Grand Prix boats a Black Lake hit

Black Lake has long had a reputation of being one of the best places in the world to race hydroplanes, with its glassy surface and calm waters.

Dustin Echols proved it’s also one of the fastest.

Echols, driving Shockwave Racing’s GP-17 Miss Ted’s Red Apple Market, set a world record in heat one of the Grand Prix class Saturday at the 2010 Skookum Creek Tobacco & Kiamichi Trading Post Western Divisional Black Lake Regatta by roaring to a top speed of 116.189 miles per hour.

Unfortunately for Echols and Shockwave Racing owners Rick and Shawn Bridgeman of Olympia, the team was unable to duplicate the feat Sunday during the 37th Annual Black Lake Regatta after the Miss Ted’s Red Apple Market struck debris that tore about a two-foot hole in its sponson during heat one.

“It was just a tough break,” said Rick Bridgeman, who has co-owned hydroplanes with wife Shawn since 1990 and also serves as crew chief. “It was hard not being able to race today, but it felt great getting that world record on Saturday. Plus it’s been about 10 years since I’ve raced on Black Lake so it was nice to be able to set the world record in our hometown.”

The Larry Garcia-owned RCL Motorsports, driven by Scott Pierce, captured heat one on Sunday, while the Jerry Hopp’s GP-15 Graham Trucking GT took the second heat.

“Neither broke our time,” Rick Bridgeman said. “So we’re happy about that.”

The American Power Boat Association’s inboard hydroplane class known as the Grand Prix West was a new addition to this year’s 11/4-mile course regatta and unquestionably the most popular and certainly the loudest division. It featured supercharged block engines producing 1,500 horsepower that resonated with the distinctive sound of methanol-injected thunder that could be heard for miles around.

Fans packed the bleachers adjacent to pit row during the two days of the event – a common sight regatta organizers are hoping will grow with the addition of Grand Prix hydroplanes in years to come.

“This entire weekend, when the Grand Prixs start up everyone runs to the beach,” said Shawn Bridgeman. “It’s like someone opened the cattle gate.”

This year marks the inaugural season for Grand Prix West. The Black Lake Regatta was the third of a scheduled 10-race season.

“It was something that was needed,” Shawn Bridgeman said about Grand Prix racing in the Pacific Northwest. “It was just a positive thing all the way around. Every person in the organization believed in this. It’s very exciting. The fans are definitely going to love it.”

Grand Prix was one of several classes competing on Black Lake.

Charlie Marquard of Puyallup’s Tribal Thunder Racing won the super stock 50 Western Divisionals.

“(Black Lake) is one of the best courses in the country,” said Marquard, a 21-year veteran of the sport. “Today we had a little rougher conditions than we normally have here, but it still was a great day. Fans love to come here. It’s one of the fastest courses around.”