Hagadone hops on hydros
Tom Hasslinger | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 4 months AGO
<p>After speaking at the Coeur d'Alene Diamond Cup Regatta sponsor barbecue Thursday evening, Brad Hagadone stands off to the side and laughs as Doug Miller speaks about his role in the hydroplane race. Hagadone announced that Hagadone Corporation will be donating $100,000 to the Diamond Cup races.</p>
<p>At the Coeur d'Alene Diamond Cup sponsons barbecue Thursday night, Doug Miller speaks about his experiences organizing the hydroplane race, thanking Brad Hagadone for his donation of $100,000.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Call it turbo-support.
Hydroplane racing, ready to return to Lake Coeur d'Alene on Labor Day weekend, received a big boost Thursday when organizers announced Hagadone Corp. is the latest business to financially support the races.
"The bottom line is the Hagadone Corp. is pleased to announce we're going to throw in another $100,000," Brad Hagadone, the company's president, said during a sponsor barbecue at Riverstone. "It's good to be a part of it."
The financial pledge is the latest piece of good news in what's been a month of glad tidings for race organizers, who announced several weeks ago that the races would return to Silver Beach off East Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive over the holiday weekend.
So there's no question: The races are definitely on.
"It's very exciting this thing is coming to fruition," said John Stone, Riverstone developer and Coeur d'Alene Diamond Cup Regatta board member. "It's a great thing for the community."
Hagadone was a former board member as well, and said he's pleased to be back helping organizers make the races happen. His father, Duane Hagadone, was an original board member when the races roared across Lake Coeur d'Alene four decades ago.
"He'd like to see the races on Lake Coeur d'Alene again," Brad Hagadone said of his father. "I couldn't be happier you guys put the effort forth."
One area that still needs help? Volunteers. With 75 committed, organizers are hoping for 125 more.
The H1 Unlimited event will feature sanctioned races, as well as exhibition runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
Parking will be available at the North Idaho Fairgrounds, and shuttles will take spectators to Silver Beach. Vintage limited and unlimited hydroplanes will provide exhibition runs.
Doug Miller, Diamond Cup chairman and fellow team members Stone, Keith Kroetch, John Condon, Doug Knight, Darren Prouty, Rob Bloem and Pat Stroud, complete the board.