A few months ago, I tried my hand at writing a My Turn column about the Museum of North Idaho and our need for a new building. Well, enough folks complimented me on it that I now have the delusion that I can write another one, which would mortify my old engineering classmates who thought writing was for guys who couldn't hack it in engineering school.

While the museum is in the midst of planning its fundraising campaign, I am working to expand our list of potential benefactors to approach once we get the finer elements of our plans together. Since the Museum Board elected me president for the 2011-2012 term, I find myself wearing a hat that no engineer likes to wear - that of a campaign manager. So, I am enlisting the help of anyone who can't run fast enough the other way: mothers with babies, centenarians, city council members and any benevolent organization or business that has a published phone number.

I started calling down a list I made, getting responses such as "you know, now is not the best time to be asking for money with this economy - especially a museum" and "don't they have one in Spokane?" I finally got down to the letter H on my list. Unfortunately, there was no listing for the Hoo Hoo Club which I mentioned in my last article as the group that started the museum. Next in the alpha listing was an organization called the Hydromaniacs.

I called the number for the Hydromaniacs and a familiar voice answered, "Mike, is that you?" Turns out, the president of the Hydromaniacs is Doug Miller, who is also on the Museum Board! I thought to myself, I won't get a donation out of this guy; he already gave at the office. I was exiting the conversation while staring at my formidable list of letter "I" organizations (engineers, like mothers, are trained to multi-task) when Doug said, "Don't you know about the Hydromaniacs?" I professed ignorance.

It turns out Doug, in addition to being a dedicated museum supporter, is also a huge Hydroplane fan. That may be an understatement because he has enough knowledge to write a book on the Diamond Cup Hydroplane races that took place in Coeur d'Alene from 1958-1968 and still hold the record for the single largest attended sporting event in the state of Idaho. I learned that one little known group instrumental in getting the race going was the Hydromaniacs. Their origins went back to the Coeur d'Alene Athletic Round Table.

Being a history buff, I knew about the Round Table because they had bought, restored and preserved the Fort Sherman Chapel and given it to the museum. An old scrap book shows pictures of the Hydromaniacs working on the chapel, conducting fundraisers for charitable causes, and running the pits in the Diamond Cup each year. The group outlived the Diamond Cup as a charitable organization and ceased incorporation in 1992, but what impressed me was how important a force they had been in the community. Not just behind the scenes as business and community leaders, but as folks that were willing to "walk the talk" year round.

Their membership roster is a who's who of Coeur d'Alene in that era. Another interesting thing about the Hydromaniacs is they wore yellow jump suits with the club name and "Inmate" written across the back. At first, I thought these outfits rather amusing, but I realized that "Inmate" was their funny way of expressing their commitment without getting too self important about it. And the suits sent a message to a working class lumberman that these guys were workers, not just talkers.

It's hard to say what lasting legacy the Diamond Cup had. Most of the things I have heard are about problems with crowd control. But the races did a lot to gain national attention for Coeur d'Alene as a venue, and they certainly contributed to a sense of civic pride that lives on today. And one certainly can't deny their place in our history or the climax of summer fun they provided to a whole generation of kids.

Doug and a group of interested folks have resurrected the Hydromaniacs to raise money for the museum and to provide fun for a new generation of kids. They are planning an event Aug. 18-21 in the City Park including a food court, vintage cars and motorcycles. But the main event will be the Diamond Cup Regatta featuring the wooden hydroplanes that raced during their hey-day here. The regatta last year only had three boats and the wind came up so they only managed a single run. They are hoping for calmer conditions this year.

It looks to be a big summer for those old wooden speedsters - and the Hydromaniacs. If you can't join the Hydromaniacs and help directly (call 691-1612), at least support their events and activities. Get the word out. The proceeds go to the museum. Did I mention I am the president and can be impeached without much notice?

Mike Dolan is president of the Museum of North Idaho's board of directors. For an engineer, we at The Press think he's a pretty good writer.