The American Power Boat Association ChampBoat Series has been added to the field of competition for the annual Englewood Electric/Lineltex Kankakee River Valley Regatta this August 31-September 2, according to a press release from the ChampBoat organization.

"The APBA ChampBoat series is going to be the main attraction," said Don Denault, chairman of the Kankakee River Valley Regatta which conducts the event. "The Champ boat is the boat that everybody wants to see. Their appearance will boost the prestige and visibility of the event for all the participants."

Measuring 17-foot-long, 400-horsepower, outboard-engine tunnel boats can accelerate from 0 to 100 miles per hour in 3 seconds and reach top speeds more than 130 miles per hour. In turns, they can exert up to 4 Gs on the driver.

The Regatta also will feature its traditional classes: Sport C, Formula V, SST-45, SST-60, SST-70, SST-120 and Super Sports. Teams will venture to Kankakee from across the country to compete for national titles on the Kankakee River and complete for a total of $55,000 in prize money.

Organizers for the newly formed APBA ChampBoat Series plans to hold four to five races across the United States in 2002 and expand to a full-season schedule in 2003. The series will post a series point fund of $20,000 to $25,000 in 2002, depending on the number of races that are held.

The series begins June 8-9 with the False River Powerboat Championship in New Roads, La. ChampBoat also has been selected to direct the nation?s oldest outboard powerboat race, the St. Louis Championship Grand Prix, August 16-18 on Creve Coeur Lake in the western St. Louis suburbs.