Seattle's Seafair: Who says you need a road to go fast!

If you are like me you’ve watched those hydroplane boats go what seems to be MACH 1 down the lake and you’ve shuddered. It’s pretty scary stuff.

But after my time as a boat racing rookie - I had the chance to see it’s not that bad after all…..in fact it’s pretty darn cool. Now I had help - one man by the name of Skip Young made me realize that water can be just as much fun as asphalt - and I love him for it. Seafair is not just an event - it’s a Seattle tradition for fifty two years and one of six hydroplane boat races across the country. Seafair, Inc. was created with the idea of producing a summertime festival. The unlimited hydroplane races became the centerpiece of that celebration and was actually Seattle's first big league sport. The organization committee known as The Seafair Boat Club was established in 1975 on Seafair’s behalf to help with administration. One thing's for sure - it’s summer time in Seattle and the boats were ready for this year’s General Motors Cup.

Do you ever wonder what makes those boats go so fast! Well - the fact that these racing boats run at just under 3,000 horsepower! But since a tug boat may have the same amount of horsepower there is something special about a hydroplane boat that can propel it at over 150 mph in the blink of an eye. Well - let’s talk props. You have a small prop on the back of the batmobile replica…but you have a tug boat with the same amount of horsepower, but with a bigger prop. Well size matters but in the opposite way. Those tugboats can pull an island but those powerboats can’t. BUT those Hydroplane boats can reach amazing speeds in a flash - -- which one do you prefer….yes I knew we’d agree.

But what is so addicting to the sport? I spoke with some locals and they all agreed that Seafair is a Seattle mainstay. The teams are hospitable - the crews friendly and the boats awesome - I was thoroughly impressed. Who in their right minds would go that fast on water was a thought I had all day! Competition is fierce but friendly - a welcome change. The sport itself has had several female racers of note: Dorothy Levitt, Delphine Dodge, Betty "Joe" Carstairs, Brenda Jones (just to name a few) and who cannot forget the great damsel of the sport herself: Miss Budweiser the fifteen time winner of this race.

Miss Budweiser - a true racerchick with an impressive history was the brainchild of owner Bernie Little. His moniker of “King of Boats” sticks with his favorite racerchick winning 21 unlimited World Championships. The Miss Budweiser team has had over 133 career victories, with the latest hulls powered by a 2,650 horsepower, T-55 L-7 Turbine engine. Her stylish appearance is due to a canopy from a F-16 jet fighter that is attached to a roll cage and is molded into a composite nomex core cockpit.

Today we even have racerchick team owners such as Lori Jones, Skyway Park Bowl and Casino U-9. She was kind enough to talk to us about the sport. Her team ownership came from her growing up around the sport - a natural progression. As for any gender issues she firmly stated what a great competitive group are involved and that her gender has never been an issue. Her love of the sport was evident with the sparkle in her eye whenever she talked about her driver, her team and her boat. Lori Jones is a class act. Although her entry came in fifth with driver Mike Hanson this year, the Skyway Park Bowl and Casino boat was still impressive.

Looking at the history of the sport - surprisingly it looks like not much has changed but that is a wrong assumption. In the beginning of what is considered the modern era, WW2 surplus - Allison, Rolls Royce Merlin (and some Griffons) were used as the engines of these water bullets. Over time they progressed to Chinook Helicopter (Lycoming turbine) motors. The debate still rings about the sound of the newer engines. Ask any Seattle native and they will tell you the enclosed cockpit was recent - back in the old days the drivers were out in the open with a certain distinct piston sound. A trip to the Seattle Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum let some of their treasures such as Miss Burien (which first raced in 1960) come out to join in some historic frolic, along with such other classics as the Miss Century 21, Nitrogen Too and the Hawaii Kai III.

But time hasn’t changed the thrill of watching a Hydroplane fly with a rooster tail of H2O trailing like a comet behind them. It’s a sport that I invite all racerchicks to experience even once because in the words of Skip Young - one of the most respected sources on Hydroplane boat racing: "It's more fun than you can imagine!"

For more information about the unlimited hydroplanes, go to www.hydroprop.com. For more information about Seafair, go to www.seafair.com.

A young fan gazes at the sky to watch the Blue Angels precision flying team.