NEWS 2010
3/8/210 From GP-15 Jerry's Hopp Corner
March 7, 2010 (Seattle WA) The Grand Prix West Hydroplane’s announced today they’ll be roaring into Moses Lake’s 6th Annual “Papa’s Casino Presents The Moses Lake Regatta at Connelly Park” April 24th & 25th 2010.
The Moses Lake event will host the American Power Boat Associations (APBA) inboard hydroplane class commonly known as the Grand Prix West (“GPW”). As in the past and more often known as the “Grand Prix’s”, these boats thrill race fans with their super-charged big block deck to deck spectacles and ear splitting thunderous roar which literally can be heard for miles around. The Grand Prix Hydroplanes with be competing at several events with the H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes for the 2010 season.
The roar of finely-tuned race engines will once again echo across the Moses Lake desert when the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Inboard Hydroplanes return for the annual Papa's Casino Presents Moses Lake Regatta at Connelly Park. As in years past, headlining the competition will be the thundering ‘Grand Prix’ boats. However, this year, they will compete under the auspices of their own organization, ‘Grand Prix West’ (GPW), assuring not only closer competition and increased boat-count, but added excitement and spectacle. Expect at least six, and possibly more, of these largest, fastest, and loudest of automotive-powered hydroplanes (see attached entrant-list, and team-profile pages).
Grand Prix’s (GP’s) feature supercharged big-block engines producing as much as 1500 horsepower, and the 24-26 foot craft attain speeds in excess of 150 miles-per-hour in the straight-a-ways with lap averages approaching 130 mph. Long a premier class on the east coast of North America, ‘Grand Prix West’ is the first club to organize GP racing on the west coast and consists mostly, but not exclusively, of west coast teams. This new club also boasts enthusiastic membership from the Midwest, and even one team from the deep South.
The Moses Lake Regatta will be one of the first races under the GPW banner, though most of the participants have long competed together within the APBA and other organizations. 2009 saw a sneak preview when the GPW boats were invited to run in conjunction with the turbine-powered Unlimited Hydroplanes at the prestigious ‘Thunder on the Ohio’ in Evansville, Ohio. Garnering rave reviews, the GPW boats not only provided most of the “thunder”, they earned a probable return engagement. Then, in a fitting end to the boat-racing season, the class gathered for the Lake Chelan, Washington Inboard race. Once again they provided a healthy portion of the excitement, including the return-to-competition of famous boat-racer Mark Evans.
While 2010 is GPW’s inaugural year, and Moses Lake is its inaugural race, expect great things from this organization. Plans are in the works for races throughout the country. An east-west championship-style race is in the discussion stage that, if successful, could present a participant-field the size of which has not been seen in decades. Organized Grand Prix racing has invaded the west coast and the thunder is rolling. Don’t miss it.
For additional information visit; www.gpwracing.com and www.moseslakeregatta.com
2/11/10 - Wow its February now and we have just over a week tell the Winter Meeting and our Banquet next Saturday. Hope all the boats are closes to being done. Our first race of the season is about 60 days away. This year's Annual Awards Banquet and Party is hosted by Seattle Inboard Racing Association at Don Kelson's Museum. It's always a fun party to go to.
This year it starts at 6:30 pm
Don Kelson's Museum
225 S Austin
Seattle, WA 98108
Hositality Hour 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Dinner 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Awards - 8:30- 10:pm
2009 News