"Unfortunately it seems most of the folks in the Tri-State area have become very apathetic toward the Freedom Festival and Thunder. I'm not really sure why. The racing has been the most competitive it has in 20 years."---Kirk Duncan

Thunder once meant friendship
For some fans, big weekend wasn't about the boats
By Gordon Engelhardt
Evansville Courier Press

For Joe Clements, Kirk Duncan and Jason Gardner, the absence of Thunder on the Ohio this weekend means more than the loss of seeing unlimited hydroplanes battling deck-to-deck or shooting down the straightaways at 200 mph. It means the loss of friendships.

Through the years they've developed relationships with fans who come to Evansville every year from Madison, Ind., Detroit, St. Louis and Nashville, Tenn., among other cities.

For the die-hard fan who has attended virtually every race, it's a sad weekend, Gardner said.

"It's going to be bittersweet after everything is all said and done," he said. "I wish things could've been different."

In case you were wondering the status of the Big Red Turbinator since we left Madison in July, here's a look at her. Today we added the tarp to keep the dust, dirt and spider webs off the still new looking deck of the hull.  Under that blue tarp is a race ready boat. Just add the skidfin, prop, Allison V-12 and some methanol fuel and we're ready to race. For now Big Red will stay under the tarp on her travel trailer for the winter months. Hope to see all our fans in 2011.

Hydroplanes return to Lake CdA for weekend museum fundraiser

By Alison Boggs
The Spokesman-Review

For the first time in more than 40 years, hydroplanes capable of speeds up to 175 miles per hour will zoom around Lake Coeur d’Alene this weekend.

But they will not race, as they did in the 1950s and 1960s, drawing some of the biggest crowds ever seen at an Idaho sporting event, but also generating controversy due to unruly spectators.

The vintage boats are coming to Coeur d’Alene, complete with drivers and pit crews, from the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent. They’ll be here for the Diamond Cup Regatta, a fundraiser for the Museum of North Idaho. The weekend of events will include a display of the boats outside The Coeur d’Alene Resort on Friday afternoon, a Saturday night banquet and rides on Sunday for 12 lucky people.