Monday, October 19, 1998

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Wild Fire, piloted by Mark Weber, races to victory in
the JN Automotive Hydrofest yesterday at Ford Island.

Wild Fire upsets national hydroplane
champion Miss Budweiser to capture
the JN Automotive Hydrofest crown

By Marc Dixon
Special to the Star-Bulletin

The Miss Budweiser team won all three of its earlier heats yesterday and posted the fastest qualifying time Saturday. And prior to the JN Automotive Hydrofest at Ford Island, it had won all but one tour event en route to the national championship in 1998.

So it was favored to win the winner-take-all final heat yesterday. Even with, say, one of the famous Budweiser frogs or Louie the Lizard in the cockpit.

A victory would add to the team's current record of most victories by one team and one driver in a season.

But it wasn't to be.

Driver Dave Villwock jumped the clock start, resulting in a one-lap penalty for U-1 Miss Budweiser. Mitch Evans of the Appian Jeronimo team also jumped the clock start. That helped propel Mark Weber and Wild Fire to the title with an average speed of 139.649 mph.

"My crew chief let me know after turn one on the radio that Dave and Mitch had jumped," Weber said. "Then I just tried to keep Dave on my tail and in the whitewater."

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Wild Fire pilot Mark Weber, top, and Wild Fire's owner ,
Kim Gregory, acknowledge each other after the championship.

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The false starts allowed Weber to run a more conservative race, even allowing him to slow up on the last lap and let Villwock and Evans, who finished second and third, respectively, pass him.

"It was over by then, they were a lap down, all I had to do was keep the boat on the water and finish," Weber said.

Last year, after Villwock was injured in a mid-season crash, which cost him two fingers, Weber finished the season and helped Miss Budweiser to the 1997 championship.

The two drivers have continued a friendly rivalry now that Villwock has returned to Miss Budweiser.

"We are all fortunate to have Dave back and I am extra fortunate to have kicked his butt today," Weber said.

The U-10 Wild Fire won Hydrofest last year-- with a different team and driver.

"What can I say, the boat likes Hawaii," Weber said.

It was only the third race for the victorious KG Racing team, which has only existed since late September.

"Here we are only three races together and we've won one." Weber said. "We don't even know what we're doing yet, but when we finally figure it out, watch out."