Champion Spark Plug Regatta

Vance Creek Park
Elma, Wash.
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Contest Directors: Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap
Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.

​Click here to read the Race Circular
The season opening race of the 2026 ERCU Championship Series is the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, set for Saturday, March 28 at 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 22 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

2026 race stats

2026 race results

1/10 Scale Modern Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 2021 Beacon Plumbing
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2015 Dalton Industries
  3. David Newton, 2015 Graham Trucking U-7 (Owner: Tom Markos)
     DNF Nelson Holmberg, 2023 Flav-R-Pac
     DNF Paul Dunlap, 1991 Winston Eagle
     DNF Ron Daum, 2003 Llumar Window Films


1/10 Classic Class
  1. Brad Lewis, 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto ^
  2. Nelson Holmberg, 1986 Squire Shop Brittania
  3. David Newton, 1971 Country Boy (Owner: Tom Markos)
  4. Carl Lewis, 1974 Miss U.S.
  5. Wayne Beeson, 1977 Mark & Pak
     DNF Jim Hagan, 1983 American Speedy Printing


1/7 Scale Classic Class
  1. Scott Whitestine, 1972 Notre Dame
  2. Craig Mullen, 1971 Pay 'n Pak
  3. Nelson Holmberg, 1975 Lincoln Thrift (Owner: Carl Lewis)
  4. John Havens, Jr., 1976 Miss Budweiser (U-95)
  5. Mike McIntosh, 1977 Anheuser Busch Natural Light


1/10 Vintage Class
  1. Brad Lewis, 1961 Miss Supertest II
  2. Wayne Beeson, 1967 Gale's Roostertail
  3. Dray Newton, 1957 Hawaii Kai III
  4. David Heilbrunn, 1965 Blue Chip ^
     DNF Paul Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
     DNS Marc Connely, 1969 Notre Dame
1/7 Vintage Class
  1. Scott Whitestine, 1962 Notre Dame
     DNF Mark Manchester, 1966 Notre Dame
     DNF John Havens Jr., 1962 Miss U.S.
     DNF Dennis Caines, 1968 Eagle Electric


1/10 Vintage Triple Crown
  1. 1961 Miss Supertest II, 1,600 points
  2. 1969 Notre Dame, 1,100
  3. 1967 Gale's Roostertail, 994
  4. 1957 Hawaii Kai III, 844
  5. 1965 Blue Chip, 769
  6. 1964 Miss Exide, 700
  7. 1957 Thriftway Too, 675
  8. 1974 Atlas Van Lines, 563

1/7 Vintage Triple Crown
  1. 1962 Notre Dame, 1,600
  2. 1966 Notre Dame, 900
  3. 1962 Miss U.S., 450
  4. 1968 Eagle Electric, 338

^ - 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)
2026 — 1961 Miss Supertest II. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis (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)
2026 — 1962 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine (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)
2026 — 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis (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
2025 — 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine (Vance Creek Park, Elma)


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)
2026 — 2021 Beacon Plumbing. 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)
2026 — No race
​

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

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