CAMBRIDGE — The Third Annual Thunder on the Choptank powerboat races took place in Cambridge on Saturday and Sunday. Teams and fans from up and down the East Coast and Canada filled Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh for the two days of speed and splashes.

The races were the Eastern Divisionals of the American Power Boat Association (APBA).
Crowds at the park and along the river bank watched races in Hambrooks Bay. The event was hosted by the Kent Narrows Racing Association with help from the Cambridge Power Boat Racing Association.

Local racer John Shaw posted results online, saying, “Awesome day at the APBA Eastern Divisionals. Couldn’t have asked for a better day and nicer weather. Doug Martin’s S-33/A-333 took home the title in both 2.5 Stock and 2.5 Mod. Owen Henderson won both the qualifier and final in my 1.5 Stock T-1. In the skiff riding with Lil Billy Sewell, he won his first championship race in the JS-991. The Baker Brothers’ E-54 ran great and the boats seemed to like the changes that were made over the winter, taking third today.”

Melissa Bailey replied, “Congratulations. It was a great day and glad I was there to see it all unfold.”
Competition classes were: 1 Litre, 1.5 Litre Stock, 2.5 Litre Modified, 2.5 Litre Stock, 5 Litre, Grand National Hydroplane, Grand Prix Hydroplane, Jersey Speed Skiff, National Modified Hydroplane, Sportsman Entry, Sportsman Advance and J Stock Hydro.

“Kent Narrow Racing Association (KNRA) is a group dedicated to promoting the sport of power boat racing,” a statement on the group’s website says. “Importantly, this promotion ensures Kent Narrows’ growth and development since we actively leverage area business support to increase our sense of community spirit and good will. KNRA became an official boating club organization in 1990.”

The APBA provides the rules, the officials and the insurance for the races. “With 13 different categories of racing operating in 16 regions across the country, racing with the APBA provides plenty of options based on the type of race experience you’re looking for,” a statement from the group said.

The APBA has nine racing regions, each with its own set of rules, created in accordance with APBA Bylaws. “Within each of these regions, local race clubs organize, run and promote APBA sanctioned events,” the statement said.

Complete results were not posted by the Banner’s press time. For more information, visit www.apba.org.