Hydroplane racing captured the heart and soul of Seattle in the early 1950s and never let go. No Seahawks, Sonics, or Mariners game has come close to drawing one-quarter of the audience that watches the hydroplanes race. The unmistakable sound of the boats’ huge motors was as big an attraction as the racing itself. In the mid-1980s, something began to change. The distinctive roar of the old Thunderboats gave way to the whoosh of the turbine. The old names like Muncey and Chenoweth were replaced by new names like Hanauer and Villwock. The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent attempts to honor, celebrate, and preserve the legacy of Unlimited Racing. The museum has graciously offered its extraordinary photograph collection for this book. David D. Williams, the museum’s director, has been driving raceboats since 1978 and is a qualified Unlimited driver. Turbine Racing in Seattle is his fifth book on the subject of hydroplane racing.