Tate Guides Smokin’ Joe’s To Qualifying Record Heading Into Today’s Columbia Cup Hydro Final

Mark Tate, at the wheel of the Smokin’ Joe’s unlimited hydroplane, set a qualifying record of 169.05 mph Saturday on the Columbia River, breaking the mark of 168.58 set Friday by Dave Villwock.

Chip Hanauer also broke Friday’s mark, driving Miss Budweiser to 168.609 in preparation for today’s Budweiser Columbia Cup. The two top qualifiers race in heat 1-A today.

Joining them will be DeWalt Tools, driven by Mike Hanson, who qualified at 159.053; KISW Rock, driven by Mark Evans, 154.924; Miss Cascade Homes, driven by Jerry Hopp, 144.365; and Mill Bay Casino, Mitch Evans, 148.41.

“I’m going to get my nose in there with Chip and see how things play out,” Tate said. “Qualifying is one thing and racing is another.”

Villwock, driving PICO’s American Dream, will go in heat 1-B. He will face Pizza Time, driven by Nate Brown, who qualified at 162.734; T-Plus, Steve David, 160.70; Appian Renegade, Tom Hindley, 135.802; and Chaplin’s Bellevue Volkswagen, Scott Pierce, 152.491.

One other boat will attempt to qualify this morning. Miss Elam Plus, a new boat driven by Ken Dryden, made its first test run Saturday and reached a speed of 110.297 mph, well below the 130 mph minimum.

Ken Muscatel, who flipped Friday while driving the Computers and Applications Epson Stylus, was in the pit area Saturday. He said the crew would attempt to repair it in time for the Texaco Cup in Seattle next weekend.

The final heat for the Columbia Cup is scheduled for today.