As racers rev up for the Two Mile Run Regatta, the event itself will help rev up the local economy.
The regatta will be held Friday through Sunday, May 27-29, at Two Mile Run County Park. Driver testing will be held on Friday with racing on Saturday and Sunday. Races will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The park will remain open during this time and the public may enjoy the races as well as the other park attractions.
This year is the 19th consecutive year that Three Rivers Outboard Racing Association has hosted boat races at Two Mile Run Park and over that time, this race has become a favorite of drivers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and Maryland.
Organizers said racers talk so highly of Two Mile Run that in years past the association has had racers from as far away as Indiana, Illinois, New England, North and South Carolina, Florida, California and Canada attend.
The average attendance of each race is approximately 100 drivers and 300 crew and family.
“This large number of people coming into the area has provided a large bump to the local economy with local hotels, gas stations and restaurants all seeing positive gains from the regatta,” the association said.
The association said that Two Mile park is almost completely rented out during the event and that the park’s concession stand does more business during the races than the rest of the year according to the concession stand staff.
“Two Mile Run Regatta is so successful every year because the racers want to attend,” the association said.
The geographical location is ideally suited, according to the association.
“For many drivers, it is within a five-hour drive from home,” the association said. “The physical qualities of the park; with the sand beach, ample grass parking for trailers, nearby RV parking with electric hook-ups, concession stand and shower room and pavilions make Two Mile one of the more family-friendly sites of the season.”
“The actual body of water is well protected from the wind and is ideally sized for our style of racing. And with the convenience of the town of Franklin nearby, hotels, restaurants and amenities are an easy drive away,” the association added.
