Hydroplanes race for charity

Hydros for Heroes, a charity event that raises money for the local community, went off without a hitch on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 28 hydroplane races took place over the course of the weekend.

Whidbey Island native and cancer survivor Steve Huff won his race in the e350 class. He described it as “a comeback win.” He was in fourth place but managed to get in second place by the third lap. However, he forgot that it was a four-lap race and thought that he had already won. He even lifted his hatch and waved to the crowd as he crossed what he thought was the finish line before realizing his mistake.

“It was one of the fastest laps I’ve ever made,” he said of the final lap.

Huff managed to pull ahead right before the finish line.

“We’re still smiling about it,” he said. “It was amazing.”

The win became even more remarkable when Huff realized later, after his boat was inspected, that one of the propeller blades was cracked 50% of the way through.

“It’s the biggest concern that a driver has while on water, is losing a propeller blade,” Huff said.

He said that he had no idea how the propeller managed to stay together throughout his race despite being so severely cracked.

“I’d rather be lucky than good any day and luck was definitely on our side in that final heat,” he said.

Huff said he always receives so much support at Hydros for Heroes from his old Whidbey Island friends and Craig McKenzie, Jim Woessner and other members of the the Craig McKenzie Team Foundation who put on the race every year.

“They’ve been by our side through professional ups and downs, my personal battles,” he said. “We’ve all become friends and they’re more than just race promoters to me.”

Huff said that he considers Hydros for Heroes to be the best northwestern hydroplane race and he’s already looking forward to next year.

“The last thing on my mind last weekend was cancer,” he said.

Base Commander Captain Eric Hanks from NAS Whidbey did five laps in a hydro to kick off the event. He learned how to drive one specifically for the occasion.

“It’s kind of a chance of a lifetime unless you’re an actual racer,” McKenzie said.

This year’s event featured four female hydro racers: Rochelle Hill in the e350 class, Marina Bartels in the 2.5 Mod Liter Class, Steve Huff’s daughter Kayla Huff in the Sport C Class and Katie Brown in the Junior Runabouts, which is the kids racing event.

McKenzie said his team works at least 1,000 hours to host the event but the feedback from the community makes it all worth it.

“A lot of people in this town are starting to love the hydroplane race,” he said.

He estimated about 8,000 people attended the event over Saturday and Sunday.

“Even if it doesn’t go perfect, we’re still raising money for our community, for our heroes and our children,” he said.

McKenzie said his foundation has given over $2 million back to the community between this event and Homes for Heroes, a program that helps first responders, military, health care professionals and teachers buy homes.