A scene from the exciting fast-paced race action during the 2010 Can Am Apple Cup Powerboat Races. Photo by Gary DeVon

Hear the rumble, feel the thunder, the Can-Am Apple Cup Hydroplane Races are back, July 21 and 22, at Lake Osoyoos off Deep Bay Park.

With seven classes the water will be spraying and splashing fabulous rooster tails, say organizers. There will be 1 Liters, the 2.5 Mods, the 2.5 Stocks, 5 Liters, Antiques, Flatbottoms, Super Stock, National Mods and Vintage powerboats racing. Drivers and crews say they’re ready to rumble.

Racers from as far away as Colorado, Nevada and Canada’s “Kiwi” Paul Russell will be there. Local racers Eric Jones and Scott Thornton say they are ready to show their stuff.

Both Saturday and Sunday will start off with breakfast with the racers at 7 a.m. at a cost of $1 per item in a “create your own omelet” provided by the Can-Am Association. The American and Canadian National Anthems will be sung by Oroville’s own Debra Donahue at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. The boats will churn up the lake starting at 9:30 a.m. both days. The highly energized competitions will run until around 2 p.m. or until the wind kicks up too much to race, say organizers.

The Shriner’s Trolley will transport those that want a ride to and from the races on Saturday by donation. This will allow race-goers to enjoy the races, as well as Oroville’s Heritage Days without having to burn their own gas or find parking at Deep Bay Park. Just park anywhere in town and look for the balloons on Main Street marking the boarding and disembarking. The trolley will be making a loop from 10th Street, through town, to Deep Bay and back, all day long.

Sponsors for this year’s event are Discount Fireworks, Prince’s Ace Hardware, Kinross Gold, CWJ Orchards, The All Things Buffalo Ranch, River Oaks RV Park, Oroville Building Supply, Jones Farming and Fabrication, the Y-11 Polecat Race Team and Prince’s Foods.