I’ve paddled canoes sturdier than many of the boats that will be on display at the Heritage Port in Wheeling next weekend. And the canoes didn’t have engines pumping out hundreds of horsepower. The next time you’re in a home improvement store, take a close look at the plywood. Not the good, 3/4-inch stuff — the thinner material. Imagine a sheet of that being the only thing between you and the Ohio River while you’re skimming over it at 100 mph-plus. Next weekend will be an exciting time in Wheeling, with a variety of special events scheduled. One of my favorites, Fort Henry Days, will be held at Oglebay Park. The annual Woodcarvers Show and, on Sunday, a Wheeling Symphony Orchestra concert and fireworks, also will be at the park. Sunday and Monday at Wheeling Island Stadium, the Friends of Coal Prep Classic will feature top high school football teams from throughout the nation. It’ll be a good weekend to be in Wheeling, even for those who may want to take a few hours to drive up I-70 to see John McCain on Saturday in Washington. But if you’re in the “need for speed” crowd, you’ll want to spend some of the weekend at Heritage Port. The hydroplanes are coming back. The annual Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta will be held next weekend, with some events kicking off on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the racers will take to the water. Boat racing is a major part of our heritage here in the Ohio Valley.