In the mid-1960s, my buddy and I took his orange VW bug and drove from Moscow to Coeur d'Alene to watch the thunderboats. A trip to Coeur d'Alene was "really cool" since the good-looking girls lived in the Lake City. We camped out on Tubbs Hill. Thousands of people got to view the races from Tubbs Hill. The launching pits were right where the Third Street boat launch is now located.

I shall never forget the sound of those engines.

There was a downside. Hundreds of beer drinking young people flooded Fourth and Sherman after the races. Some beer bottles were thrown, and a phone booth was knocked over. Remember when we had phone booths? The Coeur d'Alene fire department met the challenge with a firetruck mounted with a hose - and the operator had a homemade wire cage around him to protect him as he hosed down the crowd.

Our then "Barney Fife" police patrol wasn't up to handling the crowds.

And thus we saw the end to hydroplane racing in the Lake City.

Years have passed. The races continue throughout the U.S. and in places such as the Tri Cities and Seattle.

Times are different now. Back then, I always had a job to put my way through school. When I was younger I delivered papers, or mowed lawns, and then moved on to a small landscape and painting business that paid my way through college. Our young people don't seem to have those opportunities now.

In the mid-1960s, Coeur d'Alene didn't have a homeless population. This year it is estimated that we have l,200 homeless people; many of these people are able bodied and want jobs. Our foreclosure rate is at an all-time high. As of mid-year we had issued only 96 family and 8 commercial building permits-the lowest rate since 1990.

I see petty traffic citations given as our city scrambles for money. Fred goes around town writing expensive Diamond parking tickets that do a great job of driving tourists away from local businesses (and most of the money ends up in Seattle)

What would help? We have the Fourth of July celebration that attracts thousands of beer-drinking tourists to our city - and the fireworks are awesome. If you are worried about beer drinking, check out Sherman Avenue on a typical Friday night.

We have the Ironman that brings millions to our city. The race is permitted because our motels are full and thousands come to our community. However, many locals leave for the weekend because there are traffic jams everywhere.

We have a tough, professional, and talented police chief in Wayne Longo; we can consult law enforcement about obtaining the manpower to control large crowds (just like the Fourth of July). If necessary, we could use the National Guard.

I say, bring back the hydroplane races - this event can again bring enjoyment to our community - and help turn this city around financially as people from all around the country are drawn to Coeur d'Alene.

As I heard the sound of the thunderboats last weekend - I had to say, why not bring the races back to town?

Steve Bell is a Coeur d'Alene resident.