Welcome to Trenton Roar on the River ~

HOW TO WATCH A HYDROPLANE RACE

THE RACE

THE START
Three minutes before the start, the three-minute gun is fired and the green flag is raised allowing the drivers to come onto the race course. Exactly sixty seconds before the start, a one-minute gun is fired and the green flag is replaced with a white flag and the clock is started. At the end of sixty seconds, the dropping of the white flag indicates the official start. In the event that any boats start ahead of the gun, those boats are disqualified. The intent of the drivers is to cross the starting line at full speed when the clock reaches zero. Boats approaching the starting line at other than ninety degrees or weaving to reduce speed are disqualified. Turning to restart is forbidden. When a red flag is flown immediately after the start, it is an indication of a false start and all boats must return for a new start.

THE FINISH
A white flag indicates the beginning of the last lap. As each boat finishes, a checkered flag indicates the finish.

SCORING
Each race is composed of two heats. Drivers accumulate points for each heat according to their finishing place. First place receives 400 points, second place 300, third place 225, fourth place 169, fifth place 127, and so on. Points for both heats are totaled, and the winner is determined by the highest number of points. In the event of a tie in points, the driver with the fastest time is declared the winner.

BOAT AND MOTOR INFORMATION
A HYDROPLANE is a type of boat used for racing because it planes on top of the water’s surface and does not have to cut through, eliminating drag and friction, resulting in greater speed and action like an airplane. The bottom of the hydroplane is designed to create the least water friction possible and to take advantage of the wind foiled underneath. This gives lift to the boat making it lighter and raising it from the water.

THE TUNNEL BOAT
The tunnel boat has sponsons that run the full length of the boat. The “tunnel effect” does not work to the ultimate without lots of horsepower on the transom. Thus, you do not see them used on boats with less than 50 horsepower. The “tunnel” traps many cubic feet of air between the sponsons which literally allows the boat “to fly.”

FLAGS:

BLACK FLAG: Return to pits. Do not leave pits.
RED FLAG: Activity is stopped – slow down.
YELLOW FLAG: Patrol boat.
WHITE FLAG: Time between one-minute gun and start. Also start of last lap.
GREEN FLAG: Time between three-minute gun to one-minute gun or last lap.
CHECKED FLAG: Finish.
BLUE AND WHITE FLAG: A driver is in the water – race is continuing, but proceed with caution.