 The 10th race of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series season is the Bernie Little Memorial. Set for Saturday, Aug. 23 at Gissberg Twin Lakes Park in Marysville. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the 10th ERCU event of our 12 race 2025 season.
Location Gissberg Twin Lakes Park 16324 Twin Lakes Ave Marysville, WA 98271 Contest Directors Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker Context Bernie Little (1926-2003) was the most successful owner in unlimited hydroplane racing history. His Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 races it entered. Miss Budweiser won the high points championship 22 years in 40 years of competition, and the APBA Gold Cup 14 times. His first victory came on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities in 1966 at the Atomic Cup. Little's team is also known for making an enclosed driver's cockpit to improve driver safety. Little has been inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994. Bernie supported RC hydroplane racing across the country for many years, and even sponsored R/C Unlimited for a few years. His significant contributions to the sport will never be forgotten. Due to shortening the ERCU racing schedule to 10 races in 2019, the Bernie Little Memorial was put on hiatus and brought back for the 2023 racing season. What to Expect (All times approximate, and subject to change)
* First connie second place is alternate for the final * Second connie winner starts on the front line in first connie
Pre-Registration Pre-Registration for the Bernie Little Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/bernie-little-memorial.html where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just near the top of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. You can also find pre-registration by selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Bernie Little Memorial” from the schedule itself. Drivers Meeting The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of the testing period. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. Chief Referees * 1/10 Modern: Mike Gossler * 1/7 Modern/Classic: Jerry Dunlap * 1/10 Classic: Bob Van den Akker * 1/10 Vintage: Mike McIntosh * 1/7 Vintage: Nelson Holmberg * Drivers Representatives: Nelson Holmberg & Tom Markos * Turn Judges: First and second place finishers will judge the next heat Defending Champions * 1/10 Scale Modern: Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking * 1/10 Scale Classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1983 KISW Miss Rock * 1/10 Scale Vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Thriftway * 1/7 Scale Modern/Classic: Mike McIntosh, 2023 Beacon Plumbing * 1/7 Scale Vintage: Mike McIntosh, 1982 Island Security Race Format VINTAGE CLASSES WILL RUN A POINTS RACE: Three flights of heats, with consolations and finals. Accumulated points in 1/10 vintage and 1/7 vintage will determine the champion of the Bernie Little Memorial. ALL OTHER DIVISIONS/CLASSES WILL RUN THE LOVE PLAN: Three flights of preliminary heats, five laps each. Connies and winner-take-all finals.
Flight Schedule
Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not. Weather Forecast The forecast for the Bernie Little Memorial is sunny skies and 77 degrees with a light breeze of 8 m.p.h. out of the west-northwest. Restrooms Public restrooms are available on site. Electricity There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source to charge your batteries if you need to charge during the day. Five divisions, 10 winners and enough spray to wash your car twice  LACEY — The ERCU Gold Cup once again proved that you don’t need full-size hulls to deliver full-throttle drama. On Saturday, the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course played host to the season’s biggest bragging-rights showdown, with five divisions dishing out spray, speed, and just enough heartbreak to keep things interesting.
A total of 50 boats were in the pits and the day got off to an early start with testing water at 7 a.m. and the drivers meeting at 8:10 a.m., rather than an hour later as normal. Because it was the Gold Cup, an extra flight of heats was added, and the number of race winners was doubled over the normal ERCU event. In 1/10 modern, The 2004 Miss Budweiser (David Newton) stayed cool — and out in front — in the final heat to pop the top on the title. The 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream (Paxton Reunanen) battled through the consolation round to gain a spot in the final but the Budweiser start was tough to beat, as Paxton settled for runner-up bragging rights. The 1997 Miss Elam Plus (Chuck Murray) cruised into third, quietly reminding everyone that consistency pays the bills. The 1/10 classic field turned into a high-speed battle of the bar taps with some classic rock in the foreground. The 1983 Miss Rock KISW (Reunanen) dialed it up to 11 in the final to snare the Gold Cup with 1,369 points, while the 1976 Olympia Beer (Murray) stayed cool enough for a second place, while the 1985 Coors Light (Jerry Dunlap) rounded out the podium, pouring in 1,325 points and more than a few frothy roostertails. Over in 1/10 vintage, the prelim scoreboard said the 1964 Savairs Mist (Murray) was untouchable — 1,500 points and not a drop out of place — but the final flipped the script. The 1965 “Gray Ghost” Tahoe Miss (Dillard) rose from a quiet prelim to storm the last heat and claim Gold Cup gold. The 1958 Miss Moses Lake (Jim Latimer) took silver, and the 1962 Gale V (John Earnest) grabbed bronze, both shaking their heads over what might have been. In 1/7 modern/classic, the 1972 Notre Dame (Scott Whitestine) didn’t just win — it put on a clinic. Three heat wins, a flawless final, and a nearly-perfect 1,900 points later, Whitestine was polishing hardware before the spray had settled. The 1982 Gilmore Special (Rob Edwards) claimed silver by keeping it steady, while the 2024 Goodman Real Estate (David Heilbrunn) closed deals all afternoon to sneak onto the podium in third. The 2023 Beacon Plumbing (Mike McIntosh) looked ready to flush the field early, but the final heat yanked the plug on that plan. Over in 1/7 vintage, the 1982 Island Security System (Reunanen) locked down the Gold Cup like Fort Knox, sweeping every heat for a spotless 2,000 points. The 1969 Probe (Terry Harmer) stayed close enough to read the leader’s transom numbers but settled for second, while the 1964 Miss U.S. 5 (McIntosh) showed that consistent finishes still buy you a ticket to the podium. TED JONES MEMORIAL The Ted Jones Memorial might be the “first consolation,” but Saturday it felt like a victory parade for five drivers who turned their shot at redemption into their moment in the spotlight. It was the first time in several years that every class had at least one consolation race, in particular at the Gold Cup. In 1/10 modern, Reunanen wheeled the 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream like a man on a mission, rebounding from earlier heartbreak to claim the checkered flag in style. Smooth driving and smart lane choices carried the red, white and blue hull to the win, getting himself into the winner-take-all final, where he finished second. The 1/10 classic race turned into a breakthrough moment for John Havens Jr., who scored his first-ever ERCU victory aboard the 1981 Spirit of the Air Force. Havens delivered a run that left him grinning from ear to ear. He later finished fourth in the ERCU Gold Cup final. In 1/10 vintage, Dillard and the 1965 Tahoe Miss proved persistence pays, shaking off a string of DNF’s earlier in the day to cruise to a comfortable win. The “Gray Ghost” looked smooth and fast in the final, a far cry from its rougher starts earlier in the regatta. Dillard claimed his fourth ERCU Gold Cup with the Tahoe Miss, winning from the trailer position. The 1/7 modern/classic field saw another first first, as Carl Lewis powered the 1975 Lincoln Thrift to his first ERCU checkered flag. With a quick start and consistent laps, Lewis never looked back, finally trading the role of “always the bridesmaid” for a spot on the winner’s list. The final wasn’t as good to Lewis, as he was unable to finish. And in 1/7 vintage, it was a storybook ending for Scott Whitestine, who earned his first ERCU win driving the 1962 Notre Dame. After a season of chasing the leaders, Whitestine found his groove when it mattered most, piloting the light blue and white classic to a decisive victory. He later won his first ERCU Gold Cup with the 1972 Notre Dame. For Havens, Lewis, and Whitestine, the Ted Jones Memorial wasn’t just a consolation — it was a coronation. For all five winners, it was proof that in ERCU racing, there’s always another chance to make waves. By the end of the day, the champions were hoisting trophies, the also-rans were plotting revenge, and the shoreline crowd was already counting the days until next year’s Gold Cup spray show.  Race number nine on the 2025 ERCU Championship Series season is the ERCU Gold Cup, set for Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course in Woodland Creek Park, Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the seventh event of the year.
LOCATION Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course at Woodland Creek Park 6729 Pacific Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503 CONTEST DIRECTOR ERCU Board of Directors CONTEXT The Gold Cup has long been held in high regard. It’s been referred to as “boat racing’s Indy 500” – the granddaddy of them all. It’s no different in model boat racing. In ERCU, the Gold Cup is the most coveted of all trophies. Consistent with boat racing history and the tradition of the Gold Cup, the race is one of endurance and survival. Thus, the course will be longer than others during the 2025 season, and there will be four flights of heats rather than the regular three. Winner-take-all finals will determine the winners of the Gold Cups again in 2025. There will be five Gold Cups awarded at the end of the day: 1/10 scale modern; 1/7 scale modern;/classic; 1/10 scale classic; 1/10 scale vintage and 1/7 scale vintage. The club is doing its best to make sure the five actual cups are present at the event to be awarded in person. Because this race is likely to see a very large turnout, and we have an extra flight of heats, the schedule for the day will start one hour earlier than usual, so please plan accordingly. WHAT TO EXPECT (All times approximate, and subject to change)
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-Registration for the ERCU Gold Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/ercu-gold-cup.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., Friday, August 8. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 7:30 a.m. You can also find pre-registration by going to www.ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “ERCU Gold Cup” from the schedule itself. ERCU GOLD CUP SCHEDULE All times approximate and subject to change (except open water and drivers meeting) 7-8 a.m. – Open water 8:05 a.m. – Mandatory Gold Cup Drivers Meeting & heat draw announcement 8:30 a.m. – First flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern-classic, 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage) 9:45 a.m. – Second flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern-classic, 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage) 11-11:30 a.m. – Lunch break 11:30 a.m. – Third flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern-classic, 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage) 1:15 p.m. – Fourth flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern-classic, 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage) 3 p.m. – Ted Jones Memorials (consolations) for all appropriate classes. Gold Cup first connie are the Ted Jones Memorial and count as race wins. Winners also move up to the Gold Cup finals as trailer boats. 4 p.m. – Winner-take-all Gold Cup Final Heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern-classic, 1/10 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage) 5 p.m. – Club equipment breakdown and packing — ALL HANDS 6 p.m. – Awards presentation DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of the testing period. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. RACE OFFICIALS
ERCU GOLD CUP DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
RACE FORMAT
POST-RACE CLEANUP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, first connie and Triple Crown winners. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not. WEATHER FORECAST The early forecast for the ERCU Gold Cup is partly cloudy skies and 89 degrees with a 8 mph breeze out of the west-southwest and a 8 percent chance of precipitation. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available on site. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source to charge your batteries if you need to during the day.  TOLEDO — The sun wasn’t the only thing blazing at Wallace Pond on Sunday.
ERCU’s 23rd annual Seafair Cup brought the heat in more ways than one, as 40 boats scorched through the club’s first-ever event at South County Park under flawless skies — and one driver stood well above the rest. Paxton Reunanen, the season point leader in both 1/10-scale modern and classic classes, turned in a double dose of perfection, sweeping both divisions with 1,600-point days. Reunanen nearly made it a trifecta in 1/10 vintage, logging a class-best 1,100 points, but Hall of Famer John Earnest stole the show — and the final heat — with a thrilling win that brought the crowd to its feet. It was a vintage performance from the crafty veteran, who once again proved his magic on the water. In the larger-scale classes, Reunanen again made waves, stepping in as substitute driver for Mike McIntosh in the 1/7-scale modern/classic Beacon Plumbing entry. He collected three heat wins and the final, but a DNF kept him from a third perfect score. Carl Lewis, piloting the rapid Lincoln Thrift, tallied the day’s high score at 1,300 and finished runner-up in the final, just ahead of John Sjostrom and the 1974 Miss U.S., who took third with 1,225 points. Sjostrom didn’t leave without hardware, however. In 1/7 vintage, he closed the day in style by winning the final with his Miss Thriftway after finishing second in points. David Newton had the high score with his 1958 Hawaii Kai III but settled for second in the final heat. With sunny skies, an electric crowd, and a standout new venue, the Seafair Cup was a hit in its Toledo debut. ERCU thanked Lewis County for hosting and hinted at a hopeful return in 2026. Next up is the prestigious Gold Cup, set for Aug. 9 on the Bill Mowatt Memorial course in Lacey — the season’s ultimate endurance test.  The eighth race of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series season is the annual Seafair Trophy Race, for Saturday, July 19 on Wallace Pond at South County Park in Toledo. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the eighth event of the year.
LOCATION Wallace Pond, South County Park 212 Ray Road Toledo, WA 98591 CONTEST DIRECTOR David Heilbrunn CONTEXT In August 1951, the feature event of Seafair in Seattle was the Gold Cup. For the first time, Seattle had a major league sport; unlimited hydroplane racing! Stan Sayers Slo-Mo-Shun IV had won the 1950 Gold Cup in Detroit and earned for the Seattle Yacht Club the right to put on the race for 1951. So let us hearken back to a Seafair 74 years ago when the grass was green, the skies were blue, the Gold Cup was now in Seattle and Slo-Mo-Shun IV was defending. A time when the boats roared and thundered, the Seafair Pirates were not politically correct and the Buicks, well they were two-tone. Please join Contest Director David Heilbrunn at Wallace Pond at South County Park on Saturday, July 19. WHAT TO EXPECT (All times approximate, and subject to change)
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-Registration for the Seafair Trophy Race is now open. To find the pre-registration form, click here to find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., Friday, July 18. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. You can also find pre-registration by selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Seafair Trophy Race” from the schedule itself. The first five members who pre-register for the Seafair Trophy Race will take home a free five-pound bag of DCR Coffee! DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of the testing period. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. RACE OFFICIALS
SEAFAIR TROPHY RACE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
RACE FORMAT
POST-RACE CLEAN UP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not. WEATHER FORECAST The forecast for the Seafair Trophy Race is sunny skies and 83 degrees with a light breeze 5-10 mph out of the south-southwest and a less than 5 percent chance of rain. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available on site. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source to charge your batteries if you need to charge during the day.  LACEY — The 18th Annual Roger Newton Memorial made waves this year at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course! With 52 entries, the day was packed with thrilling heats, surprise flips, smoky motors, and enough hydro buzz to power a blender.
Lunchtime was a delicious pit stop thanks to Rachael, Larry, and Denise Goldman firing up the grill and serving hot dogs like true pros. The smell alone could’ve drawn in a whole new set of fans from across the lake! Style Points Awarded! This year featured a new crowd-favorite award: “Best Dressed”, honoring the racer who showed the most hydro spirit. The runaway winner? Paxton Reunenen, who pulled off not one, but multiple wardrobe changes — highlighted by a full-on Chip Hanauer racing suit and helmet. Toilet Trophy Time As always, one of the most prestigious (or maybe infamous) awards of the day was the Toilet Trophy, given to the racer with the roughest luck. This year, Denise Sjostrom claimed the title when her gorgeous 1990 Oh Boy! Oberto hydro decided to go sightseeing and slammed the beach. Ouch. Best of Scale Awards Every year the top 3 scale boats in attendance are recognized. It was a hard decision, but guest judge Rich Matkin deemed the following the true best of scale!
Now… On to the Racing Recap! 1/10-Scale Modern
1/7-Scale Modern/Classic
1/10-Scale Classic
1/7-Scale Vintage
1/10-Scale Vintage
New Faces, Same Hydro Fun! We were pumped to welcome racers for the first time this year: Ron Daum, Mick Shutt, and Mike Dunn (who flew up from California — now that’s dedication). Thanks for making it an unforgettable event. Already counting down to next year’s Roger Newton Memorial. Until then . . . keep the props spinning and the flips intentional!  The seventh race of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series season is the Roger Newton Memorial, set for Saturday, July 28, 2025, at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course in Woodland Creek Park, Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the seventh event of the year.
LOCATION Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course at Woodland Creek Park 6729 Pacific Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503 CONTEST DIRECTOR David Newton CONTEXT This will mark the 17th running of the Roger Newton Memorial. Roger Newton, club founder and hall of fame RC scale racer, passed away in the summer of 2008. Since then, the club has been dedicated to racing in his honor. Roger spent his life promoting and racing scale RC hydroplanes of all sizes. In the early 1970’s he created Newton Marine, a side business that sells 1/8-scale hydroplane plans. He then created R/C Unlimiteds in 1976, the first club dedicated to racing nothing but scale hydroplane models. He helped to form Classic Thunder in 1994 and then created ERCU in 2003. He was influential with scale RC racing around the world and spent his life fulfilling that dream. David Newton will again direct the race. This will be a race you won’t want to miss! WHAT TO EXPECT (All times approximate, and subject to change)
PRE-REGISTRATION Pre-Registration for the Roger Newton Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/roger-newton-memorial.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., Friday, June 27. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. You can also find pre-registration by going to www.ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Roger Newton Memorial” from the schedule itself. DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of the testing period. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. RACE OFFICIALS
ROGER NEWTON MEMORIAL DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
RACE FORMAT
POST-RACE CLEANUP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, first connie and Triple Crown winners. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not. WEATHER FORECAST The forecast for the Roger Newton Memorial is mostly cloudy skies and 74 degrees with a 8 mph breeze out of the southwest and a 10 percent chance of rain. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available on site, at the east end of the parking lot. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source to charge your batteries if you need to during the day.  MARYSVILLE -- The whine of electric motors and the shimmer of the north lake at Gissberg Twin Lakes Park brought more than just horsepower to Marysville on Saturday.
As the ERCU Championship Series hit the halfway mark of its 2025 season, 42 boats — the biggest turnout this season — made waves in the Jack Regas Memorial, delivering high-speed drama, surprise performances and a taste of the future with the debut of 3D-printed hulls. The sixth stop on the 12-race calendar saw competition in five classes. In 1/10-scale modern, six boats took to the water, including two brand-new, 3D-printed hulls piloted by top drivers Paxton Reunanen and David Newton. Newton’s 2025 Goodman Real Estate proved stable, fast and ultimately dominant, sweeping the class with a perfect day, including the final heat win. The race also welcomed H1 Unlimited U-40 co-owner Sharon Stocklin, who watched closely throughout the day as the sport's evolution began to take shape. Veteran racers Nelson Holmberg (2024 Flav-R-Pac) and Tyler McKeon (2024 Bucket List) each claimed two preliminary heat wins but couldn’t keep pace with Newton’s groundbreaking craft. McKeon took second in the final, followed by David Heilbrunn’s 2015 Dalton Industries in third. Flav-R-Pac's skid fin connected with something in the water at the apex of turn one and rolled the boat onto its lid during the mill. In the combined 1/7-scale modern/classic class, McKeon was flawless. His 2010 Peters & May posted a perfect 1,600-point day, taking all three prelims and the final. Gary Simmons made a splash in his season debut aboard Mike McIntosh’s Beacon Plumbing, winning two heats and placing third in the final. Holmberg, driving Aaron Olson’s 1980 Pay ‘n Pak, took second. Six competitors squared off in the 1/10 classic class, but none could touch Reunanen’s 1983 Rock. He notched another perfect score with three prelim wins and a victory in the final over McKeon’s 1977 Natural Light and John Havens Jr., who made an impressive class debut in the 1981 Spirit of the Air Force. Reunanen repeated the feat in 1/10 vintage with his 1960 Gale’s Roostertail, collecting his second perfect day. Chuck Murray (Savair’s Mist), Heilbrunn (Blue Chip) and Holmberg (Pay ‘n Save) also scored heat wins. David Newton subbed in for his son Dray in the final, steering the Squire Shop to second behind Reunanen, with Heilbrunn’s Blue Chip taking third. Parity defined the 1/7 vintage class, where eleven boats battled in tightly contested prelims. Bob Van den Akker (Seattle Too) and McKeon (Lapeer) each took two heat wins, while others — including Terry Harmer (Probe) and Jim McKeon (Maverick) — also picked up victories. In a thrilling final, McKeon’s Lapeer edged Harmer and Van den Akker to secure the win. The ERCU tour now heads into the season's second half, with momentum, innovation and tight championship races building as the chase for the checkers continues. Next up is ERCU’s first visit to Lacey this year, for the Roger Newton Memorial which will be run on the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course. Pre-registration is open now by clicking here, and the race circular will be posted soon.  The sixth race of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series season is the Jack Regas Memorial, presented by Spartacus Boatworks and is set for Saturday, June 14, at Twin Lakes Park in Marysville. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the sixth event of the year.
LOCATION Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, 16324 Twin Lakes Ave., Marysville, WA 98271 CONTEXT This race had been known as the ERCU Apple Cup since its inception in 2010, when Ben Keller created the event, complete with an exhibition race drawing as many boats as possible that ran in the 1957 Apple Cup in Chelan, Wash., to recreate that final heat. After Jack Regas passed away in early 2014, Keller requested permission from the ERCU Contest Board to change the name of the event to the Jack Regas Memorial, in honor of the onetime Hawaii Kai III driver, who had not only met with Keller to see his models of the “Pink Lady” but also followed the boat’s seasons in ERCU and ESU. After ERCU high points championships in 2011 and 2012, Keller presented Regas with plaques commemorating the wins. Jack Regas meant a lot to not only the Hawaii Kai history, Keller, and Choral Enterprises, but also to unlimited hydroplane racing in general. ERCU is proud to have an event named for his memory. REGISTRATION Pre-Registration for the Jack Regas Memorial at Twin Lakes is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/jack-regas-memorial.html where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., FRIDAY, June 13, 2025. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. RACE OFFICIALS
WHAT TO EXPECT (All times approximate, and subject to change)
RACE FORMAT
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
HEAT DRAWS Heat draws will be completed just prior to the drivers meeting. The first heat draw will be conducted at approximately 9 a.m. and will be read verbally at the drivers meeting as a roll call. Succeeding heat draws will be conducted between flights. All heat draws will be printed and posted, and displayed on the TV screen, whenever possible. No re-draws of heats will be done. STARTING CLOCK A 1-minute 30-second clock will start as soon as all drivers are in the driving area and will not be stopped for any reason other than health or safety (including stubborn waterfowl). Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats, including getting your own spotter, and be ready when the chase boat comes back. A trailer boat shall not cross the start line less than five seconds after the start gun. Rookie drivers who have not yet earned 1,200 career points must start from the trailer position. RACE DAY MORNING It will be our intent to have the course open by 8 a.m. so that testing can commence once boats are registered for the event. Boat owners should prepare to have time for inspections and to be ready to race. The water will be open for testing until approximately 9 a.m. DRIVERS MEETING The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of time trials. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats. 2024 JACK REGAS MEMORIAL RESULTS
INSPECTIONS In 2025, all boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the Hull Inspection Form and complete the member information at the top of page one prior to arriving at the race site. Please also remember to bring a photo of the real boat (a photo on your phone or tablet is acceptable) that your boat. VISITING DRIVERS ERCU welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing will be offered during the open water period as needed. The course will be closed for rookie driver tests. Visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy, in the event they win the race. POST-RACE CLEANUP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, winners. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not. RESTROOMS Public restrooms are available on site and are expected to be open. ELECTRICITY There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day.  LONGVIEW – Forecasts for a perfect weather race day certainly encouraged ERCU members to travel to Cowlitz County’s biggest city on Saturday.
Then everything changed. Chamber of Commerce weather welcomed ERCU to Lake Sacajawea Park for the 52nd running of the Stan Sayres Memorial, presented by Skidfin Consulting, but clouds rolled in quickly, keeping temperatures cool. So did the ERCU 2025-style winds. Nevertheless, it was a fun day of racing with a total of 39 boats in the pits. By comparison to the winds at Waughop and Ellensburg, this day seemed like a refreshing walk in the park. The day began with 1/10 modern which on this day would be the lightest attended class with just five boats. Five great boats and drivers all head-to-head, mano a mano through three preliminary heats in preparation for the winner takes all final. Paxton Reunanen’s Graham Trucking American Dream swept each of his prelims with a perfect 1,200 points and hands down the odds-on favorite to win the final. Chuck Murray’s 2000 Elam took second place in Heat 1 and Nelson Holmberg with his 2024 Flav-R-Pac finished second in heats 2 & 3. All five crew chief, drivers, owners were preparing for the final when word came that Elam would be a scratch. Four boats started the final but just one boat would be running to compete all five laps. For the second straight week, David Heilbrunn came away with a race win, this time in his 2015 Dalton Industries boat. His boat, as a result of the win, maintains a razor slim 325-point lead in 1/10 modern boat season standings after five races. Next up was 1/10 classic with seven boats on hand for heats 1A and 1B which were won by Holmberg in his newly-acquired 1976 Atlas Van Lines and Mike Walcker with his 1973 Red Man Too, respectively. Homberg would go on to win his heats 2A and 3A poised for the final with a perfect day going. Murray would win Heat 2B with his 1976 Olympia Beer and Jerry Dunlap with the 1983 Coors Light would take the checker for 3B. The Atlas, Coors and Oly would be joined for the final by Dray Newton and his 1986 Squire Shop along with Gary Dawn’s 1982 Gilmore Special. The final was a dandy where five boats started, five raced hard, five finished and the podium was topped by Holmberg and his Atlas Van Lines. Second and third place went to beer boats, Dunlap’s Coors the Murray’s Oly. The 1/10 vintage class featured eight beautiful boats and no ugly ones. Heats 1A, 2B and 3B were each won by Reunanen driving Kerry Kjos 1960 Miss Thriftway. Murray’s 1964 Savair’s Mist won heat 1B and Heilbrunn’s Blue Chip would take the checkers in both 2A and 3A. Reunanen and Heilbrunn qualified for entry in the final and were joined by Paul Dunlap driving the Exide, John Earnest Gale V and Holmberg Pay ‘n Save. All five started and all five finished with Paul Dunlap emerging triumphant in his first heat win of the day albeit this was the all-important winner takes all final. Nicely done team Dunlap! Second went to Reunanen/Kjos and the bronze was captured by Holmberg’s Earnest-built Pay ‘n Save. This was notably the second race this season where team Dunlap did nothing more early on but to punch a ticket to the final and then come out and take the final convincingly. Next up came the big boats, 1/7 scale modern/classic classes combined. Ten, count them, 10 boats on hand calling for flights of three races, A, B and C heats. Mike McIntosh’s 2023 Beacon Plumbing couldn’t have asked for a better start winning all three of his preliminary heats. Craig Mullen’s 1971 Pay ‘n Pak went backwards when launched for heat 1C. He would get things figured out quickly and returned to take the checkers in his second and third heat. The other prelim winners taking one of their three heats were: John Sjostrom Miss U.S., Jim McKeon Budweiser, David Heilbrunn Goodman Real Estate and Denise Sjostrom with her Oh Boy! Oberto. The bottom four boats on points after three would slug it out in the consolation heat. Goodman Real Estate jumped the start tried hard but couldn’t catch all the way up to the leader. Near the end lap four Goodman lost its grip in turn four and hopped out to make contact with Oberto. Oberto survived the collision and was not too worse for the wear, but the contact may have cost them the consolation victory. Havens Jr. took the connie win and advanced to the five-boat final. The final was a good race between Mullen’s Pay ‘n Pak and Sjostrom’s Miss US. McIntosh Beacon Plumbing became disabled for a DNF, and the Mullen’s Pak takes the checkers, McKeon, Budweiser crossed second and Sjostrom’s Miss U.S. would take third. In 1/7 vintage, David Newton did what he seemingly always does. Dominate. He and his 1956 Hawaii Kai III would sweep the checkers for all three preliminary heats. Meanwhile none of the additional preliminary heat winners won more than one of their three prelim heats. The additional preliminary heat winners were 1A - Bob VandenAkker, 1966 $ Bill, 1C - Dennis Caines 1968 Eagle Electric, 2B Rob Edwards 1969 Pay ‘n Pak, 2C Paxton Reunanen 1982 Island Security, 3A John Havens Jr. Miss US 1 and 3B John Sjostrom 1960 Thriftway. The top five in points after three prelims advanced to the final and four boats would square off in the consolation heat with one final spot in the winner takes all final at stake. Not one of the four would survive the five laps to finish the connie with all four securing front row seats as spectators. Five boats made the start. Edwards Pay ‘n Pak disabled early leaving Newton Hawaii Kai, VandenAkker $ Bill, Sjostrom Thriftway and Havens Miss U.S. battled for the five and Newton emerged from the spray to take the checkers, second was $ Bill and third was secured by Sjostrom in the Thriftway. The club’s focus now turns north to Twin Lakes Park in Marysville for the sixth race, the halfway point of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series. June 14 will be the Jack Regas Memorial presented by Spartacus Boatworks. Pre-registration is open now and can be accessed through this link. |
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