Past Regatta Picture

In 1938 the community of New Martinsville celebrated its 100th Birthday with parades and community activities. Organizers wanted something different that utilized the river. It was suggested to Robert Bruce who was chairman of the event, to research the possibility of having boat races on the river. He contacted a newly formed racing organization for their help and the first races took place that year. The event was so well received, boaters have returned for racing and time trials for nearly nine decades. Many of those Kilo speed records still stand today. From the first races, until today, the style and power of boats has changed greatly, but the excitement has not.

Several years ago it was determined that increasing speeds along with racing competition required boats to be built with newer safety features that would enhance protection for the drivers. With these required changes, boats were redesigned and incorporated new safety features, such as driver’s safety capsules.

A few boats of the older design were retro-fitted with the new required equipment. But the cost and the older wooden designs would not allow a great many of those boats to be up-graded. The unsanctioned boats were stored away in sheds, garages and even open fields not wanted or needed. But a group of hydroplane enthusiast went to the American Power Boat Association (APBA) and ask if a class of boats could be sanctioned under guidelines that would allow safe operations during exhibition events. That led to events such as the upcoming exhibition heats here on the Ohio River.

This will be the fifth vintage event in our community. During the recent pandemic, races were not held out of health concern for spectators, drivers and their teams. Due to hard work by volunteers along with financial donations, the event is free to the public. This year the event will take place on July 9 and 10th behind the Dos Hermanos Mexican Restaurant on North Main.

Each day’s events will begin at 10 am and continue through 5 pm. A break will be taken for lunch. During this time the pit area will be opened to the public allowing visitors to enter the area. They will have the opportunity to talk with drivers and owners and have an up close view of the boats. Many of the older boats were manufactured from exotic woods giving them the appearance of being created by fine wood craftsmen. During the two days of exhibition heats, visitors will be able to view boats on the river below the fire department and a new area just south of the pit area. This new viewing area is generously offered by the property owners.

The large volume of boats that attend the annual event requires the pit boss to place each boat in an arrangement giving lift cranes access to them, while remaining stationary. Without this organized efforts, it would be nearly impossible for the event to operate in an orderly fashion. That effort gives both McAdoo’s Cranes of West Alexander, Pa. and Litman Enterprises of New Martinsville the ability to insure safe operations of their lift cranes while placing boats in and removal from the river. These crane services have performed this operation for many of the past vintage events.

Once placed in the river, drivers will be able to safely secure their boat against new docks built by Merco Marine. This important addition for the boats and crews was made possible by the city of New Martinsville with help from Joel Potts, Weldon Williams and David & Cathy Bridgeman. Additional donations to fund the cost of the docks would be appreciated to help complete the financial commitment for the new docks.

The event this year was moved to July with anticipation that river conditions would be more favorable. Water conditions in the past have sometimes disrupted the events during a June scheduling date. July is a typically dryer weather pattern and gives better water conditions for boaters and spectators.

This year visitors to the event will have a unique opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a hand painted picture created by local artisan, E.S. Yost. Yost is well known for his depiction of local events captured by his brushes on canvas. The colorful painting depicts moments in racing history on the Ohio River. Yost encourages visitors to see if they can find a moment from their own racing memories in the painting. The winner will be drawn during another local boating event held each September, Regatta Fest. The money collected by sales will be donated to the local Relay for Life organization. Those funds are used to promote cancer awareness and research.

Pre-registration foretells event organizers this will be another great year for boats and teams coming to town. As in the past, boats from around the country who have visited New Martinsville for the preceding 70 years will be in attendance. They will be showing off their speed and power on the Ohio River. If you have never seen a hydroplane’s rooster tail fly high into the air, you are in for a treat of beauty, speed and flying water.

This year’s committee chairman, Mitch Herrick and volunteers have worked diligently throughout the year welcomes those who love power boats to join them for this free exhibition event. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair to relax comfortably on the banks of the Ohio River. And for a couple of days, re-live by-gone times of exciting vintage hydroplanes speeding over the river. For further information contact them on their Facebook page, New Martinsville Vintage Regatta. Hope to see you there, Through the Lens.