Hindley’s Hydro Has High Hopes
Last year, Tom Hindley’s goal for the Team Spokane hydroplane in its first race at the Budweiser Columbia Cup in the Tri-Cities was to simply survive.
This year, the goal is to prosper.
Hindley will first learn if it will be a prosperous weekend Friday afternoon when the Appian Jeronimo hits the waters of the Columbia River for the first round of qualifying for Sunday’s race.
“We went to Tri-Cities last year with the idea of making it into the show and keeping the equipment alive,” Hindley, 39, said.
“(This year) we fully intend to make the final heat.” An infusion of cash from boat owner Bob Fendler and sponsor Appian Technologies has given the U-19 a boost, taking the boat from field filler to contender.
The money, which bought out Ron Jones Jr.’s Seattle race shop, has provided frontline motors and parts, plus about 15 more mph. That’s enough to put the tandem-seat hydro into a group of boats that can win heats and maybe, with some racing luck, races.
“There’s been a huge window a 10-mph gap between the top three boats (PICO’s, Smokin’ Joes and Budweiser),” Hindley said. “I think we’re in the middle of the gap.”
Last year at the Tri-Cities, the U-19 limped into the field, qualifying at 134 mph. The boat, however, won its first heat last year.
Testing sessions this spring have produced consistent 150 mph laps.
Fans of Team Spokane and other boats can follow the progress of qualifying on KTRW AM-970, which will broadcast updates Friday and Saturday.
Sunday’s race begins at 11:30.
SRP greets road racers again
Spokane Raceway Park’s new road course will be the center of activity Saturday and Sunday when the International Race Driver’s Club stages its second race of the season.
Racing and practice sessions start at 9 each morning.
The IRDC drivers opened the track May 11, running most of the weekend in periodic showers. Despite the inclement weather, the 2.5-mile course drew raves from drivers
With good weather, which is expected this weekend, IRDC president Chris Bowl predicted a turnout of 250 to 300 cars.
The SRP layout features 11 turns, with corners and other aspects of the track patterned after many famous Formula One tracks.
SRP will also squeeze in a bracket drag racing program Saturday, beginning with time trials at 4:30 p.m. Stock cars also run on the half-mile oval, with time trials at 6 p.m.
Stateline features open-wheel cars
Two open-wheel touring race groups visit Stateline Speedway Saturday.
The Washington Midget Racing Association will team with the Northwest Formula Indys, plus Street Stocks for a 6 p.m. program.
Sportsman, Compacts and Hobby Cars open the weekend’s racing Friday night, with time trials at 6:30.
Friday’s racing features drivers on a roll. Andy Brown has won five of the last six races in Compact Streets, while Hobby Car points leader Wayne Renolds has three straight victories.
Motorcycle success may promise encore
While the future of horse racing at Playfair may be tentative, the opposite is true for motorcycle racing that took over the track last Saturday.
“We were expecting 2,000 and drew about 3,500,” said co-promoter Bert Marsh of Spokane.
With a team of new promoters running the event, many people thought the race might be full of firsttime problems. The opposite was true, however, as the race came off with just a few minor problems, the biggest of which being long concession lines because of Playfair underestimating the expected crowd.
To illustrate how well things went for Marsh, Darrell Triber and Doug Donally, the event missed by just 2 minutes its 10 p.m. (noise) curfew.
“We’ve had so many people ask us, ‘When are you going to do another one?”’ Marsh said.
Playfair owner Jack Pring asked Triber when the next event might be.
Future race dates, including the distinct possibility of an American Motorcyclist Association Grand National race in 1997, will be a matter of discussion with Playfair officials today.
Had the inaugural Playfair Half-Mile had pari-mutuel wagering, someone could have won big betting on Pro Twin victor Ron Yamamoto of Spokane.
The veteran local short-track rider came to the track last Saturday with no ride. Knowing Yamamoto’s promise, bike owner Royal Adderson of Canada offered the 36-year-old his bike and Yamamoto responded with wins in the Dash For Cash and the feature race.
“If he found a 600 he might have won that, too,” Marsh said.
Matt James of Spokane was the other local winner, taking the title in the Vintage class.
Pit stops
Spokane’s Marc Groskreutz got some practice for the series’ longest race (Sunday) by racing and winning the Montana 200 last Saturday. Groskreutz became the first two-time winner of the Kalispell, Mont., race last weekend and earned some valuable seat time as he prepares for the Coors Western National 250-lap race at Monroe’s Evergreen Speedway. Racing starts at 2 p.m. Spokane drivers Rick Schultz and Kevin Richards are also entered, as is the Ron Hall team, with Monte English at the wheel. … Northport International Raceway will run the TNT Auto Body/ Mister Tire Bash ‘N Roll 150 at 1 p.m. Sunday. … Motocross racing returns to the Spokane County ORV Park Sunday. Contact Steve Peters, 927-8087, for details. … The Northern Light All-Stars will also race Sunday at the ORV Park. …… A reunion potluck and picnic for the area’s former circle track racers will occur Sunday at 10 a.m. at Nine Mile Resport on Long Lake. The event will feature racers who ran in the area prior to 1982. Info: Karolyn Potts, 448-4508, or Judy Richards, 838-8177.
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