Miss Budweiser, driven by the outgoing (as in friendly), and quite possibly outgoing (as in leaving) Mark Evans, won the final heat of the JN Automotive Hydrofest yesterday with an average speed of over 144 mph.
"It feels really good to win this after all the ups and downs, news and rumors," Evans said. He also won all three of his preliminary heats in what might be his last competition as the Bud driver.
Although it was Miss Budweiser's third consecutive victory here, PICO American Dream - piloted by Evans' rumored successor, Dave Villwock - had already clinched the season point-total championship. (The Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Association completes its run here each year.)
Evans' boss, Miss Budweiser owner Bernie Little, is said to be the George Steinbrenner of hydroplane racing. The Florida entrepreneur, known as the King of Boats, is rumored to be shipping out Evans because he won only two races after taking over for injured Chip Hanauer.
"He has a reputation for trying to get whatever driver is hot," said a circuit observer of Little.
Everyone affiliated with Smokin' Joe's was hot, too, about the final. The 12.5-mile race didn't even get started for the fastest qualifier.
As the six finalists were finishing the first lap - during which they must remain in position, the boat to the far right, Pfleuger Honda/KPOI, cut in early.
Little and Evans offered the excuse of blinding glare for the boat's driver Jimmy King, but King blamed himself.
"I messed up," said King, who was disqualified and fined. "I keyed off the wrong buoy."
After King's boat turned left, the next three boats to his left did also. The fourth, Smokin' Joe's, couldn't negotiate the tight maneuver and swamped.
"We were out before the race even started," Smokin' Joe's driver Mark Tate said, standing in front of the boat's tattered tail afterward. "That was one of the most puzzling and goofy things I've ever seen."
Apparently, Tate didn't check out some of the more inland, carnival-type action on Ford Island, where thousands flocked over the weekend for everything from the opportunity to play tic-tac-toe with an underwater diver to American Gladiator-style jousting.
Buddies Mike Amley and Patrick Moad of Pearl Harbor's SEAL Delivery Team 1 put on a pretty good display on Marine Corps-style pugil stick fighting, and said the jousting implements would come in handy to relieve office tension.
Amley drew blood from Moad's forehead, even though both men wore protective helmets. Moad is a SEAL who outweighs Amley, a diver, by about 20 pounds. "But I still kicked his butt," Moad said.
"That's the same place where you hit yourself with the ping-pong paddle last summer, Patrick," said another friend, Ann Long.
Kawika Faaifo, 8, of Ewa Beach got a big piece of the Prudential Rock Climbing Wall. He made it to the top of the 50-foot structure amid cheers.
"We were pretty sure he could make it," said his uncle, Abraham Rodrigues. "Plumeria trees are his specialty."
Final heat finishers: 1. Miss Budweiser (Mark Evans), 144.021 mph, 1600 total points. 2. PICO American Dream (Dave Villwock), 138.802, 1400. 3. DeWalt Tools (Mike Hanson), 136.031, 1125. 4. Miss Dole Cannery (Steve David), 124.151, 690.