Breaking Records
Craig Fjarlie
The old adage states: “Records are made to be broken.” Bill Muncey won his last race at Evansville in 1981. That achievement was number 62 in his long career. When Muncey was killed in Acapulco in October of that year, Chip Hanauer had three wins to his credit; Dave
Villwock had never driven an unlimited hydroplane. It seemed unlikely anyone would come close to Muncey’s all-time victory total.
Unlimited racing has experienced many changes since Muncey scored his first win in 1956. At that time, the boat with the most points at the end of the race was the winner. Approximately HERITAGE half of Muncey’s victory total came in regattas run under that format. He frequently won the final heat, but not always. For example, he won the 1961 Gold Cup finishing second three times.
There were valid reasons for using the total points format in the 1950s and ‘60s. Reliability of piston engines was hardly a strong point. Attempting to run full out in a 90-mile Gold Cup race was a good way to wind up at the end of a tow rope. Indeed, the order of the day was, “Respect and conserve your equipment.”
Times have changed. Technological developments improved the reliability of piston engines, and today’s turbine powerplants have even fewer breakdowns. It became possible to give up total points in favor of the winner-take-all final heat format. The last race run under the total points format was in 1975, the year before Hanauer started driving unlimiteds.
Will any other driver ever come close to the victory totals of Hanauer, Muncey, and Villwock? In the foreseeable future, the answer is a resounding, “No.” After all, it took 29 years for Villwock to equal Muncey’s total. There are a number of reasons why that is the case.
First, the top three drivers all spent several seasons in boats that were clearly superior to any other boat in the fleet. For example, Muncey won four races in both 1960 and ’61, five races in 1962, six in 1972 and 1978, and seven in 1979. Hanauer and Villwock both had seasons when they completely dominated their rivals. It was especially true when they were driving for Bernie Little, but both were consistent winners when they were driving for other owners.
Two major changes have occurred. First, no single boat is as dominant asMiss Budweiser was when Hanauer and Villwock drove it. Villwock won three races in both 2009 and 2010. That was half the races on the schedule. There were six races, total, both years. Remember, Muncey won seven races out of nine total in 1979.
If any other driver is going to come close to capturing 62 first place trophies – or wherever the record stands when Villwock retires from the cockpit – two major changes have to occur. First, the driver has to be given an opportunity to drive a boat that is a step ahead of all other boats and can win virtually at will. No boat is in a position to do so now. Second, the sport has to have more races. Race sites have always come and gone, but the number of regattas is currently at a low point. It seems unlikely that the circuit will grow to 10 races in the next few years, as much as we might wish that could happen.
Since it is likely that Villwock will push the career victory total beyond 62, a new, young driver will need the opportunity to win between five and seven races for more than a dozen years to have any chance of approaching the record. Congratulations to Villwock, Muncey, and
Hanauer. Their standing at the top of the victory column seems secure for a very long time.
Villwock had never driven an unlimited hydroplane. It seemed unlikely anyone would come close to Muncey’s all-time victory total.
Unlimited racing has experienced many changes since Muncey scored his first win in 1956. At that time, the boat with the most points at the end of the race was the winner. Approximately HERITAGE half of Muncey’s victory total came in regattas run under that format. He frequently won the final heat, but not always. For example, he won the 1961 Gold Cup finishing second three times.
There were valid reasons for using the total points format in the 1950s and ‘60s. Reliability of piston engines was hardly a strong point. Attempting to run full out in a 90-mile Gold Cup race was a good way to wind up at the end of a tow rope. Indeed, the order of the day was, “Respect and conserve your equipment.”
Times have changed. Technological developments improved the reliability of piston engines, and today’s turbine powerplants have even fewer breakdowns. It became possible to give up total points in favor of the winner-take-all final heat format. The last race run under the total points format was in 1975, the year before Hanauer started driving unlimiteds.
Will any other driver ever come close to the victory totals of Hanauer, Muncey, and Villwock? In the foreseeable future, the answer is a resounding, “No.” After all, it took 29 years for Villwock to equal Muncey’s total. There are a number of reasons why that is the case.
First, the top three drivers all spent several seasons in boats that were clearly superior to any other boat in the fleet. For example, Muncey won four races in both 1960 and ’61, five races in 1962, six in 1972 and 1978, and seven in 1979. Hanauer and Villwock both had seasons when they completely dominated their rivals. It was especially true when they were driving for Bernie Little, but both were consistent winners when they were driving for other owners.
Two major changes have occurred. First, no single boat is as dominant asMiss Budweiser was when Hanauer and Villwock drove it. Villwock won three races in both 2009 and 2010. That was half the races on the schedule. There were six races, total, both years. Remember, Muncey won seven races out of nine total in 1979.
If any other driver is going to come close to capturing 62 first place trophies – or wherever the record stands when Villwock retires from the cockpit – two major changes have to occur. First, the driver has to be given an opportunity to drive a boat that is a step ahead of all other boats and can win virtually at will. No boat is in a position to do so now. Second, the sport has to have more races. Race sites have always come and gone, but the number of regattas is currently at a low point. It seems unlikely that the circuit will grow to 10 races in the next few years, as much as we might wish that could happen.
Since it is likely that Villwock will push the career victory total beyond 62, a new, young driver will need the opportunity to win between five and seven races for more than a dozen years to have any chance of approaching the record. Congratulations to Villwock, Muncey, and
Hanauer. Their standing at the top of the victory column seems secure for a very long time.
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