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San Diego Bayfair

San Diego Bayfair's World Series of Powerboat Racing - a family festival tradition for more than 40 years speeds to the finish line. The 2023 event has been postponed to September 13-15, 2024.

San Diego Bayfair has a long and rich tradition in Mission Bay Park. The first race was staged in 1964 thanks to the foresight of the great Unlimited hydroplane racer Bill Muncey. Muncey was the driving force behind Bayfair and getting the racecourse built to host the event.

The 2.5-mile racecourse, which was named after the late Bill Muncey, is the longest and fastest racecourse on the H1 Unlimited hydroplane circuit. Driver Dave Villwock set the World Lap Speed Record of 173.384 mph in 1999 at Bayfair. Villwock has won a record nine Bill Muncey Cups, including his first ever Unlimited hydroplane race victory on the waters of Mission Bay.

Over the years, more than 5 million people have enjoyed the races on Mission Bay. Bayfair has grown from just a hydroplane race in 1964 to an event that featured drag boats, international competitors, live music and aerial demonstrations. Boat-racing tours including Formula One tunnel boats, Grand Prix West, P1 USA, Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association and various semi-professional classes have competed at Bayfair.

Neighborhood: Mission Bay and Beaches

1404 Vacation Rd‎ San Diego, CA 92109

Contact Info

760-789-8870

Date & Time

Sep 13 - Sep 15, 2024

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Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United States. Spanning ages 14 – 84, the Crew Classic is a competition for future Olympians as well as for those new to the sport. This event is often a highlight of their competitive rowing careers. The Crew Classic is not only an athletic event with competitors at the peak of physical fitness, but a social gathering for enthusiasts to enjoy great local food, a beer garden with San Diego’s famous local craft breweries, and shopping. The event is held at Mission Bay, just a mile from the Pacific Beach.

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San Diego BayFair Powerboat Racing

by San Diego Sailing Tours | Sep 8, 2015 | Uncategorized

An event that comes to San Diego year after year for the last 40 years is the place to be! With individual racers and 150+ racing teams, the World Series of  Powerboat Racing kicks off September 18th and will be 3 days of non-stop fun.  The famous Bill Muncey Memorial Race Course will have boats going over 200MPH and is the fastest race course in the world.   Aside from the races are interactive exhibits, vendors, nightly live entertainment, beer garden, and a Saturday night fireworks extravaganza.  This is a great time for the whole family and just the right way to spend a September weekend  at Mission Bay Park in San Diego.

For More information: http://www.sandiegobayfair.org

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Super Boats at Mission Bay: The San Diego Bayfair Hydroplane Races

A hop, skip, and a jump from the Sofia Hotel , the waters of Mission Bay makes one of San Diego’s favorite aquatic playgrounds. Coming up this month is one of the flashiest water sports events it hosts all year: the San Diego Bayfair !

The centerpiece of this waterfront festival is as dramatic a competition as you can clap eyes on: an H1 Unlimited hydroplane race.

The high-speed action gets underway September 15 through the 17th, so join us at the Sofia —your first choice among downtown San Diego hotels—and mark the end of summer with a world-class spectacle at Mission Bay Park!

The San Diego Bayfair World Series of Powerboat Racing

The San Diego Bayfair has been delighting crowds for better than four decades. The first hydroplane race went down here at Mission Bay in 1964—the vision of a legendary H1 Unlimited racer, Bill Muncey. The 2.5-mile race course he established—and which now bears his name in tribute—is both the longest and the fastest one on the H1 Unlimited circuit.

Introducing the Hydroplane

So…what exactly is a hydroplane? Well, it’s only the swiftest racing powerboat around: a sleek and high-riding vessel capable of reaching speeds beyond 200 miles per hour.

The hydroplane’s astounding zippiness comes from immensely powerful turbine engines (adopted from helicopters) and an aerodynamic (and hydrodynamic) “three-point” design: At speed, only three parts of the boat—parts of the two sponsons (specialized extensions of the hull) and the rear propeller—actually touch the water.

Having as much of the boat cutting through the air rather than the denser water increases the hydroplane’s pace.

You can learn much, much more about hydroplane design over at the H1 Unlimited website’s “Hydros 101” breakdown .

Take in the Hydroplane Racing & More at the San Diego Bayfair

Besides the hydroplane racing itself (which requires a ticket to watch) and associated spectacles, the San Diego Bayfair also offers a whole smorgasbord of eats and drinks in its Vendor Village, plus live music, fireworks, and other festive fun.

We are within a half-hour of Mission Bay Park here at the Sofia Hotel , so why not treat yourself to the spray-tastic thrills of the San Diego Bayfair H1 Unlimited hydroplane showcase from an elegant guest room at one of the best-loved downtown San Diego hotels? We will see you at the races!

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Bayfair Powerboat Racing Returns to Mission Bay

Byline: The Log Staff

SAN DIEGO — Race boats from the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series — including unlimited hyrdroplanes — will once again compete on Mission Bay during the annual San Diego Bayfair, Sept. 14-16.

More than 100 boats are expected to compete off Crown Point at the event, which is the last stop for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series before the World Finals in November, in Phoenix.

The series’ Top Fuel Hydros run at speeds of up to 260 mph on a quarter-mile course.

Drivers will compete in 11 classes, including sportsman and professional. In addition to the racing action, fans can meet the drivers and watch the boats being prepared for competition.

Joining the Air National Guard Hydroplane Series will be Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Comp Jets, K Boats, Stock Outboards and SST 45s. Also participating is the Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (POPRA) and its fleet of catamarans and V-bottoms.

The classes will run between heats of the H1 Unlimited Series, which is expected to bring 11 boats to San Diego for the national championship. Most of the classes will run off Ski Beach, but some of the classes will also compete off Fiesta Island.

“We’re excited to once again have the H1 Unlimited series back on Mission Bay,” said Jeff Thomas, president of San Diego Bayfair’s Board of Governors. “The fans love the speed and the beauty of the boats. They are part of what makes Bayfair such a magical weekend.”

RV spots are available on East Vacation Isle, Fiesta Island and Crown Point for the three days of racing action. In addition, advance tickets are available by calling (760) 789-8870.

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San Diego Bayfair Thunderboat Races

San Diego Bayfair’s World Series of Powerboat Racing – a family festival tradition for more than 40 years speeds to the finish line.

San Diego Bayfair has a long and rich tradition in Mission Bay Park. The first race was staged in 1964 thanks to the foresight of the great Unlimited hydroplane racer Bill Muncey. Muncey was the driving force behind Bayfair and getting the racecourse built to host the event. Running the weekend of September 16-18, 2022 book your stay today and get a special room rate!

The 2.5-mile racecourse, which was named after the late Bill Muncey, is the longest and fastest racecourse on the H1 Unlimited hydroplane circuit. Driver Dave Villwock set the World Lap Speed Record of 173.384 mph in 1999 at Bayfair. Villwock has won a record nine Bill Muncey Cups, including his first ever Unlimited hydroplane race victory on the waters of Mission Bay.

Over the years, more than 5 million people have enjoyed the races on Mission Bay. Bayfair has grown from just a hydroplane race in 1964 to an event that featured drag boats, international competitors, live music and aerial demonstrations. Boat-racing tours including Formula One tunnel boats, Grand Prix West, P1 USA, Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association and various semi-professional classes have competed at Bayfair.

Purchase tickets ahead of time online. Tickets can be purchased online at sandiegobayfair.org or at the entrance gates of East Vacation Island/Ski Beach, Crown Point or Fiesta Island. Bring a print out of the ticket to San Diego Bayfair. Volunteers at the entrance of East Vacation Island/Ski Beach, Crown Point or Fiesta Island will exchange the ticket for a wristband. Beer gardens are available on East Vacation Island and Crown Point. Alcohol is also available in hospitality. The Vendor Village is open to the general public and does not require a ticket. Access to watch the races requires paid admission. Smoking is not permitted in Mission Bay Park, per the City of San Diego.

Details: Where: Mission Bay 1404 Vacation Rd‎ San Diego, CA 92109 Contact: 760-789-8870 Date & Time: Sep 16 – Sep 18, 2022 Price: Starting at $20

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Phone: 619-298-6888 Fax: 619-692-4497 Email: [email protected]

54 Years of Hydroplane Racing on Mission Bay

Six teams expected to race for the last trophy of the season

By Owen Blauman

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—(September 8, 2018) Known as the birthplace of California, the San Diego region has its own particular brand of laid-back coolness. With more than 70 miles of sun-drenched coast, inviting ocean, and a year-round daily forecast of 70°F it is no wonder H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series fans throughout the country visit Mission Bay for the annual powerboat race.

Celebrating its 54th year and one of California’s largest on-water festivals, HomeStreet Bank San Diego Bayfair presented by Nissan Titan is returning to Mission Bay, September 14-16, 2018.

Six of the world’s fastest race boats are scheduled to attend.

The newly crowned 2018 national champion U-9 Delta/Realtrac race team and its driver, Andrew Tate (Walled Lake, Mich.), last year’s Bayfair winner, are expected to go deck-to-deck with Jimmy Shane (Maple Valley, Wash.) in the U-1 Miss HomeStreet.

The 28year-old Tate and his team have a preeminent position over the other race teams. His season began in June in Guntersville, Alabama, with an impeccable race weekend. H had a weekend sweep: top qualifier, winner of every preliminary heat, and winner of the Lake Guntersville HydroFest final.

Tate’s  near flawless season continued with him winning four out of five championship finals, being the top qualifier at two races, and winning won 12 out of 17 preliminary heat races in 2018.

He clinched the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series National Championship last month after winning the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Gold Cup.

Tate said, “The Jones Racing team has accomplished everything we set out to do in 2018. The National Championship and the Gold Cup have been decided, but we plan to finish strong in San Diego and bring home the Bill Muncey memorial trophy.”

The H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series six-race season ends this weekend at Bayfair and the humble Tate said “it’s been a dream season that unfortunately has to end.” He continued, “At least we’ll be in beautiful San Diego with friends, family, and some of the greatest race fans on earth.”

Tate’s chief rival, Shane, a five-time national champion who drives the Miss HomeStreet, is expected to pressure Tate for Bayfair’s Bill Muncey Cup trophy.

In his 11th year driving an H1 Unlimited hydroplane, Shane, 32, is the only other driver to win a final heat this year, winning in the team’s hometown of Madison, Indiana.

He has the most career wins out of the weekend’s field with 17 race victories.

Mid-season, his team christened a new race boat and has raced it as their primary hull for the last two races. Shane modestly says the new boat is “meeting expectations,” but since its launch, the boat has turned the heads of fans and his competitors.

In the race boat’s first two races it has been top qualifier and finished first in eight out of nine preliminary heat races.

“I need to do my part as driver and have a penalty-free weekend in the upcoming San Diego Bayfair race. If I can do that, then I believe the boat and team will be sitting on the top of the podium at the end of the weekend,” Shane said.

Shane’s team is lead by crew chief Cindy Shirley, the sport’s first woman crew chief since 1975. Shirley took over in the offseason, becoming the first woman to lead a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series team to a winner-take-all final after her team won the 68th annual Indiana Governor’s Cup.

The rookie crew chief has been with the team for several years as a crew member and said she is delighted “to end the year in San Diego, which should have the best weather in a year that has seen it’s share of weather delays.”

The racing season has been plagued with poor weather, resulting in the postponement of several preliminary heat races at the Lake Guntersville HydroFest and the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealer’s Gold Cup trophy race.

“This first season has been a learning process and the team feels we are now much more in sync than we were at the beginning of the season,” Shirley said. “I feel like we have our old stride back.”

Another team to watch is the U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool present J&D’s driven by Tom Thompson. Currently in third place in the high points chase, the Mission Bay race is very sentimental to Thompson.

“It is where I started driving an H1 Unlimited hydroplane and is always one of my favorite race sites,” Thompson said.

The team sustained damage at the most recent race. Thompson said, “The team has been working hard getting the boat back together after the damage.”

The U-11 race team is owned by Shannon and Scott Raney (Bothell, Wash.), now in their eighth season. This season’s campaign has been their most successful to date.

“Sitting third in points and looking for that first win, San Diego would be a great place for that to happen, Thompson said.

Other teams expected to appear include, U-21 PayneWest Insurance driven by Brian Perkins (North Bend, Wash.), U-99.9 CARSTAR presents Miss Rock driven by rookie Aaron Salmon, and the field is rounded out by Dustin Echols (Sultan, Wash.) in the U-440 Bucket List Racing.

The 2-1/2 mile racecourse is surrounded by sandy beaches and is one of the fastest on the racing circuit. “The fans have a great place to watch a very fast race course and they are going to see some very good racing. We are coming, watch for us,” Thompson said.

Dan Welch, his wife Lori and daughter Piper from Phoenix, Arizona, are some of the fans that travel from out of state to attend Mission Bay’s weekend festival and powerboat races.

Dan Welch said, “You can’t beat the excitement generated by hydroplanes traveling 200 mph across Mission Bay. Pictures and videos don’t do it justice! There is no other place in the country where you can sit in a beach chair with your sun block on and watch racing like this.”

His 17-year-old daughter Piper agrees. “Going to the hydroplane races in San Diego is the best of both world’s. You get the beauty of the beach and Mission Bay, and the excitement of the races. I can’t wait.”

The weekend festivities are not just for out-of-towners. Brian Lahlum from nearby Chula Vista, California, is another fan who looks forward to the annual festival.

“Boats, beer and now BBQ on the bay. Bayfair is so much fun, I can’t wait to get out each year and watch the fastest boats in the world here in my hometown,” Lahlum said.

Tickets are available at  sandiegobayfair.org

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Mission Bay hydroplane races canceled, casting event’s future into doubt

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The Unlimited Hydroplane races, almost an annual event on Mission Bay since 1964, have been canceled for 2023, casting the future of the event into doubt.

Citing increased production costs and unexpected sponsorship losses, the governing board of the non-profit Thunderboats Inc. announced the decision to cancel Bayfair 2023 Monday morning. The event was scheduled for Sept. 15-17.

Since 1996, Bayfair was the title for the overall event that included numerous classes of boat racing and at times concerts, Saturday night fireworks, extreme sports exhibitions, sky-diving and other events on East Vacation Isle, Fiesta Island and the water in between.

But the featured event for 54 of the last 59 years was the Unlimited Hydroplanes. There were no races in 1971-73 then again in 2020 during the pandemic. Only once in the history of the event were the Unlimited Hydroplanes not the featured attraction.

“If we had held the event this year, we would have been done,” said Bob Davies, Bayfair’s Race Director. “If we hadn’t made this difficult decision, we would have finished upside down. It’s time to re-evaluate and look at all our options.”

During the sport’s peak, there would be more than a dozen Unlimited Hydroplanes in the East Vacation Isle pits. Over the last several seasons there were fewer than half that number and some boats never took to the water. Heat races were canceled two of the last three years.

“Obviously their show has been getting more disappointing,” Davies said of the Unlimited Hydroplanes. “But, we’re selling a festival … an event to have a good time with family and friends. And as much as I’m disappointed with the Unlimiteds, they do cover a lot of real estate.

“We’ve learned for a while that the Unlimiteds are not our future. We’re taking a look at everything under the microscope.”

The future of Bayfair might not hinge on the Unlimiteds. Bayfair is the one time each year when RV owners can rent a space for the weekend on East Vacation Isle. RV spots are also sold on Fiesta Island.

The Unlimiteds raced on the 2 ½-mile Bill Muncey Memorial Course between East Vacation Isle, Crown Point Shores and Fiesta Island. Other classes race on shorter courses, eliminating sections of the onshore viewing areas. The charter under which Mission Bay was created promotes powerboat racing. Once there were three events a season — two for limited classes and one for Unlimited Hydroplanes. The limited-class races were discontinued in the 1980s.

The 26-foot Unlimiteds, powered by 2,000-horsepower turbine engines, are spectacular. Straightaway speeds top 200 mph. Most of the sport’s speed records were set on the salt water of Mission Bay. San Diego was host to Unlimited racing’s premier — the Gold Cup — in 1969-70, 1987 and 1989.

Past Bayfairs drew crowds estimated at around 100,000. Recent turnouts have been far below that. Actual attendance has never been announced. The races also attracted fans from outside the area, a post-summer plus for area hotels.

“We thank our fans, volunteers and sponsors for their support and passion for San Diego Bayfair,” Davies said. “Rest assured, we’ll return in 2024 even better.”

Over the years, the race has had 18 different title sponsors. It was eliminated once before after the 1970 event due to a three-way dispute between the city, then sponsor Mission Bay Associates and the Unlimited Hydroplane Commission. La Mesa resident and Unlimited Hydroplane legend put together an organization that resumed the races in 1974.

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Powerboat Racing World

Frode Sundsdal

What is prw.

It’s a powerboat racing website that has covered circuit racing, offshore racing and PWC since 2016. Maintained by The Race Factory based in Norway who have specialists in event planning and promotion, social media, graphic design, and photography. We are currently working on our vision and believe that we can and will make a different in powerboating. We will dedicate our time to produce accurate factual stories and to promote the sport to a wider global audience.

Known as the birthplace of California, the San Diego region has its own particular brand of laid-back coolness. With more than 70 miles of sun-drenched coast, inviting ocean, and a year-round daily forecast of 70°F it is no wonder H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series fans throughout the country visit Mission Bay for the annual powerboat race.

Celebrating its 54th year and one of California’s largest on-water festivals, HomeStreet Bank San Diego Bayfair presented by Nissan Titan is returning to Mission Bay, September 14-16, 2018.

Six of the world’s fastest race boats are scheduled to attend.

The newly crowned 2018 national champion U-9 Delta/Realtrac race team and its driver, Andrew Tate (Walled Lake, Mich.), last year’s Bayfair winner are expected to go deck-to-deck with Jimmy Shane (Maple Valley, Wash.) in the U-1 Miss HomeStreet.

The 28-year-old Tate and his team have a preeminent position over the other race teams. His season began in June in Guntersville, Alabama, with an impeccable race weekend. He had a weekend sweep –top qualifier, winner of every preliminary heat and the Lake Guntersville HydroFest final.

Tate’s near flawless season continued with him winning four out of five championship finals, being the top qualifier at two races, and winning 12 out of 17 preliminary heat races in 2018.

He clinched the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series National Championship last month after winning the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Gold Cup.

The Jones Racing team has accomplished everything we set out to do in 2018. The National Championship and the Gold Cup have been decided, but we plan to finish strong in San Diego and bring home the Bill Muncey memorial trophy.

The H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series six-race season ends this weekend at Bayfair and the humble Tate continued:

It’s been a dream season that unfortunately has to end. At least we’ll be in beautiful San Diego with friends, family, and some of the greatest race fans on earth.

Tate’s chief rival, Shane, a five-time national champion who drives the Miss HomeStreet is expected to pressure Tate for Bayfair’s Bill Muncey Cup trophy.

In his 11th year driving an H1 Unlimited hydroplane, Shane, 32, is the only other driver to win a winner-take-all final this year, winning in the team’s hometown of Madison, Indiana.

He has the most career wins out of the weekend’s field with 17 race victories.

Mid-season his team christened a new race boat and has raced it as their primary hull for the last two races.

Shane modestly says the new boat is “meeting expectations” but since its launch, the boat has turned the heads of fans and his competitors.

In the race boat’s first two races it has been top qualifier and finished first in eight out of nine preliminary heat races.

I need to do my part as driver and have a penalty-free weekend in the upcoming San Diego Bayfair race. If I can do that, then I believe the boat and team will be sitting on the top of the podium at the end of the weekend.

Shane’s team is lead by crew chief Cindy Shirley, the sport’s first woman crew chief since 1975.

Shirley took over in the off season, becoming the first woman to lead a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series team to a winner-take-all final after her team won the 68th annual Indiana Governor’s Cup.

The rookie crew chief has been with the team for several years as a crew member said she is delighted:

To end the year in San Diego which should have the best weather in a year that has seen it’s share of weather delays.

The racing season has been plagued with poor weather, resulting in the postponement of several preliminary heat races at the Lake Guntersville HydroFest and the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealer’s Gold Cup trophy race.

This first season has been a learning process and the team feels we are now much more in sync than we were at the beginning of the season. I feel like we have our old stride back.

Another team to watch is the U-11 Reliable Diamond Tool present J&D’s driven by Tom Thompson. Currently in third place in the high points chase, the Mission Bay race is very sentimental to Thompson.

It is where I started driving an H1 Unlimited hydroplane and is always one of my favorite race sites.

The team sustained damage at the most recent race. Thompson said:

The team has been working hard getting the boat back together after the damage.

The U-11 race team owned by Shannon and Scott Raney (Bothell, Wash.), now in their eight season.

This season’s campaign has been their most successful season to date:

Sitting third in points and looking for that first win, San Diego would be a great place for that to happen.

Other teams expected to appear, U-21 PayneWest Insurance driven by Brian Perkins (North Bend, Wash.), U-99.9 CARSTAR presents Miss Rock driven by Aaron Salmon, and the field is rounded out by Dustin Echols (Sultan, Wash.) in the U-440 Bucket List Racing.

The 2-1/2 mile racecourse is surrounded by sandy beaches and is one of the fastest on the racing circuit.

“The fans have a great place to watch a very fast race course and they are going to see some very good racing. We are coming, watch for us,” Thompson said.

Dan Welch, his wife Lori and daughter Piper from Phoenix, Arizona, are some of the fans that travel from out-of-state to attend Mission Bay’s weekend festival and powerboat races:

You can’t beat the excitement generated by hydroplanes traveling 200 mph across Mission Bay. Pictures and videos don’t do it justice! There is no other place in the country where you can sit in a beach chair with your sun block on and watch racing like this.

His 17-year-old daughter Piper agrees:

Going to the hydroplane races in San Diego is the best of both world’s. You get the beauty of the beach and Mission Bay, and the excitement of the races. I can’t wait.

The weekend festivities are not just for out of state.

Brian Lahlum from nearby Chula Vista, California, is another fan who looks forward to the annual festival:

Boats, beer and now BBQ on the bay. Bayfair is so much fun, I can’t wait to get out each year and watch the fastest boats in the world here in my hometown.

Photo: John Moore

Tickets are available at sandiegobayfair.org

HOMESTREET BANK SAN DIEGO BAYFAIR presented by Nissan Titian – H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series

Friday, September 14, 2018

9:00a-10:00a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing I 12:15p-1:15p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing II 2:40p-3:40p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Qualifying

Saturday, September 15, 2018

9:45a-10:45a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing III 12:20p-1:20p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing IV 3:25p-3:40p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Preliminary Heat 1A 3:55p-4:10p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane PreliminaryHeat 1B

Sunday, September 16, 2018

8:45a-9:45a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Testing V 11:15a-11:30a H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Preliminary Heat 2A 11:45a-Noon H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Preliminary Heat 2B 2:05p-2:20p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Preliminary Heat 3A 2:40p-2:55p H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Preliminary Heat 3B 4:10p-4:30p FINAL HomeStreet Bank Bill Muncey Cup

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© 2024 Powerboat Racing World.

San Diego Bayfair has a long and rich tradition in Mission Bay Park. The first race was staged in 1964 thanks to the foresight of the great Unlimited hydroplane racer Bill Muncey. Muncey was the driving force behind Bayfair and getting the racecourse built to host the event.

Photos courtesy of The Collection of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

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Kelly leads way in Council voting

Nov. 8—Early unofficial results show Sandra Kelly, Bryce Blankenship and Drew Davis as the top three vote-getters in the Moscow City Council race Tuesday night.

Six candidates ran for three seats. Not all of the precinct results were released by press time, but early votes were reported on the Idaho Secretary of State website.

The top three vote-getters were incumbent Kelly with 1,093 votes, Bryce Blankenship with 828 and incumbent Drew Davis with 766.

They are leading Evan Holmes, Joe Campbell and Nathan Tupper.

In the Juliaetta mayor election, incumbent Richard Groseclose is leading Eric McDowell by four votes to three.

In a change from previous elections, all the Latah County ballots were counted by hand on Election Day before they are counted electronically today.

The hand count is part of Latah County Auditor Julie Fry's effort to promote trust in the voting process. She said last month that by cross-checking the hand count with the electronic count, voters can have confidence in the accuracy of the voting machines.

Thirty-two volunteers gathered at the Latah County Fairgrounds on Thursday to help hand-count the ballots.

The volunteers raised their hand and were sworn in by a county employee before beginning their task.

The volunteers separated into teams of four: a reader, an observer and two people who tally votes.

The reader announces the names of the candidates who received votes on each ballot. Two people tally those votes while an observer helps ensure the count is accurate.

The volunteers adhered to the Idaho Secretary of State's guidelines for counting paper ballots. For example, if a citizen votes for too many candidates in a particular race, that vote will not be counted.

During this year's March and May elections, random precincts were picked to count votes by hand. Those tallies accurately matched the voting machine's results, Fry said.

Kuipers can be reached at [email protected] .

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