LV hydroplane team to defend Hawaiian title

Friday, Oct. 8, 1999 | 9:29 a.m.

The Las Vegas-based U-10 Unlimited Hydroplane race team returns to Hawaii this weekend as defending champion of the JN Automotive Hydrofest.

The team, owned by Kim and Debbie Gregory of Las Vegas and piloted by Mark Weber, will close its first full season of unlimited racing and will be looking to repeat last year's victory in Hawaii.

Currently third in points, the U-10 team enjoys a 1,953-point lead over the U-2 Freddie's Club and has mathematically clinched third place in the standings.

At the beginning of the season, Kim Gregory said he would be pleased with a top-five finish in the points. The U-10 race team is already ahead of the game plan, and the team plans to continue the momentum this weekend in Pearl Harbor.

A strong performance Sunday also could push Weber past rookie sensation Greg Hopp into third place in the driver standings. Hopp will not compete at Hawaii after a spectacular crash virtually destroyed his U-15 Miss Pontiac in San Diego.

Last year in Hawaii, racing in only their third Unlimited Hydro event, the U-10 team proved they had put together the right combination of racing equipment and driver as Weber piloted the craft to the team's first victory.