SOAP LAKE - Soap Lake city officials are supporting efforts to get a boat race back on the water for the first time in decades.

Organizer Terry Anderson recently asked city council members to accept an event application for the Soap Lake Hydroplane Regatta, which he described as a two-day race event featuring about ten classes of hydroplanes and several classes of high-powered racing boats and outboards.

"We try to put on an event that the community is proud of, that's family oriented," he said. "There's nothing rowdy about it. We're loud, but that's loud motors, not loud people."

Anderson said he's been involved with Columbia Basin area boat racing for years, and helped resurrect the Moses Lake events in the early 1980s. That's about the same time the last official boat race was held on Soap Lake.

The regatta could bring more than 600 people to town over the course of a weekend, Anderson estimated, including as many as 35 race teams of three to four people each, along with their families and spectators.

"There has to be benefit for the community or there's no use us coming in here," he said. "We've got to bring some tourism dollars into the community or it's not worth anybody's time."

Each day would feature four hours of continuous racing on an oval course starting out from East Beach Park. Boats would span the spectrum, Anderson said, from high-powered hydroplanes capable of reaching speeds of 140 miles per hour, to small outboards raced by kids ages nine to 14.

Whether the race will be held this year or next depends on finding enough sponsors and an open weekend, Anderson said.

"Is it possible to do it this year? Yes, but our schedule is set and the city has things scheduled," he told council members. "Whether or not we can find a compatible date for this year ... we can try, and I think if you really want it we can make this happen."

The race will be held under the banner of the American Power Boat Association, the main sanctioning body of nationwide powerboat racing. Anderson said insurance is provided by the organizers, which brings its own support people and a rescue crew.

Officials with the Seattle Drag and Ski Sprint Boat Association - the club that would oversee the event - are visiting Soap Lake this weekend to meet with city leaders and check out the site.

One Soap Lake resident asked last week if there is any concern over the potential of gas and oil polluting the lake.

Anderson replied that every boat team has oil absorbent pads that can quickly suck contaminants out of the water in the event of a blown engine.

Councilman John Glassco, who serves as chair of Soap Lake Conservancy, said he'd like to see some extra caution exercised when racing boats on an imperilled mineral lake.

"I'm in favor (of the event) but this isn't like any other lake, and I would like to see this group take special precautions," he said. "Be careful about this particular lake."

Anderson said this week that organizers should know more specifics soon as to when the race is likely to take place.