David, Villwock top field
Hydros have wild day in Columbia Cup
KENNEWICK – Steve David and Dave Villwock beat the rest of the field Saturday in the Columbia Cup, while the boat graveyard on the Columbia River known as the first turn claimed another victim, injured another and nearly a third.
David, driving the U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto, and Villwock, in the U-96 Spirit of Qatar, each won their preliminary heats with relative ease.
David took Heat 1A, despite a bad start that put him behind Nate Brown in the U-17 Miss Red Dot. But David caught Brown on the backstretch on the first lap, then held him off the rest of the way.
Villwock took Heat 1B, but he didn’t have to run the full three-lap heat to get the win.
Villwock was easily ahead when the race was halted after Ken Muscatel hooked his U-25 Superior Racing in the first turn on the third lap.
Muscatel’s boat hit a hole in the first turn. It hit a second roller with the left sponson first, hooking it as the right side came down and exploded with debris flying everywhere.
Muscatel was OK, but the boat was taking on water on the right side. Rescue sleds got it back to shore, but Muscatel’s weekend was done.