The bellow of highly tuned, unmuffled big block engines will be echoing round downtown Tauranga this weekend as the biggest hydroplanes prepare themselves for Sunday feature races.
But while you can hardly help hearing them, if you want a closer look, this year you will have to pay as the entire waterfront along The Strand reclamation has been fenced off.

Entry to the expanded pit area including the grandstand seating and the remainder of the waterfront along to the TS Chatham building will cost $10 for adults on Saturday and $20 on Sunday – or $25 for both days.
Grand Prix Hydroplanes Association secretary Denise Maughan says the price is still cheap compared with other motorsport.

'Compare it with Baypark, they charge for children as well and we don't,” says Denise.
'To put on an event like this costs about $50,000.”
Included are the set up costs, removing the boats and their moorings from the town reach, and paying for the removed boats to be kept at the marina. Then there's the fencing, the grandstand seating – and the cost of paying for three cranes for the duration.
'We have got nine rescue teams out there, divers and paramedics,” says Denise. 'Some are volunteers, but we are still paying for their food and petrol, and they are giving up their time.
'This is the perfect location to have an event like this and the costs come with it. These guys all come here for the joy of racing, they don't get paid or win prize money.”
Racing is expected to run between 11am and 3pm both days.

Click here for more pictures from the event.