Detroit Saturday notes

DETROIT ---Wind is one of the worst enemies for an unlimited hydroplane. But for defending Chrysler Jeep Superstores Detroit APBA Gold Cup champion Jean Theoret, the 15 to 20 mph winds coming up the Detroit River were a welcome sight.

Theoret developed gearbox problems during a morning testing session and if the winds didn't come up, Theoret might have been the only driver sitting on the beach. As it was, all Saturday racing had to be cancelled giving Theoret and his Beacon Plumbing team a little more breathing room.

Now, the nine boat field will compete all day Sunday with three sets of five-lap elimination heats for the title with the first heat of competition at 9:40 a.m. with the winner-take-all final going at 4:00.

"We would have been able to run the first heat," said crew chief Scott Raney. "Our guys did a wonderful job getting the boat ready but if we knew the weather was going to behave the way it did, we would have been much more relaxed."

Theoret was the second fastest qualifier during Friday's sessions, averaging 160.089 for two laps. Dave Villwock, a five-time winner of this Gold Cup, was the fastest qualifier of the nine-boat field with a 162.754 average.

SUNDAY UNLIMITED SCHEDULE
8 a.m.- 8:30 a.m. TESTING
9:40--Heat 1A
10:00--Heat !B
11:40--Heat 2A
12:00--Heat 2B
2:20--Heat 3A
2:40--Heat 3B
4:00--CHYRSLER JEEP DETROIT APBA GOLD CUP

(ALL HEATS WILL BE FIVE LAPS)

-credit: abra