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8/25/2026 RACE CIRCULAR: ERCU to celebrate and remember Amick, Denslow & Schultz at 2026 Detroit MemorialRead Now  The 11th race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Detroit Memorial Regatta, set for Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course at Woodland Creek Park in Lacey.
The Detroit Memorial has become one of ERCU's most meaningful events of the season — a day of racing dedicated to remembering and celebrating the club members and friends who helped build the organization and the sport we enjoy today. Here's everything you need to know to prepare for the Detroit Memorial Regatta. LOCATION Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course Woodland Creek Park 6729 Pacific Avenue SE Lacey, WA 98503 Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026 Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:05 a.m. First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m. All times are approximate and subject to change. DETROIT MEMORIAL REGATTA The Detroit Memorial Regatta was established in 2021 to memorialize and celebrate ERCU members who have passed away over the years. Many thanks go to Brad Lewis and David Newton, whose vision and hard work helped create this special event. What began as a new race on the ERCU schedule has become a tradition — and one of the most meaningful events of the racing season. The race also pays tribute to the history of unlimited hydroplane racing. In real-life unlimited hydroplane racing, the Detroit River Racing Association — later the Windmill Pointe Yacht Club — presented the Detroit Memorial Regatta in Detroit in either late June or early July. Today, ERCU brings that tradition to life in scale, with some of the most recognizable unlimited hydroplanes in history competing on the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course. At the 2026 Detroit Memorial Regatta, ERCU will also take time to remember and recognize three members of our racing family whom we lost during the past year: Bill Amick, Chris Denslow and Mike Schultz. Each made his own unique contribution to ERCU and the sport of radio-controlled unlimited hydroplane racing. Their friendship, passion and presence will be missed, and we are honored to celebrate their memories as part of this year's Detroit Memorial. RACE OFFICIALS
WHAT TO EXPECT
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-registration for the Detroit Memorial Regatta is open now and can be found online by clicking here. To register, navigate to the Detroit Memorial Regatta page on the ERCU website and follow the registration instructions. Pre-registration will close at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. After the pre-registration deadline, drivers must register in person at the race site before the on-site registration deadline. You can also find the race registration page by visiting the ERCU website and selecting Schedule, followed by Detroit Memorial Regatta. DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes. The meeting will begin at the scorer's table within approximately five minutes of the conclusion of the testing period. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat, regardless of whether they are pre-registered or have paid their entry fees. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. RACE FORMAT Preliminary Heats
Consolations First and second consolation heats will be conducted for each class depending on boat count and attrition.
Winner-Take-All Finals The final will consist of the top five boats in cumulative event points, plus the qualifying consolation winner as the trailer starter. The final is winner-take-all and will determine the winner of each class. The 2026 ERCU rules specify that heats are normally five laps and run counterclockwise. At the chief referee's discretion, the number of laps may be reduced under the circumstances outlined in the ERCU rules. FLIGHT SCHEDULE The planned flight schedule will include:
2026 ERCU INSPECTIONS As part of ERCU's 2026 inspection program, the inspection team will endeavor to inspect and test boats before the first race each boat runs at. Drivers should:
VISITING DRIVERS & ROOKIE TESTING ERCU welcomes new members and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing may be offered during the open-water period as needed. The racecourse will be closed during rookie driver testing. Visiting racers are welcome to compete; however, visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy if they win the race. COURSE & CHASE BOAT The racecourse will be set by 8 a.m. and then open for practice water. All drivers and crew members are expected to cooperate with race officials and course personnel throughout the event. POST-RACE CLEANUP & AWARDS Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority following completion of racing. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. All members have a responsibility to assist with setup and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation and celebrate the day's competitors. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available at the park and are expected to be open. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. Drivers who need to charge batteries during the day should plan to bring a generator or other appropriate power source. SEE YOU IN LACEY! The Detroit Memorial Regatta is about more than racing. It's an opportunity to celebrate the history of ERCU, remember those who helped make the club what it is today, and enjoy another day of fast electric unlimited hydroplane racing with friends, family and fellow racers.  MARYSVILLE — Bernie Little would have appreciated the spectacle.
There were big names, new members, first-time winners legendary hulls, plenty of speed and, naturally, just enough mechanical drama to keep everybody watching the water instead of the heat draws. But when the final checkered flags flew Saturday at Twin Lakes Park, one driver had turned the Bernie Little Memorial into his own personal victory lap. Paxton Reunanen. Reunanen drove to four class victories, winning the 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 modern and 1/7 vintage divisions in an impressive display of consistency and speed at the ERCU event honoring the longtime owner of the legendary Miss Budweiser. Reunanen's first victory came in the 1/10 classic division aboard the 1983 Miss Rock KISW, where he swept all three preliminary heats before returning to win the final. David Newton finished second in the 1971 Country Boy, with Jim Latimer taking third in the 1986 Horizon Air. The 1/10 vintage class produced more of the same. Reunanen put the 1965 Gale's Roostertail on top in all three preliminaries and then completed the sweep by winning the final. Jerry Dunlap finished second with the 1964 Miss Exide, while Wayne Beeson brought the 1967 Gale's Roostertail home third. Reunanen wasn't finished. In the 1/7 modern division, the 2023 Beacon Plumbing again proved untouchable. Reunanen won every preliminary heat and then captured the final. John Sjostrom finished second in the 2003 Miss Chrysler Jeep, while David Heilbrunn took third with the 2024 Goodman Real Estate. And then came the 1/7 vintage class, where Reunanen once again left little doubt about who was running the show. His 1982 Island Security Systems won all three preliminary heats and the final, giving Reunanen his fourth victory of the day. David Heilbrunn finished second in the 1965 Blue Chip, followed by John Havens Jr. in the 1962 Miss U.S. 1. If Reunanen was the day's dominant driver, the 1/7 classic division supplied one of the day's best twists. Gale Whitestine, driving the 1975 Weisfields, saved his best run for the final and moved into the top spot. Mike McIntosh finished second in the 1973 Red Man Too, while Wayne Beeson took third in the 1978 Miss Mark & Pak. Mike Gossler had been perfect through the preliminary rounds in the 1977 Squire, winning all three, but a DNF in the final knocked him out of contention. The 1/10 modern division also provided a little drama. New member Riley Christy, one of the contingent of four from Southern California, used a strong finish to win the class in the 1992 Smokin Joes, edging Mike Dunn (another of the SoCal dudes), who finished second in the 2011 Miss Albert Lee. Newton was third in the 2006 Miss Emcor. The racing in the modern final was the best of the day, and fans even saw the excitement of a nasty bang-bang crash exiting turn one that left the 2015 Graham Trucking and the 1991 Winston Eagle significantly damaged. The numbers tell only part of the story. The real entertainment came from the unpredictability that is part of unlimited hydroplane racing — even when the boats are radio-controlled. There were dominant performances, comeback drives, DNFs and DNS results scattered throughout the day's racing. Boats that looked unbeatable in the preliminaries sometimes found themselves on the wrong side of fortune when the final heat arrived. That made Reunanen's four victories all the more impressive. Across six classes, the Bernie Little Memorial celebrated both ends of the hydroplane spectrum — from modern replicas to vintage legends — while honoring the man whose name became synonymous with the Miss Budweiser dynasty. And on a day when the boats came roaring across Twin Lakes in tribute to Bernie Little, Reunanen made sure one name appeared on the winner's list again and again. Four times, to be exact. Bernie Little probably would have called that a pretty good day at the races.  It is, again, the time of year when ERCU begins the process to elect members of its board of directors.
The first step, of course, is nominating ERCU members to run for election. As such, there is a nomination form posted on the club’s website. Nominations close on August 31 at 11:59 p.m. Club members may nominate another member, or themselves, to be added to the board of directors ballot. The nomination form can be found by clicking here. Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Nominations can also be made in person at the Bernie Little Memorial in Marysville on Saturday, Aug. 22. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, an online ballot will be posted on the club’s website to select four to serve on the seven-person board. Those with expiring terms this year are Jerry Dunlap, Nelson Holmberg, Mike McIntosh and Jim McKeon. If a member prefers a paper ballot, one may be requested during the Detroit Memorial Regatta on September 5 in Lacey, or by mail. Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, and the election results will be announced shortly thereafter.  The 10th race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Bernie Little Memorial, returning to Twin Lakes Park in Marysville on Saturday, August 22. The Bernie Little Memorial honors one of the most influential figures in unlimited hydroplane racing history and a longtime supporter of radio-controlled hydroplane racing.
LOCATION Twin Lakes Park — North Lake 16324 Twin Lakes Ave. Marysville, WA 98271 Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026 Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m. First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m. All times are approximate and subject to change. BERNIE LITTLE MEMORIAL Bernie Little (1926-2003) was the most successful owner in unlimited hydroplane racing history. His legendary Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 races it entered, captured the high-points championship 22 times in 40 years of competition, and won the APBA Gold Cup 14 times. Little's first unlimited hydroplane victory came on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities in 1966. His team also became known for pioneering an enclosed driver's cockpit as a significant advancement in driver safety. Little was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He also supported RC hydroplane racing throughout the country and sponsored R/C Unlimited racing for several years. His contributions to hydroplane racing — both full-size and radio-controlled — are an important part of the legacy celebrated by this event. The Bernie Little Memorial was placed on hiatus after ERCU shortened its racing schedule in 2019 and returned to the schedule in 2023. RACE OFFICIALS Contest Directors: Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker Chief Referee — All Classes: Beau Rarig Course Setup & Chase Boat: Paxton Reunanen Drivers Representatives: Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker Pit Boss: Bob Van den Akker Turn Judges: First- and second-place finishers from the previous heat will judge the next heat. It is the responsibility of first- and second-place finishers to provide a replacement turn judge if they have a conflict. WHAT TO EXPECT
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-registration for the Bernie Little Memorial is available through the ERCU website. Bernie Little Memorial registration and race information. Please check the registration page for the current pre-registration deadline and payment information. After the pre-registration deadline, drivers must register in person at the race site before the on-site registration deadline. DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes. The meeting will begin at the scorer's tent within approximately five minutes of the conclusion of the testing period. 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. RACE FORMAT All classes will utilize the Love Plan:
FLIGHT SCHEDULE The planned flight schedule will include:
2025 DEFENDING CHAMPIONS The 2025 Bernie Little Memorial champions are:
2026 ERCU INSPECTIONS As part of ERCU's 2026 inspection program, the inspection team will endeavor to inspect and test boats before the first race each boat runs at. Drivers should:
VISITING DRIVERS & ROOKIE TESTING ERCU welcomes new members and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing may be offered during the open-water period as needed. The racecourse will be closed during rookie driver testing. Visiting racers are welcome to compete; however, visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy in the event they win the race. COURSE & CHASE BOAT Course Setup & Chase Boat: Paxton Reunanen The racecourse will be established in the morning prior to practice water. Drivers should be prepared for course and water conditions to be reviewed during the drivers meeting. All drivers and crew members are expected to cooperate with race officials and course personnel throughout the event. POST-RACE CLEANUP & AWARDS Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority following the completion of racing. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. All members have a responsibility to assist with setup and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation and celebrate the day's competitors. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available at the park and they are expected to be open. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. Drivers who need to charge batteries during the day should plan to bring a generator or other appropriate power source. LACEY — The preliminaries can build the drama, but at the Bardahl ERCU Gold Cup, it is the final heat that provides the moment everyone remembers. When the checkered flags flew Saturday at the 2026 Bardahl ERCU Gold Cup, Paxton Reunanen had plenty to remember. Reunanen captured four of the six Gold Cup finals he entered, Scott Whitestine added a dominant victory of his own, and John Sjostrom came from a difficult preliminary campaign to steal the 1/7 modern title. But perhaps the best stories of the weekend weren't written by the favorites. Four drivers who earned their way into the Gold Cup through the Ted Jones Memorial program didn't simply make up the numbers when they reached the championship heats. They made an impact. The 1984 American Speedy Printing in 1/10 classic, the 1977 Natural Light in 1/7 classic, the 1972 Miss Budweiser in 1/10 vintage and the 1962 Miss U.S. 1 in 1/7 vintage all advanced to Gold Cup final heats. Three of those boats finished on the podium, while the Miss Budweiser was unable to start its final. For Jim Hagen and the American Speedy Printing, the weekend produced a first ERCU race victory. For John Havensand the Miss U.S. 1, it marked the second consecutive year they had won a Ted Jones Memorial. The result was a Gold Cup weekend filled with everything that makes Electric Radio Controlled Unlimited hydroplane racing so entertaining: dominant performances, unlikely heroes, late-race comebacks, mechanical heartbreak and final results that looked very different from the preliminary standings. With 61 boats in the pits and six Gold Cups up for grabs, the Bardahl ERCU Gold Cup proved once again that getting to the final is only half the battle. Ted Jones Memorial racers crash the party The Ted Jones Memorial is designed to give racers a chance to fight their way into the Gold Cup finals. This year, four of those racers did more than simply qualify. They made noise. The 1984 American Speedy Printing advanced into the 1/10 classic final and then delivered a runner-up finish, earning second place in the Gold Cup final after coming through the Memorial. The 1977 Natural Light also reached the podium, finishing third in the 1/7 classic final. In 1/10 vintage, Mick Shutt won the Ted Jones Memorial in the 1972 Miss Budweiser, but the boat was unable to start the Gold Cup final. And in 1/7 vintage, the 1962 Miss U.S. 1 completed the journey from the Ted Jones Memorial to the Gold Cup final and came away with third place. That's a remarkable achievement in a field loaded with drivers and boats that had been battling at the front throughout the weekend. It also gave the Gold Cup something every good sporting event needs: a few underdogs who refused to read the script. The Ted Jones Memorial racers weren't content to sit back and admire the view once they reached the championship heats. They came to race. Reunanen puts a bow on 1/10 vintage Reunanen's weekend got off to a spectacular start in 1/10 vintage, where he piloted Kerry Kjos' 1960 Miss Thriftway to four preliminary victories. But the driver saved his best for last. Reunanen won the final, finishing ahead of John Earnest in the 1962 Gale V and Wayne Beeson in Gale's Roostertail. The class also featured one of the weekend's biggest heartbreaks. Paul Dunlap and the 1964 Miss Exide had been among the fastest boats in the preliminary heats, winning two rounds. But Dunlap could not complete the final, opening the door for Reunanen to claim the Gold Cup. Reunanen completes the 1/10 classic comebackIf the 1/10 vintage final was a display of dominance, the 1/10 classic final was a reminder that a Gold Cup can change hands in a hurry. Reunanen, driving the 1983 Miss Rock KISW, entered the final with three preliminary victories under his belt. Then came a DNF in the fourth preliminary. Suddenly, the door was open. Nelson Holmberg, driving the 1986 Squire Shop Brittania, had also been one of the class's strongest performers, winning three preliminary heats. Paul Dunlap had put together an impressive preliminary record in the 1971 Country Boy, while Jim Hagan was consistently near the front in the 1983 American Speedy Printing, which earned its place in the Gold Cup final through the Ted Jones Memorial. When the final arrived, however, Reunanen delivered. He took the checkered flag, with Hagan finishing second and Mike Walcker bringing the Red Man Too home third. The Country Boy, owned by Tom Markos, couldn't duplicate its strong preliminary performance and failed to finish the final. Holmberg also saw his Gold Cup hopes disappear with a DNF. 1/10 modern belongs to Reunanen Reunanen added another Gold Cup victory in 1/10 modern, but this one came with an unusual twist. Driving the 1995 Miss Budweiser, Reunanen had been the class's dominant preliminary performer, winning Heat 2 and posting strong runs throughout the other rounds. Then came the final. Reunanen won. The 1995 Miss Budweiser crossed first, giving the driver another Gold Cup trophy and another reminder that preliminary success means little if it doesn't carry over to the final. Holmberg, who had driven the 2015 Graham Trucking to preliminary victories in Heats 1 and 4, was unable to finish the final. Ron Daum, with the 2004 Llumar Window Film also drew a DNF in the final. For Reunanen, it was another example of making the most important heat count. For Holmberg, it was a frustrating end to what had been a promising day. Whitestine is perfect in 1/7 classic If there was one driver who could challenge Reunanen for the title of most dominant performer of the weekend, it was Scott Whitestine. Driving the 1972 Notre Dame, Whitestine simply owned the 1/7 classic class. He won all four preliminary heats. Then he won the final. The Gold Cup was never really in doubt. But even in Whitestine's dominant class, the Ted Jones Memorial produced another surprise. The 1977 Natural Light earned its way into the Gold Cup final through the Ted Jones Memorial and then went out and finished on the podium. Mike McIntosh brought the 1973 Red Man Too home second, while Chuck Murray drove the 1976 Natural Light to third. Murray's run was particularly impressive considering the DQ he suffered earlier in the weekend. He recovered, returned to the front and ultimately stood on the podium. Craig Mullen finished fourth in the 1971 Pay 'n Pak. Sjostrom flips the script in 1/7 modern The most dramatic final of the weekend may have belonged to John Sjostrom. Driving the 2003 Miss Chrysler Jeep, Sjostrom entered the 1/7 modern final after a rocky preliminary campaign. He had a DNF in Heat 1 and did not start Heat 2. But Sjostrom rebounded with second-place finishes in Heats 3 and 4, putting himself in position to make something happen. Then he did exactly that. And he won the 1/7 modern final. It was a spectacular turnaround and one of the weekend's best examples of why you never count a hydroplane out before the final flag. Behind him, Reunanen had a story of his own. Driving the 2023 Beacon Plumbing, Reunanen had been virtually unbeatable in the preliminaries, winning all four heats. But the final didn't go his way. A DNF ended his bid for a fifth consecutive heat victory and handed the Gold Cup to Sjostrom. Reunanen finishes the weekend in 1/7 vintage Reunanen's final Gold Cup victory came in the 1/7 vintage class, where he drove the 1969 Pride of Pay 'n Pak Outrigger. Once again, he was perfect through the preliminary rounds. Once again, he saved the best for the final. Reunanen won the Gold Cup final, with Jay Fonville bringing the 1974 Kirby Classic home second and the 1962 Miss U.S. 1 finishing third. The Miss U.S. 1 was another of the weekend's Ted Jones Memorial success stories. After earning its place in the Gold Cup final through the Memorial, the 1962 boat didn't waste the opportunity. It won its Memorial race, advanced to the championship final and finished third against the Gold Cup field. That's an impressive progression: qualify through the Memorial, win a race against the Gold Cup field and finish on the podium. It was one of the weekend's clearest examples of the Ted Jones Memorial doing exactly what it was intended to do — giving racers a pathway to the sport's biggest stage and then allowing them to prove they belonged there. The Gold Cup final isn't reserved for the drivers who dominate the preliminary rounds. The Ted Jones Memorial creates another route to the big show. And this year's qualifiers made the most of it. They didn't arrive at the final heats simply hoping to stay out of trouble. They came to race. Ted Jones Memorial Champions for 2026.
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