Holmberg, Newton double up at RNM; Mullen, Fonville also win

Perfect weather, great water conditions, new faces, new boats and a near-record turnout of boats highlighted the Roger Newton Memorial on Saturday at Woodland Creek Park in Lacey.

It couldn’t have been much better.

The day started with successful drivers tests for Briana Bursdall and Brian Perkins, adding two new drivers to the club’s ranks.

A total of 57 boats filled the field and provided for the deepest field for racing we’ve had all season. It also allowed for second consolations to be run for the first time in recent memory. The club record for turnout is 62 boats during a race at Lake Wilderness (Maple Valley) in the early 2010s. Fifty seven boats is the second-largest turnout in the history of the club.

As tradition dictates, Contest Director David Newton killed it with amazing prizes — including gift certificates from Offshore Electrics, laser kit wood boat kits from ML Boatworks, and a 3D printed dummy motor from Spartacus Boatworks. David also coordinated a best of scale contest, judged by the panel of Gentleman Jim Latimer, Don Mock and Rich Matkin.

Best of scale winners included Dennis Caines’ 1968 Eagle Electric, Mick Shutt’s 1972 Miss Budweiser and Paxton Reunanen’s 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Honorable mention went to Nelson Holmberg’s 2023 Bucket List Racing.

On the water, there was lots of competitive racing.

In the 1/10 scale modern final, three boats nailed the start together, and as the spray settled coming out of turn one, the 2023 Bucket List Racing driven by Nelson Holmberg had the lead. After an accident in the back stretch, the Bucket List drove to victory, followed by Jason Walters’ 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky and Dylan Hirano’s 1993 Miss Circus Circus (two wing). Holmberg also won the 1/10 modern first connie, driving Ron Hartley’s 2011 Degree Men. Latimer drove the Degree Men in the final, but after a perfect trailer start, batteries let him down and he parked the boat in the infield just after the start.

Holmberg followed up his 1/10 modern win with a win in 1/7 scale modern, driving the 2021 Graham Trucking to first, followed by Mike McIntosh with his 1980 Pay ‘n Pak (turbine) and third went to David Heilbrunn in the 2021 Goodman Real Estate.

Driving Chuck Murray’s 1976 Olympia Beer, David Newton took the title in the 1/10 classic final heat. Second went to Jay Fonville with the 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther, completing a top-two sweep of 1976 Jones hulls. Third — in the form of the last DNF of the heat — went to Jerry Dunlap’s 1986 Boat.

Craig Mullen was also a hired gun, and driving Denise Sjostrom’s 1974 Miss U.S., Mullen claimed the win in the 1/7 scale classic final. Second went to Paxton Reunanen driving Hartley’s 1974 Lincoln Thrift. Third, in the form of the last DNF of the heat, was Rob Edwards in the 1982 Gilmore Special.

In 1/10 scale vintage, Newton took a break from driving the 1960 Miss Thriftway and ended up winning the race with his own 1957 Hawaii Kai III, in honor of his mom Marti. Second in the final went to Bill Mowatt and his 1968 Miss Bardahl — finishing on the podium after winning both the second connie and the first connie to earn his spot in the final. Third place went to Latimer’s 1960 Miss Everett.

With two gun jumpers in the 1/7 scale final, the outcome of the race was totally up in the air. Finishing first was Fonville’s 1975 Kirby Classic. Second went to McIntosh’s brand new 1982 Island Security Systems and third was Jerry Dunlap, driving Dennis Caines’ 1968 Miss Eagle Electric.

When all was said and done, Reunanen was the big winner of the overall high points award that’s another tradition at the Newton Memorial. Reunanen scored 6,298 points with six boats to take the top scorer crown. That said, he also was victim of a lot of bad luck, and boat damage, and thus took home the traditional toilet trophy too.

Many thanks to David Newton for all of the personal time and resources that he put into this year’s Roger Newton Memorial, yet another outstanding special event on the ERCU Racing Schedule. He certainly did his dad proud.