Diamond Cup, presented by Hobby Chef Racing

Lake Sacajawea Park
Longview, Wash.
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Contest Directors: Nelson Holmberg & Tom Markos

CLICK HERE FOR RACE CIRCULAR

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.

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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
  

2023 race stats

2023 race results

2023 1/10 Scale Race Results
Modern Class

1. David Newton, 2003 Miss Budweiser, 1,500 points
2. Tom Markos, 2015 Graham Trucking (U-7), 863 points
3. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate, 750 points
4. Nelson Holmberg, 2022 Beacon Plumbing, 700 points

Classic Class

1. Jerry Dunlap, 1986 Boat, 1,300 points
2. Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther, 1,200 points
3. Tom Markos, 1976 Atlas Van Lines, 975 points

Vintage Class

1. David Newton, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos), 1,600 points
2. David Newton, 1957 Hawaii Kai III, 1,200 points
3. Jay Fonville, 1963 Tahoe Miss, 1,050 points
4. John Howell, 1966 Savair's Mist, 919 points
5. Bill Mowatt, 1968 Miss Bardahl, 825 points
6. David Heilbrunn, 1963 Blue Chip, 713 points
7. Paul Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide, 469 points
8. John Earnest, 1962 Dewey's Lumberville, 451 points
9. Robbie Robers, 1971 Hallmark Homes, 300 points
   

Classic Triple Crown

1. Jerry Dunlap, 1986 Boat, 1,300 points
2. Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther, 1,200 points
3. Tom Markos, 1976 Atlas Van Lines, 975 points

2023 1/7 Scale Race Results
Classic Class

1. Bill Mowatt, 1975 Pay 'n Pak (Owner: Craig Mullen), 1,600 points
2. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate, 1,200 points
3. Jim McKeon, 1980 Miss Budweiser, 225 points

Vintage Class

1. David Newton, 1958 Hawaii Kai III, 1,600 points
2. Jay Fonville, 1975 Kirby Classic, 1,300 points
3. Dennis Caines, 1968 Eagle Electric, 919 points
4. Jim McKeon, 1957 Maverick, 863 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
 
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

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

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

1/7 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2023 — 1975 Pay 'n Pak. Owner: Craig Mullen. Driver: Bill Mowatt. Location: Lake Sacajawea, Longview

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