McIntosh, Reunanen combine to sweep all classes at bernie little memorial

The high temperature at the ERCU Bernie Little Memorial in Longview was 96 degrees.
 
But the racing was even hotter.
 
Like most races, there were one or two minor accidents, and perhaps a bruised feeling or two, but in the end, Bernie was undoubtedly smiling while watching from above.
 
Thirty boats were prepared, tested and ready to go in the pits when the drivers meeting concluded and – in true ERCU tradition – the day started with the 1/10 scale modern class, where four boats were entered.
 
The first heat was a good indicator of consistency for the day as all four boats finished. Just two times during the day did a single boat in the modern class fail to finish a heat. Modern heat 1 was exciting, as Nelson Holmberg’s 2024 Bucket List Racing got a fast start and took a big lead going down the back straightaway. A couple of laps in, the Bucket List blew over nearing the entrance of turn two and Paxton Reunanen’s 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream took over the lead. Bucket List landed right side up and was able to continue in second place but couldn’t chase down the U-98 before the finish. Tom Markos and his 2015 Graham Trucking U-7 was third and the 2015 Dalton Industries of David Heilbrunn was fourth.
 
Two more heats and the winner-take-all final later and Reunanen commanded in the lead position to take the top spot on the 1/10 modern podium followed by Holmberg second and Markos in third.
 
Holmberg’s boat which was converted from the 2023 version to the current 2024 version in time for this race, took home the Best of Scale award at the end of the day and was the highest point-earner in 1/10 modern with three seconds and a first for 1,300 points.
 
The 1/7 scale modern/classic class saw Denise Sjostrom (1990 Oh Boy Oberto) win all three preliminary heats amassing 1,200 points before the final. Mike McIntosh with his new 2023 Beacon Plumbing got off to a slow start as he didn’t finish heat one and didn’t start heat two. Heat three saw him start to put the pieces back together coming in second to Sjostrom. In the final McIntosh passed Sjostrom to take the top spot on the podium and Sjostrom took home second place.
 
The 1/10 classic was a close race for second and third place but nobody could catch the KISW Miss Rock as Reunanen was ahead all day in all four heats finishing with a perfect 1,600 points. Chuck Murray and Holmberg were the next closest competitors battling back and forth through the three prelims. In the end Holmberg (piloting Markos’ 1976 Atlas Van Lines) edged Murray. Mick Shutt. Robbie Roberts, Gary Dawn and Rick Evans rounded out the 1/10 classic field.
 
The 1/10 cintage was all Reunanen all day as he drove Kerry Kjos’ 1960 Thriftway to the winning circle in all four heats and another 1,600 points. Following Reunanen in points and in the winner take all final were Roberts (1971 Hallmark Homes) and David Heilbrunn (1964 Blue Chip). John Earnest (1962 Gale V), John Howell (1966 Savair’s Mist), Shutt (1972 Miss Budweiser), Evans (1960 Thriftway Too) and Matt Hench (1964 Miss Exide) rounded out the 1/10 vintage class field.
 
The 1/7 vintage saw the closest, most thrilling racing of this day as the bigger boats often do. Always the final class in the days rotation and they always seem to provide the best action. Mike McIntosh (1982 Island Security System), Bob Van den Akker (1962 $ Bill), Murray (1969 Vagabond), Dennis Caines (1968 Eagle Electric) and both of the Sjostroms, John and Denise each went back and forth, in and out, up and around and in the end it was Mcintosh on top, Van den in second and Caines in third.
 
Five classes of racing were featured, and they were dominated by just two drivers on this day with Reunanen sweeping all three 1/10 scale classes and McIntosh sweeping both 1/17 scale classes. Congratulations to both and the club thanks you for providing that master class on how scale hydroplane racing is done.
 
McIntosh & Van den Akker were shared contest director duties, too, shouldering all the responsibilities that come with that on top of quietly schooling the rest of us.
 
ERCU will take the next two weekends off with so many members involved with and attending the H1 Unlimited events in Tri Cities and Seattle. Once the big boats have finished chewing up the Columbia River and Lake Washington. ERCU will resume on August 10 for the Seafair Trophy race at Woodland Creek Park in Lacey.