Kent resident and veteran driver Jeff Bernard pilots the U-1918 Oberto Specialty Meats hydroplane for a test run Thursday on Lake Washington.

Bernard will race the hydro on the Columbia River for the HAPO Columbia Cup in the Tri-Cities, July 26-28; the HomeStreet Cup at Seafair, Aug. 2-4; and at the San Diego Bayfair, Sept. 13-15.

The 35-year-old Bernard, who works for Boeing, began driving an H1 Unlimited hydroplane in 1998. He has three championship final wins and 27 preliminary heat race starts on his driving resume. He has placed second in the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series driver national championship points chase three times.

Oberto Specialty Meats invites fans to join the “test run party” and boat rechristening at the Stan Sayers Memorial Park, 3808 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle. Thursday’s event is scheduled between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Activities include free Oberto Specialty Meats hot links, product samples and fun prizes.

Miss Madison Racing is operating the U-1918 Oberto boat. The two companies are not strangers in their hydroplane endeavor. Oberto first sponsored the team in 2000 and continued for 16 years. Together, the group has won three national championships and 18 races with drivers Steve David and Jimmy Shane.