Hydroplane races to honor veterans

This year's Lake Coeur d'Alene hydroplane races are officially tagged "the 2014 Veterans Diamond Cup."

Doug Miller, president of The Diamond Cup Unlimited LLC, made the announcement in a press release Thursday morning.

The idea was introduced by local businessman Dennis Muoio, of Redstone Logistics, and brought forward by Alan Golub and Dwayne Parsons to honor United States and Canadian military personnel and their families.

The Labor Day weekend event, Aug. 29-31, runs 5 classes of hydroplanes.

Three of the five boat classes race for national points. The races, which will stream live over the Internet, will be seen in at least 110 countries this year.

Miller said the Hydromaniacs, a nonprofit organization that traditionally promoted hydroplane racing on Lake Coeur d'Alene, will manage revenue from block ticket sales to corporate and individual sponsors who want to honor the veterans and their families with free attendance.

Tickets run from $29 for one day to $55 per person for three days. Tickets purchased in blocks by individual and corporate interests will be distributed through local veterans groups.

Revenue raised from the sale of these tickets will be held in escrow by the Hydromaniacs for proper distribution to the race promoters at the time of the event, according to John Tietz, spokesperson for the Hydromaniacs.

The Diamond Cup was revived last year after a 46-year hiatus from Lake Coeur d'Alene hydroplane racing that ran yearly for nearly two decades in the '50s and '60s.