This is one of the biggest
events in the Tri-Cities. Held at the Columbia Park East,
the hydroplane races Delights crowds of all ages from all
over the country. Put on by the Tri-City Water Follies in
July of each year, this weekend festival was originally
started in 1966 and is not only the largest and most
attended festival in the Tri-Cities, but in the
Pacific Northwest region in general. It features such
attractions as military and civilian air shows, games,
music, and, of course, racing, there is something for
everyone.
The Kennewick races have received numerous awards,
including the American Boat Racing Association’s
“Outstanding Race Site Promotion”. It also gets extensive
media coverage, and is broadcast on local and national
television to more than 3 million people. There is also
radio coverage, streaming feeds on the Internet, and it
features in more than 100 newspapers nationwide.
What are hydroplanes? They are a type of motorboat, used
solely for racing. If you have ever driven on very wet
roads, and felt your tires lose grip, you were
hydroplaning: your tires were running on the water rather
than on the road surface. Hydroplane motorboats utilize
this same principle, and use the water surface for
propulsion and steering rather than for support. At full
speed, a minuscule percentage of the boat is actually in
contact with the water. They are traveling at speeds
of 150 to 180 mph and faster.
Hydroplane racing is exhilarating to participate in,
whether as an active participant or an enthusiastic
onlooker. There is no wonder why people with homes in
Kennewick and beyond flock to Columbia Park East to enjoy
the spectacle of extreme racing on the Columbia River.
The Tri city Water Follies annual Rumble on the River
makes a sizeable contribution to Kennewick Real Estate and
the rest of the Tri City real estate area. Local civic
organizations, as well as other groups that help make the
event a success, receive over $20,000 in funding for their
efforts. It also contributes over $3,000,000.00 to the
general economy through tourism, increased hotel bookings,
and heavily increased traffic through gas stations, fast
food chains and restaurants.
