ERCU
  • Home
  • Schedule
    • Results
  • News
  • Boats
    • 1/10 Scale Vintage
    • 1/10 Scale Classic
    • 1/10 Scale Modern
    • 1/7 Scale Vintage
    • 1/7 Scale Classic
    • 1/7 Scale Modern
  • Stats
  • 2025 Rules
  • Photos
  • Resources
    • About/Contact Us
    • Chair Chatter
    • Registration
    • Winter Meetings
    • ERCU Documents
    • For Sale
    • Club History >
      • Blogspot
      • Newsletters
  • Sponsorship

RACE CIRCULAR: Season-Opening Champion Spark Plug Regatta set for March 30 at Elma

3/21/2024

 
Picture
The first race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, set for Saturday March 30, 2024, at Vance Creek Park in Elma. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the first event of the year.

Location:
76 Wenzel Slough Road, Elma, WA 98563
Elma, WA
 
Contest Directors
Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap
 
Pre-Registration
Preregistration for the Champion Spark Plug Regatta is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to www.ercu-hydros.com/champion-spark-plug-regatta.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., FRIDAY, March 29, 2024. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.
 
Context
For many years the season opening event for H1 Unlimited was always he Champion Spark Plug Regatta.  18 of 20 ERCU seasons have also began with the Champion Spark Plug Regatta and this year is no different.  However, the site has changed for 2024 to Vance Creek Park, Elma in Grays Harbor County; 76 Wenzel Slough Road, Elma, WA 98563
 
What to Expect
It will be our intent to have the course open by 8 a.m. so that testing can commence once boats are registered for the event. Boat owners should prepare to have time for inspections of new boats and to be ready to race. The water will be open for testing until approximately 9 a.m.
  • Racecourse will be set between 7:30-8 a.m.
  • Practice water and on-site registration 8-9 a.m.
  • Mandatory drivers meeting 9:05-9:30 a.m.
  • Racing begins 9:30a.m. (or maximum of 10 minutes after completion of drivers meeting)
  • One minute-30 second start clock will be used for all racing.
  • A 20 to 30 minute lunch break will be held, exact time TBD. Participants should plan to provide their own lunch.
 
Inspections
In 2024, all new boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the 2023 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com) and complete the member information at the top of page one prior to arriving at the race site. Please also remember to bring a photo of the real boat (a photo on your phone or tablet is acceptable) that your boat models.
 
Race Officials 
  • Contest Directors: Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap 
  • Chief Referee (modern): Jerry Dunlap
  • Chief Referee (classic): David Heilbrunn
  • Chief Referee (vintage): Craig Mullen
  • Drivers Representatives: Paxton Reunanen & Rick Evans
  • Pit Boss: Dennis Caines
  • Turn Judges: First and second place finishers will judge the next heat
 
Race Format:
  • Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes.
  • First and second consolation 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.
  • This is vintage Triple Crown Series event #1
 
Flight Schedule
  • 1/10 scale modern
  • 1/7 scale modern/classic
  • 1/10 scale classic
  • 1/10 scale vintage
  • 1/7 scale vintage
 
Drivers Meeting
The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of time trials. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats.

Champion Spark Plug Regatta Defending (2023) Champions
  • 1/10 Scale Modern: Mike Hughes, 1991 Winston Eagle
  • 1/7 Scale Modern: Nelson Holmberg, 2021 Graham Trucking
  • 1/10 Scale Classic: Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther
  • 1/7 Scale Classic: Craig Mullen – 1975 Pay 'n Pak
  • 1/10 Scale Vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Miss Thriftway
  • 1/7 Scale Vintage: Craig Mullen, 1958 Hawaii Kai III
 
Visiting Drivers
ERCU always welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing will be offered during the open water period as needed. The course will be closed for rookie driver tests. Visiting racers may not take home ERCU perpetual trophies, in the event they win the race.

Restrooms
There are public restroom facilities on site at Vance Creek Park and they are expected to be open.

Electricity
There is limited access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day.

Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation
Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, first connie and Triple Crown winners. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not.

Weather Forecast
As of this writing, weather.com predicts mostly mixed weather with a high of 65 degrees and 7 mph winds out of the northwest.

Pre-Registration
Preregistration for the Champion Spark Plug Regatta is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to www.ercu-hydros.com/champion-spark-plug-regatta.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., FRIDAY, March 29, 2024. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.

1/7 scale Classic & Modern to be combined in 2024

3/19/2024

 
Based on the 2023 season and the number of races that combining both classes should have been, or was, required, the ERCU Board of Directors has adopted the following race format for the 2024 season.
  • 1/7 scale classic and modern shall run in combined heats, as outlined below
    • Heats shall be determined by Section M of the ERCU rulebook
    • Points will be awarded in order of finish for each heat (i.e. a modern finishes second to a classic the classic gets 400 points and the modern gets 300 points).
    • Total points will determine the participants in the final as outlined in the ERCU rulebook as per section M of the rulebook.
    • There shall be a classic as well as modern winner for each race.
      • In the case of a total point race the total points shall decide the race winner
      • In the Love Plan, the top classic and top modern in order of finish shall decide the classic and modern winner at each race.
    • Classic and modern season championships shall be determined byu total points earned for the season, in order of finish in combined heats.

This format will be reviewed by the Board of Directors at the conclusion of the 2024 ERCU racing season.

One rule change adopted for 2024 racing season

3/6/2024

 
The annual process of reviewing the rulebook and processing proposed changes to the ERCU rules has been completed, and a vote of the membership has been conducted.

At the end of the process, just one change has been approved by the membership for the 2024 ERCU rulebook.

That change is to the prologue of the rules, which now states (change is in green) the following:

PROLOGUE: The goal of Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds (ERCU) is to replicate the look and competition of real unlimited hydroplane racing. Boats are 1/10-scale and 1/7-scale replicas of the real boats that attempted to qualify or raced on the unlimited circuit. The club will emphasize scale appearance accuracy and quality workmanship as well as enjoyable competition on the water. As with the real boats, the races will be run counterclockwise on the course.

This proposed rule change was approved by a 23-3 vote of members participating and, with 88 percent of the vote, easily exceeded the required 2/3 (.667) vote of those participating in the election.

The only other proposed rule change that was forwarded to the membership for a vote was the proposal that ERCU align its boat registration rule with NAMBA's Master Hull Roster qualification rule. That proposal was voted down by the members in a 10 for, 16 against vote.

The 2024 ERCU racing season is set to begin with the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, Saturday, March 30 at Vance Creek Park in Elma.

March board meeting set for Wednesday evening

3/4/2024

 
Picture
The last offseason meeting of the 2023-24 ERCU Board of Directors is set for Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.

The board will have an agenda of items that provide updates on what the board has wrapped up and addressed during the offseason. If you're interested in participating, all members, past members and future members - as well as other interested parties - are welcome to attend.

To attend the meeting, click here.
    Facebook

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    RSS Feed

Resources

Membership/Registration
Intent to Build Form
Hull Inspection Form
Master Hull Roster (1/10 scale)
For Sale/Wanted

Schedule

Race Schedule
Results (prior to 2025)
Driver of Year Award
ERCU Triple Crown

Rules

Online Rulebook
Print Rule Books

Boats

2025 Registration Roster
1/10 scale vintage
1/7 scale vintage
1/10 scale classic
1/7 scale classic
1/10 scale modern
1/7 scale modern

Contact

About ERCU
Board of Directors
Contact form
Credits
Copyright © 2025 Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds
  • Home
  • Schedule
    • Results
  • News
  • Boats
    • 1/10 Scale Vintage
    • 1/10 Scale Classic
    • 1/10 Scale Modern
    • 1/7 Scale Vintage
    • 1/7 Scale Classic
    • 1/7 Scale Modern
  • Stats
  • 2025 Rules
  • Photos
  • Resources
    • About/Contact Us
    • Chair Chatter
    • Registration
    • Winter Meetings
    • ERCU Documents
    • For Sale
    • Club History >
      • Blogspot
      • Newsletters
  • Sponsorship