Restoration
The idea of having a community-sponsored hydroplane to represent Spokane, Washington, had its origins in 1956. Bob Johnson, a sports writer for Spokane’s Daily Chronicle newspaper, took the idea of a local dentist and ran with it, spearheading a movement to organize what became the Miss Spokane Hydroplane Association (MSHA). At a small meeting at the Spokane Press Club, the whole project was kicked into gear. The MSHA formed a board of directors and set bout raising funds and directing the activities of finding a boat. It was decided to purchase an existing boat rather than build one, which led the group to contact Seattle’s William Boeing, Jr., who happened to have a spare hull available. His asking price was $10,000 without an engine and another $3,000 outfitted the boat and allowed for the purchase of a trailer to tow it to races. To raise the needed money, the team sold 14,000 “ownership” cards for $1 each, making it truly community-owned.
Photo - Bob Greenhow - Coeur d'Alene 1961
The hull was designed by Ted Jones of Seattle and built by Les Staudacher of Michigan. Although it was brought to Spokane in 1957, it did not race until the boat was completely paid for in early 1958. Miss Spokane’s first Unlimited Class competition at Chelan’s Apple Cup. Without a spare engine or a spare propeller, the team placed third overall. Painted in two-tone lilac colors, the boat would begin a four-year racing career dubbed as the “Queen of the Inland Empire” and the Lilac Lady. During four seasons as Miss Spokane, the boat failed to post a win but along the way, it more importantly captured the hearts of the Spokane people. It kept things interesting with four seconds, five thirds, two fourths, two fifths, one sixth, one seventh, and one ninth-place finish overall. It failed to finish in only two of the races that it entered - Stephen Shepperd