DSBA Photos

Photos & Story by Mike Alberts.
Dave Villwock took the oldest trophy in motorsports home for the 7th time July 12 with a very tricky victory aboard the orange and white Miss Elam Plus on the Detroit River.  For the second year in a row, brisk winds blowing upstream made it touch an go for running the boats.  Last year's Gold Cup, the official 100th running, had to be delayed for a year due to high winds.  Villwock averaged 141.239 mph in a pretty stunning victory.  A huge part of the race is the start, in the championship heat, Villwock appeared to stall at the most distant part of the course from the starting line.... almost drifting downstream to the Belle Isle Bridge... but it was a risky move... it fooled the other drivers and allowed him to grab the inside lane in a spectacular flying start.  Steve David gave Villwock a good run in the race with his Oh Boy! Oberto, but Villwock was just too solid to be tested by last year's APBA champion. The crowds were treated to three days of spectacular, almost non-stop racing.  There were inflatable races, giant offshore boats, vintage races, and automotive powered class hydroplanes to watch while the Unlimited boats sat in the pits.  A F-18A put on a llunchtime show each of the three days that held the crowds breathless with low speed and high speed exhibition passes.  The crowd was quite  moved to see a very senior citizen - fearless Freddie Alter - take the vintage Allison powered Miss Vernors craft around the circuit.  A great tradition and a great three days of racing in Detroit.

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