It’s that time of year again to gear up for one of the more anticipated spectacles in Polk County.
“The Lake of Records” is back as the epicenter of powerboats faster than aircraft will be right before your very eyes on Lake Hollingsworth for the 88th running of the Orange Cup Regatta Oct. 16-18, according to a press release.
“When people hear ‘regatta,’ they think of sailboats, “race organizer Gene Engle said. “This is the furthest thing from that.”
There is a reason this event is also known as The Quake of the Lake, as the Orange Cup Regatta brings some of the largest and swiftest powersports back to Lake Hollingworth. And yes, the 150-mile-per-hour Grand National Hydroplanes are the fastest. But folks can’t forget about the smaller racing classes, including the Jersey Skiffs, which are derived from boats once used to smuggle liquor during Prohibition.
The Orange Cup Regatta is the second oldest sporting event in Polk County, right behind the Detroit Tigers calling the area its home for Spring Training. It was started by Walter Engle in 1933, and while the race has been paused over the years because of World War II and the global pandemic, it is very much a mainstay of Polk County’s sporting tradition.
Now, Walter’s son, Gene Engle, is serving as the current organizer. Gene, who grew up attending the races just a few doors down from his home along Lake Hollingsworth, has his son Walt and his grandson, Will, involved in the race.
Will’s award-winning documentary, “Lake of Records,” highlights the abundant history of the race. And the video can be viewed on YouTube.
One new addition this year that folks can look forward to is the inaugural Orange Cup Regatta Pit Party on Friday, Oct. 16, which will start at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can meet and greet drivers and crews, observe race boats up close, eat dinner from local food trucks, and listen to live music.
Fans and spectators are welcome to ring Lake Hollingsworth with chairs and blankets to enjoy the action for the main event on Saturday and Sunday. Admission, of course, is free.
For more information about the Orange Cup Regatta, visit https://visitcentralflorida.org/events/orange-cup-regatta.