Hydroplane races are officially canceled for 2020. There’s still hope for an air show

The 2020 HAPO Columbia Cup is officially canceled.

The Tri-Cities Water Follies board of directors voted Monday night to not hold the event later this fall.

Both Benton and Franklin counties are in a modified Phase 1 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start Washington plan.

And it seems hard to believe that either county can get to a needed Phase 4 for the event to happen.

“Unfortunately, with Gov. Inslee extending the pause on the phased approach to reopening at least until July 28, and with the Tri-Cities area stuck in a modified phase 1, there is no way the Columbia Cup can happen,” said Kathy Powell, event director.

But there’s still hope for an air show.

“We are looking into a potential ‘drive-in’ air show for 2020, and we are working with the Benton Franklin Health Department on the requirements to make that happening,” said Powell.

She said last month that the coronavirus has not only stopped boat races from being held around the country, but also air shows have stalled.

“These pilots earn their spots and have those for two years,” said Powell of the various military air show programs.

So they’d like a chance to perform.

Powell said the health department is working with the Water Follies to determine whether an air show could happen.

“They say they’re taking a look at our proposal,” she said.

The 2020 HAPO Columbia Cup was originally set for July 24-26.

But in June, the board postponed a vote on whether to hold the event later this fall.

The board’s hope was that the Tri-Cities would move through the phases described in the Safe Start Washington plan, and there could be an event in September.

The Columbia Cup is the Tri-Cities’ largest sporting event, usually drawing 35,000 to 40,000 fans to the banks of the Columbia River on both sides, Kennewick and Pasco.

Visit Tri-Cities estimates the economic impact from the weekend is about $3 million.

The event is held every year on the last weekend of July and includes the HAPO Over the River Air Show, featuring aviation demonstrations and performances.

It will be the first time an unlimited hydroplane race has not been held in the Tri-Cities since 1965.

The first race featured a boat owner named Bernie Little who earned his first-ever unlimited hydroplane race victory with a boat called Miss Budweiser.

With the cancellation, the 2020 H1 Unlimited schedule has been completely wiped out due to the coronavirus.

Other races canceled were scheduled for Guntersville, Ala.; Madison, Ind.; Seattle and San Diego.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 7:53 PM.