Spokane’s Hydroplane Destroyed Driver Avoids Serious Injury; Pico American Dream Wins

PICO American Dream had virtually everything go its way in Sunday’s 31st running of the Budweiser Columbia Cup unlimited hydroplane race.

Spokane’s Tom Hindley, on the other hand, couldn’t buy a break, except for avoiding those he might have suffered when his boat, the Appian Jeronimo, blew over and disintegrated during the provisional heat that preceded the final.

Dave Villwock and the American Dream established themselves early as the team to beat on the Columbia River. And, try as they might, the other members of the fleet could only chase Villwock’s roostertail.

On the final heat, Villwock’s red, white and blue boat took the lead at once from the inside lane and ran away from the Smokin’ Joe’s on lap two of the final heat. PICO’s American Dream won by a comfortable margin and finished the two-day event with 1,500 points.

The win was Villwock’s first at Tri-Cities, but the fourth in six races for the Auburn, Wash., driver this year. PICO’s increased its lead in the national standings to 1,358 points going into next Sunday’s race in Seattle.

Villwock, who ran a qualifying lap of 168.055 mph on Friday, averaged 149.477 in the final heat. Mark Tate, in the Smokin’ Joe’s, averaged 147.434. DeWalt Tools, handled by Mike Hansen, was third, following by the Lynnwood Honda/Graham Trucking boat and the Trendwest Resorts.

Miss Budweiser, driven by Mark Evans, seemed to have luck finally swinging its way by the final heat. However, as the defending national champion boat challenged Villwock in turn two of the third lap, it spun out, lost power and failed to finish.

Hindley’s accident during the last-chance heat that sends the winner only into the championship final.

Locked in a tight battle for first place with the Trendwest and E-Lam Plus on the opening lap, Hindley hit rough water in turns three and four. Although it’s uncertain whether the boat flipped completely, it hit the water with so much force that both sponsons and the driver’s capsule were torn from the hull.

Trendwest Resorts won the heat.

After Hindley, who remained conscious, was extracted from the cockpit, he was taken by ambulance to Kennewick General Hospital. He suffered possible broken ribs and a bruised lung, according to early reports, as well as cuts and bruises. He was listed in stable condition.

Appian Jeronimo crew member John Cornett said the boat appears to be a complete loss. Cornett said the team plans to build a new boat for 1997.