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Hydro Notebook: 'Crazy things' plaguing Mills
Hopes to become first black driver in unlimited race
Saturday, August 4, 2001
By HOLLY CAIN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Getting up to speed wasn't the only obstacle Seattle's Harold Mills experienced yesterday on Lake Washington -- just getting started was a triumph.
Mills, 48, of Seattle, hoping to become the first black driver to compete in an unlimited hydroplane race, has to pass a two-stage qualification before he is cleared by HYDRO-PROP to race.
Yesterday, the boat fuel didn't arrive in time for him to participate in the morning test session, then the canopy on the U-25 Silver Dollar Casino popped open on his first try in the afternoon session.
By the time the boat was repaired, he had time for only three laps. Although he turned a lap speed in excess of 122 mph, his personal best, he needs to complete 10 laps at 130 mph or more before series officials will allow him to move onto Phase 2: a chance to run in two qualifying heats.
Mills, who ran four laps at Tri-Cities last week, was satisfied with his progress and was hoping to complete his 10 laps at speed today.
"I feel comfortable in the boat, but we've had some crazy things plaguing us so far this weekend," said Mills, a past American Power Boat Association (APBA) national champion.
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING: Dave Villwock, driver of the Miss Budweiser, got a kick out of the Seafair souvenir program yesterday. A fan asked the three-time defending General Motors Cup winner to autograph his program when Villwock noticed his boat's horsepower is listed at 100 less than it actually has.
"They've even got us down in horsepower in the program," said Villwock, laughing.
The Miss Bud's HYDRO-PROP mandated power disadvantage is a sore spot with the team.
UNLIMITED LIGHTS: Issaquah's Phil Bononcini was fast qualifier for the Unlimited Lights heat races and final today. Bononcini, who owns and drives the Budweiser-Pocket Mechanic UL-72, set the fast speed at 111.376 mph.
SPEED RACER: Seattle native Russ Wicks formally announced plans to seek a new water speed world record. Wicks' team, a group of aerospace engineers and technicians, will be called the "American Challenge WSR."
The team hopes to have its boat -- custom built just for this record attempt -- ready for an initial test run on Lake Washington in 2003. The current record of 317.60 mph was set in 1978 by Australia's Ken Warby.
P-I reporter Holly Cain can be reached at 206-448-8015 or hollycain@seattlepi.com
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