A family affair for drivers at Tastin' and Racin'

A family affair for drivers at Tastin’ and Racin’

Most brothers and sisters battle over toys and chores. Nick and Bianca Bononcini's biggest competition comes on the water, at more than 100 mph. These two Issaquah natives grew up around hydroplanes. They've traveled around the country with their boats, sitting next to each other on the starting line and celebrating at the finish. This weekend, they were on the home turf at Lake Sammamish State Park for Tastin' and Racin', one of the Eastside's favorite festivals, and for many the kickoff to the boat racing season.

By Nat Levy • June 9, 2012 8:12 pm

Talk about sibling rivalry.

Most brothers and sisters battle over toys and chores. Nick and Bianca Bononcini’s biggest competition comes on the water, at more than 100 mph. These two Issaquah natives grew up around hydroplanes. They’ve traveled around the country with their boats, sitting next to each other on the starting line and celebrating at the finish. This weekend, they were on the home turf at Lake Sammamish State Park for Tastin’ and Racin’, one of the Eastside’s favorite festivals, and for many the kickoff to the boat racing season.

This weekend’s festivities were a part of the brother and sister’s fifth year as racers. They love to compete against each other, almost as much as they like to cheer each other on.

“There’s no one I want to beat more, and no one I want to win more when I can’t than him,” Bianca said.

Nick and Bianca agreed that Bianca usually wins most of the races. She’s even competed professionally at Seafair and other events. For Nick, it’s still an amateur passion. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy the occasion he gets to take down his sister.

The Bononcinis were one of many families whose lives revolve around races at the festivities. In its 16th year, Tastin’ Racin’ has done a lot to bring hydroplanes back into prominence in the area. Decades ago, the races at Seafair were among the two or three biggest sporting events of the year. Jon Cortright, one of the founders of the event, grew up around the sport. When he was racing in the park in the past, in front of only a couple spectators planted in lawn chairs he knew something had to be done. So along with his teammates, and Craig Cooke, the head of the Taste of Edmonds, he worked to get the sport noticed.

The races aren’t all the festival is about. Those in attendance were treated to the standard fair food, multiple beer garden and attractions for young ones as well. As the festival has grown, new attractions such as the classic car show, one of the best in the country, have gained notoriety.

But to many, it’s still about the boats.

Leslie “Poodle” Warren was kicking off her sixth season racing during the first runs Saturday. For Warren, who got into racing because of the lifelong involvement husband, “The Big Dog,” it was an experimental run primarily, as Warren suffered a big crash at the end of last season in Spanaway. She took a tight corner at more than 120 mph and her boat flipped, wrecking the windshield and ejecting Warren. She was flung from the boat and rescued with no injuries. She felt more trepidation about her boat, which blew a distributor cap in the first run of the day, than she did about getting back out on the water.

“I’ve never felt more confident than when I am out there,” Warren said. “I feel like a different person than I was six years ago.”