Bulldog Football Nation raffling off 1965 Mustang

SANDPOINT — In the new Bulldog Football Nation, as it’s being billed, five will get you 65.

As in a $5 raffle ticket will get you a chance to win a vintage, fully-restored 1965 Mustang.

Sandpoint High School and Junior Tackle football players, ranging in age from 3rd graders to seniors, will be busy this weekend selling tickets downtown during Lost in the 50’s.

The fundraiser will help the Sandpoint High School team buy much-needed new equipment. New head coach Satini Puailoa already has more than 170 kids signed up to play next season.

“We need more stuff,” said Puailoa, who led the Bulldogs to their lone state championship in 1997 during his first stint as coach. “When I did inventory on helmets, we only had 100.”

So just how does a 1965 Mustang become a raffle item? In typical Sandpoint community fashion.

It started when Joy Mott, whose grandson Logan Camp is currently playing football at SHS, donated the car to the high school several years ago.

Then Yogi Vasquez and a host of SHS students did some work in the body shop.

In the last few weeks, a host of volunteers from Martin’s Alignment have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on a very involved project. Martin Rodriguez, who has been orchestrating the restoration, got a call a couple weeks ago from Puailoa, who had a favor to ask.

“We got the kids, now we need you guys on that Mustang. That’s your baby right there,” recalled Rodriguez of what Puailoa told him, adding that he’s thrilled to be helping the local youth. “If you’re not going to do it for the kids, then why do it? They are our future.”

Along with Rodriguez and his employees, who have been working before, during and after work lately, scores of other community members have helped in the restoration, which cost about $6,000 even with the donated labor.

Greg Mangum of M & S Engine Works helped rebuild the 289 engine, which Rodriguez says has plenty of power. Gary Vanhorn did the paint job, with the classic old factory red Mustang color that actually appears almost orange.

Andrew Fingel from Napa Auto Parts and Tammy from Sand Creek Upholstery also helped out in a big way.

Rodriguez figures the car will be worth nearly $20,000 when it’s completely finished.