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LONGVIEW, Wash. — The fifth stop of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series delivered everything fans could want from the 53rd running of the Stan Sayres Memorial: close racing, comeback stories, mechanical heartbreak, and a few familiar names standing tall when the spray settled.
Held on the picturesque waters of Lake Sacajawea, the annual Memorial once again honored one of hydroplane racing’s most legendary figures while providing plenty of drama across both the 1/10-scale and 1/7-scale divisions. Within the race format of a points race, meaning the winners of the event were determined by the total accumulated points over the day, consistently finishing heats was critical. No boat had a perfect day, but two came close with 1,500 points. In 1/10 scale modern competition, Ron Daum’s 2004 Llumar Window Films emerged victorious with 1,100 points after surviving a challenging preliminary schedule and claiming the final for his first modern class win in ERCU. Daum edged Tom Markos and the 2015 Graham Trucking (900 points), while Nelson Holmberg’s 2023 Flav-R-Pac gave chase to the Lamar after posting the highest preliminary total with two preliminary heat wins, but a heartbreaking DNF in the championship heat left him third overall. The 1/10 Classic class belonged to the Dunlap family. Markos' 1971 Country Boy, driven by Paul Dunlap, was nearly untouchable, scoring 1,500 points and winning three preliminary heats before finishing second in the final. The only boat able to get around Country Boy when it mattered was Holmberg’s 1986 Squire Shop Brittania, which captured the final and finished second overall with 1,200 points. Holmberg's 1975 Pay 'n Pak had a consistent performance with three seconds throughout the day that was good for 900 points and a third-place race finish, despite not running in the final. Vintage action produced one of the weekend’s best battles and provided what essentially was a winner-take-all final heat. Dunlap’s 1964 Miss Exide claimed the overall victory with 1,300 points, holding off Chuck Murray’s 1964 Savair’s Mist, which dominated the preliminary rounds before a DNF in the final dropped the boat to second. John Howell, in his first ERCU event of the year, was second in the final and took third in the race results. The 1/7 scale divisions were equally entertaining. In classic competition, Craig Mullen’s 1971 Pride of Pay ’n Pak assembled the most consistent day of racing to capture the title with 1,269 points, despite penalties in the final that set his boat back to fourth in the finishing order. John Havens Jr.’s 1976 Miss Budweiser finished second at 1,200 points, while Wayne Beeson’s 1978 Miss Mark & Pak rounded out the podium with 1,075 points. The headline performance of the weekend came in 1/7 vintage. Mike McIntosh’s 1969 Pay ’n Pak Outrigger was simply dominant, posting 1,500 points and taking the championship with a flawless final heat performance. Scott Whitestine’s 1962 Notre Dame finished a strong second with 1,250 points, while John Havens Jr.’s 1962 Miss U.S. 1 completed the podium with 1,169 points. As the Skidfin Solutions Championship Series heads toward the second half of the season, Longview once again proved why the Stan Sayres Memorial remains one of ERCU’s most cherished traditions. The racing was fast, the competition fierce, and the memories worthy of the legendary name on the trophy.  The fifth race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Stan Sayres Memorial, set for Saturday May 30, 2026, at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview. Here is everything you need to know to get prepared for our fifth event of the year.
Location Lake Sacajawea Park, 1800 Nichols Blvd., Longview, WA 98632 Contest Director Nelson Holmberg Context At 53 years, the Stan Sayres Memorial is the world's oldest and greatest RC Scale Unlimited Race. Started in 1974 by Roger Newton and Monte Steere, the race has been contested in Seattle Model Yacht Club and in RC Unlimiteds before finding itself a home in ERCU. Registration Pre-Registration for the Stan Sayres Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/stan-sayres-memorial.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, May 15, 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 Governors Cup 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. If 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. Restrooms There are public restrooms available on site, and they are expected to be open. A sanican will also be provided in the pits. Electricity There is no electricity provided in the pits. It is recommended to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day. LAKEWOOD — The infamous "Waughop Winds" showed up right on cue at Waughop Lake, but the rain never really did — and that was more than enough for another action-packed day of racing at the ERCU Governors Cup at Waughop Lake in Fort Steilacoom Park.
Despite ominous forecasts leading into race day, ERCU racers and fans were treated to mostly dry conditions, with only the famous Waughop breeze making life difficult for drivers as the day wore on. Whitecaps, rough water, and shifting gusts tested even the most experienced hands, but the racing stayed sharp from the first heat to the final roostertail. When the spray settled, two names stood above the rest: Paxton Reunanen & Paul Dunlap. Reunanen powered to victories in three separate classes, continuing what has quickly become a breakout season. He claimed the 1/10 scale modern title aboard the thunderous 2004 Miss Budweiser (T-5), then added another win in 1/7 scale modern driving the sleek 2023 Beacon Plumbing. Not finished yet, Reunanen also took top honors in 1/10 scale vintage with the beautifully restored 1960 Miss Thriftway, owned by Kerry Kjos. Meanwhile, Dunlap put on a classic hydroplane clinic of his own. He swept both classic divisions, piloting the 1971 Country Boy — owned by Tom Markos — to victory in 1/10 scale classic before climbing into Carl Lewis’s 1976 Miss Vernor’s to capture the 1/7 scale classic crown, winning despite starting as a trailer after the Vernor's won the connie. In 1/7 scale vintage, Scott Whitestine muscled the legendary 1962 Notre Dame through the rough water to earn the win in one of the day’s most entertaining finals where he and Mark Manchester, driving the 1966 Notre Dame battled deck-to-deck for most of the final heat before the 1966 ND crashed in the backstretch. The biggest applause of the afternoon, however, may have been reserved for ERCU’s newest qualified driver. Congratulations went out to Alexandria Whitestine, who officially earned her qualification and will now take the wheel of the 2021 Graham Trucking. With another talented rookie joining the fleet, the future of ERCU racing looks plenty bright. By day’s end, racers were windblown, soaked from spray, and smiling anyway — exactly the way a Governors Cup at Waughop Lake is supposed to end.  The fourth race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Governors Cup, set for Saturday May 16, 2026, at Waughop Lake within Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. Here is everything you need to know to get prepared for our fourth event of the year.
Location Waughop Lake, Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Ave. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498 Contest Directors Jerry Dunlap & Jim Hagan Context The Indiana Governors Cup (more commonly known as the Madison Regatta) is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually on Independence Day weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture released in 2005, titled Madison which starred actor Mount Vernon, Wash., native Jim Caviezel. Registration Pre-Registration for the Governors Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/governors-cup.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, May 15, 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 Governors Cup 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. 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. Restrooms There are public restrooms available on site, and they are expected to be open. Electricity There is no electricity provided in the pits. It is recommended to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day.  ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Under a mostly sunny sky and unusually calm conditions, the 2026 ERCU Presidents Cup delivered one of the most picturesque and competitive days of model hydroplane racing the series has seen in years.
For a venue often known for predictable sustained winds, Ellensburg showed a different side — glassy water and warm sunshine setting the stage for tight racing across five classes. “This was the best weather I’ve seen at Ellensburg in the 26-plus years I’ve been racing model hydroplanes,” said ERCU Board Chair Nelson Holmberg. “Hats off to Paxton for doing a great job of running the Presidents Cup. It’s especially cool that he and his grandpa both are keeping the tradition alive in two different model racing clubs.” Modern Class Headlines a Breakout Performance The 1/10 scale modern class saw a statement victory from Scott Whitestine, who piloted the brand-new 2021 Graham Trucking to a decisive win in its debut race. The fresh hull showed both speed and stability, holding off veteran competitor David Heilbrunn in the 2015 Dalton Industries, while Dray Newton rounded out the podium in the 2015 Albert Lee. Reunanen Doubles Down on a Special Day Contest Director Paxton Reunanen not only kept the day running smoothly — he also delivered on the water. Reunanen drove the 1983 Miss Rock KISW to victory in the 1/10 scale classic class, dominating Holmberg’s zippy 1986 Squire Shop Brittania and John Havens Jr.’s steady backup 1976 Olympia Beer. “This event is special to me and it means a lot to both my grandpa and I,” Reunanen said. “It was a beautiful day and we lucked out without the traditional ‘Ellensburg winds.’” Vintage and Classic Classes Showcase Depth In 1/10 vintage, Chuck Murray guided the 1964 Savair’s Mist to victory over Wayne Beeson’s Gale’s Roostertail and Newton’s Hawaii Kai III. The 1/7 scale classic class featured another strong showing from Whitestine, who added a second podium with a runner-up finish behind Craig Mullen’s winning 1972 Pay ’n Pak. Carl Lewis secured third in the 1974 Lincoln Thrift. Meanwhile, the 1/17 vintage class saw Reunanen back in victory lane, piloting the 1969 Pay ’n Pak Outrigger (owned by Mike McIntosh) to the win. David Newton and Whitestine completed the podium. A Day to Remember Across all classes, the Presidents Cup combined competitive racing with a sense of tradition and community — a hallmark of ERCU events. From a brand-new modern hull making an immediate impact to multi-generational ties keeping the event alive, the 2026 edition will be remembered as much for its atmosphere as its results. "I really appreciate everyone who turned out for this race and made it special," Reunanen said. "Many thanks to all who helped put on the race, set up and cleaned up." And perhaps most notably, for one rare day in Ellensburg, the wind stayed quiet — and the racing spoke loudly.  In response to members concerns about collisions on the race course, the Competition Committee has approved the following Competition Directive (2026-1), effective May 1, 2026. This will be in effect for tomorrow's Presidents Cup in Ellensburg, and through the season.
One point has been added to the club's current collision rules, stating "A boat that is disqualified from a heat per this rule must start as a trailer boat five seconds behind the field in that boat's next heat. This trailer start penalty applies and must be served before the boat may return to the front line regardless if the penalized boat’s next heat will occur at the current race or at a future race." Per the Competition Committee's Charter, the committee has the authority to create Directives like this one to make adjustments to the rules during the season if situations like this present themselves. It's in the interest of keeping racing fair and safe, which is part of the club's core values. Competition Directives are effective immediately upon their approval, and will remain in force through the end of the current season. They are also automatically added to the list of proposed rule changes during the offseason rules review process, for members to vote on them. This makes history for the club as the first-ever Competition Directive. |
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