2 Vintage Hydros Collide During Columbia Cup Demonstration Heat [VIDEO]

 Townsquare Media Video

  Accidents happen, and fortunately, this one did not result in any injuries.

Sunday afternoon, around 2 PM the two remaining vintage hydros were coming out for their Vintage Heat 'race'.  The Miss Budweiser and the Atlas Van Lines mechanically broke, leaving the Pay n' Pak and the Squire Shop to run a ceremonial 'heat' race for fans, throwing back to the early 1980's.

Get our free mobile app

As they thundered down the Kennewick side of the Columbia River course, the Squire abruptly veered into front of the Pak, making contact, and knocking the white Pay 'n Pak boat up in the air slightly.  Both boats came to a drifting stop and had to be towed back to the Lampson pits.

  What Caused the Crash?

The H1 Announcing Team did not mention an 'official' statement, but it's believed the Squire Shop driver might have thought they were running the smaller Grand Prix boat course. Those are the automotive powered and very loud boats. But, we don't conclusively know.

The announcers referenced that because of their old school open cockpits, the vintage drivers don't have radios.  And, due to the multiple course sizes laid out 'inside' the 2.5 mile unlimited course, it's hard to navigate the buoys at times.

Fortunately no injuries reported, but several hydro Facebook pages later showed extensive damage to the sponsons in front and sides to the boats.

For many fans, including myself, it was very disappointing, because the vintage thunder boats with the roar of their 2,000 and 3,000 HP Allison and Rolls Royce engines was one of the big reasons we do to the races.