Northwest Hydro Racing Forum

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The sun is about to set over Rattlesnake Mountain, and the pits are just about empty - except for a few of us lizards.

The U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto pulled out of town and headed west just a few minutes ago. Steve David had another second-place finish in his back pocket, but not the prize he sought. Perhaps next week at Seafair.

The radio boys long ago packed up their gear and went home. So have the TV crews. But hydroracing.com is still here, uploading a few more photos, stories, videos, panos and more.

We had a fun weekend in our tin shack by the river. We'll see you in a year.

Good on Dave Villwock for winning his seventh championship on the Columbia River, the same number as Chip Hanauer.

However, this was one of the more boring weekends we've spent here.

But at least it wasn't too hot today. It's a cool 91 degrees here. It feels more like 89.

Remember your sponsor's name. Case in point: During a KONA interview a moment ago, Chris Bertram said he was glad to finish second in Heat 3B for "Conair Insurance."

Uh, that's Conover Insurance.

Ed Cooper blew an engine in Heat 2. He has told us he is finished for the day - he's used his allotment of engines for the Tri-Cities this year.

The hydros are on the water for Heat 2A. With Theoret and Villwock in the same heat, this should be a heck of a race.

Nothing scientific here, but it's our feeling that crowd sizes are way down this year. We measure this by the ease with which we're able to get in and out of Columbia Park - and we've never had an easier time than this weekend.

Those who are down here seem to be having a great time, perhaps because there's more elbow room. And the racing is good.

Perhaps it's the lack of unlimited lights or G-class boats, which have been here in past years, but we are not sure.

We'll continue to ask around and see if these are just feelings or real.

Good morning, hydro fans. The Lampson Pits are just starting to wake up, with boat crews getting coffee and breakfast. The gates open in 25 minutes, but fans began to line up along Highway 240 more than two hours ago.

It got quite windy overnight, but weather conditions seem much better this morning. Not a cloud is in the sky, and we have a light breeze, much like Saturday morning.

The vintage boats get out for a race at 10:40 a.m., followed by Heat 2A at 11 a.m.

The U-3 Hoss Mortgage lost a prop during the first lap of Heat 1C.

These things are not cheap; they cost thousands to replace. As one of the folks in our trailer says, "You don't go pick up one of those at Kragens."

Our Bethany Lee caught the flying prop on video. Check it out here.

We guess the KONA guys are a little cranky about the TV folks taking a greater interest in a sport KONA has owned over the airwaves for several decades.

A few minutes ago, KONA tried to get to an interview but was thwarted by some television cameraman.

Said one of the guys (one the air): "I guess we'll let the novices ask their questions first."

Ouch!