SCR operators land Lucas Oil drag racing event
Officials with the National Hot Rod Association and Spokane County Raceway announced that the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, long rumored to be returning to the Airway Heights facility, has been added to the schedule for July 29 through Aug. 1.
SCR became an NHRA-sanctioned facility when it reopened last year and maintained that position in the transition to new operators, Charlie Allen and Ron Hodgson.
With Cindy Gibbs on staff as the day-to-day manager and her extensive background with the NHRA, the return of the series had been planned but could not be announced until safety work was done on the drag strip and operating agreements were in place.
Picking up wins in the inaugural event last summer were Shawn Cowie (Top Alcohol dragster), Doug Lambeck (Comp Eliminator) Jody Lang (Super Stock) and Greg Kielman (Stock). Each of these drivers went on to win divisional championships after strong Spokane performances.
Fan attractions, concession offerings and motorsports vendors will be part of the weekend event along with exhibitions from the Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class and jet drag racing cars. Both are scheduled to run Friday and Saturday night.
Ticket information: www.spokanecountyraceway.com or (509) 244-3333.
Unlimiteds at CdA
Unlimited hydroplanes will return to Lake Coeur d’Alene in August thanks to the hard work of volunteers with the Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup 2010 and the American Power Boat Association.
Runs by famed unlimiteds highlighted by the 1968 Miss Budweiser are part of a weekend event that also features a golf tournament and rides in many of the open-cockpit boats that once graced the North Idaho lake during the 1950s and ’60s.
Hydroplanes in attendance for the Aug. 20-22 exhibition will be provided and cared for by the Hydroplane and Boat Museum, located in Kent, Wash. Event organizers hope to raise much needed funds for the Museum of North Idaho with an event billed to become a tradition similar to the original Diamond Cup.
In addition to the 1968 Miss Budweiser, her predecessor, the 1967 hull, will be putting laps on Lake Coeur d’Alene along with the 1965 Miss Exide and the 1962 Miss Bardahl. All runs will take place on a 1.5-mile course beginning just west of Tubbs Hill with vantage points along the north shore of the lake.
Rebuilt as two-seat hulls, the primary benefit of creating the event is to sell ride-along tickets to the public, which will in turn aid the museum, according to organizers.
A banquet on Aug. 21 will feature Mira “The Flying Czech” Slovak. The winner of the 1968 Diamond Cup behind the wheel of the Miss Exide returned to victory in North Idaho just three years after a spectacular mishap on the waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Prior to jumping into Miss Exide and winning in 1966, Slovak piloted one of the aerial stunt planes that performed over the lake just before the day’s final round.
To kick things off, the 1968 Miss Budweiser will take part in Sunday’s holiday parade in Coeur d’Alene. Currently on display at the Museum of North Idaho is Diamond Cup memorabilia and other historic items to coincide with the August event.
Information: (208) 664-3448 or www.museumni.org.
Demolition Derby
July gets started with a bang at Stateline Speedway with its annual Demolition Derby and fireworks show Saturday night at the Post Falls facility. Always a crowd favorite, this year the track is offering advance purchase on tickets through Les Schwab as a way to give fans more accessible point of sale locations.
Early purchasing allows a quicker process through the main entrance and helps the facility to prepare for a full house.
To learn more about Stateline holiday extravaganza: www.raceidaho.com.