Nostalgic boats to roar on Lake Sammamish

There will be a new treat for boat racing fans to sample at this weekend’s Tastin’NRacin’ festival at Lake Sammamish State Park near Seattle and it will be served up by a group of local racers.

Nostalgic Circle Boats of Spokane will join the Unlimited Lights and other race boats in a two-day show that will be a first for boat racing fans from the west side. The venue is expected to draw the biggest crowd the local drivers will see this year. Nearly 40,000 people attended last year¹s event.

According to class organizer Boyd Schnell, 20 of the nostalgic inboard ski boats will be in the pits along with the supercharged Unlimited Lights and the Lighter than Light 5-liter hydroplanes.

It will be somewhat of a step back in time according to Schnell.

“Piston-powered thunder boats, the kind we all remember from decades ago, are back, all sporting big loud V8 engines,” he said.

The flat-bottoms made their debut in 2001. The first race drew five boats, the second had 12 and the third drew 18. A Nostalgic Racers Reunion recently at Banks Lake near Coulee Dam drew some 40 boats. Boats came from as far away as Chicago and Florida.

Power ranges from a 350 cubic-inch small-block Chevy to a 460 c.i. Stroker.

“The difference in power is equalized in the corners,” Schnell said. “They all have to slow down in the corners.”

That will be a new experience for one driver. Spokane¹s Brent Harnack, a veteran outboard driver with nearly 50 years at the controls.

“I can drive a hydro into a corner at 120 miles-per-hour,” Harnack said.

On the other hand, flat-bottoms were originally designed as drag boats are made to go straight.

Even though he’s a rookie in the class, Harnack will call on experience and tricks from his hydro racing days to get a leg up on the veterans.

“I’m a good starter,” Harnack said.

The Nostalgic Circle Boats are not only getting new exposure on the race course the boats, which race with Northwest Water Competition Hydroplane Club of Spokane have been featured in the May issue of Hot Boat Magazine.

Tastin’NRacin’ starts Friday with a free test and show day and continues Saturday. The Nostalgic Circle Boats run their first heat at 11:45.

Drag racers head to Woodburn

Local drag racers are off to Woodburn, Ore., this weekend for the third of seven races of the Lucas Oil NHRA Division Six Series. And a number of them hold high places in division points.

Spokane drivers Todd Hoerner (Top Comp) is second in the points as is Mike Cofini in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Coming off his big win in Mission, B.C. Brett Hordemann is in third place in the Kerker Motorcycle Series. Also in third place is Tom Manfred

After a runner-up finish in Mission Manfred is third in division Super Street points and third in the JEGS All-Star points. Mark Resen is seventh in Super Street.

Give Dad Competitive Edge

Tired of giving dad ties, aftershave and fishing tackle for Father¹s Day?

Competitive Edge Racing School at Stateline Speedway has unique gift packages for Father’s Day weekend. “The Taste of Racing” ($100 for 15 laps) will be offered Friday June 18th from 4-8 p.m. And if you really want to impress pop the

“Father’s Day Racing School” ($379 for 50 laps / $599 for 100 laps) will take place Sunday June 20th.

For information, call (208) 777-7080.

Pit stops

Northport International Raceway will stage the first of three Saturday races this weekend. Time trials begin at 1 p.m. Other Saturday races will occur on July 31 and August 21 but are evening events with gates opening at 5 p.m. Info: Mark Meldrum (509) 732-1168Š

•Spokane Raceway Park will stage its Mid-Season Championships this Saturday on the drag strip, while Sportsman Superstocks highlight the oval track program. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7Š

•Stateline Speedway will offer the Northwest Late Model 4s along with the Northwest Outlaw Street Stock Challenge, Lightning Trucks and Hobby Stocks. Time trials begin at 6 p.m

Streaks & Stats

Kevin Richards has now won two of last three Northwest Late Model races at Spokane Raceway Park… . Garrett Evans leads the points in the NASCAR Northwest Series as those racers head to Twin Falls, Idaho for the fifth event of the season Saturday.