The river may be wild but the field is where the boat racing action is slated to happen this summer.

Organizers hope to bring more than 7,000 spectators to two Linn County jet sprint boat race events on July 19 and Sept. 6.

Linn County commissioners unanimously approved permits for the events on Wednesday.

Jet sprint boat racing is a nationally sanctioned, elimination-based sporting event. Participants race 13-foot aluminum boats around tight turns in a 10- to 12-foot-wide water-filled track, explained Albany resident Kyle Patrick of Oregon JetSprint LLC, the company behind the races.

The track is dug out of a field and is only about three feet deep.

"It's like driving your boat into a two-car garage at 80 miles per hour then turning around and going back out," said Doug Hendrickson of Pasco, Wash., president of the United States Sprint Boat Association.

Organizers say this is the first time a jet sprint boat race of this kind will be held in Oregon.

During similar events, spectators have spent an average of $153 per day on incidentals or $3.3 million at local businesses.

The Linn County track site is on private property south of Tangent, on the west side of I-5, south of Ridge Drive and North of Witt Drive.

The property is owned by Cala Farms Inc.

Race-watchers are encouraged to picnic and watch the action from lawn chairs.

The entertainment is geared toward families. Each racer is allotted a small area to keep tools and make repairs. Passes for the NASCAR-style "pits" will be available so children and adults can get a close-up look at the boats.

Food and drinks will be available on site. A beer garden is also planned.

Gary Weaver, organizer of the River Gone Wild events of previous years, will serve as chairman of fundraising for the races.

Weaver is soliciting sponsorships from businesses, with about 50 percent of funds raised going to the Boys & Girls Club and Linn County Search and Rescue. The other funds will help finance the races, he said.

Patrick said he hopes the jet sprint boat races will become an annual Linn County event.