Space-Age Hydroplanes Will Race at Lake Mead

After an absence of more than a quarter of a century, unlimited hydroplane racing will return to Nevada, but veteran observers won’t recognize this new style of racing.

Space-age technology has made a strong impact on unlimited hydroplane racing with high-tech, super-sophisticated and ultra-swift boats capable of approaching almost the speed of Indy 500 cars.

Racing fans will be watching the world’s fastest boat races in the $150,000 Budweiser Las Vegas Silver Cup Race Sept. 26-28 on Lake Mead, about 22 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

Although the purse is the richest among the 10 races this year (two others match it), admission is free for the qualifying heats Sept. 26 and 27, as well as the finals Sunday Sept. 18 over the 2 1/2-mile oval course. Racing action begins at 10 a.m. each day.

Herb McDonald, executive director of the co-sponsoring Las Vegas Events, Inc., recalls the last race he sponsored in 1959 on Lake Mead.

“The entire purse was only $10,000,” McDonald said. “Mira Slovak won the race with an overall average of 106.4, a speed which wouldn’t qualify for the finals this time.”

Some of today’s hydroplanes are turbine driven, powered by World War II surplus Rolls-Royce and Allison engines.

Cockpits are enclosed by canopies taken right off F-16 jet fighter planes.

And hulls are dramatically lighter because of aircraft construction techniques, including use of aluminum honeycomb and fiberglass.

These improvements have enabled Chip Hanauer, last year’s driving champion, to catapult his turbine-powered Miller American to a speed of 153 m.p.h. in lap qualifying last year in the Tri-Cities (Wash.) Budweiser Columbia Cup.

Hanauer, 32, who has won more races (20) than any living driver, boasts another prized distinction. He became only the second driver in history to win five consecutive Gold Cup races, the most coveted award in unlimited hydroplane racing.

Hanauer won his fifth Gold Cup last June in Detroit, matching the feat of legendary racer Gar Wood, who got his fifth one 65 years ago (1917-1921).

Experts say modern hydroplanes can hits speed of 210 m.p.h. on the back straight (stretch), covering the distance more airborne than water-bound, and spewing a roostertail of seven tons of water.

For an on-land comparison, a boat going that speed can race down a football field in one second.

The Big Four of hydroplane racing--Hanauer, winner of five races out of nine last year and two of four in 1986; Jim Kronfeld, winner of two 1986 races in Miss Budweiser; Steve Reynolds in Miss 7-Eleven and Ron Snyder in Miss Madison--as well as other top drivers, will be competing for the $150,000 prize money in the Vegas race.

Final results in this race could determine the 1986 national hydroplane racing champion.