion with a 49-17 victory over Tacoma Baptist.
* 1998 -- Columbia Basin center fielder Justin Williams was signed by Washington State coach Steve Farrington.
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