Upper Columbia Cup hydros hit Pateros August 27-28.

Published by admin on Tue, 08/02/2022 - 8:10am

Brewster next Sept. 10-11

Apple Pie Jamboree parade chairwoman Lisa Malmo, left, and hydroplane race events promoter George Pearson debut the new banner for the Upper Columbia Cup “Chase the Grapes” Shootout that will bring hydro's to Lake Pateros on August 27-28. Mike Maltais/QCH File Photo

By:

Mike Maltais, Staff Writer

PATEROS – The Pateros Hydro Classic, the second stage of the four-event Upper Columbia Cup “Chase the Grapes” Shootout is coming to Lake Pateros on Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28.

The inaugural four-race Tacoma Inboard Racing Association (TIRA) hydro event opened with the Norm Evans Apple Cup Regatta on Lake Chelan on April 30-May 1, will be at Pateros later this month, debut in Brewster on Sept. 10-11, and conclude at Manson on Sept. 24-25.

Race events promoter George Pearson is organizing a potluck Dinner on Main Street with live music from 5-10 p.m., Saturday, August 27.

Racing points will be accumulated separately from American Power Boat Association (APBA) national points beginning with the Chelan race and ending in Manson. Haglund’s Trophies in Wenatchee will provide racing trophies after points are tallied following the final race in late September. Eight classes of boats featuring teams from around the Northwest Region (10) are expected to compete.

Pearson said that a separate class of outboards called J Stock boats that feature young drivers from age nine and up will race at the Pateros event. Pearson earlier discussed the J Stock appearance with former Miss Pateros owner/driver Brandon Cushing, now retired, who owns several of the boats. Cushing’s son is getting his start in J Stocks as a fourth-generation driver in the family.

Pearson said the racing teams are excited about the new events in the Upper Columbia region because the sport is rapidly losing racing venues on the west side of the state.