Tom Lang

Special to the Detroit Free Press

Hydroplane racing returns to the Detroit River with a new format. The lightweight boats that skim across the water at speeds that can exceed 200 m.p.h. High-powered engines produce 3,000 horsepower and leave a 60-foot-high, 300-foot-long wall of water in their wake.

Here are five things to watch during Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Hydrofest, which begins Friday and runs through Sunday:

New format

For the first time in the modern era of the sport, competitors in the H1 Unlimited series will have two races in two days, a format that mimics the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix Duals in Detroit with full Saturday and Sunday races.

On Saturday, H1 boats will compete for the President’s Cup, then on Sunday go after the sports's most prestigious trophy – the APBA Gold Cup – which has been continuously contested since 1904.

This will be the first time since 1977 that unlimited hydroplanes will race for the President’s Cup.

The President’s Cup was an unlimited hydroplane contest from 1926 to ’77.

“This may lead to a different strategy among the teams because you have to be around the end of the day Saturday to run for the Gold Cup, the most prestigious trophy, on Sunday,” said Doug Bernstein, a member of the three-person board of Detroit Riverfront Events, and chairman of H1 Unlimited.

He said it was time for the sport to try some new things for the fans.

“We understand it’s a gamble because it puts more stress on each of the teams, but I’m thinking for the fans it should be much better,” Bernstein added. “Not everyone can get down there for two days, so this gives the fans, no matter which day they’re going, the opportunity to see a full race.”

Weather forecast

Positive conditions are expected on the Detroit Rivers this weekend:

“It looks like we are very lucky with the forecast, because the conditions should be absolutely perfect,” Bernstein said. “For the races in Detroit, the one thing that you don’t want to see is the wind out of the southwest, because it’s against the current. If it gets above 10 miles-an-hour it gets dicey as to whether or not we can run. And the wind direction (prediction) for the entire weekend is out of the east, so (the water) should be pretty flat and should lead to pretty quick speeds.”

Tight and wide

The Roostertail turn on the Detroit River between the Detroit Yacht Club and the mainland grandstands is among the most exciting in boat racing. It is the tightest turn in all of unlimited hydroplane racing. It creates a wild ride for the drivers and excitement for fans.

By sheer contrast, the widest turn in unlimited hydroplane racing is the other end of the race course near the Belle Isle Bridge. It allows for some of the fastest cornering speeds in the sport but drivers have to contend with potential winds coming through the openings under the bridge.

Hear one roar

The last holdout of piston-driven engines will be found in local driver Jimmy King’s U-3 team boat. King, from Wales, south of Port Huron, has a turbo-charged Allison engine, which was used in the historic hydro boats and also in the P51 Mustang fighter planes of the WWII era.

Bernstein said all other teams in the unlimited hydroplane series have progressively switched over to turbine power, yet King remains competitive and, if nothing else, brings the thunderous noise fans like.

“A lot of traditional fans hate the turbines because they don’t make enough noise,” Bernstein said. “The turbo-charged Allison does make the noise.”

Race within a race

All boats enter the race course 5 minutes before the start. Part of the racing strategy is trying to out-smart their opponents by seeking a favorite lane and hitting the start line when the countdown clocks hit zero.

The complete Friday-Sunday schedule, ticket information and other key facts can be found at: www.detroitboatraces.com.