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Champion Spark Plug Regatta

Vance Creek Park
Elma, Wash.
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Contest Directors: Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap
Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.
The season opening race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, set for Saturday, March 30 2024, and moves this year to Vance Creek Park in Elma.
 
Even in the real boats, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta – for its entire existence – was the season opening event each year, held at Miami Marine Stadium in South Florida. For 18 of our 20 years, ERCU has started its season with the Champion Spark Plug Regatta.
Race Format
  • Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes.
  • First and second connies for both divisions and all classes (depending on boat count and attrition). Second connie winner advances to first connie as a trailer. First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer.
  • Second place boat in the first connie is an alternate for the final.
  • Winner-take-all championship finals for vintage, classic and modern.
  • Vintage Triple Crown Series event #1

2025 race stats

2025 race results

1/10 Scale Modern Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream
  2. David Newton, 2004 Miss Budweiser
  3. Geoffry Grembowski, 2016 Payne West Insurance
  4. Nelson Holmberg, 2024 Bucket List Racing
     DNF David Heilbrunn, 2015 Dalton Industries
     SCR Nelson Holmberg, 2024 Bucket List Racing


1/7 Scale Modern/Classic Class
  1. Gale Whitestine, 1972 Notre Dame
  2. Carl Lewis, 1975 Lincoln Thrift
  3. Mike McIntosh, 2023 Beacon Plumbing
  4. Jim McKeon, 1980 Miss Budweiser (backup)
  5. John Havens, Jr., 1976 Miss Budweiser (U-95)
     SCR David Heilbrunn, 2024 Goodman Real Estate


1/10 Classic Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 1976 Atlas Van Lines (Owner: Tom Markos)
  2. Jerry Dunlap, 1985 Coors Light
  3. Paxton Reunanen, 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto
  4. Dray Newton, 1983 Miss Rock KISW (Owner: Paxton Reunanen)
     DNF Jim Hagen, 1983 American Speedy Printing
     SCR Gary Dawn, 1982 Gilmore Special


1/10 Vintage Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Gale's Roostertail
  2. Dray Newton, 1957 Hawaii Kai III (Owner: David Newton)
     DNF Paul Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
     DNF David Heilbrunn, 1964 Blue Chip
     DNF Nelson Holmberg, 1959 Miss Pay 'n Save
1/7 Vintage Class
  1. Mike McIntosh, 1967 Miss U.S. V
  2. Paxton Reunanen, 1982 Miss Island Security Systems
  3. Dennis Caines, 1968 Miss Eagle Electric
  4. Scott Whitestine, 1962 Notre Dame
  5. Jim McKeon, 1957 Maverick


1/10 Vintage Triple Crown
  1. 1964 Miss U.S. V, 1,110 points
  2. 1960 Gale's Roostertail, 1,100 points
  3. 1957 Hawaii Kai III, 821
  4. 1959 Miss Pay 'n Save, 694 points
  5. 1964 Blue Chip, 225 points

1/7 Vintage Triple Crown
  1. 1982 Miss Island Security Systems, 1,500 points
  2. 1987 Miss U.S. V, 1,225 points
  3. 1968 Miss Eagle Electric, 746 points
  4. 1957 Maverick, 690 points
  5. 1962 Notre Dame, 469 points

^ - Started final heat as trailer boat

champion spark plug all-time results

1/10 Vintage Class Race Winners
2004 — 1957 Hawaii Ka’i III. Owner/Driver: Roger Newton. (Shady Lake, Renton)
2005 — 1970 Pay ‘n Pak Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
2006 — 1970 Pay ‘n Pak Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
2007 — 1971 Hallmark Homes. Owner: Jeff Campbell. Driver: Jason Hartley.
2008 — 1969 Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
2009 — 1963 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Bob VandenAkker.
2010 — 1969 Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
2011 — 1970 Parco’s O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon.
2012 — 1970 Parco’s O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon.
2013 — 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister.
2014 — 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: Kerry Kjos.
2015 — 1962 Gale V. Owner/Driver: John Earnest
2016 — No race
2017 — Miss U.S. 5. Owner/Driver: Len Taylor
2018 — 1969 Miss Schweppes. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
2019 — 1957 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Jerry Dunlap
2020 — 1957 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Jerry Dunlap, 1,500 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2021 — 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton
2022 — 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 1964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Paul Dunlap (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
2025 — 1960 Gale's Roostertail. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)

1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2022 — 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: John Sjostrom (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 1983 Island Security Systems. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Craig Mullen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
2025 — 1967 Miss U.S. V. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
 
1/10 Classic Class Race Winners
2020 — 1987 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg, 1,169 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2021 — 1986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Jerry Dunlap. 1,094 points
2022 — 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Jay Fonville (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Jay Fonville (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 1983 Miss Rock. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
2025 — 1976 Atlas Van Lines. Owner: Tom Markos. Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Vance Creek Park, Elma)

1/7 Classic Class Race Winners
2022 — 1972 Notre Dame. Owner: Gary Hansen. Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 1975 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 1975 Miss U.S. Owner: Denise Sjostrom. Driver: Craig Mullen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
2025 — 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Gale Whitestine. (Vance Creek Park, Elma) -- Classic/Modern combined

1/10 Modern Class Race Winners
2004 — 1970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. (Shady Lake, Renton)
2005 — 1974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
2006 — 1970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
2007 — 1974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
2008 — 1978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler.
2009 — 1982 Executone. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
2010 — 1974 U-95. Owner/Driver: Rick Lentz.
2011 — 1977 Charlie’s Girl. Owner/Driver: Bill Smiley.
2012 — 2010 Formula Boats. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg.
2013 — 1986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
2014 — 2012 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg.
2015 — 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis
2016 — No race
2017 — 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
2018 — 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
2019 — 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans
2020 — 2009 Grandview on the Lake. Owner/Driver: Ron Daum, 1,100 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2021 — 1985 Miss Budweiser. Owner/Driver: David Newton
2022 — 1991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 1991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
2025 — 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. (Vance Creek Park, Elma)

1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2022 — 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2023 — 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
2024 — 2021 Goodman Real Estate. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn (Vance Creek Park, Elma)

*Unless Otherwise Noted - Race was Held at Fort Borst Park, Centralia
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