Newton, Fonville, Dillard sweep RNM

Mitch Dillard paid a visit to ERCU on Saturday, June 9 and swept two wins at the Roger Newton Memorial, while David Newton made his dad proud, sweeping  two available classes., and Jay Fonville won his second 1/7-scale race in a row.

Dillard, a long-time leader in sister club Classic Thunder, visited ERCU as a guest racer bringing along his 2016 Griggs Ace Hardware, 1975 Pay 'n Pak and 1954 Slo-Mo-Shun V, and claimed wins in both 1/10 scale modern and 1/10 scale classic. Newton won 1/7 scale classic and 1/10 scale vintage.

The race featured 40 boats in attendance with lots of great competition. As is expected with ERCU special events, there were loads of giveaways and a couple of raffle drawings, in addition to a free lunch supported by the club.

With the Griggs Ace Hardware, Dillard won the 1/10 scale modern final, followed by David Heilbrunn with his 2021 Goodman Real Estate and Chuck Murray's 2000 Miss Elam. Mike Hughes (1990 Winston Eagle) and Paxton Reunanen (2018 Homestreet Bank) didn't score points in the final.

Dillard also piloted his 1975 Pay 'n Pak to victory in the 1/10 scale classic final, beating Gentleman Jim Latimer's 1985 U-33, Jerry Dunlap's 1986 Boat, Murray's 1976 Olympia Beer and Heilbrunn's 1985 Executone. Reunanen didn't finish with Murray's 1983 Miss Houston. Dillard did it the hard way, too, starting as a trailer after winning the connie to make the final.

Newton took yet another 1/10 scale vintage win driving Kerry Kjos' 1960 Miss Thriftway and Bill Mowatt was second in the 1968 Miss Bardahl. No points were awarded to finalists Murray (1964 Savair's Mist), Reunanen (1963 Coe-Z-Miss), Dillard (1954 Slo-Mo-Shun V) and Gerry Bordon (1970 Parco's O-Ring Miss).

Newton also won the 1/7 scale classic division with his 1970 Pay 'n Pak, followed by Craig Mullen (1975 Pay 'n Pak) and Rob Edwards (1982 Gilmore Special). Heilbrunn scratched his 2021 Goodman Real Estate, which ran with classic boats all day as the only modern in the pits.

Fonville wrapped up the day by taking first in the 1/7 scale vintage with his 1965 Kirby Classic. It was the second straight win for Fonville after purchasing this boat. Dennis Caines finished second - from the trailer - with his 1969 Eagle Electric, followed by Murray with the 1960 Miss Spokane and Bill Smiley with the 1966 Savair's Mist. DNFs went to Bordon (1969 Parco's) and Terry Harmer (1986 Miss Bahia). Mike McIntosh scratched his 1976 Vagabond from the final.

ERCU now takes a month off to enjoy the real boats racing in Tri-Cities and Seattle later in July and in early August and will return to action at the Governor's Cup on Saturday, Aug. 13 in Marysville.

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