HYDROINSIDER.COM EDITOR: Paul Dughi
H1 Unlimited & Staff Reports
Detroit, MICH. - While the debate about whether "winningest" is actually a word, there's no debate that it applies to U-96 Spirit of Qatar driver Dave Villwock.
"I still think I'm in a great club, I guess you could call it the Rushmore of boat racing," Dave Villwock said after becoming the winningest Unlimited Hydroplane boat racer in history. "Myself, Chip Hanauer and Bill Muncey each brought something different to the sport."
CAREER WINS - TOP 10
- DAVE VILLWOCK 63 WINS
- BILL MUNCEY 62 WINS
- CHIP HANAUER 61 WINS
- DEAN CHENOWETH 25 WINS
- JIM KROPFELD 22 WINS
- BILLY SCHUMACHER 17 WINS
- TOM D'EATH 16 WINS
- RON MUSSON 16 WINS
- CHUCK THOMPSON 15 WINS
- DANNY FOSTER 14 WINS
Villwock collected his ninth Gold Cup trophy (fourth consecutive) and in the process passed Muncey, who captured eight Gold Cups. To understand the company Villwock, 57, has surpassed you have to compare their records. Muncey had 62 career wins and Hanauer had 61 race victories. Dean Chenoweth is fourth with 25 race victories.
When asked whether he was the best of the group, Villwock replied, "I think we would have a hell of a race."
Getting the victory on the Detroit River was anything but easy for Villwock and his Spirit of Qatar team. Villwock survived a violent collision at the season opener last week in Indiana and spent some long nights with his teammates repairing the Air National Guard hydroplane. Once in Detroit, he had to borrow parts from fellow competitors and had just one turbine engine and a gear box left.
Villwock was focused going into the final and made sure no one was going to keep him from getting the record in Detroit. He jumped out to an early lead, averaging 138.8 mph, and quickly putting some distance between his boat and second-place finisher Scott Liddycoat in Valken Sports boat.
The rookie driver has just two races under his belt on the Air National Guard Series. He was excited to finish second in the race, which is one of the oldest in motorsports. "No doubt he's one of the best that's ever been," Liddycoat said. "To finish second to him, I'll take it."
Villwock earned his first career victory on Mission Bay in San Diego, Calif., in 1992. Since then, Villwock has earned nine national high points championship titles. Over the past 10 years, Villwock has won 145 heats of the 223 heats he has started.
Bill Muncey's widow, Fran, was proud that Villwock broke her late husband's record. She helped the Seattle area resident get hired as the crew chief for the Circus Circus boat in the 1980s. Bill Muncey died in a racing accident in Acapulco, Mexico.
"Bill would have been very proud of him," said Fran, who lives in the San Diego area. "He's so dedicated to the sport and has paid his dues."
Villwock says he'll take some time to reflect on his status atop the sport—at least record wise, as he heads to the Pacific Northwest in his luxury RV. He was asked what Muncey would think about the sport today, and said, "He would really appreciate the sport and where it's come and how competitive it is."
Villwock in his U-96 Spirit of Qatar team gear
Villwock (right) with team owner Erick Ellstrom (left)
Villwock in his Budweiser racing days
