DOHA, Qatar -- Dave Villwock drove the U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus around the 2-mile course at Doha Bay at an average speed of 146.427 mph Thursday to claim the top qualifying position for the 2009 Oryx Cup UIM World Championship, the final stop on the newly renamed H1 Unlimited series.
The Auburn driver is chasing his 60th victory in unlimited hydroplane racing, which would put him two behind the late Bill Muncey, the all-time leader.
Standing in Villwock's way is Steve David in the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto. The defending national high points champion finished second on the qualification ladder with a speed of 145.096 mph.
Jeff Bernard in the U-5 Formulaboats.com could only manage the sixth qualification spot with a speed of 126.957.
The three leaders in the high points chase -- David, Villwock and Bernard -- will face off head-to-head in Heat 1B today.
Jean Theoret in the U-37 Peters & May Racing finished the qualification session in third place with an average speed of 137.654. J. Michael Kelly in the U-7 Graham Trucking followed in fourth, turning 135.320 mph.
Brian Perkins struggled with a lack of power in the U-48 Go Fast Turn Left, managing a best lap of 124.776, good for seventh position.
Heats 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B will be held early this morning. The final is set for 5 a.m. PST Saturday.
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Villwock wins again in San Diego
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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 arrive in Qatar with new starting rules
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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.
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: 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.
City council approves speed adjustments in Pasco
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Pasco City Council members unanimously agreed Monday to adjust the speed limit in several locations on Burden Boulevard and Sandifur Parkway.
Commercial and residential growth and the resulting traffic congestion have led to the changes, according to staff reports to council.
The speed on Burden will drop to 35 mph from 40 mph between Convention Place and Road 60, and increase by 5 mph to 40 mph between roads 44 and 36.
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