Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta is an annual motorboat and river festival held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The festival was founded in 1977 and is often host to an F1 ChampBoat Series
race. The F1 race, originally held in 1982, was the first F1 power boat race held in the United States. 2008 saw the return of F1 Power Boat racing at the Pittsburgh Regatta after a two year hiatus following the 2005 festival. Today, the race is typically scheduled to coincide with the July 4th holiday
, although prior to 2004 it had traditionally been held in early August. The festival is the largest inland regatta in the United States, drawing tens of thousands of fans along Allegheny River
. The F1 race course consists of a 4-pin 1.25 (2 km) course. In 2008, the Pittsburgh regatta F1 ChampBoat race was nationally broadcast on the Speed Channel.
The Regatta is the annual continuation of the original speed boat and paddle wheeler races of the "Pittsburgh Welcome Week Regatta" held annually starting on May 21, 1949 and through the mid 1950's.
races, and the July Fourth fireworks display for the City of Pittsburgh
. Over 1.5 million people are estimated to have attended some aspect of the regatta events every year.
. There were 24 injuries. The accident was captured on live TV during the broadcast of a Pittsburgh Pirates
and New York Mets
baseball game from a blimp above the stadium.
Place, boat number, pilot, team, hometown, points
1. 42 Shaun Torrente Grand Prix Boats GLBC Homestead, FL 400
2. 16 Tim Seebold Bud Light Team Seebold Osage Beach, Missouri 380
3. 10 Terry Rinker Rinker/Amsoil Racing Tampa, FL 360
4. 38 Jeff Shepherd Shepherd Construction Woodlawn, TN 350
5. 17 Brian Venton Jenkinson Telecom/Hancock Inc.Bowmanville, ON 340
6. 41 Randy Rinker Rinker/Amsoil Racing Syracuse, Indiana 6 330
7. 72 Lynn Simburger Playcraft Boats Elsah, Illinois 7 320
8. 88 Billy Joule B&B / Joule Marine Transport Tiera Verde, FL 8 310
9. 1 Nithat Kunjeng Singha Beer Thailand 300
10. 8 Mark Johnson Pur Sang Engineering Jaffrey, NH 290
11. 6 Matt Sadl XG-AD.COM/Massageluxe.com Pacific, MO 280
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The festival was founded in 1977 and is often host to an F1 ChampBoat Series
F1 Powerboat Racing
F1 Powerboat World Championship is a competition of powerboats with rules similar to Formula One car racing. Each F1 powerboat race lasts approximately 45 minutes following a circuit marked out in a selected stretch of water, usually a lake, river, or sheltered bay.Qualifying periods decide the...
race. The F1 race, originally held in 1982, was the first F1 power boat race held in the United States. 2008 saw the return of F1 Power Boat racing at the Pittsburgh Regatta after a two year hiatus following the 2005 festival. Today, the race is typically scheduled to coincide with the July 4th holiday
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, although prior to 2004 it had traditionally been held in early August. The festival is the largest inland regatta in the United States, drawing tens of thousands of fans along Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. The F1 race course consists of a 4-pin 1.25 (2 km) course. In 2008, the Pittsburgh regatta F1 ChampBoat race was nationally broadcast on the Speed Channel.
The Regatta is the annual continuation of the original speed boat and paddle wheeler races of the "Pittsburgh Welcome Week Regatta" held annually starting on May 21, 1949 and through the mid 1950's.
Festival
The race corresponds to a three day festival in downtown Pittsburgh consisting of variety of events including free concerts, food vendors, aerial competitions, various water sports, dragon boatDragon boat
A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft...
races, and the July Fourth fireworks display for the City of Pittsburgh
A Star Spangled Salute
A Star Spangled Salute is live coverage of the EQT Flashes of Freedom Fireworks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This special is shown on WPXI, an NBC affiliate...
. Over 1.5 million people are estimated to have attended some aspect of the regatta events every year.
1988 Accident
On August 7, 1988, one of the Formula 1 boats went out of control and crashed into a crowd near Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. There were 24 injuries. The accident was captured on live TV during the broadcast of a Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
baseball game from a blimp above the stadium.
Results
2008Place, boat number, pilot, team, hometown, points
1. 42 Shaun Torrente Grand Prix Boats GLBC Homestead, FL 400
2. 16 Tim Seebold Bud Light Team Seebold Osage Beach, Missouri 380
3. 10 Terry Rinker Rinker/Amsoil Racing Tampa, FL 360
4. 38 Jeff Shepherd Shepherd Construction Woodlawn, TN 350
5. 17 Brian Venton Jenkinson Telecom/Hancock Inc.Bowmanville, ON 340
6. 41 Randy Rinker Rinker/Amsoil Racing Syracuse, Indiana 6 330
7. 72 Lynn Simburger Playcraft Boats Elsah, Illinois 7 320
8. 88 Billy Joule B&B / Joule Marine Transport Tiera Verde, FL 8 310
9. 1 Nithat Kunjeng Singha Beer Thailand 300
10. 8 Mark Johnson Pur Sang Engineering Jaffrey, NH 290
11. 6 Matt Sadl XG-AD.COM/Massageluxe.com Pacific, MO 280