2012 Tastin` n Racin Program

16th Annual Festival
Lake Sammamish State Park
June 9–10
Hydro Happy Hour 4-8 pm June 8
p hoto by Chr i s Denslow
Miller Lite Beer Gardens Two
beer gardens will be serving Miller and
Miller Lite brews. One by the main
stage by the bands and other on the
beach with a full view of the racecourse.
Hydroplane Museum Vintage
unlimited hydroplanes will be on display.
Great for photo ops of kids with parents
and grandparents.
Kids Activities Inflatable rides, park
toys, games, pony rides, face painting
and lots more!
Special Attractions
Vintage Unlimited Hydroplanes
TnR is proud to present three restored
unlimited hydroplanes from the 1950 –
1960 era. Vintage unlimited hydroplanes,
such as O’Boy Oberto, Miss Burien
and Miss Thriftway, from Hydroplane
and Raceboat Museum will be showing
their stuff. They are powered by 1710cu
Allison, WW2 P38 airplane engines…..
These are truly thunder boats that you
can hear and feel as they thunder by.
Grand Prix Hydroplane Racing
One of the premiere events on the
circuit will be the 8-10 supercharged
boats thundering around Lake
Sammamish competing for the
KZOK Cup title.
Food Booths Delicious choices from
Mexican Haystacks to Bar-B-Q ribs
and Ice Cream to Sno Cones.
Arts & Crafts Dozens of vendors
offering jewelry to clothes, and free
drawings to free samples.
Main Stage O’Brien Law Firm
presents two days of live music
on the Main Stage featuring tributes
to AC/DC, Tom Petty, Beatles, Lynard
Skynard, & Randy Hansen’s tribute to
Jimi Hendrix.
2 - 16th Annual Tastin’ N Racin’ Festival
Hydroplane Racing 10 classes
of hydroplanes creating thunder and
lightning on Lake Sammamish.
The hydroplanes will be competing
for the KZOK Cup. Featured class
is the Grand Prix’s, these boats can hit
up to 160 down the chute and they are
loud just like the old Unlimited Hydros.
Classic Car Show Issaquah
Sammamish magazine presents the
Classic Car show on Sunday. Hundreds
of beautifully restored cars on display
looking to take home the trophies.
Discovery Pass Buy your 2012
Washington State Park Discovery Pass
June 9 – 10, for the special price of
$20.00! Use it for your future visits to
more than 100 of the State Parks in
Washington. Don’t miss your chance for
this amazing savings brought to you by
Tastin’ n Racin’ – sold only at Tastin’ n
Racin’!!
Entertainment Schedule
Day
Time
Band
Description
Friday
June 8th
4:30-7:30
British Export
Beatles Tribute
4:00-8:00
HYDRO HAPPY HOUR
HYDRO HAPPY HOUR
Saturday
June 9th
11:00-12:00 Heavy Left
ARMY rock band
12:30-1:30
Klover Jane
Indie Rock band
2:00-3:00
Petty Thief
Tom Petty Tribute
3:30-5:00
Metal Shop
Heavy Metal Thunder
5:30-6:30
Knee Deep
Flannel Rock tribute
Sunday
11:00-12:00 Shane Cobane
June 10th 12:30-1:30 Rockin Yotes
Elvis Tribute
Rocka billy
2:00-3:00
Chrome Molly
AC/DC Tribute
3:30-5:00
Randy Hansen
Jimi Hendrix Tribute
5:30-6:30
Whisky River
Lynard Skynard Tribute
Noon-3:00
Seafair Pirates
Arrrrrrrr Matey
Dave Barros
Voice of the Festival
Tastin’ N Racin’
June 9-10 Race Schedule
Common Rules of Hydroplane Racing
A compulsory drivers’ meeting is held before each day of racing.
Roll call is taken, followed by discussion about race course
conditions and heat schedules.
Each class races two heats. A heat will cover five miles, set up
on a course one of three ways: three laps of 1⅔ miles per lap,
four laps of 1¼ miles, or five laps of 1 mile.
The heat shall not be legal unless three boats cross the starting line.
Every heat is started off a digital or pie face clock. It is visible
to the drivers as they approach the starting line and is located
in front of the judge’s stand or barge.
The Flags
1st Green Flag: Five minutes before the race, after all
competitors have been placed in the water, a green flag will
be displayed at the Start/Finish line and at each corner of the
race course. The boats will move onto the course and jockey for
position. At no time shall one boat cross in front of the other
without a four boat length distance between them. Course
judges are located in each corner.
1st White Flag: One minute before the start of the race, the
green flag is lowered and a white flag is displayed. Most drivers
will converge on the entrance to the number two corner, in an
attempt to establish position for the run to the starting line.
The goal is to be first over the line, after the gun, at full speed.
2nd Green Flag: When the starting clock hits zero, the white
flag is replaced by a second green flag announcing the start of
the race.
2nd White Flag: A second white flag is raised when the lead
boat has one lap left.
Checker Flag: The checkered flag is raised as the winning
boat crosses the finish line.
Blue/White Flag: May be used to advise drivers of a stalled
boat, debris or other obstacle on race course.
Red Flag: Competition is stopped usually because of an
accident on the race course; the discharge of red or orange
smoke/aerial flares in conjunction with red flag is advised.
All times subject to weather, cranes, accidents,
boat towing and acts of God
10:30 am
11:00 am
11:15 am
11:30 am
11:45 am
12:00 pm
12:15 pm
12:30 pm
12:45 pm
Testing & Hydro Fire Engines
Opening Ceremonies
2.5 Mod Hydro
National Mod/GNH
Vintage Inboard - conventional
Vintage Inboard - cab over
2.5 Stock Hydro
1 Litre Hydro
5 Litre Hydro
1:00 pm
1:15 pm
1:30 pm
SE Sportsman Entry Runabouts
Grand Prix Hydro
Vintage Unlimited Exhibition
1:45 pm
Vintage Unlimiteds
2:00 pm
2:15 pm
2:30 pm
2:45 pm
Wake Board Exhibition
Wake Board Exhibition
Wake Board Exhibition
Wake Board Exhibition
3:15 pm
3:30 pm
3:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:15 pm
4:30 pm
4:45 pm
2.5 Mod Hydro
National Mod/GNH
Vintage Inboard - conventional
Vintage Inboard - cab over
2.5 Stock
1 Litre Hydro
5 Litre Hydro
5:00 pm
5:15 pm
SE Sportsman Entry Runabouts
Vintage Unlimited Exhibition
5:30 pm
Vintage Unlimited Exhibition
5:45 pm
Grand Prix Hydro
Sponsored by Snoqualmie Casino
Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
Sponsored by Snoqualmie Casino
Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
Black Flag: Course is closed, all boats return to pits.
Cable • Internet • Phone
287PC 2995PC 545PC
208PC
June 8–10, 2012 - 3
Boat Classifications
Class
Length
Weight
MPH Engine Requirements
1 Litre/Y
2.5 Litre Stock/S
2.5 Litre Mod/A
5 Litre/E
National Mod/NM
11.5’–14’
13.5’–16’
16’
16’–18’
17’–19’
105
100
125
115
140
1315cc, 4 cyl
2300cc, 4 cyl or 2.3 Ford
155.5ci max, 2 valv/cyl
V8 305ci, Ford, Ply or Chev
V6-V8, 350-68ci
Grand Prix/GP
25'
650
975
1050
1250
11501400
2700
160
Super charged big block
Chev
Hydroplanes
Runabouts / Flatbottoms
Superstock/SS
16’–18’
any wt.
120
120 mod, 500ci, n o sup Trb
17’
22’
2000
3500
110
130
Small Block Plym/Chev
Big/small block Chev/Chry
Unlimited
Turbine Unlimited 29'
Vintage Unlimited 30'
7000
7000
180
160
T55 Lycoming
3000hp V-12 (WW2 aircraft
engine)
200
T-55 Turbine
Vintage
Limited
280
7 Litre
Unlimited Turbine
Unlimited/U
28'
“Thunderboats”
Inboard Limited Vintage are restored
raceboats in the hydroplane and racing
runabout classes. Most of the boats
come from the 1950’s – 80’s and vary
in size. Many have been rescued and
meticulously restored. Class size ranges
from 48cu (cubic inch), up to 7 litre.
Unlimited Vintage boats are affiliated
with the Hydroplane and Raceboat
Museum in Kent. They utilize ‘very
vintage’ WW2 aircraft power plants
such as the Allison V-1710 and the
Rolls Royce Merlin with horsepower
close to 3000. These engines powered
famous war birds such as the Spitfire,
P-38 and P-51. Sizes are approximately
28'- 30' in length and in excess of
8000lbs. These are the real thunderboats.
1 Litre/Y
2.5 Litre Stock/S
2.5 Litre Modified/A
5 Litre/E
National Modified/NM
Grand Prix/GP
Vintage Unlimited
SE Sportsman
Vintage Inboard Hydro
www.tastinracin.com
Mark your calendars for next year’s Tastin’ n Racin’...
Unlimited Turbine/U
4 - 16th Annual Tastin’ N Racin’ Festival
June 8 - 9, 2013
Grand Prix Hydros Return as Marquee Class
The Grand Prix hydroplanes return as the main event of the Tastin’ N Racin’ weekend for the third year in a row.
The 24–26 feet long Grand Prix (GP) hydros are powered by engines that are the same power plants used in top
fuel dragsters at Pacific Raceways and generate 1,500 horse power. GPs normally travel at speeds between 130
and 160 mph. Popular on the East coast, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, GPs are making a resurgence on
the West Coast under the leadership of the GP West organization.
GP-15 Miss Silverlake Dental Arts
Hopp Racing Team, Snohomish, WA
Owner: Jerry Hopp
Driver: Jerry Hopp
GP-12 Miss 401K
Schellhase Racing, Renton, WA
Owner: Bob Schellhase
Driver: Greg Hopp
GP-17 Shockwave Racing
Shockwave Racing, Olympia, WA
Owners: Rick and Shawn Bridgeman
Driver: Dustin Echols
GP-19 Miss Everett
Five Star Racing, LLC., Everett, WA
Owners: Tom Eckenberg/Sue Bundy
Driver: Dave Warren
GP-55
RCL Motorsports, Everett, WA
Owner: Larry Garcia
Driver: Scotty Pierce
GP60 Melaque Mexican Restaurant
Roostertail Racing, Lake Stevens, WA
Owner: Gordy Gillmer
Driver: Gordy Gillmer &Greg Sheard
June 8–10, 2012 - 5
Tastin’N
Racin’
The best-kept secret in Washington
by Fred Nystrom
South Cove resident, Dixon Smith, owner of the ‘60s era Unlimited hydroplane Miss
Bardahl, runs deck to deck with a modern day turbine Unlimited on Lake Sammamish.
B
ack in the 1980s, Issaquah’s Salmon
Days was a small-town event for
locals. During the same weekend
there was a limited hydroplane race on Lake
Sammamish by the state park. As a longtime
hydro fan, local attorney John O’Brien was
struck by the contrast of 25,000 people
attending Salmon Days downtown and maybe only a dozen people watching the races.
The next month, O’Brien attended the
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce’s board
retreat. When the subject of raising more
funds for the Chamber was discussed, he
modestly suggested that the Chamber
expand the hydro event as a Fourth of
July celebration with races and fireworks.
It was quickly apparent that this concept
would not be pursued.
This brought into focus a dilemma
many people face at one time or another:
What do you do when you suggest a new
idea and it falls on deaf ears? Do you
6 - 16th Annual Tastin’ N Racin’ Festival
let the idea expire or do you step up and
do it yourself ?
Luckily for our community and the
hydroplane racers, O’Brien decided to
put his idea into action. He quickly
formed an ad hoc group to put on a
hydroplane event on Lake Sammamish,
recruiting grade school friend Jon
Courtright, Jon’s wife Chris, and hydro
racers Kelly Stocklin and Bob Book
to run the races, and Craig Cooke
of Pacific Rim Talent to coordinate
the food booths, vendors, and bands.
Before anything could happen, though,
O’Brien had to work his way through
numerous state and local agencies
with overlapping responsibilities for
the park and the waters of the lake.
“We needed permits and authorization
from the Washington State Parks and
Recreation Commission, King County
Marine Division, Coast Guard, the city
of Issaquah, Eastside Fire and Rescue,
the King County fire marshal and the
American Power Boat Association, just
to name a few,” he says.
Then came the matter of raising $7,000
to pay for the regatta, prize money,
insurance, rental of boat lifts, and rescue
boats. According to O’Brien, “One month
before the event, the sponsor pulled out.
We were too far along in the planning
to cancel the event, so our core group
advanced the costs that first year. Our
budget is now well into the six figures,
and thankfully the event pays for itself.”
Launching a new festival is always a
risky endeavor. To ensure that the festival
was appealing to more than hard-core
hydro fans, O’Brien and his team made
certain it was accompanied by events,
attractions, and food that would appeal
to the entire family. The event was named
Tastin’ N Racin’ to emphasize the balance
“
One month before the event, the sponsor
pulled out. We were too far along in the
planning to cancel the event...
Tastin’ N Racin’ has something for everyone.
of food, fun, and racing.
When the inaugural event débuted in
June 1997, lots of supporters were crossing
their fingers and hoping that people
would show up and that the races would
be safe, fun, and interesting. They were
ecstatic when more than 12,000 spectators
attended the first two-day event.
By 2008, when more than 38,000
spectators attended the festival, the
attractions had gradually expanded
to offer more food and craft booths,
two beer gardens, a classic and hot rod
car show, and an expanded list of boat
and watercraft races.
This year marks the 16th anniversary
of Tastin’ N Racin’, and it has again been
expanded to offer additional attractions
for spectators. Christine Courtright,
executive director of the festival, says,
“In addition to the 10 classes of limited
hydroplanes, we expect to have 120
The calm before the storm as a class of limited hydroplanes
wait for the start of their heat of racing at Tastin’ N Racin’
food and craft booths. There are two
beer gardens, one right down on the
sandy beach for great race watching.
The Legends car show will be bringing
more than 200 classic cars for up-close
viewing, and we have a host of great
bands covering classic rock ’n’ roll, and
tribute bands. Because of our safety
record, we have been authorized to run
exhibition heats of unlimited turbine
hydroplanes and vintage unlimiteds from
the ’60s such as the Miss Burien, Miss
Thriftway, and Miss O’Berto. There will
be something here for everyone!”
This year the festival runs from June 9
to 10. Although racing does not start until
Saturday, the festival is open and free on
June 8, a Friday. Craig Cooke calls this
the Hydro Happy Hour: Spectators can
come down to enjoy the festival without
a cover charge. On Saturday and Sunday
the entry fee is only $10 for adults, and
Reprinted from the May/June issue of Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond magazine • isandbeyond.com
$5 for children 6 to 15 and seniors 65 or
older. Children 5 and younger are free.
Rain or shine, Tastin’ N Racin’ is a
tradition all area residents can enjoy. And
perhaps It is also a great testament to the
value of believing in your own idea.
Over 200 classic cars will be on
display and bands like British
Export will entertain guests.
June 8–10, 2012 - 7
Friends of Tastin’ n Racin’
We wish to thank all our Friends who help
support Tastin’ n Racin’ and make this great
event possible. For $500, you can become
a member of the Club, receive 20 passes to
the event, a membership to Hydroplane and
Raceboat Museum and the knowledge that
you are making Tastin’ n Racin’ great!
J&C Orchards
Seafair Boat Club
Region 10 Security
Tacoma Inboard Racing Association
O’Brien Law Firm
Pacific Rim Talent
K&K Machine
Full Circle Racing
Our Gang Racing
Cowboy Bob Construction
Forte Electric
Columbia Distributing
Walter H. Johnson Company
Hollywood Lights
Lake Sammamish State Park
Jensen Motor Boat Company
I-90 Motorsports
Pacific Northwest Legions Car Club
Abbey Party Rents
Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce
Seafair Pirates
I-90 E - Exit 27 & I-90 W - Exit 31
37500 SE North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
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www.tastinracin.com
Mark your calendars for next year’s Tastin’ n Racin’...
June 8 - 9, 2013