By Bruce Madej, Spirit of Detroit Thunderfest

After Dave Villwock won the 1996 Chrysler Detroit APBA Gold Cup on the historic Detroit River course, he probably thought it couldn't get any better.

Then, Villwock, 41, of Seattle, won the 1996 UHRA series title driving the PICO American Dream entry for Leland Racing, capturing victories in Phoenix; Evansville, Ind.; Tri-Cities, Wash.; Seattle and Kelowna, B.C. for a total of six wins in one season, besting the competition time after time.

Now, Villwock has to be pinching himself and wondering if he will ever awake from this dream as he finds himself behind the wheel of the Miss Budweiser.

"I wasn't looking and it's surely a place I had not expected to be," said Villwock. "But if the opportunity came about to drive for this team, well you had to look at it."

And not only did he have to look at taking the ride in the Budweiser, owner Bernie Little, the winningest owner in all of unlimited hydroplane racing, also had to look for the best available chauffeur to replace the all-time Gold Cup champion Chip Hanauer. Hanauer entered semi-retirement after a terrifying accident during the Saturday preliminary heats in Detroit. And while Mark Evans replaced Hanauer admirably, winning the season finale for the Bud team in Honolulu, Little still had to do what he thought was best for the team.

"Dave brings a lot to the party," said Little. "He's a tough competitor and very strong technically. Dave has a great desire to win and he has become a top driving talent. We're glad to have him driving the Miss Budweiser."

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to join the Miss Budweiser team," said Villwock. "I enjoyed working with Fred Leland and his team, but year- in and year-out Miss Budweiser is the team to beat and it is an honor to get the opportunity to work with them."

Little's Miss Budweiser team entered its 35th season of competition in 1997 with 103 victories, 16 series championships and 10 Gold Cups. The Little-Budweiser combination is the longest running sponsorship in major league motorsports.

The Bud team has already captured the exhibition race in Phoenix this past April and Villwock has been testing regularly in the state of Washington.

"Back in 1989 and 1990, teams like Circus-Circus and Pringles were practicing a lot," said Villwock. "The sport was advancing quickly from technical point. Now, the new rules make it very important to practice and with the rules changing in the sport, we have to try and get smarter each time out, we have to get more time on the water."

Of course, Villwock has to get more time in the boat, he has to understand the new team and the team has to understand him.

"What surprised me about the Budweiser team was the quality of the entire team," said Villwock. "Look at the crew, you have someone like Loren Sawyer who has won over 80 races as a crew member, you have Rob Brown who is arguably the best crew chief in the last decade. Truly, you have depth at every position and I don't think people realize this when they see the boat on the water.

"On some teams, problems what takes two weeks to fix, these people can fix it in two days," adds Villwock. "It's the quality of the work, the quality of the people that impresses me about this team."

A veteran driver of automotive-powered limited hydroplanes, Villwock first came to prominence on the Unlimited scene as team manager of the Circus Circus team in 1989, winning the National Championship as team manager in 1990. He entered Unlimited competition as a driver in 1992, winning his first ever Unlimited race at San Diego.

Villwock started his championship drive in 1974 at the age of 18, winning the APBA National Championship, APBA High Point Championship and Western Division in the Cracker Box class. He has been in racing a long time and he knows what is needed for a team to succeed.

He has extensive knowledge of propellers, race boat set up, hull structure, design and fabrication. He knows what makes a team.

"Last year, we got lucky, really," said Villwock. "The preparation wasn't what we wanted, the testing wasn't what we wanted and we weren't necessarily the fastest team on the water. But we were the best race team when it came to race day.

"Now, we test more than any other team," he adds. "In Phoenix, we were running 162, everyone else was running 154 and 152. Then, we get back from Phoenix and we're still testing."

Villwock has the moniker of driver but when he talks about the sport he loves, he always talks about the team, even when it concerns the future of the sport.

"What worries me about the sport is that we have to cultivate more crew members," said Villwock. "We have to get more crew members to understand turbine engines, we have to get more crew members who have good knowledge of the gear box, and others who understand propellers and on and on."

Villwock has done almost everything in powerboat racing and he understands the team, but he has not been an owner of an unlimited hydroplane. That is what he thinks Bernie Little does better than anyone.

"I know you'll find this odd, but Bernie is a sweetheart -- believe it or not," said Villwock. "When he gets upset, he has a reason to be upset.

"He might look flamboyant, outspoken from the outside but all he asks from the team is to do their best. He doesn't ask anymore from us than what we on the team expect from ourselves. He always is ready to help out whenever needed, I feel lucky to be driving for his team."

"Dave is certainly living up to our expectations," said Little after the exhibition win in Phoenix. "He did a great job this weekend and we hope it is a sign of what is to come for the rest of the season. We love to win!"

Bernie's penchant for winning is legendary. He knows how to build winning teams. Villwock's penchant for teamwork is also becoming legendary. Now, with the two together, the Budweiser hydroplane legend could continue to grow in 1997.

Villwock Milestones

1996-UHRA National Driver Championship piloting the PICO American Dream...winner of six races including his first APBA Gold Cup.

1994-Set unofficial fastest 'Corner Time' in sport with a clocking of 4.1 seconds in Detroit...won two consecutive races in Seattle and San Diego...became the top qualifier at six of the eight national races...placed first or second in 83 percent of heats finished.

1993-Signed as driver of the new Circus Circus team...tested new design, propeller program and other innovations.

1992-Earned victory in his Unlimited Hydroplane debut in San Diego, piloting the all new "Coors Dry."

1990-Team manager for National Championship Circus Circus team with Chip Hanauer as his driver.

1989-Joined the Circus Circus boat as team manager...the boat was the first to exceed 150 mph on a two-mile course...set a world speed record with qualifying lap of 158.870 on 2.5-mile course...driver Chip Hanauer won the driver's championship.

1988-Set his seventh and eighth world speed records and won the six-litre Western Divisional Championship...also won the Western Divisional in the Super Stock Runabout class.

1987-Won the APBA National High Point Championship in six-litre class and Region 10 Grand Prix Championship in seven-litre class.

1986-Set sixth world speed record in the super Stock Runabout Class.

1984-Won the APBA National Super Stock Runabout Championship...set fifth world speed record...also won the APBA Ski Runabout and Pro Competition Runabout national championships...inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions.

1979 to 1982-Set four world speed records in E Racing Runabout class.

1975-Won APBA National Championship, High Point Championship and Western Division Championship in Cracker Box class.

1974-Won APBA National Championship, High Point Championship and Western Division Championship in Cracker Box class.