The Grand Prix America Hydroplane Racing Series have announced that they will be returning to the Ohio River for the 70th running of the Madison Regatta, July 3-5, 2020.
This year marks the seventh year the piston-powered hydroplanes have been the premier piston-style powerboats racing at the largest city on the Ohio River, between Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky.
Madison Regatta president, Matt True, made the announcement Wednesday at the organization’s monthly membership meeting in Madison, Indiana:
Motorsports are huge in Indiana, we have the Indy 500, Brickyard 400, the NHRA U.S. Nationals and the Gold Cup hydroplane trophy.
Indiana is all about motorsports and we are excited to have the Grand Prix hydroplanes back this summer.
Fans line the banks of the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana to watch hydroplanes each summer during the Independence Day weekend.
Grand Prix America hydroplanes’ president, Dean Rojas said:
It is an honor to be asked to participate in the Madison Regatta.
70-years is a great tradition and the Ohio River race course can be a challenge for our drivers and teams, but that is part of the allure of racing in Madison.
Ed Preston, driver of the GP-20, ‘The TRUSS Company’ and his crew led by crew chief, Earl Smith, spent 12 hours straight switching out their engine and making repairs to the hydroplane after suffering damage at the 2019 Madison Regatta.
Preston eventually came from behind to win the race and he said yesterday:
You bet I will be there to defend our victory.
We love coming to Madison, the fans, community support, Fourth of July fireworks and the parade, all create such a buzz in the river-front city.
The fans and community wait all year to hear the roar of our engine bouncing off the river valley walls, and so do we.
Dean Rojas confirmed that the racing organization is in discussions to add additional races in Kennewick, Washington and San Diego.
In addition to the Madison Regatta, confirmed races on the calendar include, Seattle’s Seafair Weekend, and Owensboro, Kentucky’s HydroFair.
