 Big news in the pits … and it’s making waves.
ERCU is fired up to officially welcome Lewis Custom Hydros as a proud supporter of the series! Owned and operated by longtime racer and all-around good guy Carl Lewis, Lewis Custom Hydros isn’t just a name on the side of a boat — it’s a passion project built right here within the Electric Radio Controlled Unlimited family. Carl’s enthusiasm for the sport shows up in everything he does, from the craftsmanship of his builds to the energy he brings to race day. If you’ve spent any time around outboard hydroplane racing, you’ve probably seen his work turning heads and turning laps. Now, he’s doubling down by supporting the entire ERCU community and helping fuel the continued growth of the series. There's even rumors that he might transition his passion for building world-class hydroplanes to scale boats! This is what ERCU is all about: racers supporting racers, passion powering progress, and a community that keeps getting stronger with every heat. So next time you see a Lewis Custom Hydros boat on the water, give a nod — you’re looking at a builder who’s not just chasing checkered flags, but helping make it all possible.  ELMA — The 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series roared to life Saturday at Vance Creek Park, where a deep and energized field kicked off the season at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta with speed, spray and a renewed sense of momentum.
Under cool, and sometimes windy and rainy, skies in Elma, nearly 40 electric-powered unlimited hydroplanes packed the pits and delivered a full day of tight racing that signaled a resurgence for the club. From the first heat, it was clear the offseason had done nothing to dull the competitive edge — if anything, it sharpened it. A turnout of 38 boats is a record for the ERCU season opener. Veteran drivers wasted no time asserting themselves on the tight, technical course, trading lanes and throwing roostertails as they fought for early-season points. The fleet showed impressive parity, with multiple heat winners and frequent lead changes keeping spectators on edge along the shoreline. Adding to the buzz were two new faces making their club debuts. Marc Connelly and Wayne Beeson each turned heads with composed performances in their first outing, navigating the crowded field with confidence and showing flashes of front-running pace. “It’s a tough group to jump into,” one competitor said, “but both of those guys came ready to race.” The day also marked a welcome return for Brad Lewis, who climbed back into competition after a two-year hiatus. Lewis showed little rust, steadily improving through the heats and ultimately making a major statement in the finals. When the spray settled, the championship finals delivered standout performances across all classes: In 1/10-scale modern, Paxton Reunanen powered the 2021 Beacon Plumbing to victory, holding off David Heilbrunn in the 2015 Dalton Industries, with David Newton taking third in the 2015 Graham Trucking (owned by Tom Markos). The 1/10-scale classic final belonged to Lewis, who capped his return with a win in the 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto. Nelson Holmberg finished second in the 1986 Squire Shop Brittania, while Newton added another podium with third in the 1971 Country Boy (owned by Markos). Lewis doubled up in 1/10-scale vintage, guiding the 1961 Miss Supertest II to victory. Newcomer Beeson impressed with a second-place finish in the 1967 Gale’s Roostertail, and Dray Newton secured third in the 1957 Hawaii Kai III. In 1/7-scale classic, Scott Whitestine drove the 1972 Notre Dame to the top step of the podium, followed by Craig Mullen in the 1971 Pay ’n Pak. Holmberg added another podium with third in the 1974 Lincoln Thrift (owned by Carl Lewis). Whitestine completed a strong day in 1/7-scale vintage, taking the win in the 1962 Notre Dame. By day’s end, the opening event had delivered exactly what the series hoped for: strong turnout, competitive racing and a glimpse of what could be a wide-open championship chase in 2026. With returning veterans, fast-rising newcomers and a re-energized field, the Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is off to a blistering start. BREAKING NEWS FROM ERCU: We have had a last-minute change in our location for Saturday's ERCU Test, Tune & Inspect event due to flooding over the roads leading to South County Park in Toledo, which now will be closed tomorrow (see photos attached).
Many thanks to the scrambling and last-minute work of ERCU Race Coordinator David Heilbrunn and Diamond Cup Contest Director Dennis Caines, we will instead test tomorrow at Scott Lake Park in Olympia. The address there is: 2520 Scotland Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98512. The trailer will be on site at 8 a.m., and our schedule will be the same as was anticipated for the Toledo site. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Nelson Holmberg, David Heilbrunn or Dennis Caines. Hope to see as many of you as possible tomorrow. Many thanks to Rena Meyers of the Toledo Lions Club for letting us know about the closure, and for the photos above.  The first race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, set for Saturday March 28, 2026, at Vance Creek Park in Elma. Here is everything you need to know to get prepared for our first event of the year.
Location 76 Wenzel Slough Road, Elma, WA 98563 Contest Directors Jerry Dunlap & Paul Dunlap Context For many years the season opening event for H1 Unlimited was always the Champion Spark Plug Regatta. 20 of 22 ERCU seasons have likewise began with the Champion Spark Plug Regatta and again this year, the tradition continues. Registration Pre-Registration 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 header photo. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following at 10 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026. PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. Race Officials
What to Expect (All times approximate, and subject to change)
Race Format
Flight Schedule
Heat Draws Heat draws will be completed just prior to the drivers meeting. The first heat draw will be conducted at approximately 9 a.m. and will be read verbally at the drivers meeting as a roll call. Succeeding heat draws will be conducted between flights. All heat draws will be printed and posted, and displayed on the TV screen, whenever possible. No re-draws of heats will be done. Starting Clock A 1-minute 30-second clock will start as soon as all drivers are in the driving area and will not be stopped for any reason other than health or safety (including stubborn waterfowl). Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats, including getting your own spotter, and be ready when the chase boat comes back. A trailer boat shall not cross the start line less than five seconds after the start gun. Rookie drivers who have not yet earned 1,200 career points must start from the trailer position. Race Day Morning 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 and to be ready to race. The water will be open for testing until approximately 9 a.m. 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. 2025 Champion Spark Plug Regatta Champions
Inspections In 2026, ERCU inspection team will endeavor to inspect/test all boats before the first race each boat runs at. Please print out the 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. Visiting drivers ERCU welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing will be offered during the open water period or lunch break as needed. The course will be closed for rookie driver tests. Visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy, in the event they win the race. 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. In the event that the club has perpetual trophies for a race, those will also be presented at the end of the day. 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. Race Day Raffle We’ll conduct a 50/50 raffle and drawing at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta. The club will be giving away two (lightly used) JBL Party Box On the Go bluetooth PA systems at the drawing will be following the post-race awards celebration. Half of the proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will be available to the first winner drawn. That person would have the option to choose one of the Party Boxes or the money. Second and third winners will have choices of the remaining items. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the race day to participate in this drawing. Restrooms There are no public restroom open on site at Vance Creek Park. Sanicans are provided by Grays Harbor County and are expected to be open. Electricity There is no electricity provided at Vance Creek Park. It is recommended to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day. Get your boats and equipment ready for the season at this ERCU-sponsored Test, Tune and Inspect day at South County Park Wallace Pond, in Toledo.
We'll set a regular race course so that new drivers can practice and qualify and seasoned drivers can test their offseason changes and modifications, or simply practice as they get ready for the 2026 ERCU season. It's also another opportunity to preview the newest race site on the ERCU schedule before we return on July 11 for the Bernie Little Memorial. Inspections Boats will also need inspections, starting with new boats, boats that have not ever been inspected or those that underwent major repairs or livery changes during the offseason. Click here to download an inspection form for each of your boats that needs to be inspected. ERCU's Inspectors this year are Mike McIntosh and Craig Mullen. On the Water Action A race course will be set for the purpose of practice and testing. If there are new members who need complete the driving test, we'll take opportunities to close the course for those tests to be done as well. The course should be set by 9 a.m., and we'll run open water through the morning. Exhibition heats will be run in the afternoon once the trailer work and lunch is done. We have the course until 5 p.m. Concessions will be available The local Lions Club will have a concessions booth set up for racers and spectators! They'll be on site early to be ready for us! The menu includes:
 Chris Denslow photo (2024) There’s fast … and then there’s electric scale unlimited hydroplane racing.
ERCU's Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the sport at its finest — high-speed, high-skill, and built by racers who live for the thrill of the course. From the first solder joint to the final lap, everything we do runs on passion, precision, and community. With nearly 120 registered boats and at least a dozen more in development status or yet to be registered, ERCU is one of the two largest scale unlimited hydroplane racing clubs in the world. We are also the largest fast electric scale hydroplane racing club on the planet. Welcome to the Skidfin Solutions Championship Series for 2026. We officially start the racing season on Saturday, March 14 with a test day at South County Park (Wallace Pond) in Toledo, and the championship series kicks off with the season's first race Saturday, March 28 at Vance Creek Park in Elma when the Champion Spark Plug Regatta gets us started. Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds (ERCU) is a competitive racing organization dedicated to scale electric unlimited hydroplanes. Inspired by the full-size boats that defined an era of thunder on the water, ERCU carries that legacy forward — clean, fast, and fiercely fun.
We race because nothing compares to that moment.
ERCU racers are builders, tinkerers, engineers, and competitors. Yes, we chase speed. But we value craftsmanship, sportsmanship, and innovation just as much as the win. The pursuit of the perfect setup. The late-night tuning session before race day. The handshake after a hard-fought heat. In 2026, we’re celebrating what truly powers this sport: the passion behind every hull, every lap, and every shoreline conversation. More Than Racing ERCU isn’t just about the checkered flag — it’s a community on the water that's about the people standing beside you when the checkered flag waves. We’re powered by volunteers, families, longtime racers, and first-timers alike. Whether you’re racing, judging, crewing, or cheering from the bank, you’re part of the action. The club is welcoming to newcomers and spectators; focused on clean, competitive racing and good sportsmanship; and built on respect and shared enthusiasm. There’s a place for you here — whether you’ve been racing for decades or you’re still building your first boat. Built to Fly Electric power has changed the game. It brings consistency, innovation, and blistering speed to every heat. In ERCU racing, attention to detail matters — setup, balance, prop selection, battery management, driving skill, and strategy all play a role. This is a sport where preparation shows up on the water. If you love the process as much as the result — if tuning is as satisfying as winning — you’re in the right place. ERCU 2026: Powered by Passion. Driven by Precision. |
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