Hydro Backers Misread Foes In Wake Of Proposal’s Withdrawal, Race Backers’ Tactics Questioned

Those who thought they could resurrect hydroplane racing on Lake Coeur d’Alene underestimated the depth and strength of their opposition, city leaders say.

“It was strong opposition; it was across the board,” said Dixie Reid, the sole member of the City Council to declare her opposition when the latest hydro attempt was announced by promoters last November. She had memories of voters’ overwhelming rejection of the races in an advisory vote a decade ago.

Little has changed since then.

“From the very moment it started, my phone started ringing with people saying ‘no, no, no,”’ Reid said. She counted some 200 telephone calls, the most she’s ever received on a single issue.

Public response to the race proposal - withdrawn by frustrated Diamond Cup Association members last week - came swiftly. Nineteen out of 20 calls “came from people I’d never been in contact with before,” Reid said. Most opposed the races.

Councilman Kevin Packard received a similar blizzard of opposition. The only support came from local beer distributors, who presented a petition with signatures from about 30 supporters. Most of the other letters of support came from people living outside of the area - including a hydroplane racing photographer.

The opposition to boat racing had little to do with the boats themselves. Instead, the outrage came from plans to limit residents’ access to their favorite beach, nature retreat and boat dock on the last three days of summer - Labor Day weekend.

“It’s morally wrong to deprive our city and our children from their last holiday,” Coeur d’Alene resident Bee Finne said at one of the public meetings on the races.

The hydroplane races threatened to bring throngs of people to Tubbs Hill, a sacred playground for city residents and tourists. Hydro promoters wanted to fence off the area and charge admission in order to make the races viable.

Said Finne: “How can they rent (us) out our own property?”

Promoters and politicians made a huge tactical error by declaring that the hydroplane question shouldn’t go to a public vote, opponents say.

That gave fence-sitters a reason to fight. “Nothing makes people madder than to say they can’t have a voice in matters,” said attorney Scott Reed, one of the leading opponents.

Tourism magnate Duane Hagadone pushed hard to win public support for the races. He told the Coeur d’Alene Board of Realtors that he lunches with Bernie Little, owner of a hydroplane racing syndicate.

Hagadone said he talked to Little about bringing racing to Coeur d’Alene, saying the races were important to the city’s economic well-being.

As he pitched the idea, Hagadone conceded that he was hoping for a live television broadcast of the event. It meant that ESPN viewers would see his flagship tourist draw - The Coeur d’Alene Resort - and panoramic views of the lake that is synonymous with North Idaho’s tourist trade.

But the image of city scenery on ESPN angered residents fearful of rapid growth. Many feel the city’s population explosion has caused higher taxes, crowded schools and traffic congestion. National attention would only exacerbate this, said Jeff Coulter, of Citizens for Responsible Growth.

“If we go out and expose this community to more and more development, without impact fees, we are going to pick up the tab,” Coulter argued.

Hagadone also ignored the challenge that he volunteer his Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course as a site for spectator stands instead of fencing off City Beach, Tubbs Hill and the Third Street boat ramp.

Promoters waffled about the magnitude of crowds at the races, initially talking about 50,000 spectators or more. That figure was later revised downward.

In the end, the unanswered question always was “How many people are going to come?” Reed said. “They haven’t the foggiest idea how many people are coming … they have no control over that.”

John McGruder, who spear-headed efforts to bring back racing, has said that the failure can be blamed on the same old vocal minority that “derails everything.”

Reid, however, disagrees. “I can’t think of anything ‘derailed,’ or that people have wanted that hasn’t transpired.”

Promoters have left council members bristling at the notion that they were lined up to vote for the races.

“I want to make it clear that I think it’s inappropriate for the proponents of hydroplane racing to say the City Council would have approved it,” Councilman Packard said.

“The City Council listened. As this thing progressed, I’m here to say the City Council realized there was tremendous opposition,” Packard said.

“And they were listening.”

, DataTimes