What to know: Battle on the Colorado F1 boat races
Two F1 powerboats sit in front of Adele’s Restaurant & Lounge at 112 U.S. 281 in Marble Falls. Over 20 boats just like these will be racing on Lake Marble Falls for the first-ever Battle on the Colorado on Aug. 1-3. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The Formula One Powerboat Championship series roars onto Lake Marble Falls with the first-ever Battle on the Colorado. The high-octane event is Friday-Sunday, Aug. 1-3, at Lakeside Park, 305 Buena Vista Drive.
Admission is free on Friday, when drivers will test the waters, but tickets are required for races on Saturday and Sunday. Purchase tickets and learn more about the F1 boat races on the Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce website.
The race was announced in April after the F1 Powerboat Championship stepped in to fill the void left behind by the Southern Drag Racing Association’s LakeFest drag boat races, which were canceled for 2025.
The F1 boats will race a circuit around Lake Marble Falls, hitting hairpin turns at speeds of 100-120 mph. The three-day event also features vendors, food, live music, and more.
“The first thing I’ll say is come out and experience it,” said F1 Powerboat Championship founder Tim Seebold in an interview with The Picayune Magazine. “Come out and experience the real thing live. It’s a great sport. My family and myself have dedicated our lives to the sport of powerboat racing, and we want to show the local community what we’re all about and how exciting it is.”
ROAD CLOSURES
Some roads surrounding Lakeside and Johnson parks will be closed from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Johnson Park will still be accessible during the event, but Lakeside Park will only be open to race attendees. Avenue J could see some traffic congestion during race hours as boats are loaded into the water at the park’s boat ramp.
- Avenue H will be closed on the west side of the Second Street intersection.
- Main Street will be closed on the west side of the Second Street intersection.
- First Street will be closed at the U.S. 281 intersection.
- First Street will be closed south of the Avenue J intersection.
- Yett Street will be closed south of the Avenue J intersection.
PARKING
There will be open public parking wherever you can find it. The Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce recommends looking around Second Street as well as Avenue H near Galloway Insurance and the old Commercial National Bank building.
The Kiwanis Club is offering $10 parking as part of a club fundraiser at First Assembly of God Church, 96 Main St., and in the lot next door to the Marble Falls Public Library, 101 Main St.
SCHEDULE
The Battle on the Colorado features three racing categories: F1, F1 lights, and Tri-hull. Each category has its own testing, heats, finals, and awards.
Friday, Aug. 1
(free to the public)
- 9 a.m.—registration and safety inspection
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.—F1 race ride experience
- 1 p.m.—F1 boat tests
- 2 p.m.—F1 lights boat tests
- 3 p.m.—Tri-hull boat tests
- 4 p.m.—F1 boat tests
- 6:30-10 p.m.—Racer rally street party at Lakeside Park
- 7 p.m.—Marble Falls Summer Concert Series performance at Johnson Park
Saturday, Aug. 1
(tickets needed)
- 9 a.m.—Tri-hull boat tests
- 9:30 a.m.—F1 lights boat tests/qualifiers
- 10:30 a.m.—F1 boat tests/qualifiers
- 11:15 a.m.—Drivers meeting, on-water exhibition
- Noon—Opening ceremony
- 12:10 p.m.—Tri-hull heat one
- 12:45 p.m.—F1 heat one
- 1:30 p.m.—F1 lights heat one
- 2 p.m.—Tri-Hull heat two
- 2:30 p.m.—F1 lights heat two
- 3 p.m.—On-water exhibition
- 3:30 p.m.—F1 heat two
Sunday, Aug. 3
(tickets needed)
- 11 a.m.—Two-seater F1 race experience
- 11:30 a.m.—On-water exhibition
- Noon—Opening ceremony
- 12:15 p.m.—F1 lights heat three
- 12:45 p.m.—Tri-hull heat three
- 1:15 p.m.—F1 heat three
- 2 p.m.—F1 lights final
- 2:45 p.m.—Tri-hull final
- 3:15 p.m.—On-water exhibition
- 3:45 p.m.—F1 final
- 4:30 p.m.—Awards presentation