Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Thunderboats Returning to Coeur d'Alene

This has been posted in cooperation with the Museum of North Idaho.

The Thunderboats are returning to Coeur d'Alene in the First Annual Diamond Cup Regatta. The event celebrates the Diamond Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Races that were held on Lake Coeur d'Alene from 1958 to 1968 and benefits the Museum of North Idaho's building fund.

The public will have an opportunity to enter a raffle for a chance to ride in historic hydroplanes. Tickets are available for $10 each at Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene Chamber, Yacht Club, Interstate Office Supply, RDI Heating, Coeur d'Alene Eagles, Jiff-EE Mart on Lincoln Way, Lake City Ford, Tom Addis Dodge, Lyle's Fabric, Allsport Polaris at Liberty Lake, Appleway Quick Lube and Car Wash, Coeur d'Alene Tractor, Priano's Billiards & Backyards and Kootenai Lawn & Garden. The drawing will be held Saturday night Aug. 21 at the Diamond Cup Regatta Banquet.

The Regatta will be August 20 through the 22nd with the cooperation of the Hydroplane and Race Boat Museum in Kent, Washington. Four vintage unlimited hydroplanes will be displayed around the community and at the Museum of North Idaho. Tentatively scheduled to appear are the 1968 Miss Budweiser, the 1967 Miss Budweiser, the "Green Dragon" Miss Bardahl and the Miss Wahoo. Each of these boats competed in Diamond Cup racing including racing under different owner/sponsor teams. These boats were state of the art 40-50 years ago. They are powered by WWII fighter plane V-12 engines and capable of running at speeds in the 190 mph range.

Friday August 20 beginning at 4 pm, at least two of these boats will be displayed in front of The Coeur d'Alene with a no-host bar. Crewmembers will be available to discuss the boats and their rich history. One of the massive V-12's will be fired up, providing a sound like no other.

Saturday evening August 21 the Diamond Cup Regatta Banquet featuring Mira "The Flying Czech" Slovak, driving Harrah's Tahoe Miss won the 1966 Diamond Cup. Mira is also famous for crashing the Miss Exide during the 1963 Diamond Cup. The evening will also include Diamond Cup vintage films not previously seen in public and silent and live auctions of items including hydroplane ride-alongs.

Sunday morning August 22 8 am is the shot gun start of the Diamond Cup Golf Tournament at the world famous Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course. Entry fee of $250 includes water taxi ride from the Hotel, golf cart, fore caddy, unlimited floating practice balls, a pregame massage, golf club and bag cleaning, a signature name tag for your bag and 18 holes of unprecedented golf.

Saturday night at the banquet the winners of the Vintage hydroplanes ride-alongs will be announced. Rides will go from noon to 6 pm on Sunday August 22, weather permitting. Viewing of the 1.5-mile course is free from many vantage points on the northwest end of the lake.

The event is sponsored by RDI Heating & Cooling, HG Henry-Griffitts, Gropp Electric, The Coeur d'Alene, Coeur d'Alene Inn, Centennial Distributing, Hagadone Marine Group, Allsport Polaris, Kootenai Lawn and Garden. Proceeds from the sale of souvenir shirts, raffle tickets, banquet tickets, auction items, golf tournament entries, donations and hydroplane rides benefit the Museum of North Idaho's building fund. Contact the Museum of North Idaho for a registration form for the events or go to www.museumni.org or www.diamondcup.org.

Schedule

Friday Aug. 20 at 4 pm No-host bar on the front lawn of The Coeur d'Alene

Saturday Aug. 21 Banquet at The Coeur d'Alene.

6-7 pm No-host social hour at the Coeur d'Alene Convention Center

7-8:30 pm Banquet $100. Tables of eight are available. Guest speaker Mira Slovak.

8:30 pm Live auction for hydro rides and items to be announced

Sunday Aug. 22 8 am Diamond Cup Gold Tournament at Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

Sunday 12-6 pm Vintage Hydroplane rides. Tickets only available through live auction Saturday night and by raffle drawings.



For more info: www.diamondcup.org

Doug Miller 208-691-1612 dmiller@naabelle.com

Dave Walker 208-277-8808 dwcdaid@yahoo.com

Dorothy Dahlgren 208-664-3448 or email dd@museumni.org

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