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Detroit Hydrofest 2019
Changes in store for Hydrofest boat races this weekend
More than 40 powerboats will race the Detroit River in a newly formatted event this weekend in the 2019 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest.
Thousands of spectators are expected to watch racers roar across a 1.25 mile course on the Detroit River, with hydroplanes reaching speeds of 150 mph and more.
This year's Hydrofest will take place over two days, as opposed to three, to appeal to "2019 lifestyles," organizers said in June.
Hydrofest will feature three competing classes of boats, with a dozen 24-foot Grand Prix boats from Canada, New Zealand and the U.S. in the event's main attraction, as well as 20-22 H-350 hydroplanes and flat-bottom Jersey speed skiffs. There will also be several vintage hydroplanes running a heat on Saturday and Sunday.
For the first time in 30 years, it will be an all piston-powered event — which means it will be louder but with the familiar, thrilling "rooster tail" spray of water that is created in speeding boats' wakes — with races run every 15 minutes.
Top competitors include Detroit-area native Andrew Tate in the the H-350 class, and Valleyfield, Quebec, Grand Prix winner Jimmy King.
The 103-year-old event lost its Gold Cup race, which featured powerboats hitting speeds of more than 200 mph, due to stalled contract talks earlier this year. Over the years, the event has cycled through lead sponsors and organizers while grappling with financial sustainability.
Organizers are looking forward to the beautiful weather, which is forecast to be sunny with high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s.
Food vendors and grandstands will be set up next to the Roostertail at 100 Marquette Dr., off Jefferson Avenue, and parking will be available at Muncey and Piston Park parking lots for $25.
Food vendors and grandstands for the Hydrofest will be set up next to the Roostertail and parking is available at Muncey and Piston parks.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m. so attendees can check out testing and tuning, which starts at 9 a.m., with the final race wrapping up at 4:35 p.m. Sunday.
Ticket sales are on track with expectations, according to Mark Weber, president of the race organizer Detroit Riverfront Events Inc., who could not immediately provide exact figures.
Depending on the section, ticket prices are 10 percent-20 percent lower compared to last year, spokeswoman Melissa Roy said. Pricing options were modified to allow for greater access to the event.
Tickets range from $10 up to $200 for VIP seats, which includes a view from the VIP tent, an open buffet-style lunch and nonalcoholic beverages, according to a release. Grandstand seat tickets are $20 for Saturday and $25 for Sunday.
Any Detroit City FC fan who presents a season pass or ticket from the team's 2019 season will receive free access to a grandstand seat, Roy said. In turn, Hydrofest ticket holders can get free admission to the DCFC game Aug. 31. The race organizer saw the soccer-boat racing partnership as a mutually beneficial opportunity to expose the racing event's loyal fan base to Detroit City FC, a newer community sports organization launched in 2012, and DCFC fans to one of Detroit's oldest sports, according to Roy.
Three-time Gold Cup champion and Grand Prix national champion Tom D'Eath is honorary race chairman, while former Detroit Lions kicker Eddie Murray and Michelle O'Connor-Tekinski, executive director of statewide autism services for Grand Rapids-based Hope Network, are co-grand marshals this year.
Returning as title sponsor for the third year is the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Local Marketing Association, which also sponsored the event on one-year deals in 2017 and 2018.
The 2019 Hydrofest is aided by 250 volunteers and counts Andiamo, Ally Financial and DTE Energy Co. among its supporting sponsors. Around 50 percent of the event is funded by sponsors, while the rest is paid for by ticket sales, according to Weber. He declined to provide sponsorship dollars details.
This year's total event costs are expected to be around $400,000, compared to $500,000 for last year's three-day event, Weber told Crain's.
This year, Hope Network is providing a sensory-friendly tent, available 11 a.m.-3 p.m. both days, for children who may be sensitive to the noise from the action-packed event, according to the release. The tent will be staffed by specialists from the specialty health service provider.
"We are excited to be a part of the 2019 Hydrofest as we continue to grow and expand our autism services in the Detroit community," Hope Network President and CEO Phil Weaver said in the release. "By offering a sensory-reprieve area, families can retreat from the action of the races for a few moments with their children."
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports...-races-weekend
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Hydrofest returns to Detroit River
DETROIT — As the calendar closes on August and the summer comes to its conclusion, the city of Detroit will have one more marquee event.
When the Hydroplane Racing League hits the Detroit Riverfront for the 103rd straight year Aug. 24-25, it will follow in the footsteps of the Detroit Grand Prix and the Rocket Mortgage Classic as large-scale events that can attract many.
Detroit Riverfront Events Inc. President Mark Weber said that it can only do good things for the city.
“It is a big part of the economic impact of the city,” he said. “With all the excitement in the city, people come down, and after the event some of them go to the casino or they go back and enjoy the rebirth of the city. It draws people down there.”
Walled Lake native Andrew Tate has been racing on the Detroit River since 2015. His father and his grandfather before him both raced on the river. While Tate is excited to be racing close to home, he also is looking forward to seeing attendees get acclimated to the city.
“Detroit has had the ability in the past couple years to showcase its growth,” Tate said. “What’s cool about this year, at least for the boat races, is we’re going to have people coming from Quebec. They may have never been to Detroit or may have not been here for 10 to 20 years. People who don’t live here haven’t seen the change, and they’ll be able to see the progress we’ve made.”
For the first time in more than 30 years, the Hydrofest will be an all piston-powered event, meaning the boats will be noticeably louder than in years prior. This year’s event will feature three different classes of racing — Grand Prix, H-350 and Jersey Skiff.
The Grand Prix drivers will be racing for the historic Presidents Cup, and the H-350 drivers will be racing for the newly implemented Spirit of Detroit Silver Cup.
Tate — who captured the last Presidents Cup in Detroit in 2017 and won the American Powerboat Association Gold Cup last year — will be racing in both the Grand Prix and H-350 classes. He said racing in his own backyard amplifies his competitive drive.
“You definitely feel the pressure with the eyes of friends and family, or people who don’t always get to see you race,” Tate said. “To have them there is always special, and there’s always pressure to perform well for people who come to support you.”
For the 2019 Hydrofest, Weber and other race organizers have tailored the event to attract more casual fans. Racegoers will be able to bring blankets, craft a picnic-like setup and enjoy the races along the riverfront. There will also be grandstand seating for those who want a more up-close and personal look at the action.
The races are scheduled to start at noon and end at 4:30 p.m. With heats running every 15 minutes, fans will be able to enjoy nonstop action all weekend long.
“We’re trying to make it a tight schedule and very action packed,” Weber said. “We have put a tight show together so that it’s nonstop, action packed, so you can come watch the race and you can get on with your day.”
When asked what makes the races a must-see event, Weber said the boats speak for themselves.
“It’s right in front of you,” he said. “To see these boats flying over the water (at) 150-plus miles per hour, it’s something that until you physically see it, you don’t necessarily get the complete wow factor.”
For more information, visit detroitboatraces.com.
https://www.candgnews.com/sports/hyd...t-river-114605
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