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What: “Roostertails ‘99: Four Decades of Hydro Racing,” compiled by David D. Williams.

Publisher: Williams Publishing, Seattle.

Price: $19.99 plus $4 handling, available from www.hydros.org.

“Roostertails ‘99” is the definitive story of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing,” writes Bob Gobrecht, president of the Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Assn., in the preface, and that about tells the story.

David Williams has produced a 104-page book that is part historical, part statistical and part informational, but filled with colorful pictures of the unlimiteds and their majestic roostertails throwing spray 70 feet in the air.

All of the legends of the sport, from Jack Regas, its first champion in 1958, to Mira Slovak, Bill Muncey, Chip Hanauer and the current champion, Dave Villwock, are chronicled. As are the great boats, from Miss Bardahl and Hawaii Kai to Atlas Van Lines, Miller American and the ubiquitous U-1 Miss Budweiser, winner of 18 championships and 12 Gold Cups. And their owners, from Ole Bardahl to Bernie Little.

“The American Power Boat Assn. Challenge Cup, otherwise known as the Gold Cup, is the world’s oldest active motorsports trophy,” Williams writes. It was first held in 1904, when C.C. Riotte drove the Standard to victory, averaging only 23.6 mph.

The book is also a resource guide for this season, complete with backgrounds of all drivers, boats, teams and racing sites. There are interesting tidbits. For instance, San Diego’s Mission Bay, where the hydros will race for the Bill Muncey Cup on Sept. 19, was once a swampy area that needed 15 million cubic yards of sand to become a suitable saltwater race course, complete with pit area.

Hydros push 200 mph on straightaways, covering the length of a football field every second, and slide through turns at 170--without the advantage of banking in the corners. And there are no lanes painted on the water.

You won’t feel the spray while thumbing through “Roostertails ‘99,” but it will be a suitable substitute until you see the big boats in person.