Diamond Cup, presented by Hobby Chef Racing

Lake Sacajawea Park
Longview, Wash.
DATE: Saturday, April 15, 2023
CONTEST DIRECTORS: Nelson Holmberg & Tom Markos

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.
 
Never more than one or two eastern boats ever showed up for the first few Diamond Cups. But that changed in 1962 when a fleet of five Detroit Unlimiteds (GALE V, GALE VII, MISS U.S. I, SUCH CRUST IV, and NOTRE DAME) challenged the western fleet. Be that as it may, no hydroplane based east of the Mississippi River ever won at Couer d’Alene. In 2013, the race was reborn for another go with teams based in Madison, Ind.; Decatur, Ind.; Reading, Penn., and Seattle. Unfortunately, it lasted just one season. That race, over Labor Day Weekend, was won by the Indiana-based U-5 Graham Trucking which enjoyed its only perfect weekend of the season, on its way to the 2013 national championship with Jimmy Shane at the helm. It was also our own Nelson Holmberg’s first full season on the Graham Trucking crew.
 
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.

CLICK HERE FOR RACE CIRCULAR
Picture
Race Format
  • POINTS RACE - Total points accumulated throughout the day will determine the winners in each class after the final heats.
  • 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

2022 1/10 Scale Race Results
Modern Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky, 1,225 points
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate, 1,200 points
  3. Tom Markos, 2015 Graham Trucking (U-7), 619 points
  4. Chuck Murray, 2000 Miss Elam Plus, 525 points
  5. Paul Dunlap, 1991 Winston Eagle, 400 points
  6. Ron Daum, 2004 Llumar Window Films, 300 points
  7. Robbie Roberts, 1987 Sutphen Spirit, 0 points

Classic Class
  1. David Heilbrunn, 1984 Executone, 1,225 points
  2. Chuck Murray, 1983 Miss Houston, 1,200 points
  3. Paxton Reunanen, 1979 Squire Shop, 800 points
  4. Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther, 700 points
  5. Jerry Dunlap, 1986 Boat, 394 points
  6. Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame, 300 points
  7. Gary Rose, 1974 Valu Mart, 300 points
  8. Rick Evans, 1973 Red Man Too, 225 points

Vintage Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos), 1,600 points
  2. Paxton Reunanen, 1963 Coe-Z-Miss, 1,500 points (Chuck Murray drove in final heat)
  3. Bill Mowatt, 1968 Miss Bardahl, 1,200 points
  4. Gerry Bordon, 1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss, 1,125 points
  5. Robbie Roberts, 1971 Hallmark Homes, 1,069 points
  6. Jay Fonville, 1963 Tahoe Miss, 825 points
  7. Ron Daum, 1957 Thriftway Too, 788 points
  8. John Earnest, 1961 Gale V, 563 points
  9. Gary Rose, 1964 Blue Chip, 225 points
  10. David Heilbrunn, 1960 Gale V, 0 points
  11. Rick Evans, 1980 Evergreen Roofing, 0 points
  12. Chuck Murray, 1964 Savair's Mist, 0 points

Classic Triple Crown
  1. David Heilbrunn, 1984 Executone, 1,225 points
  2. Chuck Murray, 1983 Miss Houston, 1,200 points
  3. Paxton Reunanen, 1979 Squire Shop, 800 points
  4. Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther, 700 points
  5. Jerry Dunlap, 1986 Boat, 394 points
  6. Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame, 300 points
  7. Gary Rose, 1974 Valu Mart, 300 points
  8. Rick Evans, 1973 Red Man Too, 225 points

2021 1/7 Scale Race Results
Modern Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 2021 Graham Trucking, 1,425 points
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate, 1,300 points
  3. Nelson Holmberg, 1972 Notre Dame (Owner: Gary Hansen), 800 points (Tom Markos drove in final heat)
  4. Denise Sjostrom, 1974 Miss U.S., 750 points
  5. John Sjostrom, 1982 Captran Resorts, 569 points
  6. Ron Hartley, 1974 Lincoln Thrift, 394 points
  7. Craig Mullen, 1973 Pay 'n Pak, 0 points

Vintage Class
  1. Gerry Bordon, 1969 Parco's O-Ring Miss, 1,225 points
  2. John Sjostrom, 1960 Miss Thriftway, 1,075 points
  3. Terry Harmer, 1986 Miss Bahia, 969 points
  4. Denise Sjostrom, 1980 Evergreen Roofing, 769 points
 
1/10 Scale Diamond Cup All-Time Results
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
 
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

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

1/7 Scale Diamond Cup All-Time Results
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

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