SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- -- They travel across the water at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour.

To some people, it sounds crazy, but the drivers of these hydroplanes wouldn't have it any other way.

"It is an adrenaline rush, and it definitely does get your heart rate going," said Mike Webster, Team "Red Hot" driver.

This weekend is the first Syracuse Hydrofest since 1999, and racing teams from across the country have made the trip to Central New York.

"It's what we do on the weekends. Some people stay home and play golf or mow their lawns, we travel and go boat racing," said Dan Kanfoush, driver for Team "Fast Eddie."

Teams make last minute preparations before the boats are lifted into the water, then the racers have five minutes to practice.

At the end of the countdown, it's Showtime.

"When the clock hits zero, the idea is to hit the start/finish line full on. It's a timed start. If you hit it too early it's a penalty, if you hit it too late you're in trouble cause the competition is gone," said Kanfoush.

Now the drivers sit here in a cockpit where they wear protective equipment and an oxygen tank in case of an emergency. The drivers we spoke with say the race is all about adrenaline.

"It is addicting. It's like any form of sporting event or motorsports, car racing is very popular and it just becomes something that becomes a part of you," said Webster.

And at these races, it's nothing but friendly competition.

"I mean, we'll go out, we'll battle on the water, we'll even come in and scream and yell at each other, but at the end of the day, we all sit around our motor homes and we'll have a beer together," said Kanfoush.

The three day event is expected to pump more than $960,000 into the local economy.

The hydroplane races continue through Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

It's free to watch the races, and organizers expect upwards of 30,000 people to show up.