Oberto hydroplane to make last Seafair run this weekend

SEATTLE — This is the last year you'll see an Oberto hydroplane at Seafair.

After 40 years, the company is not renewing its sponsorship, and some Oberto family members don't want to drop the tradition.

They're asking people to call and write Oberto Beef Jerky to keep the iconic red, white, and green hydro on the water. Click on this link to contact the Oberto company.

The company released the following statement:

"We constantly evaluate our marketing programs and have decided to reallocate our resources and not renew our hydro series and hydro team sponsorships after the 2015 season. Based on our long-standing relationship with the sport and the great people of the Miss Madison Hydro team, this was a very difficult decision for the Oberto family and the company. Art Oberto is graciously supporting the 2015 Oberto farewell tour and we wish the Miss Madison team the very best in the future."

Remembering Oh Boy, Oberto!

Hydroplanes have been a Seattle summer staple since the early 1950s, and Oberto has been one of the top names associated with the Seafair hydro races.

After Stan Sayres captured the Gold Cup at Detroit in 1950 –  at the time the hydroplane equivalent of winning the Super Bowl – the race came to Lake Washington and the tradition of hydroplane races in Seattle.

The Oberto move raises questions about hydro races at Seafair. Paid admission for seating at the hydros deterred crowds in the 1990s, and in 2010 financial troubles with sponsor General Motors threatened the races.

The hydroplane races have loyal support from longtime Seattleites.

When the hydro races were in jeopardy in 2010, Duke Moscrip of Duke’s Chowder House donated $40,000 to save the hydro races. He also sent out an e-mail to tens of thousands of patrons asking for donations to the Seafair Pirates, and raised more than $8,200.

Click here to read more on the history of the Seafair festival.

KIRO