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August 23, 2010 in City
Organizers hope regatta is first of many hydroplane exhibitions
David Williams pilots “Miss Wahoo” in front of the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, the first time any hydroplane has been on the lake in 42 years. “Emotionally, it felt amazing to be driving a hydro on Lake Couer d’alene,” he said.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Sunday was an emotional day for David Williams. As a child he spent every summer on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and he always looked forward to the hydroplane races. When the last races were held in 1968, the 11-year-old Williams stood on the shore, dreaming of one day driving one of the roaring boats.
On Sunday, Williams became the first hydroplane driver to take to the lake in 42 years, when he piloted a replica of the original 1957 Miss Wahoo out onto the choppy lake for a couple of rounds during the Diamond Cup Regatta.
“Emotionally, it felt great to be out there, but the water was really crummy,” said a beaming Williams after a trial run. He likened his experience to watching the Yankees play as a child and then returning to pitch for them as an adult. “I was here in 1968, and now to be the first one back, it just really feels amazing.”
Four vintage boats – Miss Budweiser, Miss Wahoo, Miss Bardahl and Miss Thriftway – were in Coeur d’Alene over the weekend as part of a fundraiser for the Museum of North Idaho. The replica Miss Wahoo was built at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Wash.
Twelve hydroplane rides were raffled off at a fundraising dinner Saturday, but come Sunday, the weather wasn’t cooperating.
“Every time I tried to really open her up, she just launched into the air,” Williams said after his run. “It’s just not the best conditions.”
The hydroplanes can reach speeds of more than 175 mph, but because of wind and choppy waves, Williams kept Miss Wahoo at 90 mph. By midafternoon, event organizers decided it wasn’t safe to give rides and were making plans to award them at a later date.
The Formula One racers of the lake, hydroplanes boast huge engines – like Miss Bardahl’s 3,000 horsepower V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine – and when going full speed they literally fly across the water with only the propeller and two other points on the hull touching the water.
During Sunday’s hourlong weather delay, bystanders covered their ears as first Miss Thriftway and then Miss Wahoo test-fired their engines. And then people cheered.
“People in Seattle like the boats, but they are so used to seeing them that they almost seem blasé about it,” said Jon Osterberg, part of Miss Bardahl’s crew. “Here, we get a standing ovation every time we fire them up.”
People crowded the floating dock near the Coeur d’Alene Resort, the beach near North Idaho College and smaller docks at Murphy’s Landing to get a glimpse of the sleek boats. It was around 1:30 p.m. when Miss Wahoo finally made her way out, towed by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.
When Miss Wahoo fired up with the telltale sputters, flames and bangs of a jet-fueled engine, few people were more excited than event organizer Doug Miller, who was watching up close from a pontoon boat.
“Isn’t that something? Look at that, isn’t that something? We go from 42 to zero right now,” Miller said, referring to the number of years since the last time the hydroplanes hit the lake.
“Wow. Look at that. That’s the prettiest boat ever on the water,” Miller said before yelling congratulations to Williams after his runs.
The Coeur d’Alene hydroplane races drew huge crowds in the 1950s and ’60s, and unruly spectators were the main reason the races were canceled. Several times since then there have been efforts to bring the races back, but none have been successful. In the mid 1990s a ballot initiative banned unlimited hydroplane racing on the lake.
Miller and his supporters are not interested in bringing racing back to the lake, but they would like to see an annual event – similar to Car d’Lane, the classic car show – showcasing hydroplanes and their spot in Coeur d’Alene history, and doing exhibit runs on the lake.
“Next year we are going to do this again, and we are going to bring more boats and have it closer to downtown,” Miller said. “And the weather will be perfect.”
Bancroft senior presses on toward graduation day 
oneanddone on August 23 at 5:23 a.m.
When the athlete says, “it’s not about the money” - it’s about the MONEY. When dumass Miller says they don’t want to bring back racing on Lake Cda - THEY WANT TO BRING BACK RACING ON LAKE CDA. There are lies, damn lies, and Miller.
MrNatural on August 23 at 2:08 p.m.
…eh’ personally I’m not an enthusiast about such things as loud noise, speed and fuel slicks on a generally serene lake but I agree with you oneanddone…this is a promo-feeler to see if there is backing to bring this crap back to CdA. I’m sure some folks want it back if just to watch the rooster tails and the morbid anticipation of a flip. Still it’s kind of a dinosaur sport and needs a good vantage point to enjoy otherwise it’s like watching paint dry. This sort of reminds me of the Spokane Grand Prix…now there was a fine venture…
liarsinnews on August 23 at 5:20 p.m.
I agree with both of you. Greed!!
Spokane_Citizen on August 23 at 10:03 p.m.
I’ve been living here about 70 years, and I say bring back the races on CDA lake. They were a lot of fun. If the pretentious snobs and geriatric newbies from Duluth don’t like it, let ‘em go back where the hell they came from. Idaho is gonna need all the economic help they can muster….god knows Idaho will never manage to develop any credible educational programs.
The kalifornia yuppies are gone, and redneck entertainment revenue is all you yokels can hope for. Even kissing Hagadon’s *** (as you’ve been doing for so many years), won’t help (though that excellent career as a caddy at his resort is something you shouldn’t dismiss). Maybe you should learn to scuba dive for golf balls.