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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Keeping Pace

Seattle Restaurant Owner Steps Up For Seafair

Steve David's U-1 Oh Boy Oberto championship Unlimited Hydroplane will be the favorite to repeat as the circuit's champion in 2009. (Photo courtesy ABRA) (The Spokesman-Review)
Steve David's U-1 Oh Boy Oberto championship Unlimited Hydroplane will be the favorite to repeat as the circuit's champion in 2009. (Photo courtesy ABRA) (The Spokesman-Review)

Seattle's Seafair has a savior in Duke's Chowder House as its owner Duke Moscrip has added the additional sponsorship moneys needed to keep the traditional home race for Unlimited Hydroplanes on the 2010 schedule.

Courtesy: H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Media Relations

The owner of Duke's Chowder House restaurants of Seattle announced Wednesday he will donate $40,000 to bridge a funding gap that put this year's Seafair hydroplane races in jeopardy.

Restaurant owner Duke Moscrip made the announcement at Duke's Lake Union Chowder House Wednesday. 

Moscrip said the $40,000 will make up the difference between what Seafair was offering and what the boat owners said they needed. Due to the recession and the loss of a prime sponsor, Seafair asked the drivers to accept $40,000 less than previous years to race their boats this summer. 

The owners voted down that proposal and were due to take a final vote Thursday.

"It's been a fun event. It's fun to go to the log boom, it's great to see the race, it's part of Seattle," Moscrip said.

Seafair President Beth Knox praised Moscrip as a knight in shining armor.

"The ability to come in an assure that unlimited hydroplane racing is going to be at Seafair this summer just means the world to me," Knox said.

H1 Unlimited chairman Sam Cole praised Moscrip, saying, "We are thrilled with Duke's willingness to get invloved in an event so important to us and the Seattle community.  We look forward to another great race on Lake Washington in August, and to more important announcements from Seafair in the coming weeks."

Moscrip said he said he hopes to recoup his pledge through contests and promotions at his restaurants, but said that Seafair will get that $40,000 no matter what.



Keeping Pace

Motorsports correspondent Doug Pace keeps up with motorsports news and notes from around the region.