New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)

NEW MARTINSVILLE — New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025.

This weekend was the eighth year the event has taken place in New Martinsville and 56 boats returned ready to race head-to-head on the Ohio River.

Although the boats are not sanctioned to race due to modern safety regulations, the drivers and their boats put on a great display of high-speed action to entertain the thousands of visitors in attendance.

Boats going back to the 1950s took part in the event, which is designed to bring visitors to the waterfront for fast action fun and an opportunity during the afternoon break to enter the pits and speak to the drivers, ask questions, and take pictures with their favorite boat and driver.

The community of New Martinsville has been hosting racing on the Ohio River for most years since 1938, when the town celebrated its 100th birthday, with then-Mayor Robert Bruce helped to organize the race for that event.

New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)

By today’s standards those boats were skiffs with outboard motors. Still the event was such a success, it has continued for the most part for 87 years.

Saturday saw the first day of activities on the river with what looked to be a serious accident when the driver of Helter Skelter went into the water at the north end of the course. Box 21 Rescue Crew responded on jet skis and got the driver to the dock. The New Martinsville fire department responded as well. Wetzel County ambulance backed down to the dock and transported the patient. “However,” it turned out he had no injuries.

On Sunday, the second day, boats could still be seen speeding over the waterfront from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vintage and historic chairman Shaun Kelson says the event is all about keeping history alive and allowing the community to take part in a long-held tradition.

New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)

New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)

New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)

New Martinsville welcomed vintage hydroplanes back to the fastest freshwater course in America on Labor Day weekend 2025. (Photo by Chuck Clegg)