Diamond Cup

Scott Lake Park
Tumwater, Wash.
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Contest Directors: Dennis Caines, Rick Evans
For a decade, the North Idaho resort town of Couer d’Alene, played host to “Water Racing’s Greatest Show”--the Unlimited hydroplanes – starting in 1958.
 
The Couer d’Alene race always attracted a large crowd of spectators. And a lot of people from Seattle could be counted upon to line the shores of Lake Couer d’Alene for the annual Diamond Cup.
 
In the 1950s and early ‘60s, Unlimited racing was a distinctly regional sport. Unlike today, West Coast teams attended mainly western races, while East Coast teams patronized mainly eastern races. There were very few crossovers.
 
When it comes to ERCU, the Diamond Cup has been run every year but three across the 20 year history of ERCU. The Diamond Cup is one of the club’s “nomad” races, having been run in numerous locations from Longview to Friday Harbor. Rick Lentz purchased and donated perpetual trophies years ago with the lucite at the head of the trophy engraved with an image of the original Diamond Cup that was awarded in Couer d’Alene in its early years.
Race Format
  • LOVE PLAN
  • Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes
  • First and second connies for both 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.
  • Finals for vintage, classic and modern.
  • Classic Triple Crown Series event #1

2024 race stats

2024 race results

1/10 Scale Race Results
Modern Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream
  2. Mike Hughes, 1991 Winston Eagle
  3. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate
     SCR Jim Latimer, 1994 Elam Plus

Classic Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW
  2. Paul Dunlap, 1972 Notre Dame (Owner: Rick Evans)
     DNF David Heilbrunn, 1984 Executone
     SCR Jerry Dunlap, 1985 Coors Light


Vintage Class
  1. Paul Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
  2. David Heilbrunn, 1964 Blue Chip
     DNF Paxton Reunanen, 1970 Burien Lady
     DNS Rick Evans, 1980 Evergreen Roofing
Classic Triple Crown
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW, 1,125 points
  2. Paul Dunlap, 1972 Notre Dame (Owner: Rick Evans), 1,000
  3. David Heilbrunn, 1984 Executone, 625
  4. Jerry Dunlap, 1985 Coors Light, 0

1/7 Scale Race Results
Modern/Classic Class
  1. David Heilbrunn, 2023 Goodman Real Estate
  2. Craig Mullen, 1974 Miss U.S. (Owner: Denise Sjostrom)
  3. Mike McIntosh, 2023 Beacon Plumbing
     SCR Denise Sjostrom, 1990 Oh Boy! Oberto

Vintage Class
  1. Craig Mullen, 1983 Island Security (Owner: Mike McIntosh)
  2. Bob Van den Akker, 1962 $ Bill
  3. Dennis Caines, 1968 Eagle Electric
  4. Rob Edwards, 1969 Pay 'n Pak
     DNS Denise Sjostrom, 1980 Evergreen Roofing

Classic Triple Crown
  1. Craig Mullen, 1974 Miss U.S., 1,325 points

diamond cup all-time results

1/10 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2003 – 1957 Maverick. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Waughop, Lakewood
2004 – 1966 My Gypsy. Owner/Driver: David Lilly. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2005 – 1956 Slo-Mo-Shun IV. Owner: Monte Steere. Driver: Nigel Steere. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2006 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Jesse Robertson. Location: Pipe Lake, Covington
2007 – 1969 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Pipe Lake, Covington
2008 – No Race
2009 – 1969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Hooktail. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Beaverton Valley Pond, Friday Harbor
2010 – 1960 Miss Everett. Owner/Driver: Gary Simmons. Location: Sundstrom’s Pond, Friday Harbor
2011 – 1969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner: Jeff Campbell. Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Sundstrom’s Pond (2), Friday Harbor
2012 – No Race
2013 – 1958 Coral Reef. Owner/Driver: Craig Bradshaw. Location: Horseshoe Lake Park, Woodland
2014 – 1962 Gale V. Owner/Driver: John Earnest. Location: Horseshoe Lake Park, Woodland
2015 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2016 – No race
2017 – 1962 $ Bill. Owner/Driver: Geoffry Grembowski. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2018 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: Kerry Kjos. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2019 – 1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2020 – 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Park, Lacey
2021 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2022 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2023 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2024 – 1964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Paul Dunlap. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia
 
1/10 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2020 – 1974 Miss U.S. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Park, Lacey
2021 – 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2022 – 1984 Executone. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2023 – 1986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Jerry Dunlap. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2024 – 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia

1/10 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2003 – No race for modern class
2004 – 1974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2005 – 1970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2006 – 1970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Pipe Lake, Covington
2007 – 1994 T-Plus. Owner/Driver: Nigel Steere. Location: Pipe Lake, Covington
2008 – No Race
2009 – 1974 Country Boy. Owner: Mike Campbell. Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Beaverton Valley Pond, Friday Harbor
2010 – 1982 Executone. Owner: Mike Campbell. Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Sundstrom’s Pond, Friday Harbor
2011 – 1986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Sundstrom’s Pond (2), Friday Harbor
2012 – No Race
2013 – 2012 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Horseshoe Lake Park, Woodland
2014 – 2012 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Horseshoe Lake Park, Woodland
2015 – 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: Jimmejames Cusworth. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2016 – No race
2017 – 2014 Spirit of Qatar. Owner/Driver: Len Taylor. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2018 – 2015 Dalton Industries. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2019 – 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2020 – 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Park, Lacey
2021 – 2015 Dalton Industries. Owner: Rick Evans. Driver: Paul Dunlap. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2022 – 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2023 – 2003 Miss Budweiser. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2024 – 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia

1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2021 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Drivers: Craig Mullen & Brian Buass. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2022 – 1969 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2023 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owners: David Newton/Ben Keller. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2024 – 1983 Island Security Systems. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia

1/7 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2023 – 1975 Pay 'n Pak. Owner: Craig Mullen. Driver: Bill Mowatt. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2024 – 1974 Miss U.S. Owner: Denise Sjostrom. Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia

1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2021 – 1972 Notre Dame. Owner: Gary Hansen. Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2022 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview
2023 – No race due to boat count
2024 – 2023 Goodman Real Estate. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn. Location: Scott Lake, Olympia
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