Dillard solves paxton puzzle, dominating 1/10 scale at Gold Cup

The Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course in Lacey was the perfectly fitting setting for the biggest race of the year.

And it shined a light on the best of the best.

But of course it did: It was the 21st annual ERCU Gold Cup. The two-day event got started early Saturday morning in ERCU tradition with optional Time Trials. Two attempts, two laps, fastest lap is recorded.

Fastest in the time trials was Chuck Murray with his 1976 Olympia Beer, laying down a scorching fast lap of 14.36 seconds to lead all boats. Other fastest laps were recorded by Mitch Dillard (1/10 scale modern), Ron Forister (1/10 scale vintage), Paxton Reunanen (1/7 scale modern) and John Sjostrom (1/7 scale vintage).

Heat 1A of 1/10 scale modern began the four-flight marathon that is the Gold Cup which are then followed by the consolation heats and finals.

And Dillard – a legend in Classic Thunder – solved the Paxton Puzzle in all three 1/10 scale classes.

The class was dominated early by Reunanen and his 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream, as he won all four preliminary heats. Just when it seamed that he had solved the challenge of topping Dillard and his U3 Griggs Ace Hardware “Turbinator”, Reunanen stuffed the Graham and picked up a DNF in the final. Dillard coasted to the Gold Cup victory, topping Murray’s Elam and David Heilbrunn with the 2015 Dalton Industries.

The 1/10 scale classic competition also featured a top tier battle between Dillard and Reunanen. Taking three out of four preliminary heats with the Rock, Reunanen experienced frustration in the final again turning over the KISW Miss Rock, taking a DNF in the Gold Cup final. That opened the door for Dillard who had won just one of the four prelims but, in the end, stood atop the 1/10 classic podium with Murray taking second place with his time trial champion Olympia Beer and 2024 ERCU rookie Gary Dawn’s Gilmore Special finishing in third place.

1/10 scale vintage saw carbon copy final heat results as the other two 1/10 classes. Reunanen, driving Kerry Kjos’ 1960 Thriftway, swept all four preliminary heats and then DNF’d the final opening the door for you guessed it, Dillard to pull off the hat trick, sweep all three 1/10 scale classes, all three Gold Cups. Second place was secured by David Heilbrunn, 1964 Blue Chip and Paul Dunlap driving Jerry Dunlap’s Excide took third.

Sweeping all three 1/10 scale Gold Cup classes – the way Dillard did – had never been accomplished in ERCU.

1/7 modern/classic combined saw tremendous action all day. Seven boats started the day and six lined up for the winner take all final. Five of the six boats had each won at least one of their preliminary heats. The points were close and the racing even closer. Mike McIntosh driving his 1989 Winston Lobster edged out Craig Mullen driving Denise Sjostrom’s Miss U.S. and Gary Simmons who made his first appearance as a driver in 10 years and took the third-place trophy piloting Jim McKeon’s Miss Budweiser.

1/7 vintage provided consolation to Reunanen who had crashed out earlier but rebounded and piloted his just purchased Island Security Systems. The Gold Cup was the first race ever with him at the helm and he topped the podium winning Gold. Reunanen won four of the five heats posting 1,690 points on the day.

Bob van den Akker won two preliminary heats, came in second in the other two and finishes second in the final with his $ Bill. McKeon’s Maverick rounded out the 1/7 vintage podium following a super solid Gold Cup performance collecting 1,495 points.