Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Heerensperger sells boat fleet

Reprinted from the Spokane Chronicle, October 20, 1983

Former Spokanite Dave Heerensperger, chairman of the board of directors of Pay ‘N Pak, has sold his entire unlimited hydroplane operation for reportedly between $500,000 and $1 million to Steve Woomer, owner of Competition Specialties Inc., a high-performance auto parts distributorship in Kent, Wash.

Steve Woomer (left) and Jerry Verhauel looking over the Pay 'N Pak inventory. Photo by Rusty Rae.

Heerensperger left unlimited hydroplane racing and put his turbine-powered boats up for sale after an accident that seriously injured driver John Walters of Renton in the 1982 Emerald Cup on Lake Washington. Walters has retired from racing.

Woomer originally planned to race a new boat powered by automotive engines, but it won’t be ready for the season opener. The Pay ‘N Pak operation includes the boat in which Walters flipped (left) and a new one that never has seen the water (right).