Hydroplane Racing Leland has three boats, one unlucky day By Cecil Cross II Seattle Times staff reporter Owner Fred Leland's umbrella is vast. Of the eleven boats that competed in the General Motors Cup at Seafair, Leland owned three. One of them — Auburn Chevrolet/American Pride — competed in the final heat. But after having both American Pride and Miss Fairweather Masonry fail to make the final heat last week at Tri-Cities, Leland's nightmare returned yesterday. Although the high clouds dispersed by noon, by the final heat the Leland umbrella was drenched. A loose fuel line, insufficient points, and stalled engine left Leland with no hardware to take home. Except three damaged boats. "You have your good days and your bad days," Leland said. Yesterday wasn't one of his most favorable. Miss Fairweather Masonry was on the trailer with a loose fuel line, unable to start the engine and compete in Heat 3B, eliminating it from contention. "We just haven't had any luck this week, or last week," driver Terry Troxell said. "It started sucking more air, blowing more fuel, and it wouldn't start. It's probably a good thing it didn't start. It could've fallen off, and we would have probably had a fire." Leland would have welcomed a little hot driving from the U-9 Skyway Park Bowl & Casino he loaned to Ken Muscatel. Muscatel, who broke the U-99 Silver Dollar Casino in half last weekend at Tri-Cities, never got things going. After dwindling to a speed of 97.616 mph, more than 35 mph slower than Heat 2A winner Miss Elam Plus, Muscatel was hit with a flagrant-fuel violation, and received no points. The hard luck continued in the final heat, when Leland's last boat on the water — Auburn Chevrolet/American Pride — stalled before the race began. Pilot Greg Hopp was the last driver to cross the starting line. "I hit a wave, and water came over the right sponson and put the fire (engine) out," Hopp said. "How disheartening is that?" Hopp was disqualified because he had no data on his recorder. "Stuff happens, and lately it's been happening to me," Hopp said. Hopp and Leland seem to have more than a love for hydro racing in common. They're both respected by their competitors, and both have experienced bad luck lately. "Greg's done some tremendous things with that boat," Miss Budweiser driver Dave Villwock said. "I think he's overdue for a win." That goes for both of them. Leland is closing in on his due date as well