1989 Budweiser Columbia Cup
D'Eath Sets World Record In Hydro Qualifying
TRI-CITIES — When it was announced the Columbia Cup course had been shortened from 2½ to two miles, there were howls of protest from unlimited-hydroplane racing fans.
But those howls turned to cheers after Tom D'Eath posted a world record during a qualifying run this morning. D'Eath circled the smaller Columbia River course at 155.206 mph in his second qualifying run of the day.
D'Eath set the previous record, 153.780 mph, during the July 16 regatta at Syracuse, N.Y. He opened qualifying here for Sunday's regatta with a course-record lap of 151.388 mph.
That lap erased the Tri-Cities's two-mile record — 138 mph — by Chip Hanauer driving the Atlas Van Lines in 1983 qualifying. The 2½-mile Tri-Cities qualifying record, 155.172 mph, was set by Jim Kropfeld in Miss Budweiser during qualifying for the 1987 regatta.
"I thought the first run went well, but the second was even better," said D'Eath. "We can go faster still, especially if water conditions remain the same."
D'Eath, who was the first driver on the course, said he and his rivals will have to adjust their driving styles for the new course, which is considered the fastest on the circuit.
"The water conditions were perfect, but the course is really tight compared to Syracuse," said D'Eath. "We'll all have to give each other lots of room on race day."
The turns for the Syracuse race, which was won by D'Eath, measured 1,200 feet. The Columbia Cup turns are 1,000 feet.
D'Eath predicted the record after his first qualifying run.
"I think we can go 153, maybe a little faster," D'Eath said at the time. "We'll just have to see what happens."
The boat's owner owner, Bernie Little, was pleased with the adjustments made to the hull after the Syracuse race.
"The boat looks great," said Little. "We wanted to be first (in qualifying), because we are first in the points standings. Isn't that the easy it should be?"
Four other drivers had met the 100 mph qualifying minimum by noon, led by Larry Lauterbach, in the Winston Eagle, at 134.806 mph.
Other qualifiers were Chip Hanauer in Circus Circus (127.886), Mitch Evans in Cooper's Express (126.183) and Steve David in Pietro's Pizza (116.732).
Ten boats were in the Lampson Pits this morning. Race organizers expect 12 to make qualifying attempts.
(Reprinted from The Seattle Times, July 28, 1989)