LOCK HAVEN -- What better way to say goodbye to summer than spend the weekend on the Susquehanna River? That is what more than 100 boaters in Clinton County did for the annual Lock Haven Regatta.
Brightly colored stock outboard boats zoom through the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at more than 70 miles per hour. It can only mean one thing: the 43rd annual Lock Haven Regatta!
"There's lots of races. It's fun. I like it and I'm going to come back next year. Hopefully I can race again," said Travis Talanca of Berwick.
Every Labor Day weekend, boaters gather in Lock Haven from all over to show off their boat racing skills. Some of those boaters are from right here at home.
"Most of my average races are 4, 5 hours away so this is my home course being only two hours away," said Mark Monsey of Tunkhannock.
Some of those racers aren't even old enough to drive cars.
"It's a lot of fun. I really like coming to these things," said Eric Talanca.
"They're racing junior class now, but as they get older, they do what these guys do. They're trying to grow with the sport, basically," explained Rick Talanca of Berwick.
It's not just local people who come. Racers from all over the world come to Lock Haven for this event.
Cezar Strummk came all the way from Poland.
"We race all over Europe. I really like that. I really like racing. I like that we race all over the world."
Many of the 164 boaters race on a circuit every weekend during the summer.
"Most of my opponents are at this race and I'm looking forward to a good race," said Grant Hearn from Ohio.
The boaters say sometimes they win trophies but they usually just race for bragging rights. The real winners are members of the community. All proceeds to the Lock Haven Jaycees.