Quake on the Lake to host national inboard championships

The American Power Boat Association’s (APBA) National Inboard Hydroplane Championships will be held in Michigan for the first time in 42 years as part of this summer’s 12th annual Quake on the Lake event, slated for July 16-17 on Pontiac Lake.

According to announcement released last week by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s office, members of the APBA recently held their national meeting in Dearborn, where they decided to return the hydroplane championships to Michigan. The last time the National Inboard Hydroplane Championships were held in Michigan was at Ford Lake near Ypsilanti in 1969. 

“Quake on the Lake is among Oakland County’s best quality of life events,” Patterson stated in the announcement. “To host the National Inboard Hydroplane Championships validates what a great event Quake on the Lake is.”

Like in past years, the 2011 version of Quake on the Lake will be held at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area in Waterford and White Lake townships. The Pontiac Lake racecourse is recognized as the fastest 1-mile course in North America — 17 world speed records have been broken in 10 classes of inboard hydroplane races held during past Quake on the Lake events.

The speed of the Pontiac Lake course can be attributed to the environment surrounding the lake. The natural shorelines and abundance of trees help to naturally protect the water from winds. This, in turn, provides a smooth course for competitors.

This year’s hydroplane racing will feature classes that will run from 90 mph to those that approach 175 mph in the straight-aways. The Eastern Divisional Championships were held at Pontiac Lake in 2009 and over 100 race teams attended from across continent.

In addition to the boat races, there will be plenty of family entertainment for all ages at the 2011 Quake on the Lake, including musical entertainment from national and local acts.

As always, all net proceeds of the event will go to support a good cause — The Rainbow Connection, a 501(c)(3) charity founded by Patterson that grants wishes to Michigan children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses, as well as support for other community grass-roots initiatives.

In the past, proceeds collected from Quake on the Lake have funded trips to Hawaii for children, as well as visits to Disney World. They’ve even been used to buy a pony for a little girl to use for therapy.

For more information on the 2011 Quake on the Lake event, click on QuakeOnTheLake.org.