Nearly 30 attend ERCU End of Season Celebration

Photos courtesy of Dennis Caines and Nelson Holmberg

Nearly 30 people turned out at the ERCU End of Season Celebration at The Ram Restaurant & Brewery in Puyallup on Sunday, Oct. 27 to share in the recognition of a great season, great performances and some individual awards.

U-11 Miss Mercury's Coffee driver Jamie Nilsen was our guest speaker and provided fun insight into his racing career and how he made it to the top level of boat racing, which he'd always coveted -- even more than playing professional baseball.

Those in attendance reflected on some of the season’s highlights. From a handful of unforgettable photo finishes to the weather challenges we overcame at a couple of others, this season was full of thrills and surprises.

"Everyone contributed to making this one of the most exciting years yet," said Nelson Holmberg, interim chair of the board of directors, in his introductory comments. "Whether you walked away with a win or not, everyone had something to be proud of this season."

With many thanks to Craig Mullen who worked hard over the span of at least 18 months, to not only collect all of our Gold Cup trophies and have them updated with winners, but also created two new Gold Cups for the classic classes, we had six Gold Cups to give away at the event.

Gold Cup winners in 2024 included Mitch Dillard (1/10 modern, 1/10 classic and 1/10 vintage), Mike McIntosh (1/7 modern), Mullen (1/7 classic) and Paxton Reunanen (1/7 vintage).

The ERCU Driver of the Year Award was also presented, as the coveted propeller from Bucket List Racing was handed off from 2023 winner David Newton to Reunanen, the 2024 winner.

Season champion boats and drivers were also recognized and handed the beautiful perpetual trophies that Rick Evans had made for the club a year ago. The 2024 winners of the ERCU Pentair Championship Series are:

• 1/10 scale modern driver - Paxton Reunanen
• 1/7 scale modern/classic driver - Craig Mullen
• 1/10 scale classic driver - Paxton Reunanen
• 1/10 scale vintage driver - Paxton Reunanen
• 1/7 scale vintage driver - Dennis Caines
• 1/10 scale modern boat - 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream, Paxton Reunanen
• 1/7 scale modern/classic boat - 1975 Miss U.S., Denise Sjostrom
• 1/10 scale classic boat - 1973 Miss Rock KISW
• 1/10 scale vintage boat - 1964 Miss Exide, Jerry & Paul Dunlap
• 1/7 scale vintage boat - 1980 Island Security Systems, Mike McIntosh & Chuck Murray

Finally, the 2024 ERCU Triple Crown winners were recognized, and they are:

• 1/10 scale modern - 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream, Paxton Reunanen, 2,800 points
• 1/7 scale modern - 1990 Oh Boy! Oberto, Denise Sjostrom, 2,150 points
• 1/10 scale classic - 1983 Miss Rock KISW, Paxton Reunanen, 2,950 points
• 1/7 scale classic - 1974 Miss U.S., Denise Sjostrom, 3,194 points
• 1/10 scale vintage - 1964 Miss Exide, Jerry & Paul Dunlap, 3,400 points
• 1/7 scale vintage - 1982 Island Security Systems, Mike McIntosh & Chuck Murray, 3,100 points

With all of the season awards presented, the event moved on to presentation of awards to the individual awards for 2024.

"I want to say a special thanks for all the members who took the time to share their nominations for these awards," Holmberg said. "The club’s bylaws say that the board should decide the award winners itself, but opening nominations to the entire membership assures that deserving members are at least recognized, even if they aren’t the award winner. So thank you to those who nominated, and congratulations to the nominees. This is a true recognition from our peers."

Rookie of the Year

• Mike Walcker, owner and driver of the 1973 Red Man Too was presented the 2024 ERCU Rookie of the Year award. Mike attended five races this season and scored 3,638 points, finishing sixth in 1/10 scale classic driver.
  • Nominees were: Gary Dawn, Jim Hagan, Mike Walcker

Most Improved Driver

• Jim McKeon and Tom Markos. The board decided to give two most improved driver awards this year, because both of these guys proved better control of their boats, understanding of racing strategy, getting in the thick of things and mixing it up, and even winning races this year.
  • Nominees were: Gary Dawn, Dennis Caines, Jim Hagan, Jim Latimer, Jim McKeon and Tom Markos.

Sportsmanship Award

• Dennis Caines. It's not clear if there’s a guy who carries around a bigger smile than Dennis does through the entirety of the race day. Dennis this year was the epitome of sportsmanship. He was there for Bill Mowatt in Bill’s biggest time of need, he kept Bill “coming to the races” all year. He picked up the task of loading, unloading hauling and storing the club trailer, which also meant he had to get up early to be one of the first people to arrive at each race site.
  • Nominees were: Dennis Caines, Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap, David Heilbrunn, Nelson Holmberg, Jim Latimer, Tom Markos and Bob Van den Akker.

Contest Director of the Year

• Bob Van den Akker and Mike McIntosh. Not only did these two guys put together and run a race with a high level of efficiency and fun, but they brought out so many goodies and gifts to share with those in attendance at the Bernie Little Memorial. Most of the goodies and gifts were nods to the former Miss Budweiser Racing Team which was absolutely appropriate. There’s no doubt that Bernie himself was smiling down on Mike & Bob, as well as ERCU, throughout the beautiful day we had in Longview.
  • Nominees were: Dennis Caines, Jerry & Paul Dunlap, David Heilbrunn, Nelson Holmberg & Tom Markos, Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker and David Newton.

Sponsor of the Year

• Chuck Murray. For the second consecutive year, Chuck proved just how important RC hydroplane racing, and ERCU is to him by putting his money where his mouth is. In 2023, he stepped up with a $1,000 cash contribution to the club as a sponsorship. In 2024, he pledged to do the same, and after the fire that destroyed many of his belongings and was costly to him personally, he was unable to fulfill the full amount that he pledged, and still managed to find a way to make another cash contribution to the club, in this case helping to offset some of the club’s costs for this End of Season Celebration.
  • Nominees were: American SaniCan, Bucket List Racing, DCR Coffee, Offshore Electrics, Chuck Murray, Pentair

Bill Mowatt Outstanding Contribution Award

• Paul Dunlap and David Heilbrunn. As difficult as it is to narrow down so many deserving nominations for outstanding contributions, we had to pick just one or two, but everyone nominated is certainly deserving of recognition and deep thanks for their contributions. This year, the board of directors decided to give two awards to guys who’ve given of themselves to the club repeatedly. Whether it’s piloting the chase boat to shag every dang dead boat at almost every race or spending the offseason working to develop the NAMBA scoring software into something that might work for ERCU, these guys are both deserving, in the spirit of service to the club that Bill presented. Congratulations Paul and David and thank you so much for all that you do!
  • Nominees were: Dennis Caines, Jerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap, Rick Evans, David Heilbrunn, Nelson Holmberg, Paxton Reunanen.
    

ERCU Hall of Fame
The final award presented is a big one for the club. The ERCU Hall of Fame has a long list of big names in the sport, of people who’ve lived and died for ERCU, and people who have accomplished strong success on the water, as well. Again, this is an honor that could have gone to as many as three or four individuals this year, but the club’s precedent has been to award induction to just one person per year.

• This year, ERCU is proud to induct to its Hall of Fame: David Heilbrunn. Since joining ERCU in 2020, David has grown as a driver including 10 race wins and three season points championships. He’s also incrementally advanced his involvement in the club, serving two seasons on the Competition Committee before joining the Board of Directors in November 2023. He spent the 2023-24 offseason working with software developers trying to make the NAMBA scoring system work for ERCU. He came a long way – in fact, to a point where we were actually able to use the software in 2024 – in that endeavor. He also took charge of running race days at all 12 of the ERCU races this season, at the expense of his own racing. Trust me, I know that being in charge of race operations takes a lot away from what’s happening in your own pits for the benefit of your own racing. This is one of the biggest things someone can do to prove how they put the club in front of themselves. David. I know you’re humbled by this award and that you recognize others who also deserve it and that’s a great example of servant leadership, but congratulations for your induction into the ERCU Hall of Fame this year.
  • Nominees were: Dennis Caines, John Earnest (inducted in 2016), David Heilbrunn, Mike Hughes, Kerry Kjos, Mike McIntosh, Jim McKeon, Tom Markos, Bill Mowatt (inducted in 2023), Craig Mullen, Roger Newton (inducted in 2008), Paxton Reunanen and Bob Van den Akker.
    
    

"As we close out the event this afternoon," Holmberg said. "I want to remind everyone that this isn’t the end -- just a pause before we get back on the water for another exciting season. Enjoy the rest of the day, celebrate your achievements, and take pride in what we’ve accomplished together.

"Thank you once again to everyone who played a part in making this season such a success, and here’s to even more exciting races next year."