We received the following query from My Green Lake reader Matt:
I recently got the rare privilege of driving a power boat on the lake, and was remembering the scary days of my youth when limited hydroplanes raced on Green Lake. I wonder if you folks have anyone who might be able to share some photos of those events?
I just remember being on the shore and being terrified of how loud and fast those things were…
Thank you for writing, Matt, and for focusing our attention on this fascinating aspect of our neighborhood’s history.
Many Green Lake residents may not know that for several years the Seafair festivities at Green Lake included not just the Milk Carton Derby but also hydroplane races.
The races, which date back to 1929, became a part of Seafair when the festival began in 1950. They served as a yearly prelude to the Lake Washington races that still survive today (thanks to Duke Moscrip of Duke’s Chowder House).
The weekend event, with its free admission, was referred to as “the best of boat racing.” In fact in 1975, Green Lake was the host of the Heidelberg Inboard World Championships, the most prestigious limited inboard event in the world. These boats would fly around Green Lake at better than 100 mph on the 1 2/3 mile oval course.
The hydroplane racing at Green Lake was specifically set up to be spectator friendly. Spectacular close-up viewing of these flying boats was available along the southeast shore of Green Lake and more than 100,000 people would attend the free three-day event. More than 100 boats would arrive from all over the country to compete for the A.P.B.A. National Championships in four different flatbottom inboard classes. Only the 12 fastest in each class would compete in the finals on “Super Sunday.” In addition to the flatbottom inboards, there were five-liter inboards and six classes of outboard racing including the seven-liters all competing for trophies and prizes.
Green Lake was known as the fastest inboard racing course in the world and was the home to more inboard records than any other course. The weekend show would also include a blown fuel drag boat exhibition with boats approaching 200 mph in their 1/4 mile sprint.
[seafair.com]
However, as the years passed, many Green Lake residents grew increasingly disenchanted with the hydroplane races.
HistoryLink.org reports that in 1976 the Green Lake Community Council surveyed 1,000 homes and found that 73% of the residents favored modifications to the racing program or the complete elimination of it.
The boats were noisy, the neighborhood was flooded with people and traffic, and there was concern about the environmental impacts of hydroplane racing on the lake.
In 1984, public sentiment reached a tipping point. From HistoryLink.org:
On May 23, 1984, Sasha, a five year old snow leopard, gave birth to two cubs. After four days of constant attention to her offspring, she stopped attending the cubs with the first hydroplane race of the Memorial Day weekend. Leaving the den box and frequently looking toward the source of the noise, she never returned to the cubs. One of the cubs died two weeks later.
In response to a public outcry, the Park Board held an open hearing on August 4, 1984, at which the zoo veterinarian appeared. Petitions, letters, and oral testimony were heard. At its August 16th meeting Board members instructed the park department staff to come up with options within the next three to four months to relocate the races. Members agreed that hydroplane racing was no longer compatible with the usual activities at Green Lake.
The impact of the snow leopard death on city residents was the death knell for hydroplane racing at Green Lake. On November 15, 1984, the Park Board voted 5-2 to recommend a permanent ban.
Some footage from the final races:
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Do you remember the hydroplane races at Green Lake? Share your memories in the comments to this post.
Do you have photos or video footage of the races that we can share with the neighborhood? Drop us a line at tips@mygreenlake.com.
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