| Timing and Scoring from Detroit Gold Cup |
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Detroit APBA Gold Cup REFRESH FOR LATEST UPDATES! VILLWOCK WINS GOLD CUP! "We threw them a huge curve. We did a lot of testing and did some changes that we thought we would never do. Saturday night we waited till all the teams went home and then we bolted on something that would keep the engine alive even at no speed:" stated an elated Villwock. "While on the course I started thinking I think I can, I think I can. I hate lane one, but we lowered the gear ratio so I could run in lane one. Normally I dont like the inside, I just dont like the inside". stated the Gold Cup winner "You know this is a good boat. I abuse this thing everytime I go out but she takes it." "Winning the 100th is a once in a lifetime win. It is most special to me here." On the subject of the starts, "I think that the the way we did in Madison last weekend was the most professional. It made us competitive and it was best for the fans. Stated the U16 driver. Dave Villwock of the U16 Miss Elam has won the Detroit APBA Gold Cup. With his boat running like a scalded dog, Villwock just about walked away with the race. At the start which was under review, it was rumored that the U!6 and U100 Miss Jarvis Painting had both jumped the gun, that left the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto as the boat. However after review it was determined that all boats were clean and Villwock screamed around the course with the rest of the field in tow. Steve David in the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto was holding Villwock tight to the bouys as he pressured him all the way around the course before the Miss Elam Plus pulled away. The battle for third ended up being between the U5 and U7 as both drivers were back and forth all through the race. In the end it was Jeff Bernard over J Michael Kelly at the line. The U100 was fifth. Exciting racing this weekend as the weather cooperated and the fans loved the competition. This was Dave Villwocks 58th win along with his 7th Gold Cup. Gold Cup Final Field U1 Oh Boy! Oberto 1600 U16 Miss Elam Plus 1177 U100 Jarvis Painting 1050 U7 Graham Trucking 1027 U5 Formulaboats.com 1019 U37* Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC 821 * Trailer Boat Heat 4A All Dave Villwock needed to do was to finish the race. And that he did, just not the way he might have wanted to. At the start of the heat lap one coming through the rooster-tail turn he could not hold his lane and slid out into the lane that Jeff Bernard was in this cause Bernard to move out on team mate J Michael Kelly. That cost Dave Villwock one lap and 150 points. Hopp held lane one hugging the bouy not letting up on the U5 formulaboats.com A great duel between Kelly in the U7 and Hopp in the U100 ensued the rest of the race. 4B was not much of a show as two of the five boats did not answer the call. The U3 went out and ran a lap and came back into the docks. Motor problems have plagued the team the entire weekend. The U25 Jarvis Disaster Recovery driven by Ken Muscatel also did not start. The final order of finish was the U1, U37 and the U48.
Heat 4A Draw Heat 4B Draw U17 U1 U100 U37 U7 U25 U5 U48 U16 U3
Heat 3A was a carbon copy of heat 2A as the same boats were drawn into the same heat. Dave Villwock and J Michael Kelly, Jeff Bernard, Brian Perkins and Ken Muscatel's numbers were pulled out of the hat by a small girl from under the pit tower. " That child should pick the lotto numbers an ABRA Official was over heard saying.
Just heard that the U48 Whirlpool presents MIss Albert Lee had a cracked strut. They took the boat out of the pit area and pulled it behind the pit tower here and had it rewelded. Chrysler Jeep Superstores Gold Cup points through Heats 2A and 2B HEAT 2A
Dave Villwock staved off an early challenge from J. Michael Kelly in the first lap of Heat 2A to cruise to his fifth heat victory and remain perfect in heat victories in the 2009 season.
Although Villwock’s latest heat win Sunday at the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Gold Cup would appear on paper as an easy win, it was anything but that early on. That is because Kelly, piloting the U-7 Graham Trucking boat took advantage of the old lane rules where drivers fight for position up to the start and snuck in to grab the first lane.
That tactic left Villwock in lane two as the heat began.
As the boats entered turn one, Kelly took advantage of his position and edged out an early lead. The Seattle, Wash., driver managed to hold that through the first lap with the hard charging Villwock stuck in second place.
But as the boats exited the first turn, the bright orange boat edged out a lead. That move was all Villwock needed to claim yet another heat victory and continue his quest for perfection in the 2009 season.
Possibly happy with the easy 300 points, Kelly backed off and finished second. Fellow teammate Jeff Bernard (Kent, Wash.) in the U-5 Formulaboats.com finished third. Finishing fourth was Brian Perkins (Black Diamond Wash.) in the U-48 Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee. Rounding out the field was Dr.. Ken Muscatel (Seattle, Wash.) in the U-25 Jarvis Disaster Recovery boat.
HEAT 2B
At the start of elimination Heat 2B, Steve David didn’t have much going for him.
David, driver of the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto was early going through rooster-tail turn on his way to the start finish line. Because of his position, David had to back down so not to jump the gun.
That allowed the fleet of boats to scream past the red and green boat and fly towards the start. Although David appeared to be trailing at the start, two boats, the U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep driven by Jimmy King and the U-37 Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC driven by J W Myers jumped the gun and were assessed a one lap penalty.
Thanks to David’s decision to resist temptation and keep the throttle down at the start, the defending champion cruised to his second victory this weekend on the Detroit River.
David, winner of Heat 1A and Heat 2B joins Villwock as remaining perfect in heat racing at the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Gold Cup in Detroit, Mich. Finishing second thanks to the one lap penalty assessed to King and Myers was Greg Hopp in the U-100 Miss Jarvis Painting. Kip Brown in the U-17 Our Gang Racing placed third leaving King in fourth and Myers in fifth.
HEAT 2A Dave Villwock Auburn, Wash. U-16 Miss Elam Plus 151.975 J. Michael Kelly Seattle, Wash. U-7 Graham Trucking 146.22 Jeff Bernard Kent, Wash. U-5 Formulaboats.com 142.448 Brian Perkins Black Diamond, Wash. U-48 Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee 136.172 Dr. Ken Muscatel Seattle, Wash. U-25 Jarvis Disaster Recovery 124.122
HEAT 2B Steve David Lighthouse Pt., Fla. U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto 145.728 Gregg Hopp Snohomish, Wash. U-100 Jarvis Painting 138.785 Kip Brown Maple Valley, Wash. U-17 Our Gang Racing 124.134 *Jimmy King Wales, Mich. U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep 132.815 *J W Myers Maple Grove, Wash. U-37 Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC 131.351
*Assessed a one lap penalty for jumping the gun Heat 3A - 1:05pm U5 Jeff Bernard - formulaboats.com U7 J Michael Kelly - Graham Trucking U16 Dave Villwock - Miss Elam Plus U25 Ken Muscatel - Jarvis Disaster Recovery U48 Brian Perkins - Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee
Heat 3B 1:25pm U1 Steve David - Oh Boy! Oberto U3 Jimmy King - MIss Chrysler Jeep Superstores U17 Kip Brown - Our Gang Racing U37 J.W. Myers - Glacial Enegry Presents Miss DYC U100 Greg Hopp - Miss Jarvis Painting
Sunday July 12, 2009 - Detroit Michigan. Heat 2A saw the biggest competition for Dave Villwock in the U16 Miss Elam Plus with the duo of Ted Porters boats the U5 and U7. At the start, which was clean, all the boats were on time and had a very good start. Ken Muscatel was running a little behind the rest of the boats as he was close to not being in the heat. His team completed an engine change in record time. JMK pushed Villwock all the way around the course as he would not let up. The third lap the J Mike had to slide out a little as the lane was small but legal in the tight Roostertail turn. At the finish it was a two rooster-tail lead for Villwock. Kelly was second followed by team mate Jeff Benard in the U5. Brian Perkins in the U48 Miss Albert Lee was fourth and Ken Muscatel in Jarvis Disastor Recovery finished out the field. Heat 2A - 10:45am U5 Jeff Bernard - formulaboats.com U7 J Michael Kelly - Graham Trucking U16 Dave Villwock - Miss Elam Plus U25 Ken Muscatel - Jarvis Disaster Recovery U48 Brian Perkins - Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee Heat 2B The close call for a family of ducks caused a little excitement in the start of the heat. As the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto came out of the docks, he barely missed them then Jimmy King in the U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep Superstore missed them then J Dub in the U37 just barely missed them. The start was under review for most of the heat as there was a possible gun jump. It was decided that King and J Dub both jumped the gun and had to run an extra lap. The order of finish was , the U1, U100 running extremely strong, U17,U3 and the U37. U1 Steve David - Oh Boy! Oberto U3 Jimmy King - MIss Chrysler Jeep Superstores U17 Kip Brown - Our Gang Racing U37 J.W. Myers - Glacial Enegry Presents Miss DYC U100 Greg Hopp - Miss Jarvis Painting
The U16 is the first boat on the water as the testing session for this morning begins. Dave Villwock, driver, is taking a few laps around the course to test his setup for racing later this morning. Heat 2A, which was delayed yesterday until today due to windy conditions, is slated to be ran at 10:45am. 2B will be ran at 11:05am. Heat 3A will be ran at 1:05pm 3B at 1:25pm. Heat 4A and 4B will be ran at 2:45pm and 3:05pm, with the Final at 4:30pm. Dave Villwock just ran a lap at 163.609mph in testing. Weather and course conditions have forced postponement of heats 2-A and 2-B until Sunday morning. Check back for further updates. Just spoke with Scott Raney from the U37 team and he wanted to pass along his and the teams thanks to the folks of Madison, Indiana for their hospitality and help during what was a very difficult time last weekend. Not just Bob Hughes Clifty Engineering, the entire town opened their hearts up to the team. Weather is playing a factor here this afternoon, and we are under a hold do to the wind which has picked up a little. Will have more information as soon as I find out! Information on the U3 Miss Chrysler Jeeps damage in his first set of Gold Cup heats. Go3 HEAT DRAWS! Heat 2A - 4:05pm U48 U25 U5 U16 U7 Heat 2B - 4:25pm U1 U37 U17 U3 U100
JUST IN! The U22 has opted to sit out the rest of the day. It would seem that driver Mike Webster hurt his fingers on the canopy in the last heat. They have decided to look at it tomorrow. Heat 1B - 12:10pm U25 - Superior Racing U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep U16 - Miss Elam Plus U100 - Leland Unlimited. Trailer - U37 - Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC
The fastest qualifyer U16 Miss Elam Plus was in this heat and had his biggest competition from the U3, Miss Chrysler Jeep, Dave had all he could handle from the hard charging Jimmy King who kept up the pressure Then in lap 3 King went dead as the boat suddenly went dead in the water. Greg Hopp had a scare as his U100 went dead in the water in lap 1 as he was heading up the back stretch. Hopp got it restarted and held off a run by the U37 who was penalized for dislodging a bouy on lap 3. The final order of finish was the U16, U25, U100 U37 the U3 DNF. Heat 1A - 11:50am U17 - Our Gang racing U7 - Graham Trucking U48 Whirlpool presents Miss Albert Lee U5 - Formulaboats.com U1 - Oh Boy! Oberto U22 - Trailer Defending champ U1 Oh Boy! Oberto did not pull the U16 Miss Elam Plus for the first time this year in a heat. Driver Steve David commented, "Hey bring them on. They make us run better cause they are the fastest." However David was not going to have it any easier as he was paried with both Ted Porter entries U5 and U7 driven by Jeff Bernard and J MIchael Kelly respectivly and the U48 driven by young gun Brian Perkins. Kip Brown, in an awesome new boat and hard charging. Rounding out the heat an impressive new driver in a new boat for the first time this year in competition, Mike Webster in the U22. This 2.5 mile course is the Yankee Stadium of boat racing. The late Bill Muncey used to say you do not beat the Detroit River, you survive the Detroit River. Weather conditions have improved drastically over the past hour. The sun is out and the water is very well laid down, even for Detroit. The U48 Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee is the first boat to be lifted into the water as Brian Perkins readies himself to be fitted into the cockpit of that boat. Kip Browns boat the U17 Our Gang Racing is now on the water also. U1 Oh Boy! Oberto, driven by defending champ Steve David is being belted in. Both U5 and U7 both are sitting in the water as well. At the start of the heat it was the U7 formulaboats.com in lane one with the Oberto lane 2. Lane three went to the U7 Graham Trucking and lane four to U48 Miss Albert Lee. Going down the back stretch it was the U1 and U5 followed close by the U7, entering the turn the U1 left just enough room for a lane according to the ABRA officials and the U5 slid out running through the roostertail of the U1. That caused Bernard to loose precious speed and his team mate passed him as he struggled to keep the fire lit. After that is was easy going for the defending champ U1 Oh Boy! Oberto. the final finish was the U1, U5, U7, U17, U48 and the U22.
His name is Lt. Col. Greg Gadson and he used to wear No. 98 for the Army football team and was with the Second Battalion and 32nd Field Artillery, on his way back from a memorial service for two soldiers from his brigade when he lost both his legs to a roadside bomb in Bahgdad. It was the night of May 7, 2007, and Lt. Col. Gadson didn't know it at the time because he couldn't possibly have known, but it was the beginning of a journey that brought him to Lambeau Field Sunday night. He was there as an honorary co-captain of the Giants, there on the sideline at Lambeau because this Giants' season has become his season now and he wasn't going to watch from some box. This is a Giant at the Super Bowl worth knowing about, as much as any of them. "Me being a part of this team," Gadson was saying Monday night from his home in Virginia, having made it back there from Green Bay, "really starts with the team I played on at West Point." He played at West Point between 1985 and 1988, and one of his teammates was Mike Sullivan, who played cornerback and some safety and is now one of Tom Coughlin's assistants with the Giants. When Sullivan and so many other of Gadson's teammates found out what had happened on the night of May 7, found that Gadson had first lost his left leg to arterial infections and then his right, it brought that old Army team back together. "My injury turned out to be a catalyst event," Gadson said. "These were guys who hadn't talked in years, but now were rallying around me, and my family. Some of us had stayed in contact, but not to any great degree. But now an incident in a war reminded us that we were still brothers." Sullivan visited Gadson at Walter Reed, came back in June, this time with a No. 98 Giants jersey, Gadson's own name on the back, signed by several Giants players. When Sullivan left that day in June, he said to Gadson, "What else can we do?" Greg Gadson said he'd love to take his family to a Giants game. It was the Giants-Redskins game, in Washington, third Sunday of the season, Giants 0-2 by then. The tickets were arranged and then the Friday before the game Mike Sullivan called and asked if Gadson would be interested in addressing the team on Saturday night. Gadson's wife Kim drove him to the Giants' hotel. Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, Second Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, old outside linebacker from Army, spoke to the Giants. And just as no one knew that the Giants would begin a 10-game road winning streak the next day, just as no one knew this could ever become a Super Bowl season, no one in that room including Gadson himself knew that the soldier in the wheelchair was joining the season that night. "I just spoke from the heart, as a soldier and as a former football player," he said, "for about 10 or 15 minutes. I talked to them about appreciating the opportunities in their lives, how special and privileged they were, how everybody needs to understand what they truly have. And I talked to them about the power of sports in people's lives, especially soldiers' lives, how many times I'd watched soldiers get up in the middle of the night after a 12-hour shift if there is a chance to watch a game, or how soldiers would do anything to watch a game before they went on that kind of shift. "I told them that of course after all the exteriors had been stripped away, they played the game for themselves. But that they had to play the game for each other. Then I talked about myself, how my old teammates came to my need, and how I was reminded again the power of a team, the emotional commitment teammates have for each other, that when a team finds a way to do things greater than they thought they could do, that they couldn't have done individually, that a bond is formed that can live forever. "I told them that truly great teams usually form that bond by going through something together, and how whatever they were going through at that point in the season that no success ever came easy. And finally I reminded them that nothing is promised to anybody in this life, starting with tomorrow." The Giants won the next day against the Redskins, and began a six-game winning streak, and began that road winning streak that now takes them on the road to Super Bowl XLII. It began Greg Gadson's road to Lambeau, and being wheeled out by his 13-year old son Jaelen as an honorary co-captain of the Giants along with the great Harry Carson. "I can't even remember the last time I was actually out on the field," he said. "Maybe when I played." Gadson had been on the sidelines when the Giants won their first playoff game against the Bucs. The team wanted him in Dallas, but he was having more surgery, on what is left of his right leg, and his right arm, which had also been damaged by the IED. But he was well enough to travel to Green Bay, and strong enough to spend the whole game on the sideline with his son, the players calling him what they have all along: Sir. "I wouldn't say I was warm," he said. "But I was comfortable enough not to be hugging one of those heaters all day." He watched from the sidelines at Lambeau as the team he met at 0-2 played the way it played against the Packers and played itself to the Super Bowl, watched as the Giants came back from that missed field goal at the end of regulation, finally saw Lawrence Tynes kick it through from 47 yards out. "When the ball went through, you could feel the elation on our sidelines, and hear the stadium go quiet at the same time," Gadson said. "It was like the air being let out of a whole state's soul. And then the next thing I saw was my son jumping in the air and running on that field." The boy ran for both of them. Lt. Col. Greg Gadson will be assisting in the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.
Draw for heats! 1A -11:50am U17 - Our Gang racing U7 - Graham Trucking U48 Whirlpool presents Miss Albert Lee U5 - Formulaboats.com U1 - Oh Boy! Oberto U22 - Trailer 1B - 12:10pm U25 - Superior Racing U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep U16 - Miss Elam Plus U100 - Leland Unlimited. Trailer - U37 - Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC
Saturday Testing and Qualifying. 8:00am *NEW* Qualifying Times as of Saturday July 11, 2009 U16 - Miss Elam Plus 159.051 U1 - Oh Boy! Oberto 157.379 U5 - formulaboats.com 154.857 U7 - Graham Trucking 152.771 U17 - Our Gang Racing 149.763 U37 - Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC 149.349 U100 - Leland Racing 148.424 U48 - Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee 143.851 U25 - Superior Racing 139.380 U22 - Matrix System Automotive 138.060 U3 - Miss Chrysler Jeep 152.780 Detroit, Mich, July 10, 2009--In a battle between the two veterans in the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing, Dave Villwock in the U-16 Miss Elam Plus out paced Steve David in the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto. Villwock edged out David who led the evening qualifying for the 100th running of the APBA Gold Cup on Friday in the last minute of qualifying when he posted a speed of 158.098 mph knocking David out by .719 mph. "That is a blink of an eye, close but no cigar," David said after he learned Villwock was top qualifier. "I still can't believe it," David said. The two had been battling all day for top position. "We are not going to chase their tail," David said. Villwock who came over to apologize said, "We really didn't think they were going to count it, we just wanted to go test the boat." Heat racing begins Saturday with the winner-take-all final on Sunday. Qualifying: (1) U-16 Miss Elam Plus, Dave Villwock 158.098 (2) U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, Steve David 157.379 (3) U-5 Formulaboats.com, Jeff Bernard 154.022 (4) U-7 Graham Trucking, J. Michael Kelly 151.992 (5) U-17 Our Gang Racing, Kip Brown 149.763 (6) U-37 Miss DYC, J.W. Myers 149.349 (7) U-100 Leland Unlimited, Greg Hopp 148.424 (8) U-48 Miss Albert Lee, Brian Perkins 143.851 (9) U-25 Superior Racing, Ken Muscatel 139.380 (10) U-22 Matrix System Automotive, 138.060 Second Qualifying Ladder * Averages are not Official* ( Two Lap average ) U1 - Steve David, Oh Boy! Oberto First Lap - 157.529 Second Lap - 146.980 Average - 157.255 U37 - J. W. Myers, Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC First Lap - 148.915 Second Lap - 149.660 Third Lap - 149.038 Average - 149.349 U5 - Jeff Bernard, formulaboats.com First Lap - 153.337 Second Lap - 154.658 Third Lap - 153.389 Average -154.022 U16 Dave Villwock, Miss Elam Plus First Lap - 158.556 Second Lap - 157.640 Average - 158.098 Qualifying First Flight Speeds * Averages are averages of two laps not Official averages* U37 - J.W. Myers, Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC First Lap - Did not run prop let go after warm up lap. U17 - Kip Brown, Our Gang Racing Third Lap - 152.245 Average - 149.763 U48 - Brian Perkins, Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee First Lap - 142.470 Second Lap - 144.161 Third Lap - 143.850 Average -143.390 U100 - Greg Hopp, Leland Racing First Lap - 148.841 Second Lap - 148.006 Third Lap - 110.352 Average -148.423 U1 - Steve David, Oh Boy! Oberto First Lap - 155.402 Second Lap - 157.172 Third Lap - 157.585 Average -157.380 U5 - Jeff Bernard, formulaboats.com First Lap - 150.562 Second Lap - 151.834 Third Lap - 148.399 Average - 151.195 U7 - J Michael Kelly, Graham Trucking First Lap - 149.907 Second Lap - 151.222 Third Lap - 152.762 Average -151.992 U16 - Dave Villwock, Miss Elam Plus First Lap - 158.027 Second Lap - 155.863 Third Lap - 157.279 Average - 157.653
Qualifying Ladder U37 Glacial Energy Presents Miss DYC U22 Matrix System Automotive U25 Jarvis Disaster Recovery U17 Our Gang Racing U48 Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep Superstores U100 Leland Racing U1 Oh Boy! Oberto U5 formulaboats.com U7 Miss Graham Trucking U16 Miss Elam Plus The ladder was constructed by tallying the National Points each boat has in reverse order. SPECIAL NEWS! Fred Alter became the oldest driver in Unlimited Racing History. At the age of 83, took several laps in the Miss Vernors here on the Detroit River. Fred now can sit back and wait until Steve David reaches that milestone. 4:15pm - Jeff Bernard on the race course now. Bernard running several laps at the timing clock as have several of the drivers. Mike Webster is being strapped into the cockpit as he needs just four more laps to qualify. His lap speeds were, 1 - 135.183mph, 2 - 135.982, 3 - 137.964 and his fourth and final lap 138.155mph! Mike Webster is qualified to run for the Gold Cup! 3:45pm - Two boats are on the water right now, the U17 Our Gang racing driven by Kip Brown and the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto. Brown turned several laps in the 140mph range as Steve David evidently was testing a set up as he was running hard then slowing down as he went around the course. U48 Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee driven by Brian Perkins is now on the water. Brian is no stranger to the sport as he crewed on the U8 team for several years before stepping up to doing driving duties. The boat ride from my point of view is riding very smooth. First lap 134.396mph His second lap looking to be abit faster turned in at 141.418mph. Third lap 141.527mph. The U37 Glacier Energy Presents Miss DYC has a different driver this weekend. As reported JW Myers is doing driving duties as Jean Theoret is resting after the accident in Madison. He has requested that all of his laps be counted for his re-qualifying as a driver. He must run 10 laps at 130.000 mph and above. This boat went through a repair and the ride looks good. His first lap speed was 135.043mph. Coming up the Belle Isle side of the course his boat ride is very nice. Second lap 147.933mph. Third lap speed 148.057mph. Screaming down the front stretch he is getting very good response from this hull. Fourth lap speed is 150.310mph. Picking it up and laying it down his fifth lap 150.789 his final speed was 150.763mph. Dave Villwock again on the course as he takes the U16 Miss Elam Plus out once again. No doubt testing set-ups preparing for the qualifying session later today. Dave is the defending champion of this race as it was cancelled last year due to the windy conditions that prevailed on Sunday. 3:00pm - Action once again takes to the water as the U22 Webster Racing team sponsored by Matrix System Automotive and driven my Mike Webster took several laps on the water as he attempts to qualify for racing this weekend. His lap speeds were around the 132.140 to 136.373mph range.The entire team was cheering him on from the dock. Greg Hopp took two laps on the clock as he ran his first lap at 144.648mph. His second was 148.057mph. Boat ride is very smooth. U25 Superior Racing owned and driven by Dr. Ken Muscatel took his turn on the river speeds of 122.976mph to 139.877mph and 138.882mph.
2:15pm - Detroit, Michigan AMERICAN BOAT RACING ASSOCIATION July 10, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Starting Procedure Changed for Gold Cup The unlimited hydroplane owners of the American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) met this morning (Friday, July 10) to discuss and then change the starting procedure for this weekend’s 100th running of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup. The ABRA implemented a lane selection starting process last week during the Madison Regatta based on qualifying speed and elimination heat points. But the majority of the owners and drivers did not want to use that starting procedure for the most prestigious trophy in powerboat racing. “The owners elected to do this for the Gold Cup instead of lane assignments,” said chief referee Mike Noonan. “The majority wanted something similar to the previous method of starting (where drivers mill on the course and fight for lanes) to put the Gold Cup championship back in the hands of the drivers.” The starting procedure for this year’s Gold Cup: -Teams will draw for elimination heats with the teams acquiring the most points during the preliminary four-lap heats making it into the winner-take-all championship final; -All drivers will fight for lanes prior to the race (no lane assignments); -There will be no off-plane rule (boats will be allowed to go at slower speeds); -All boats must score up at the turn one exit pin buoy one-minute from the start (buoy is located on the southwest side of the course near the Detroit Boat Club); -All lanes must be established at that time and maintained until passing the start/finish line; -All boats proceed to and hit the starting line after the timing clock hits zero. Elimination heats for the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Detroit Gold Cup begin Saturday at 11:50 am with more eliminations heat Sunday and 4:20 pm final.
Testing session! 1:00pm First boat on the water art the 100th running of the Detroit APBA Gold Cup was the defending champion U1 Oh Boy! Oberto driven by Steve David. The three laps on the water looked flawless as he negotiated the 2.5 mile course. His first lap speed was 156mph as the boat ride looked very well. Second lap was a touch faster at 157mph third lap was a little slower as he clocked in at 155mph. Next on the water was the defending champ of the 99th Gold Cup from two years ago. Dave Villwock driving Miss Elam Plus. His first lap was 156.513mph. then he lifted the gauntlet to 158.503. and His third lap was even faster as he clocked it 159.599mph. After running his third lap he went down in the lower turn near the Belle Isle Bridge. Gaining power once again he came back into the dock. The Ted Porter Family Owned U5 formulaboats.com driven by Jeff Bernard was the next boat on the water. Jeff clocked three laps on the course lap one was 152.684mph. Second 155.151 and his third lap was 154.522mph. Brian Perkins was the fourth boat on the water in the O'Farrell owned team Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee. The Yellow and green craft is making its first full circuit this year and Brian ran lap one at 136.601mph. They were having troubles in the engine compartment in Madison last weekend. Second lap was 139.398mph and the third lap of 141.573mph J Michael Kelly, former driver for the U13 Spirit of Detroit, is in the Ted Porter families second entry here this weekend. Water conditions are a little choppy as he took his first lap at 151.627mph, second lap was 153.914mph and his third lap was 151.627mph. More to come as action heats up! 12:50pm - Dave Villwock is anticipating the opening of the Detroit River course as he is being strapped into the cockpit of the U16 Miss Elam Plus hydroplane. The Water is very calm as is not usual for this course. We are about 10 minutes away from the opening of the race course for testing. Once again there is to be action on the river in about 35 minutes as the Unlimited Testing Session is slated to begin at about 1pm EDT. Several of the teams are anxious to get into the water as the Elam has the slings on the craft. Also, the Oh Boy! Oberto is also getting itself ready. The U37 team is in the pits repaired from last weekends accident in Madison. The Miss Chrysler Jeep left the Posey County shop at 9:00 Friday morning enroute to the 100th running of the APBA Gold Cup. Arrival in the Detroit pits is late afternoon. Stay with http://go3racing.com all weekend for complete coverage of the Miss Chrysler Jeep with driver Jimmy King going for his first Gold Cup win.Miss Elam driven by Dave Villwock is now onm the slings ready to go out on the Detroit River for testing slated be begin at 1pm. Friday 11:00am Friday Schedule Good morning from Detroit, MI. The 100th running of the APBA Gold Cup. Eleven teams are present for this annual event held on the Detroit river. U1 - Oh Boy! Oberto - Owner City of Madison, IN, Driver Steve David U3 - Miss Chrysler Jeep - Owner Ed Cooper Jr, Driver Jimmy King U5 - formulaboats.com - Owner Ted Porter family, Driver Jeff Bernard U7 - Graham Trucking - Owner Ted Porter family, Driver J Michael Kelly U16 - Miss Elam Plus - Owner Sven Ellstrom, Driver Dave Villwock U17 - Our Gang Racing - Owner Nate Brown, Driver Kip Brown U22 - Matrix System Automotive - Owner Webster Family, Driver Mike Webster U25 Superior Racing - Owner/Driver Ken Muscatel U37 Glacier Energy Presents Miss DYC - Owner Jane and Milly Shumacher, Driver J.W. Meyers U48 - Whirlpool Presents Miss Albert Lee - Owner Greg and Brian O'Farrell U100 - Leland Racing, Owner Fred Leland, Driver Gregg Hopp
Total ABRA National High Points Following Madison Race (Includes Qualifying)
*Unqualified Driver - points scored do not count
Monday July 6, 2009 Just uploaded a few more videos on Youtube and now we are on Facebook . Sunday July 5, 2009 Villwock Wins In MadisonMADISON, Ind. --- Dave Villwock (Seattle, Wash.) continued his winning ways by notching his 57th career victory by winning the 59th annual running of the Madison Regatta Indiana Governor’s Cup Sunday.. Villwock (Auburn, Wash.), piloting the U-16 Miss Elam Plus notched a perfect weekend by posting the top qualifying speed and winning every elimination heat to set up for his championship run. This was his eighth Indiana Governor’s Cup win on this Ohio River course—the most of any unlimited driver. “An old pr man once told me this was a grand slam,” said a jubilant Villwock. “We won the fastest qualifying, we won every elimination heat and we won the race championship.” With competition from Jeff Bernard (Kent, Wash.) in the U-5 Formulaboats.com to Villwocks left and the U-7 Graham Trucking boat of Jay Michael Kelly (Payallup, Wash.) on the right, it looked like Villwock would have a battle on his hands. But after a tight first lap, the fluorescent orange boat pulled away to clinch the victory. Although Villwock’s victory was almost never in doubt, a battle was ensuing for the right for a podium finish. Behind Villwock was Kelly who usurped his teammate and last year’s Madison winner Bernard for second place. But finishing third was hometown Madison boat the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto driven by Steve David (Lighthouse Point, Fla.). He placed third. David, who was running in fourth throughout the race, caught a break when the U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep sustained engine problems just feet from the finish line. With the U-3, driven by Jimmy King (Wales, Mich.) dead in the water, the U-1 managed to speed by to come in third. Rounding out the field was the Bernard in the U-5 and Greg Hopp (Snohomish, Wash.) driving the U-100 Shoreline Propellers. King who was just feet away from third place was unable to finish the race. Now with another Indiana Governor’s Cup in hand, Villwock hopes to carry the momentum to next week’s 100th running of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup in Detroit. Results of the Indiana Governor’s Cup Place Boat Driver Final Heat Avg. 1st U-16 Miss Elam Plus Dave Villwock (Auburn, Wash.) 138.054 2nd U-7 Graham Trucking Jay Michael Kelly (Payallup, Wash.) 136.515 3rd U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David (Lighthouse Point, Fla.) 130.713 4th U-5 Formulaboats.com Jeff Bernard (Kent, Wash.) 121.434 5th U-100 Shoreline Propellers Greg Hopp (Snohomish, Wash.) 118.424 6th U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep Jimmy King (Wales, Mich.) DNF *A little excitement as they were moving the U16 Elam Plus forward on the boat, the strap broke allowing the boat to drop hard onto the trailer.*
Points (Unofficial) U16 Elam Plus 1600 U7 Graham Trucking 1325 U5 formulaboats.com 1194 U100 mirageboats.com 1052 U1 Oh Boy! Oberto 1050 U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep 1000 The Indiana Governors Cup - Madison Indiana, July 5, 2009 With the distinction of being the first race on the 2009 ABRA racing schedule, the Madison Regatta has proved to be a fan favorite. The crowds are very respectable. The weather tollerable. The racing action on the water incredible! This has turned out to be one of the better races that I have seen here for many years. The competition has been fantastic, with the exception of the U37 accident this has been a quite race with little issues. The 10 minute gun has sounded. The five minute has sounded. The U1 Oh Boy! Oberto is the first boat on the water as they take to the river for the running of the final heat. Four boats on the front line with two trailers this will prove to be one great race! The wind is calm as the boats take to the water. Cat and mouse games have begun as they hit the one minute period. Good start. U5 leads them off the start as they enter the lower turn U16 leads out of the corner with Bernard in second. Side Lap one U16 leads with the U5 and U7 deck to deck for second. In lap one the U5 has gone down that allows the U3 to jump into third place as JMK is second. Elam showing the rest of the fleet the way around the course with his superior boat. Bernard gets the boat back and running. Bernard has restarted and is now giving a charge to the Oberto. Elam has stretched out his lead by two roostertails. Lap three the Elam first U7 second, U3 third U1 fourth and U5 fifth. with the end of the fourth lap it was Dave Villwock in first place as he easily cruises over JMK. King remains in third and David is in fourth place. Jeff Bernard has once again slowed as he crosses the start finish line. The battle is actually for second as JMK and Jimmy King both are deck to deck. The 2009 Madison Regatta winner is Dave Villwock. Second goes to J Michael Kelly, however Jimmy King with only about 1000 feet to the finish goes dead allowing the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto to move up into third place. Fourth goes to U5 formulaboats.com., Fifth to the U100 Shoreline Propellers and U3 Chrysler Jeep DNF. Average Speeds! U16 - 138.054 U7 - 136.515 U1 - 130.713 U5 - 121.486 U100 - 118.434 U3 - DNF
4:20pm is the time set for the winner take all final. The boats that will be competing and their points are: Front row U16 Miss Elam Plus - 1200 U7 Graham Trucking - 1025 U5 formulaboats.com - 1025 U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep - 1000 Trailer Boats U100 - Shoreline Propellers - 925 U1 Oh Boy! Oberto - 825 Heat 3C - 3:20pm 3C - 3:20pm U16 Miss Elam Lane 2 - 146.759mph average U1 Oh Boy! Oberto Lane 3- 145.280mph average U25 Superior Racing Lane 4 - 126.530mph average Once again the two top boats drew each other as Steve David has to win this heat to even be in the field for the final. Just made aware that the U17 Our Gang Racing has withdrawn due to mechanical problems. Oberto and Elam side by side as they score up for the one minute period. All the boats are early as they go under the Madison\Milton bridge. Oberto leads them across the line. Villwock leads David down the back as Muscatel is a distant third. Elam flying high as he takes lap one. heading down the back chute, David Villwock leads about 10 boat lengths over the hard charging Steve David. With about 5 seconds behind now David still pressuring Villwock even though there is no way now that he can catch him unless the Elam has mechanical issues. Elam takes the win as Oberto take second. Superior racing third.
3:00pm Heat 3B once again saw the Ted Porter boats dueling it out. J Michael Kelly and Jeff Bernard both have drawn each other several times this weekend as they fight for the front row in the winner take all final. Also joining them is the U48 Albert Lee driven by Brian Perkins. A three boat heat all the boats answered the call. All three boats were on time for the one minute gun. All three boats were clean at the start. Bernard came out of the turn with a one roostertail lead over JMK as Perkins was third. Side by sie off the corner JMK takes the lead on lap one. Bernard second Perkins third. In the lower turn Bernard takes the lead once again with JMK close to his side. Bernard leads them down the front as he crosses the line for the white lap. Kelly slamming it hard into the turn regains the lead. However on the back stretch it was Bernard taking the lead suddenly he slows as he goes down in the turn. JMK wins the race in the Graham Trucking. Brian Perkins takes second.
3B - 3:00pm U5 formulaboats.com Lane 2 - 111.686mph average U7 Graham Trucking Lane 3 - 136.976mph average U48 Miss Albert Lee Lane 4 - 128.846mph average
Jay Michael Kelly capitalized on his teammate’s mistake and cruised to an easy victory in elimination heat 3B Sunday in Madison. Kelly, driving the U-7 Graham Trucking was dueling with Jeff Bernard in the U-5 Formulaboats.com well into the final race. With both teammates dueling deck to deck, the race looked to be a virtual photo finish. That was until Bernard hit a roller in the apex of turn two leaving his boat dead in the water. That luck propelled Kelly to cruise easily to an easy win. Coming in second was Brian Perkins in the U-48 Miss Albert Lee with Bernard and the red formula boat finishing far behind the field for third place.
Using the new rules where drivers select their lanes before the heat to his advantage, King chose lane one and piloted the piston-powered boat to an easy first place victory.
All King had to do was hold off the hard charging Greg Hopp in the U-100 Shoreline Propellers to notch the first victory this weekend for King.
Hopp came in second while Kip Brown in the U-17 Miss Activ Water finished third. King now has two second place finishes and a first place win to his repertoire this weekend to seal a spot in the front row in the Indiana Governor’s Cup later today in Madison.
2:40pm - Heat 3A U3 Chrysler Jeep Lane 1 Jimmy King - 141.550 average U100 Shoreline Propellers Lane 2 Greg Hopp - 139.298 average U17 Miss Active Water Lane 3 - Kip Brown - 131.652 average U22 Miss Bello's presents ServPro Trailer The U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep driven by Jimmy King will have a new set of competitors to run against. Greg Hopp, Kip Brown and Mike Webster were in this heat. King was the first boat on the water as three boats answered the call. The only piston powered boat on the ABRA circuit, owned by Ed Cooper Jr from Posey County Indiana, has ran flawlessly here this weekend. Greg Hopp driving for Fred Leland in the U100 has been running very consistent. Hopp from the Seattle area, is a veteran of the sport. Newcomers Kip Brown and Mike Webster are doing a great job. At the start of the heat it was unfortunately the U22 was a DNS for this heat. The one minute gun sounded and all three boats were on the mark as they came down to the start. King in lane one was just a shade behind Hopp as he led them across the line. King takes them through the turn and came out in first place. All three boats were even as they raced down the backstretch. King leading them as they crossed the line for the first lap. Hopp about one roostertail behind. Piston powered U3 stretching out his lead as they came down the back stretch, firing it into the upper turn it was King leading them across the line for the lead on the second Lap. King, burning up the KY side lengthening the lead and entering the turn opens it up a full rooster tail lead as he crosses the finish line first followed by Greg Hopp and Kip Brown third. The U1 defending champion Oh Boy! Oberto is in a must win situation! Steve David has not won a heat here this weekend and now his entry into the Indiana Governors Cup is in jeapordy. David has to win the next heat against his arch competitor U16 Miss Elam Plus. Therefore if he does not win there is a chance he will be sitting on the beach watching the final. Heats 3 ABC draw. 3A - 2:40pm U3 Chrysler Jeep Lane 1 U100 Shoreline Propellers Lane 2 U17 Miss Active Water Lane 3 U22 Miss Bello's presents ServPro Trailer 3B - 3:00pm U5 formulaboats.com Lane 2 U7 Graham Trucking Lane 3 U48 Miss Albert Lee Lane 4
3C - 3:20pm U16 Miss Elam Lane 2 U1 Oh Boy! Oberto Lane 3 U25 Superior Racing Lane 4
Heat 2C 2C 1:40pm EDT 2 U1 Oh Boy! Oberto 147.651 average 3 U16 Miss Elam Plus 149.286 average 4 U17 Miss Activ Water 129.584 average
The two HOT DOGS were in this heat. Steve Davis and Dave Villwock along with Kip Brown all took it to the water in this heat. David, ABRA 20078 National Champion and Villwock the third winningest driver in the sport have been at each other all weekend long in a cat and mouse game. Villwock the fastest qualifier and David the champ both wanting to win this race. Steve David was the first boat out on the Ohio River course. Dave Villwock taking Eric Ellstroms U16 Miss Elam Plus next. Oberto stalking Elam in the milling period before the race. Cutting the course back and forth all up and down the river. Kip Brown keeping it cool as he tools around by himself. All three lining up as they enter the lower turn setting up for the score up bouy. All three on time as they begin the one minute countdown to the start. Legal start as they enter the lower turn it was Oberto first coming out with Elam on his hip. Oberto leading them up the back stretch and Elam chasing followed by Activ Water. The Start was good! Oberto leading at the end of lap one Villwock second Brown third. Three boat lengths as the Oberto leading up the back stretch. Elam right on his hip however the Oberto had to slow a little as he ran into the second turn. Oberto first as they crossed the line for the second lap. Elam takes a three boat lead as they head up the back stretch. Final turn final lap Elam leading Oberto as they cross the finish line.
1:20pm - Heat 2B All three boats were able to answer the call for the heat. Greg Hopp, Ken Muscatel and Mike Webster in his very first heat of racing in an unlimited hydroplane. He will be on the outside of the other two combatants.The hydros passing the start finish line all legal as they head into the first turn it was Hopp followed by Muscatel and Webster in third. Up the back stretch it was Hopp leading the way as the good Dr was in second. Webster in third was gaining it on the front two. Hopp takes lap one in first as the boat ride has improved considerably with Ken in second. All three boats running better than they have all weekend. Three roostertails ahead lead for Hopp as they complete lap two. Mike Webster went dead in the upper turn. At the finish it was Hopp followed by Muscatel with Webster a DNF. 1:20pm - Heat 2B 1 U100 Shoreline Propellers 138.326 - 2 U25 Superior Racing 130.898 - 3 U22 Bello's Pizza Presents Miss ServPro
1:00pm - Ted Porters two entries drew each other along with the only piston powered hydro in the sport the U3 and the U48 Albert Lee driven by the youngest driver on the beach this weekend Brian Perkins. All boats answered the call allowing for a very competitive heat. As the boats came down to the start all the boats were a little late on their timing for the back stretch. All the boats came together as they entered the upper turn. All boats were on time. Out of turn one it was Jimmy King and the U5 formulaboats.com deck to deck with JMK close behind. After the first lap it was Bernard just a tick ahead of Jimmy King. Out of turn 1 it was King just a couple boat lengths behind Bernard. JMK close behind in third. King giving Bernard all he can handle as they come down to complete lap 2. King pushing Bernard up the back stretch. The Allison popping as he pushes Bernard. King going into the upper turn right on his hip. At the checkered flag it was Bernard first King second and JMK third with Brian Perkins bringing it in fourth. Final Recap of heat 2A U5 - 145.996 U3 - 145.241 U7 - 136.443 U48 - 123.313
1:00 pm EDT - Heat 2A set to begin at 1pm EDT. 2A 1:00pm EDT Lane Boat 1 U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep Jimmy King 2 U5 formulaboats.com Jeff Bernard 3 U7 Graham Trucking J Michael Kelly 4 U48 Miss Albert Lee Brian Perkins The boats are being lowered into the water and racing will begin in just 5 minutes from now.
Breaking News! Dave Villwock of the Miss Elam team had to do some repairs this morning. It would seem that his throttle pedal broke and he had to ask for assistance from the Oberto team. Bob Hughes, Oberto team rep owns a tool and die shop and Dave took his pedal to the shop to reweld it.
11:05am - Jean Theoret Update! Jean Theoret, driver of the U-37 Miss Bello’s Pizza, is resting comfortably at the University of Louisville Hospital after his blowover accident yesterday afternoon at the Madison Regatta unlimited hydroplane race. The team’s crew chief Scott Rainey talked to Theoret by phone this (Sunday) morning. Theoret will be moved to a private room this afternoon for further observation. “We had a good conversation and he is improving faster than expected,” said Rainey. “They had told us that he would have to have a breathing tube for a couple of days but they had already removed it early this morning.” Theoret needed the tube after ingesting water during the course of the accident. 10:55am - J Michael Kelly is now making his way out onto the course. Kelly from the Seattle area is drivng this year for the Ted Porter team in the U7 Graham Trucking. MIke Webster is taking his unlimited craft out also. Webster wanting to make some more runs at the clock. Kelly putting the U7 through a fast pass. Taking it hard into the lower turn and up the back side. Kelly airing it out now as he puts in a lap. Evidently happy with what he sees cuts the course and heads back into the pit area. Mike Webster is now in front of the crowds here on the course. Boat ride considerably better than yesterday. 126.452mph for his first lap. 10:45am EDT - Mike Webster is now getting suited up as he needs to take a few more laps on the clock at the 130.000mph speeds to qualify for his drivers test. The U22 is sponsored by the Bello's Pizza and ServPro locally. U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep is trailer firing as Ed Cooper is working to get that Allison powered craft ready for racing. The Cowling is being placed on the U17 by the crew. In anticipation of that boat seeing some testing here this morning. 10: 30am - Oberto now back into the pit area as Greg Hopp in the U100 takes to the water. Father Jerry Hopp, long time driver\owner, is his spotter here on the Official tower. Just told that the igniters went down on the craft and they will have to pull the engine. " It fired on the trailer" said Hopp Sr. The U7 Graham Trucking is now being lowered into the water and we will see driver J Michael Kelly report to his boat soon. Dr Ken Muscatel is now being pushed away from the docks and firing up that Lycoming L7 turbine engine. The boat began to spool then shut down for some reason. Ken now is sitting in the front straighaway. 10:15am - Dave Villwock and Steve David both are on the water as the Elam takes one fast pass around the course to test up some sort of setup. David taking it through the lower turn as he straightens it out heading up the Kentucky side of the course. David now stretching his legs out as he makes a very nice run down the front stretch slamming it into the lower turn on this tight 2.5 mile course. Boat ride appears very smooth as water conditions are perfect. His lap speed is 148.792mph. It looks like he is making a timing run as he slows running through the upper turn. 10:30amEDT Several teams have expressed interest in testing this morning. The U1 Oh Boy! Oberto and the U16 Miss Elam Plus are hanging over the water awaiting for the session to begin. The U3 and the U17 both are working on an engine and are expected to see some sort of action this morning also. Opening ceremonies have concluded and the weather is finally breaking a little. Temps are a little cool for this time of year. The course has been opened and the teams are preparing to begin this hour of testing.
9:45am Schedule of events. All EDT July 5, 2009
9:00am Heat and lane draws for first set of heats for Sunday. 2A 1:00pm EDT Lane Boat 1 U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep 2 U5 formulaboats.com 3 U7 Graham Trucking 4 U48 Miss Albert Lee
2B 1:20pm EDT 1 U100 Shoreline Propellers 2 U25 Superior Racing 3 U22 Bello's Pizza Presents Miss ServPro
2C 1:40pm EDT 2 U1 Oh Boy! Oberto 3 U16 Miss Elam Plus 4 U17 Miss Activ Water 2:30 July 4, 2009 - Heat 1A is about to begin as the boats take to the water. In lane 1 it's the U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep driven by Jimmy King. Lane 2 U5 formulaboats.com. driven by Jeff Bernard. Lane three the U100 Shoreline Propellers driven by Greg Hopp. And in lane 5 its the U25 Superior Racing driven by Ken Muscatel. The power outage affecting the start/finish tower in Madison has not been corrected, and we have limited ability to update. Jean Theoret was injured in Heat 1-B when the U-37 blew over exiting turn 1 on lap 2 of Heat 1-B. He was transferred to a Louisville hospital, where his condition is now listed at "stable but guarded". There will be more information posted here as it becomes available. Earlier, Heat 1-A was won by Jeff Bernard in the U-5 Formulaboats.com. 2nd U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep driven by Jimmy King, and third went to Greg Hopp in the U-100 Missshoreline Propellers. Ken Muscatel's U-25 did not start. Heat 1-C was won by Dave villwock in the U-16 Miss Elam Plus. 2nd went to Kip Brown in the U-17 Miss activWater, after Steve David in the U-1 Oh boy! Oberto struck a bouy on the first lap. David was penalized one lap and finished 3rd.
Little resurfacing of the course headed our way . Has not dampened the crowds at all. Mike Webster back out in the U22 Miss Bellos presents Miss ServPro. Mike needs several more laps in the 130+mph. His first lap around was 127+. Second lap 128.294mph. Slowly getting it up to speed. According to the look of the rooster tail, boat ride seems to be pretty good. Third lap 130.040mph. His first lap above 130.Forth lap speed 129.032mph. The U100 Shorline Propellers is now back on the course for more testing this afternoon. A light rain is resurfacing the course allowing more water for the drivers to BITE into. Joining him on the course is U5 formulaboats.com driven by Jeff Bernard. U100 cuts the course and heads back to the pit area. Bernard is compressor stalling a little as he runs down in front of the Start\finish tower. I would image that he is doing some start timing. Joining the boats on the water is the U16 Miss Elam Plus as well as the U48 Albert Lee driven by Brian Perkins. Dave Villwock takes the Elam past the judges stand taking a pass at timing. Brian Perkins running extremely well as he powers the U48 past the start\finish tower at a speed of 131.736mph. Villwock now turns in a speed of 116.067. Brian Perkins flying it a little as he passes our vantage point here.
U22 Maiden Voyage! U22 Installs Cowling! New Videos are uploaded to ABRA YouTube site. Go HERE! Lane choices are as follows: 1A 2:30pmEDT U3 - Lane 1 U5 - Lane 2 U100 - Lane 3 U25 - Lane 4
1B 3:00pmEDT U37 - Lane 1 U7 - Lane 2 U48 - Lane 3 U22 - Lane 4
1C 3:30pmEDT U1 - Lane 1 U16 - Lane 2 U17 - Lane 3 Course Closed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The U22 Miss Bellos Pizza Presents ServPro owned by Steve Webster and driven by his son Mike Webster is now taking to the course for the first time in this boats history. Mike needs to get a few laps under his belt, so he can compete in racing here this weekend. This boat went through a complete rebuild after purchased from Ed Cooper Jr. Turbine power has replaced the traditional Allison power plant that Cooper ran. The Boat nicknamed "Tubby" last raced in 2002.First lap speed 116.397mph. Mikes second lap speed was 124.335mph. Mike is a well known flat bottom driver from Maryland. Third lap 124.199mph. Fourth lap 114.194mph. Fifth lap speed 125.186mph. Greg Hopp taking the U100 back out on the course. The boat sponsored by Shoreline Propellers has a different color scheme. Painted black and rust colors. The boat looking better this time around making its way up- the back stretch as Greg pours the coals to the fire. Now slowing and going dead in the infield. Steve David, taking the U1 back out giving Art Oberto the owner of Oberto Sausage company a look. His first lap speed is 154.657mph. Slowing considerably and going dead in the water. The lid is open and Steve is checking things out. Fuel Flow violation! The U16 Miss Elam Plus back on the water. Villwock is taking the boat through race setups to make sure he has everything he needs to keep the rest of the field covered. His first lap speed is 153.413mph. Boat ride a little choppy. Second lap speed checks in at 156.296mph. The fastest lap this weekend. Billy Schumachers U37, driven by Jean Theoret, is now leaving the docks. The yellow boat is sponsored by the local pizza parlor Miss Bello's Pizza. Jean driving for Billy for several years now taking the warm-up lap heading up the KY back stretch, 148.718mph. Second lap speed 149.461mph. The U7 Graham Trucking driven by J Michael Kelly and owned by Ted Porter of the formulaboats.com team is being strapped into the cockpit. JMK is in his first year in this boat. His first lap speed is 150.766mph. Boat ride very smooth for this young gun. His second lap speed is 152.632mph. N2 Violation! U1 Oh Boy! Oberto is on the water at this time. Steve David wanted to run the boat to see if the boat is set up correctly for racing. Steve's first lap speed is 150.991mph His second lap speed is 152.322mph. Jeff Bernard from is taking the U5 for testing this morning. Ted Porter team is out of Auburn IN. His first lap speed is 151.324mph. His second lap 153.152mph. N2 violation now being assessed to the boat. Brian Perkins ran one lap on the clock in the U48 Miss Albert Lee. His lap speed was 138.628mph. Heat draws for flights 1A 1B and 1C. Heat 1A U5 formulaboats.com U100 Miss Shoreline Propellers U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep U25 Superior Racing 1B U48 Albert Lee U37 Miss Bello's Pizza U7 Graham Trucking U22 Miss ServPro 1C U1 Oh Boy! Oberto U16 Miss Elam Plus U17 Miss Activ Water Dave Villwock is now on the water in the day glow orange U16 Miss Elam Plus. Dave the fastest qualifier in yesterdays session finally returns to the full circuit this year. Dave mentioned that he wanted more testing time today. Screaming down the front straightaway he slams into the lower turn on this tight 2.5 mile course. Boat ride very smooth as he runs it up the back stretch. First lap speed is 152.014mph. He now is coming back into the dock. Jimmy King is now on the water driving the Ed Cooper U3 piston powered boat. King a native of Detroit MI. his first lap speed in the Allison powered boat was 143.104mph. His second lap speed as he runs under the Madison\Milton bridge is 144.557mph. Unlimited testing is now under way. The first boat on the water is the U100 Miss Shoreline Propellers driven by Greg Hopp from Seattle WA area. Greg has been driving for Fred Leland for several years now. This is the first time for the boat to be on the water this weekend. The water is smooth as glass. The speeds will count for the pole positions. Unfortunately the boat crossed the start\finish line and died as he entered the lower turn. "He crossed the start line and lost power so he shut it down. We are going to bring it back in and check it." according to his father Jerry Hopp. The opening ceremonies have concluded and the test session is still set for 11 am EDT. At the moment slings are on the U16 Miss Elam Plus and the U37 Miss Bellos Pizza. Presently the drivers are in a meeting with ABRA officials going over the rules for racing set to begin today at 2:30pm. They have done some rearranging of the schedule for todays event. 11-12 THERE WILL BE UNLIMITED TESTING. 12:15 12:45 AUTOGRAPH SESSION 1-2 UNLIMITED TESTING 2:30 Unlimited Heat 1A sponsored by Clifty Engineering 3:00 Unlimited Heat 1B sponsored by Morgan Foods 3:30 Unlimited Heat 1C sponsored by Madison Bicentennial
Schedule of the days events. 8:00am Race Course Set-up8:30am Driver's Physicals 10:00am Unlimited Driver's Meeting 10:30-10:40am Opening Ceremonies 10:45-11:00am Air Show 11:00-12noon Unlimited Testing Noon-1pm River Open to Traffic 12:15-12:45 Driver's Autograph Session 1pm River Closes to River Traffic 1:30-2pm Unlimited Heat 1A sponsored by Clifty Engineering 2-2:30pm Unlimited Heat 1B sponsored by Morgan Foods 2:30-3pm Unlimited Heat 1C sponsored by Madison Bicentennial 3-3:30 pm Unlimited Testing Only 4pm River Opens for River Traffic 9pm River Closes to River Traffic for the Fireworks sponsored by American Legion Post #9 9:30 Twilight Air Show Spectacular Afterwards the river opens for river traffic until 8am Sunday morning Happy 4th of July to all Americans around the world and to the men and women that serve this country in the armed forces. It is our heartfelt wish that each and everyone of you enjoy this day! The local officials have made the announcement that they will be having a memorial for Terry Troxell, who died suddenly this past month, and that Kip Brown and Jeff Bernard will be on the water for several laps in his honor. ABRA extends their deepest sympathy to the family. Have just been notified that the time for the U37 Miss Bello's Pizza was allowed their third lap speed from yesterdays testing and qualifying. 151.642 has been noted for their time. Also, news from the pits is that the U22 Miss ServPro installed and trailer fired their engine and everything looks great. The team along with the U37 team were here until 11pm last night. This morning the weather is a little foggy and cool. There is a chance of rain this afternoon, hopefully it will all go north of us. MADISON REGATTA POLE POSITION QUALIFYING 1) U-16 Miss Elam Plus 155.004 2) U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto 154.551 3) U-7 Graham Trucking 151.016 4) U-5 Miss Formulaboats.com 150.562 5) U-37 Miss Bello’s Pizza 149.238 6) U-17 Miss Activ Water 137.901 7) U-100 Mirageboats.com No speed 8) U-22 ServPro No speed 9) U-3 Miss Chrysler Jeep No Speed 10) U-48 Albert Lee No speed 11) U-25 Superior Racing No speedYouTube interveiw of Dave Villwock fastest qualifier for the 2009 Madison Regatta. Video Just before qualifying closes..... Jeff Bernard now takes the U5 formulaboats.com out for a final run this afternoon. Bernard posts a lap of 150.562mph. Fuel flow violation in final run. Steve David and the hometown favorite U1 Oh Boy! Oberto is back on the water to try and best the speed that Dave Villwock posted earlier today. David is taking the Green and Red Sausage powered boat out. His first lap speed was considerably slower as he went up the back stretch. Picking up speed as he heads down the front stretch. His speed 120.907mph. His second lap speed is 151.960mph. Dave Villwock is back out on the course. His fastest speed was earlier at 155.004mph which is the fastest speed posted this weekend.His first lap speed was not recorded. Basically he seems to be timing his runs. Cutting the course now and heading back into the pit area. The U37 Miss Bello's Pizza is now on the course. Jean Theoret is out for his second time for pole qualifying. Theoret, from Maple Grove, Quebec Canada, is back with driving duties fro Billy and Jane Schumacher. His first lap speed is 144.046mph. U1 Oh Boy! Oberto now is back on the course. His first lap speed is 152.658mph. Water conditions actually for the afternoon is really flat. David is flying the boat up the Kentucky side of the race course. His second lap speed is 154.072mph. Just a tick under Villwocks. David picked it up about 2 miles an hour. Just been notified by ABRA Officials that there were no N2 violations the first time around. Right now the teams are working on their respective boats as the pole qualifying is still open till 5pm EDT. The qualifying for the pole positions has begun. On the course right now the U7 Graham Trucking driven by J Michael Kelly, first lap speed 149.782. Second lap 151.016mph. Next it will be the U16 Miss Elam Plus driven by Dave Villwock. First lap speed is153.387mph. His second lap is 155.004mph. Third qualifier is the U37 Miss Bello's Pizza driven by Jean Theoret147.763 his first lap. Second lap speed is 149.238mph. His third lap speed is 151.042mph Steve David takes the defending champion out on the course for qualifying his first lap speed is 154.046mph. His second lap speed is 154.551mph. This places him in second place for qualify. The following boats pass the first time around, the 3,48 and the 5. Kip Brown takes the U17 Our Gang Racing Active Water entry out for his first time here in Madison. His first lap speed is 137.901mph. Kip takes the boat through the tight turns here in Madison, no doubt not wanting to take any chances. 130.000 mph will get you in the race for Sunday. His second lap he slows as he comes out of the upper turn evidently heading back to the pits. The draw for the qualifying ladder is taking place at this time. The list is as follows: U7 Graham Trucking U16 Miss Elam Plus U37 Miss Bellos Pizza U3 Miss Chrysler Jeep U48 Miss Albert Lee U5 formulaboats.com U17 Our Gang racing U1 Oh Boy! Oberto U100 Miss Marian Travel Inn U22 ServPro U25 Superior Racing Dave Villwock drivng The orange colored Mis Elam Plus U16 out on to the course. This is the first time in two years this boat has ran here in Madison. Villwock is the third winningest driver in the sport behind Bill Muncey and Chip Hanauer. His first lap posted at 143.724mph. slowing considerably as he takes his second lap.Cutting the course short Villwock brings it back into the pits. Jean Theoret of Maple Grove, Quebec Canada takes Billy Shumachers Yellow U37 Miss Bello's pizza onto the course. The French Canadian takes his first lap at a speed of 147.788mph. His second lap was 146.871mph. The third and final lap was 116.488mph J Michael Kelly in the Ted Porter owned U7 Miss Graham Trucking now takes to the course. Kelly from Puyallup WA takes it to the course in the red boat. His first lap he records a speed of 149.261mph. Taking it into the lower turn Kelly exits pulling it up the long Kentucky side straightaway screaming into the upper turn JMK takes it close to the bouy line posting a second lap speed of 151.092mph. Taking his last lap for a speed of 152.219mph Kelly has turned in very respectful times for the day. The U1 Oh Boy! Oberto is now on the water. Steve David letting the boat air it out a little on the back stretch. David trying to better his run of 153.337mph posted this morning. The water this afternoon is perfect as David powers it into the lower turn. Lap 1 speed: 153.491mph Lap 2 speed: 154.790mph * fastest today* Lap 3 speed: 152.400mph Average (unofficial): 153.560mph Three boats have answered the call in this mornings test session. The U1 Oh Boy! Oberto driven by Steve David. The U5 formulaboats.com driven by Jeff Bernard and his team mate J Michael Kelly in the U7 Miss Graham Trucking. The fastest posted test speed was an unofficial 153.337mph posted by Steve David. Currently we are waiting for the rescue boat to be pulled back into the pits as it has had some mechanical failure. Luckily they have a back boat for just this type of situation. For those of you that are curious, the youngest driver here on the river this weekend is U48 Albert Lee driver Brian Perkins of Seattle WA. He is 24 and the youngest by 6 months. The oldest active driver is Steve David from Lighthouse Point FL, he reports his age at 39, however sources have him at 55. Speaking of Steve David, he is being strapped into the U1 and shortly should be on the water.
By Donovan Estridge The boats are back in town in Madison, Ind., as the Madison Regatta officially kicked off with a round of testing Friday morning on the Ohio River. After the first round, Madison hero and reigning ABRA champion Steve David seemingly picked up right where he left off from a year ago. David, piloting the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto recorded the fastest time on the course with a 153.337 mph mark. That high water mark came despite an earlier N2 violation on his first attempt of the day. Also getting some time in on the narrow Ohio River course was J Michael Kelly in the U-7 Graham Trucking boat. Kelly recorded the second fastest time of 150.966 mph. Rounding out the trio of drivers getting an early jump on the course was defending Madison Regatta champion Jeff Bernard in the U-5 Formulatboats.com ride. Bernard recorded a speed of 150.562 mph. Although three drivers participated in the morning session, emotions are high along the docks as drivers and teams expect an unimpeded weekend of racing. Absent this year are the mountains of debris that littered the river the past three years. With no debris slowing down the course, all 11 teams in Madison are gearing up for what should be an excellent weekend of racing.. We will have testing again this afternnon beginning at 1pm. Pole qualifying will take place from 3 to 5pm. J Michael Kelly commented on the running of the U7 Miss Graham Trucking, "The boat ride was fine. I just need to get it set up for me, and get more comfortable in the boat." The testing session will run until 12 noon here on the Wild Bill Cantrell Race Course. Once again on the water the defending National Champion U1 Oh Boy! Oberto. Clarifying the N2 violation, it happened during the warm up session as noted by Larry Hanson crew member of the U1. "We did not think it actually counted then!" commented Hanson."We need to go faster so we put on a bigger wheel. (prop)" Lap 1 speed: 153.100mph Lap 2 speed: 153.337mph Lap 3 speed:cut course. Average (unofficial: 153.219mph J Michael Kelly is now on the course with the Ted Porter entry U7 Graham Trucking. Lap 1 speed: 149.760mph Lap 2 speed: 150.411mph Lap 3 speed: 150.966mph Average (unofficial): 150.379mph ALSO! N2 violation on the U1 Oh Boy! Oberto. Both the Ted Porter entries are now hanging over the water, as Jeff Bernard is being strapped into the cockpit geting ready to take a few laps during this test session this morning. Lap 1 speed for the U5 formulaboats.com is; 149.658mph Lap 2 speed for the U5 formulaboats.com is; 150.461mph Lap 3 speed for the U5 formulaboats.com is; 150.562mph Bernards average (unofficial) is: 150.227mph If you will notice I have elected to put the latest news back on top. So if you scroll down you will find the times for the boats as they appear on the water. Defending National Champion from 2008 Steve David and the community owned Oh Boy! Oberto is now on the course. Lap speed for lap 1: 152.944mph Lap speed for lap 2: 154.737mph Lap speed for lap 3: Cut the course and headed back into the pit area. Unofficial average for all three laps are: 153.841 This mornings is just testing, qualifying will be held later today. There are no boats ready to go into the water at this time. Good morning from Madison Indiana. Site of the 2009 Indiana Governors Cup. I'm Joe McCord and I will be bringing you the latest timing and scoring through out the race weekend. Stop by often as the content of this page will be updated frequently. We are 5 minutes away from opening ceremonies. Opening ceremonies have just concluded here in Madison, the crews are working on their respective boats. We have eleven boats here in the Wild Bill Cantrell race course pits. We are scheduled to have boats on the water by 11 am local time.
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