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Originally published Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 2:25 PM

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Live chat with Dave Villwock

An exclusive live chat with unlimited hydroplane driver Dave Villwock.

Albert Lee Cup at Seafair

When: Friday, Aug. 6; Saturday, Aug. 7; Sunday, Aug. 8. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Where: South Lake Washington. Hydros will be at the Stan Sayres Pits near Genesee Park. The entrance is located on 43rd Avenue South between Genesee Street and Lake Washington Boulevard.

Tickets: Available at seafair.com. Free on Friday, $30 on Saturday and Sunday. Discount weekend tickets are available at 76 Stations for $25 for a weekend pass. Seniors, 65 and older are $5 per day.

Pit pass (in addition to general admission) $10. Guided Pit Tour is $5.

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The highlights of an exclusive live chat Wednesday with Dave Villwock, unlimited hydroplane driver from Seattle, included the challenges of Seafair and the future of his sport. For the complete chat, go to seattletimes.com

Question: What is your most memorable win? What about your favorite boat?

Villwock: Probably my favorite win was my second. It was in 1994, driving Fred Leland's Pico American dream in Seattle. We had destroyed the right sponson of the boat in Tri-Cities a week prior. Dan Walters, myself and the Leland team rebuilt the boat just in time for the race — we had to work for about 80 hours straight. But we still managed to win the race, and beat the NHRA drivers in a slowpitch softball game that week!

My favorite boat? That's like asking who was my favorite girlfriend. The best answer to that is: the one I'm with now!

Q: Is the Seafair course harder to set up for?

Villwock: Imagine skiing down the worst mogul field you've ever seen at 200 mph. That is Seattle.

Q: For someone new to boat racing, what are your tips for getting into the race?

Villwock: Go early, stay late, bring beverages — and blankets this year!

Q: What needs to happen to prevent the sport from gradually dying. It's sad to see only four races.

Villwock: We have to continue to grow this sport as we have in the last couple of years. Our product is better than ever before. The competition is the best it has ever been, and we are one of the few motorsports that is truly international. As we grow race numbers on other continents, I think our potential is unlimited. No pun intended!

Q: Bill Muncey, Chip Hanauer and Dave Villwock — who wins?

Villwock: I've been beaten by Hanauer before (and I've beaten him). I suspect I would've been beaten by Bill Muncey at least once or twice, but I think I could've whipped him a few times, too! It would've been fun, but none of them would've been easy.

Q: As commissioner what would be your first order of business?

Villwock: Pay drivers more!

Q: What's the fastest you have been on the water?

Villwock: 230 mph at Oroville, Calif.

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