Hydroplane Makes Its Debut In Cda - On Land

Spokane’s new unlimited hydroplane makes its debut this holiday weekend in a likely place, Coeur d’Alene.

The only thing is, you won’t see the boat churning up a roostertail on the water. Instead, it will be towed behind a truck down Sherman Avenue as part of the city’s Independence Day parade on the Fourth of July. Later that day the boat will come back to Spokane and be on display at the Neighbor Day celebration in Riverfront Park.

Sporting hull modifications and a fresh coat of bright yellow paint, the U-19 will be flying the colors of its newly acquired sponsor, Appian Technology, Inc., a maker of accelerator boards for computers. The boat will be named the “Appian Renegade.”

“All the hull work is complete now,” said team manager and driver Tom Hindley. He is just awaiting the turbine motors that will power the craft at speeds upward of 200 mph.

Hindley would like to return to Coeur d’Alene - next time on the water - to do some testing before the boat heads to its first race in Tri Cities, July 30, and runs the following weekend in Seattle at Seafair.

Testing, however, won’t come right away if indeed it happens at all. “I’ve talked with the shop in Seattle that is working on our engines and we’re still two weeks away before they arrive.”

Nostalgia, bracket drags At SRP

Spokane Raceway Park opens its gates Friday night for special Nostalgia Drags and car show.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and the SRP event will probably draw competitors and fans from the Street Rod Nationals which take place this weekend at the Interstate Fairgrounds.

Saturday sees the return of bracket drag racing with Dave Oien and Don Hudlow locked in a tight battle for first place in Super Pro points. Just 10 points separate the two. John Lanz and Mark Risen are also in a tight battle in the Pro Eliminator standings, while Jim Van Doren has a more comfortable lead in Street Eliminator. Drag time trials begin at 4:30 p.m.

Stock cars also run Saturday with oval qualifying starting at 5:30 p.m.

Schultz finishes strong

For his first time in competition on a road course, veteran Spokane stock car driver Rick Schultz showed he can turn the steering wheel of a race car not only left, but right too.

Schultz was running as high at fourth in last Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Northwest Tour race at Portland International Raceway when he got into a fender bender with another racer. He ended up sixth - his best finish this year in the series - in a race won by Winston Cup vet Mark Martin, and which also included Dale Jarrett.

Monte English, driving for the Spokanebased team of Ron Hall, was 18th.

Northport has Saturday date

Northport International Raceway will stage its holiday racing program on Saturday when it presents the Snap-On Tools Firecracker 150 at 4 p.m. Racing will consist of Superstocks, Modifieds and Volkswagens.

Pit stops

Stateline Speedway hosts its Mid-Season Championships Saturday with competition in Compacts, Hobby Cars, Streetstocks and Sportsman. Racing begins at 6 p.m. The track hosts its annual Independence Day Demolition Derby and Fireworks show Monday, beginning at 5:30. Advance tickets are available at Post Falls Trustworthy Hardware… . Jeff Bird of Spokane won his second Northwest Late Model Racing Association feature race in as many outings at Stateline last Saturday. Bird is reportedly working on joining the NASCAR Northwest Tour with a car owned by Yakima Speedway promoter Dennis Williams. He plans to debut in the 250 lap race at Monroe July 30. … Has the dust settled for good at Tuscor Speedway in Trout Creek, Mont.? The new dirt track was to have had a sprint car race this weekend, but attempts to reach the track’s two phone numbers resulted in disconnected lines. If anyone can provide further information on the track’s status, please get in touch.

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