The Slough Came Roaring Back

The Seattle Watersports Kenwood Hydroplane Cup was a great event despite some uncooperative weather. A bit of history, a look toward the future and a community that understands its connection to the water. In the days leading up to the event a feeling started to develop that this would be a success, see here and here. Racing great Chip Hanauer (The Boat Guy) was on hand to call it and we can expect a video soon. Kudos to Gaul Culley and her team. If anyone was on hand for this and would like to add a little color, please comment below or send me a separate email. In the meantime, here are photos and a report from the Seattle Outboard Association:

Patrick Gleason’s vintage B-Utility Runabout was declared winner in 2-Cylinder Runabout. The motor used was one of John Myers many creations. J-Dub Myers brought it back for the event, and drove it himself in a number of fly-by passes.

Unlimited driver Nate Brown in his home-built runabout. The boat's a scaled down ski-boat powered by a jet-ski engine and drive. His Passenger is Lisa Engel.

Pat Gleason, Kyle Bahl and JW Myers warming up Pat's BU before a demonstration run. JW's an Unlimited Driver, and the motor's from his dad's collection.

A demo run of the BU with JW Myers driving.

Dwight Malhiot showing off Lil Audrey. The boat's a really big Di Silva racing runabout That Dwight and Roy Yeager ran as 1100cc Runabout class. Typically these boats use Foreign UIM displacement specialty motors, But Dwight, who races in the Antique classes built an Evinrude "460" for this. It's about 1,000cc, 4 cylinder opposed and cast-iron, a product of the 1930s. Raced as 1100 runabout, the boat carries a driver and deck-rider, whose job is to move around in the back of the boat, using body weight to assist handling...Kinda like motorcycle sidecar racing.

Freddie Kalama’s War Canoe Redwing returns just ahead of Doug Reed’s Loyal-C in one of the few Slough to Log Boom Park & back cycles completed before winds made Lake Washington’s North end open waters too rough for racing.

3-Cylinder and up The Winner was J Michael Kelly Seen at left with King County Councilman Rod Dembroski. A planned short race between the councilman and Kenmore Mayor Dave Baker (as passenger in Dwight Malhiot’s 1100 Runabout ended when the 1100’s 460 went on strike.

Here's Amberly's (Gaul's) father in law, Dave Culley after a demo of his 850cc Karelsen Hydro. The boat Designer, Ed Karelsen is famous for his designs including Miss Bardahl and a Miss Budweiser. Dave's a long time racer, a past multiple winner of the slough race and former Crew Chief of the Miss Budweiser Unlimited Hydro. I don't know who's with Dave, but Amberly might.

Dave Culley Demonstrating his big Karelsen Hydro for the spectators.

Another look at Dave's West pass.

JW Myers warming up one of his dad's old runabouts.

Participants aligned for a spectators' fly-by.

Kyle Lewis refitting the cowl of a 4 cylinder Mercury before demonstrating the historic hydroplane it's attached to.

Kyle in a Demonstration pass. The boat set numerous records, including becoming the first 350 to break 100 mph.

Setting up for the Mayor vs Councilman raceJ Michael Kelly and Councilman Rod Dembroski are aboard and ready while Dwight sets Audrey up for Mayor Dave Baker

A second shot with all aboard

Nate Brown and an Amphicar loop in circles just off the launch ramp. I'm not sure where the Amphicar came from...There are 20 or more locally and nearly all turn out for SYC's opening day yacht Parade. I don't recall it coming back ashore, so It might have been an owner just using the site for a launch and day cruise.

Nate Brown’s pint-sized ski boat was a crowd favorite. The boat’s a tiny home-built powered by a jetski motor and thrust pump. Nate and co-pilot Lisa Engel ran with the 2 cylinder boats, actually getting back first thanks to it’s better handling on rough lake water.

Seattle Outboard Association’s April 5th return to the Samammish Slough drew support and cheers from many happy spectators and Kenmore residents at two locations, despite rainy, somewhat windy weather. In Log Boom Park they got a close up look at vintage race boats on display, including the Unlimited Miss Wahoo replica, and watched racing heats by J-Hydro racers. At the Kenmore boat ramp up the slough at 68th street Several classes of racing outboards and Tribal War Canoes ran off a series of demonstrations and fly-bys. Original intent was to race from the boat launch down the slough and across lake washington, then loop back at Log Boom Park. There was good protection from the wind in the Slough channel, but Lake Washington’s open water between the Slough mouth and the park was rough fron exposure to South wind coming up the length of the lake. All in all, a successful day, and with luck, care and effort perhaps a re-establishment of a historic and highly iconic racing event.