Four world-class hydroplanes test their speeds on the Columbia River for Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition (photos)

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Ulimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022, to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022, to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022, to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022, to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022, to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jeff Bernard, of Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver Jamie Nilsen, of Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities, takes a practice run on the Columbia River Friday, May 20, 2022. He was watched by hundreds of spectators that gathered along the banks of the Columbia to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

By

Hundreds of spectators gathered along the banks of the Columbia River Friday to watch world class hydroplanes take test runs in the Vancouver Washington H1 Exhibition.

The exhibition included four 28-foot-long race boats capable of reaching speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. The vessels took turns traveling a two-mile oval shaped course from about noon to 3 p.m. The course traveled from just east of the I-5 bridge to the east end of Hayden Island.

According to race organizers, driver Dave Villwock, of Bucket List Racing, reached speeds upwards of 150 miles per hour during test runs.

Driver J. Michael Kelly, of Strong Racing, had to be towed to shore after his hydroplane started smoking.

The was event was supposed to start in the morning but was delayed due to high amounts of debris in the water, most likely from heavy rain flow.

Nelson Holmberg, event race director from Vancouver, said the last time hydroplanes sped on the Columbia River (near Vancouver) was in 1979.

Participants included:

J. Michael Kelly, U8, Strong Racing, sponsored by Tri-Cities.

Jamie Nilsen, U11, Unlimited Racing Group, sponsored by May Awning & Patio.

Dave Villwock, U40, Bucket List Racing, sponsored by Beacon Plumbing.

Jeff Bernard, U91, Miss Madison Racing, sponsored by Goodman Real Estate.

--Mark Graves

mgraves@oregonian.com

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.