Owensboro HydroFair returns to riverfront this weekend; OMSH features exhibit in SpeedZeum

August 16, 2021 | 12:07 am

Updated August 16, 2021 | 8:12 am

Photos by Ryan Richardson

The Air Show is over, but the riverfront is expected to be packed again this weekend for another high-profile event as hydroplane racing returns to Owensboro for the first time in more than 40 years.

Organizers say this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with upwards of 60 teams traveling from all across North America to compete.

For the first time ever, the Owensboro HydroFair will serve as the North American Championships for the American Powerboat Association, which equates to a larger turnout and better competition. This year’s event features seven classes of racing. 

Hydroplane testing will run from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, with qualifying races scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Championship races are expected to begin a 1 p.m. on Sunday and conclude at 4 p.m.

The course is a 1.25-mile oval track that consumes much of the Owensboro riverfront with a start/finish line in front of the Owensboro Convention Center. Reserved seating is available at the Convention Center in groups of eight to practice social distancing. For more information on the VIP tickets, visit the ticket website here

Often referred to as thunderboats — the boats are fast, powerful, and loud — hydroplanes can reach top speeds of 170 miles per hour. Their lightweight design is such that they use the water they are on for lift rather than buoyancy. They also use the water for propulsion and steering.

A life-size replica of a HydroPlane is displayed at the Owensboro Museum of Science and History in their SpeedZeum exhibit. The SpeedZeum is “a gallery dedicated to motorsports, local racing history, and the successes from racing athletes who hail from Owensboro and the surrounding area.”

Anyone interested in checking out the exhibit to see some of the hydroplane history in Owensboro before this weekend’s event can visit the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission to the museum is $5 per person, though children 2 and under are admitted free.

Organizers said that the English Park boat ramp will be closed throughout the HydroFair weekend and that the river will be closed to spectator boats. 
For more information about the event and to access the course map, visit the Owensboro HydroFair’s website here.

August 16, 2021 | 12:07 am

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