Classic hydroplanes like Miss Bud and Pay ‘n Pak return to race Lake Washington this weekend, with events livestreamed for all.
Do the names Miss Bud, Pay ‘n Pak, Squire Shop, or Atlas Van Lines sound familiar? If you’re a fan of hydroplane racing, the answer is probably a resounding “yes.” Those 1980s-era boats—reaching speeds of up to 160 miles per hour on straightaways—featured open cockpits, no seatbelts for the driver, no keel, and Allison piston engines spinning a propeller 13,000 times per minute (that’s 216 times per second). Riding on a cushion of air with just 18 inches of rudder in the water to adjust direction, they’ll kick up rooster tails, roar with engine power that can be heard from Lake Washington all the way to Burien, and release exhaust from octane specially blended in Auburn at levels up to 145.
All this action takes place this coming Friday through Sunday, August 1–3.
The home of these behemoths (the word “boat” doesn’t do them justice) is the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Kent, located just a mile west of I-5 on 196th. To get there, drive west on 200th, cross beneath I-5, follow the road as it becomes 196th, and then at another curve, keep an eye out for hydroplanes that are nearly sticking into the road. Turn right—that’s the entrance to the parking lot.
I stopped by to talk with Burien natives Ken Strong, Chief Docent and proud graduate of Evergreen High School, and Museum Deputy Director Brad Haskin, a Highline High School Pirate through and through. They shared some fascinating stories about the Miss Burien boat—a community effort that included building a hydroplane in a Burien basement… then having to remove a wall to get it out. The engine from Miss Burien is on display in the museum, along with the boat itself (though it’s painted in a later team’s scheme).
But on to this weekend’s activities:
All events will be livestreamed on the H1 Hydroplane YouTube channel.
Schedule for the 1980s Powerhouses:
Friday, August 1:
- 8:00 a.m. – Driver training time, featuring Pay ‘n Pak and Atlas Van Lines.
Atlas will be piloted part of the time by NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, who has a personal connection to the boat—he sat on its deck for a photo as a young boy in San Diego. Johnson will be trained by Hydro Museum Director Dave Williams. - 12:00 p.m. – Training concludes; Dave and Jimmie will each drive solo.
- 3:30 p.m. – Exhibition: Atlas and an acrobatic plane perform a joint show.
Saturday, August 2:
- 11:55 a.m. – All four 1980s-era boats race for four laps.
- 3:20 p.m. – Exhibition: Atlas and an acrobatic plane perform a joint show.
Sunday, August 3:
- 11:45 a.m. – All four 1980s-era boats race for four laps.
- 3:25 p.m. – Exhibition: Atlas and an acrobatic plane perform a joint show.
Beyond the Weekend
Museum Director Dave Williams encourages anyone interested in hydroplanes, Seattle memorabilia, or motorsports to visit the museum.
Regular hours:
- Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are still available for the museum’s main fundraising gala next weekend. Volunteers are also always welcome to assist with hydroplane restoration projects.
