Moses Lake Regatta results are a family affair

Three father-son teams win places

MOSES LAKE - The sound of high-performance engines echoed off of Moses Lake throughout the sunny weekend as hydroplanes raced near Connelly park.

Papa's Casino presented the 4th annual Moses Lake Regatta. The two-day competition featured various classes of hydroplane racing boats from craft with outboard engines to the Gran Prix class, which are one step below the unlimited hydroplanes in engine power.

Officials, racers and boat crews from around the state came to Moses Lake to participate, along with officials from the American Powerboat Association and the Seattle Drag and Ski Sprint Boat Association.

"It went over really well. It was perfect weather. It was a perfect spectator crowd. I heard nothing but positive things," said race director Ana Cappelletti. "We want to thank everyone for all their hard work … It was a wonderful weekend."

At the end of the two days of competition, three classes were dominated by father-son competitors. In the One Liter division, two cousins raced each other to finish with second and third places.

"Hydroplane racing is a wonderful family sport and we have a lot of families involved," Cappelletti said.

Rick Adams earned first place in the Formula One class with his son Ken Adams close behind to take second place.

Jerry Hopp and his son Gregg shared duties racing their Gran Prix hydroplane to take first place.

Gran Prix hydroplanes use large V-8 engines running on alcohol and have blowers, similar to professional drag racing cars.

In the SST 45 class, Dad kept ahead of his son as Wayne Peeters earned first place and his son John Peeters trailing in third place.

In the One Liter class, cousins Brian Perkins and Joe Perkins battled it out with Brian taking second place and Joe in third.

For the older family members, a few classic hydroplanes were run for demonstration purposes, according to Cappelletti. In addition to a 1948 wooden racing hydro, the hydroplane Best Wishes was on hand for people touring the pits.

Best Wishes was the boat driven by hydroplane racing legend Bill Muncey from 1959 to 1966. Muncey won eight Gold Cups, seven U.S. National Championships and four World Championships in his three decades of hydroplane racing.

"They are basically … there for show," said Cappelletti. "They run those boats and restore them."

During the competition the Moses Lake Lions Club served breakfast and lunch during both days of competition.

Ace of Spades four-wheel drive motor sport club assisted with moving boats and organizing the pits.

4th annual Moses Lake Regatta results:

• Formula 150 - 3rd Will Hough, 2nd Ken Adams, 1st Rick Adams

• Gran Prix - 3rd Kip Brown, 2nd Dustin Echols, 1st Jerry and Gregg Hopp

• National Mod Class - 2nd Ross Bourke, 1st Bill Strain

• Pro Stock - 3rd Lenny Baker, 2nd Tim Hamilton, 1st Jeff Gibson

• SST 45 - 3rd John Peeters, 2nd Daren Goehring, 1st Wayne Peeters

• 1 Liter - 3rd Joe Perkins, 2nd Brian Perkins, 2nd Bianca Bononicini, 1st Robbie Dahlquist

• 2.5 Mod - 3rd Jared Knelleken, 2nd Chris Bertram, 1st Rob Hall

• 2.5 Stock - 3rd Leslie Warren, 2nd Chris Fanaris, 1st Brian Hajny

• 5 Liter Class - 3rd Craig Bonar, 2nd Jimmy Mauldin, 1st Travis Johnston