Not even close.

Steve David went wire to wire in the Oh Boy! Oberto to win his third consecutive Albert Lee Cup unlimited hydroplane race on Lake Washington Sunday.

David was an easy winner over Jimmy Shane and Graham Trucking, which won the Columbia Cup last week in Tri-Cities after David jumped the start.

A suprising part of the story was the fourth-place finish for Dave Villwock. Pilot of the Spirit of Qatar and the winningest driver in hydro history and as well as a 10-time winner of the Seafair race, Villwock was overtaken on the fourth lap by J. Michael Kelly in the Beacon Plumbing, which finished third.

In heat 3A, four boats bunched into a crowded north turn and swapped some paint, but no serious damage was sustained. It was the only close call in the heats on a 92-degree day that was one of the warmest in race history.

David won the race for the fourth time in six tries.

“To join the ranks of Bill Muncey and Dave Willwock, it’s special,” David told KIRO-TV. “There’s a rivalry there (with  Villwock), but there’s also tremendous respect. “

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2 Comments

  1. At the end of the first lap it was almost deck to deck between Shane, Villwock and David. He was able to close the door in the second lap, but I think it’s incorrect to say “it wasn’t even close”…

  2. At the end of the first lap it was almost deck to deck between Shane, Villwock and David. He was able to close the door in the second lap, but I think it’s incorrect to say “it wasn’t even close”…