CHELAN, WASH. —The ongoing effort to raise funds to restore the Miss Spokane unlimited hydroplane took to the road recently at Mahogany and Merlot in early October in Chelan, Wash.
In a message, Stephen Shepperd, one of those behind the effort wrote, “On the heels of the anonymous $1,000 donation last week, I received a message from Julie Heerensperger Warren with some big news. She had decided to help with the Miss Spokane Restoration effort with a generous donation of $5,000 towards the cause”.
Julie’s father, David Heerensperger, sponsored the former Miss Spokane for the 1963 and 1964 seasons as the first Miss Eagle Electric. Heerensperger would later campaign the U-25 Pride of Pay ’N Park boat into the 1980s to many notable victories and numerous national championships.
“Needless to say, we are beyond thankful for her generosity,” Shepperd wrote. “While it is well short of the estimated $100,000 needed to complete the job, it certainly moves us forward in being able to begin to secure the needed materials.”
On Friday, October 3, Julie and her family were in Chelan for Mahogany and Merlot, so a check presentation was arranged where Julie handed over the check to Kent ‘Pancho’ Simonson, team manager of the restoration. This brings the total from button sales and donations to nearly $8,000.
“Thanks again to Julie and her family for the donation and your faith in the project,” Shepperd said.
Original 1983 Miss Spokane Restoration buttons are available at $15 per button and $7 shipping. “We also encourage anyone interested in making a donation to do so,” Shepperd added.
Cash or checks can be sent to:
Hydromaniacs.unlimited, 1120 W Fallview Drive, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. PayPal and Venmo links are also provided, but a reminder that those services charge a fee for transferring the money to our account after the sale.
To follow progress on this project, visit Diamond Cup Hydromaniacs on Facebook.