It’s Only March, but I’m Thinking Hydroplanes on the Columbia River
Growing up in Richland, WA for me meant summers on the Columbia River.
Our house was only one block over from the dike built up to keep the river from invading town back in my mom’s youth. We’d grab a ski and go stand on one of the docks and wait for someone to come along and offer us “a pull”. Or we’d grab an inner tube, bike down to Leslie Groves park, put in and float down to Howard Amon Park. Somebody’s mom would drive over in a truck, grab our bikes and leave them for us at Howard Amon. Needless to say, nobody wore lifejackets, and nobody drowned.
But the highlight of the summer was “Boat Races“. Around here, when you say that phrase, it’s assumed it’s capitalized. And everybody knows what you’re talking about.
The Gold Cup, The Columbia River Unlimited Hydroplane Races, whatever they were called from one year to the next- This was (and still is) the event of the year in the Tri-Cities.
In my school years, from the mid-70′s to early 80′s, it was all about the Atlas Van Lines with Bill Muncy and the Budweiser. Later the Squire Shops with the young Chip Hanauer added to the competition.
These boats were powered by WWII fighter plane engines- Rolls Royce Griffins or Merlins- for the most part, with other boats using huge auto engines, and were open cockpit. When these baby’s were on the water, you could hear them during time trials at my house in Richland 8 miles down the river! And when they went by you on the water, while you were standing waist deep 200 feet away? I swear fillings were rattled loose in my mouth! They were the era of the “piston boat”.
These days, the boats are almost exclusively powered by helicopter “turbines”. They sound like giant mosquitoes, and are like water-borne jets. They are closed cockpit screamers.
Both shorelines of the Columbia River, the Kennewick side and the Pasco side, are lined with spectators. Some families have had the same spot, with large tent pavilions, for as long as 30 years. On the Kennewick side especially, are giant party areas sponsored by companies or individuals with food, drink and even entertainment.
But everything comes to a halt on shore when the boats hit the water. People wade (or stumble) into the Columbia’s rocky shoreline and scream their lungs out for their favorite boat and driver. Once in a blue moon a “piston” boat will come out, and many of the locals adopt it as their “favorite”, if only for old time’s sake.
And the feeling of having your fillings rattled loose….
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