 The sixth race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Jack Regas Memorial, set for Saturday, June 15, at Waughop Lake in Lakewood. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the sixth event of the year.
Location Waughop Lake/Fort Steilacoom Park 8714 87th Ave SW Lakewood, WA 98498 Contest Directors Rick Evans 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. What to Expect (All times approximate, and subject to change)
Pre-Registration Pre-Registration for the Jack Regas Memorial 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 gray box just under the photo of Hawaii Kai on the event page of the website. Pre-registration will close at 6 p.m., Friday, June 14. 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 “Jack Regas 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
Jack Regas Memorial Defending Champions
Race Format
Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers immediately upon the completion of the day’s last race. Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the awarded ceremony is over. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers. 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. Pre-Registration Pre-Registration for the Jack Regas Memorial 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. Pre-registration will close at 6 p.m., Friday, June 14. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.  Paul Dunlap, Paxton Reunanen and Jim McKeon earned top honors atop the podiums for the ERCU Pentair Championship Series, Stan Sayers memorial, presented by American SaniCan. The fifth race of the 12-race ERCU season was completed yesterday with 28 boats vying for the four top spots.
Paul Dunlap improved upon his already stellar success this season by nabbing the top spot in both 1/10 Classic and 1/10 vintage divisions. Dunlap posted a perfect 1600 points driving Rick Evans 1972 Notre Dame in classic and nearly perfect 1,500 points with his Exide in 1/10 vintage. Jerry Dunlap and his newly built 1985 Coors Light turned in a respectable 1,125 points and finished second to his son Paul in 1/10 classic. This is ERCU history as the first time a father has finished as race runner up with his son standing next to and just above him on the podium. Congratulations Jerry and Paul for achieving such a wonderful accomplishment. This was an impressive moment, and we all salute you. Honorable mention goes out to John Earnest who quietly piloted his Gale V to a second-place finish in the 1/10 vintage class. Earnest finished all four heats on the day with three seconds, a third and 1125 points. This was just John’s first race this season and was another incredibly solid veteran performance. Honorable mention also goes to Nelson Holmberg who won all three preliminary 1/10 modern heats and took his Bucket List Racing boat into the winner take all final with a perfect 1,200 points on the day. Paxton Reunanen had picked up DNF’s in round one and two. Reunanen then finished last in round three but that last place finish was good enough to punch his ticket into the 1/10 modern final. The final saw Holmberg’s Bucket List blow over on the first lap, David Heilbrunn’s Goodman Real Estate nearly crushed the disabled Bucket List on lap number three but narrowly avoided the mishap albeit flipping the Goodman in the process. That left just Tom Markos and Reunanen and Markos' Graham Trucking lost power before finishing the final lap leaving Reunanen all alone to take the 1/10 modern trophy for the fourth time (out of five races) this season. Reunanen and his 2010 Graham Trucking have won all four of the four races he has attended this season. The big boats came next with 1/7 scale vintage providing entertainment throughout. The first round saw every boat lose power or otherwise become disabled leaving each of them with a DNF. Round two saw just two boats make the start with John Sjostrom’s 1960 Miss Thriftway topping Dennis Caines' 1968 Eagle Electric. Round three included Jim McKeon’s 1957 Maverick return to finish second to the Eagle Electric. For the final heat every boat made the start and three of them finished. Winning his first Heat on the day but the all-important winner takes all final was McKeon who remained steady as the others each picked up driving infractions. This was Big Jim’s second 1/7 scale vintage class race win on the season. Chuck Murray made his season debut with a successful third place podium finish in 1/10 classic and fourth place in 1/10 vintage, although third in points with 1,050. Welcome back to Chuck and to Brad Lewis who made his return to the club and was embraced by all for his humble words early and exuberant competitive spirit throughout the day. The Pentair ERCU Championship Series continues with a return to Lake Waughop in Lakewood for the season halfway race number six on Saturday June 15. Registration is open and everyone is encouraged to preregister by clicking here.  The fifth race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Stan Sayers Memorial, presented by American SaniCan is set for Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the fifth event of the year.
Location Lake Sacajawea Park 1800 Nichols Blvd. Longview WA 98632 Contest Director David Heilbrunn Context At 50 years, the Stan Sayres Memorial is the "world's oldest and greatest RC Scale Unlimited Race". Started in 1974 by Roger Newton and Monte Steere, the race has been contested in Seattle Model Yacht Club and in RC Unlimiteds before finding itself a home in ERCU. The only year the race was not run was 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic caused half of the ERCU racing season to be canceled. This year's race will be a renewal to ERCU as the event will be run at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview. Please join ERCU at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview on Saturday, June 1 and relive those golden days of yesteryear, if only in 1/10 & 1/7 scale. What to Expect:
Race Format:
Race Officials Contest Director: David Heilbrunn
Flight Schedule
Heat Draws Heat draws will be completed with the randomizer in the NAMBA Race Management System that’s used for scoring races. Every effort will be made to avoid preferred driver/spotter heat conflicts, but sometimes those cannot be avoided. 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 9:00 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. Stan Sayerts Memorial Defending (2023) Champions
Inspections In 2024, all new boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the 2023 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com), 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 models. 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. Restrooms There are public restroom facilities reasonably close on site at Lake Sacajawea Park but we will also have a portable restroom from American SaniCan located conveniently at the pits. 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. 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. 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 As of this writing, weather.com predicts mostly sunny skies and a high of 78 degrees. Registration Pre-registration for the Presidents Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/stan-sayres-memorial.html where you will find the pre-registration link in a gray box just under the race header photo. 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, May 31. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2024, Lake Waughop in Lakewood. Clouds covered the sky, but everything stayed dry throughout with just enough wind thrown in to make things interesting. Eighteen boats made the trip for the President's Cup contesting five classes with no entries on this day representing 1/7 scale classic.
1/10 scale modern and classic were combined on this occasion with just two boats in the pits representing each class. All four raced together and the points were tallied based on finish position. Mike Hughes’s Winston Eagle was head and shoulders above the field posting a perfect 1,600-point day. Jerry Dunlap’s Coors Light and David Heilbrunn’s Goodman Real Estate were Hughes’s closest competition but, in the end, it was all Winston Eagle. 1/10 scale vintage featured five boats including a very special appearance by Brian Buaas who returned to race John Earnest 1962 Dewey’s Lumberville. Competition was tight through each of the three preliminary heats between Paul Dunlap Exide and Buaas with Exide clinging to a slim 175-point lead over Lumberville heading into the winner take all final. Final heat saw Blue Chip and Evergreen Roofing blow over early leaving just Exide, Lumberville and Robbie Roberts’ new Country Boy. Dunlap did it again though with just a bit more to edge Buaas and Roberts for the victory. 1/7-scale modern had four boats prepared to shoot it out and one proved superior. Mike McIntosh’s 2023 Beacon Plumbing won all four of his heats earning the coveted 1,600 point perfect day. Denise Sjostrom’s Oy Boy! Oberto was the strongest threat to the Beacon finishing second on points and in the final heat. Terry Harmer debuted his recently acquired Chrysler Jeep and overcame early electrical issues to post a second-place finish in heat number three. 1/7 scale vintage saw five boats ready to throw down and like usual was some of the very best racing of the day. Mike McIntosh came out firing with his Island Security closing the door for the win in the first heat. John Sjostrom said not so fast and came out to take the checkered flag in both heat two and three with his 1960 Miss Thriftway. All the while, Bob VandenAkker and Dennis Caines were lurking with each taking second or third place in their preliminary heats. McIntosh however came back strong and lead the final heat from start to finish to win the final and stand atop the podium in both 1/7 scale classes on the day. Next up for the Pentair Championship Series is 2024 race number five, the Stan Sayers Memorial presented by American SaniCan. June 1 at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview. Pre-registration is open now and we encourage everyone to get their 1/7 scale models ready and we’ll see you in Longview.  The fourth race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the President’s Cup, set for Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Lake Waughop, in Lakewood. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the fourth event of the year.
Location Lake Waughop at Fort Steilacoom Park Lakewood, WA 98498 Contest Director Mike Hughes & Brian Buaas Context The President's Cup was contested by unlimited hydroplanes between 1926 and 1977, with time out for World War II (1941-1945). After 1977, the Presidents Cup became a limited event for several years. A man named William A. Rogers is the "father" of the Presidents Cup Regatta. Rogers convinced his fellow Corinthian Yacht Club members to host the race and persuaded President Calvin Coolidge to sponsor the trophy. Most of the Presidents Cup races were contested on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., adjacent to Hains Point, except for a few pre-war races that were run in Annapolis, Md. The first-place trophy was traditionally presented to the winner by the nation's chief executive. The president that demonstrated the keenest interest in the race was undoubtedly Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose love for aquatics is well known. FDR watched the 1938 race from the deck of the presidential yacht Potomac. Mr. Roosevelt was so thrilled by the close finish in the last heat that he sent for the drivers of the first and second-place boats (Theo Rossi of Alagi and George Seay of Miss Manteo II) so that he could congratulate them in person for their good sportsmanship and excellent driving. The original winner of the Presidents Cup was L. Gordon Hammersley in his $60,000 duraluminum Cigarette IV. The winning speed was around 55 miles per hour. Please join ERCU at Lake Waughop in Lakewood on Saturday May 18 and relive those golden days of yesteryear if only in 1/10 & 1/7 scale. What to Expect:
Race Format:
Race Officials Contest Directors: Paxton Mike Hughes & Brian Buaas
Flight Schedule
Heat Draws Heat draws will be completed with the randomizer in the NAMBA Race Management System that’s used for scoring races. Every effort will be made to avoid preferred driver/spotter heat conflicts, but sometimes those cannot be avoided. 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. President’s Cup Defending (2023) Champions
Inspections In 2024, all new boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the 2023 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com), 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 models. 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. Restrooms There are public restroom facilities reasonably close on site at Lake Waughop Park. 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. 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 repacked, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, first connie. 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 As of this writing, weather.com predicts mostly sunny skies and a high of 68 degrees. Registration Pre-Registration for the Presidents Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/presidents-cup.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, May 17. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.  Dateline Ellensburg, ERCU race number three, May 4, 2024, Governors Cup. The weather forecast was for rain and wind and the meteorologist didn’t get it wrong. Let's just say, if your pop-up canopy had any tiny pin holes, leaks or tears you were reminded of it. The wind on the other hand, never thankfully materialized.
ERCU's first ever race east of the mountains persevered and was deemed a great success witnessing the largest field of the year so far, with 30 boats in the pits. Three drivers were visiting, and the stacked field included the return of two H1 Unlimited pilots. ERCU thanks Jason Colean, Stan Marr, Michael Walcker, Brian Perkins and Jamie Nilsen for joining us and racing in this year's Governor's Cup. Geoffry Grembowski took home the top trophy from the 1/10 classic class. You can just call Geoffry, “steady Eddie” as he quietly drives a borrowed boat to final heat championship and an impressive 1,300 points on the day. "The guy just wins, he wins a lot," said Paxton Reunanen whose boat Geoffry was borrowing for the day. Walcker and Rick Evans scored the second and third place finishes in the class. And how about Reunanen, who won the 1/10 modern winner take all final yesterday marking his third straight 1/10 modern class victory out of three races this season. And none of these victories were easy as Paxton has beaten serious competition from Mike Hughes (Winston Eagle), Nelson Holmberg (Bucket List), David Heilbrunn (Goodman Real Estate) and David Newton (Budweiser) among many others. "You don’t just go out there and take each of the first three races of the season without some amazing equipment and serious skill, he is really, really fast." said Race Coordinator David Heilbrunn. Newton and Heilbrunn joined Reunanen, albeit a little lower on the 1/10 modern podium. Jim McKeon topped the 1/7 scale vintage field to claim his spot atop the 1/7 vintage podium. Somewhat lackluster in the early rounds, Big Jim showed up for the final heat and was all business getting around Dennis Caines for first place at the finish line. This was only Jim's second ERCU 1/7 scale vintage championship victory and everybody was elated to share the moment with him, it was really special. In the 1/7 modern/classic combined class Craig Mullen drove Denise Sjostrom’s Miss U.S. once again to the winning circle. Ron Hartley, on hand for his first race this season recovered from a collision in the third heat to return for the final and score a second-place finish. Denise Sjostrom took third place with her Oh Boy! Oberto. Also making his 2024 season debut, David Newton was (no surprise) in midseason form locking up another 1/10 vintage class victory with his 1957 Hawaii Kai III in wild and carnage-filled winner take all final. Jim Latimer and Grembowski joined David on the vintage podium. Next up for ERCU is race number four, the President's Cup at Waughop Lake in Lakewood on May 18.
 The third race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Governor’s Cup, set for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Irene Rinehart Park in Ellensburg. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the third event of the year.
Location Irene Rinehart Park 1081 Umptanum Road Ellensburg, WA 98926 Contest Director Paxton Reunanen and Briana Burdsall Context The Indiana Governor's Cup (more commonly known as the Madison Regatta) is an H1 Unlimited hydroplane boat race held annually on Independence Day weekend on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. Madison has hosted the Madison Regatta annually since 1951, although the race was also contested in the 1930s. The race inspired a Hollywood motion picture released in 2005, titled Madison which starred actor Mount Vernon, Wash., native Jim Caviezel. Registration Pre-Registration for the Governor’s Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/governors-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, May 3. 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 “Governor’s Cup” from the schedule itself. What to Expect (All times approximate, and subject to change)
Race Format:
Race Officials
Flight Schedule
Heat Draws Heat draws will be completed with the randomizer in the NAMBA Race Management System that’s used for scoring races. Every effort will be made to avoid preferred driver/spotter heat conflicts, but sometimes those cannot be avoided. 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. Governor’s Cup Defending (2023) Champions
Inspections In 2024, all new boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the 2023 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com), 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 models. Visiting Drivers ERCU always 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. Restrooms There are no public restroom facilities close on site at Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park. A SaniCan has been ordered to serve this event. 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. 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. 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 As of this writing, weather.com predicts a high temperature of 62 degrees, a 35 percent chance of morning showers and winds up to 9 mph out of the southwest.  Mike McIntosh's 2023 Beacon Plumbing and David Heilbrunn's 2023 Goodman Real Estate throw skidfin roostertails through turn one at the ERCU Diamond Cup at Scott Lake Park in Olympia. (Photo: Mark Gran) ERCU 2024 Diamond Cup is not just now in the books but was one for the (record) books. The big story of the day (besides some incredible racing, of course) was the gracious hospitality ERCU received from the host community. Scott Lake residents, families and guests all came out to the park in droves to enjoy the fine weather, barbeque, snacks and some amazing deck to deck battles.
“I don’t think we’ve seen a crowd like this since the Kingdome,” said RC boat racing veteran Jerry Dunlap who raced in special events held in man-made ponds at Seattle’s Kingdome in the 1980s. Enough cannot be said about the Scott Lake community’s enthusiasm for ERCU Diamond Cup yesterday. Thank you to Dennis Caines and everyone with Scott Lake who all came together to make this race day such a fantastic experience. ERCU Diamond Cup Champions were crowned in each of ERCU’s six divisions. The tenth scale modern division saw Mike Hughes take heat one and two in typical Mike Hughes poise and style. Paxton Reunanen brought everything he had and topped the Winston in heat three setting up a strong four-boat winner take all final field. The 1/10 modern final heat was a screamer with Paxton’s Graham really hauling the mail. Five laps with the Winston and Goodman at bay and in tow. Congratulations to Paxton for besting Mike’s Winston Eagle which is a herculean accomplishment on most days. The 1/10 scale classic got off to a slow start with just one boat (1984 Executone) finishing heat 1A. The other boats got their act together and treated the crowds to some lively action in both heats 2 and 3. Ultimately though, it was Paxton Reunanen and his 1985 Miss Rock running away from the field and besting Paul Dunlap who was driving Rick Evans’ 1972 Notre Dame to win the final. The 1/10 vintage saw Paxton Reunanen chance at the hat trick, (three classes/divisions entered and three classes won.) Mother nature and Paul Dunlap had other plans though and he persevered through a windy attrition bound five laps to emerge the victor atop the podium. In the 1/7 modern class, Craig Mullen piloted the Sjostrom’s 1974 Miss U.S. to wins in the first and second Heats. Mike McIntosh’ brand new 2023 Beacon Plumbing got everything right with the Beacon’s first ever heat victory in heat three. The final however featured David Heilbrunn and his 2023 Goodman Real Estate who hit the start with a full head of steam and then held on to the lead (by a whisker) throughout the five laps. Craig Mullen in Denise Sjostrom’s 1974 Miss U.S. fought off an early race spinout and nearly caught and passed the Goodman in the final turn, but it wasn’t meant to be. Goodman emerged victorious with its second modern 1/7 title in the first two races of this young season. Miss U.S. with Craig Mullen at the wheel was crowned the 1/7 classic division champion on the day as the top finisher in the final heat within the classic class. That left just the 1/7 vintage class to be decided. Seven 1/7 vintage entries started the day and the top five were lined up to shoot it out in the winner takes all final heat. This final heat didn’t disappoint either and when the final roostertail drop settled on the pond, it was Mike McIntosh and his 1983 Island Security with the final heat victory and a perfect 1,600 points day. On this day, Mike McIntosh was the only owner who put together a perfect 1,600-point day. Congratulations Mike on this stellar day. Next up for ERCU is the Governor’s Cup which will be run at Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park in Ellensburg on May 4. This will be ERCU’s first race-ever in eastern Washington and invite all ERCU members and especially members from each of the other Eastern Washington clubs to join us for fellowship and competition in Ellensburg in two weeks, on May 4, 2024. David Heilbrunn, ERCU Race Coordinator  The second race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Diamond Cup, set for Saturday April 20, 2024, at Scott Lake in Olympia. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the second event of the year.
Location Scott Lake Park 2520 Scotlac Drive SW, Olympia WA 98512 Contest Directors Rick Evans & Dennis Caines Context For a decade, the North Idaho resort town of Coeur d’Alene, played host to “Water Racing’s Greatest Show” – the Unlimited hydroplanes – starting in 1958. The Coeur d’Alene race always attracted a large crowd of spectators. And a lot of people from Seattle could be counted upon to line the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene for the annual Diamond Cup. In 2013, the Diamond Cup was reborn for another go with teams based in Madison, Ind.; Decatur, Ind.; Reading, Penn. and Seattle. Unfortunately, it lasted just one season. That race, over Labor Day Weekend, was won by the Indiana-based U-5 Graham Trucking which enjoyed its only perfect weekend of the season, on its way to the 2013 national championship with Jimmy Shane at the helm. The ERCU Diamond Cup has been run every year but three across the 25-year history of the club. The Diamond Cup is one of the club’s “nomad” races, having been run in numerous locations from Longview to Friday Harbor and now in ERCU Diamond Cup Nomad tradition will see its first stop and ERCU’s inaugural race at Scott Lake in Olympia. Rick Lentz purchased and donated perpetual trophies years ago with the Lucite at the head of the trophy engraved with an image of the original Diamond Cup that was awarded in Coeur d’Alene in its early years. Registration Pre-registration for the 2024 ERCU Diamond Cup at Scott Lake is open. To register, navigate your web browser to www.ercu-hydros.com/diamond-cup.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, April 19, 2024. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. site before 8:30 a.m. What to Expect (All times approximate, and subject to change)
Race Officials
Race Format:
Flight Schedule
Heat Draws Heat draws will be completed with the randomizer in the NAMBA Race Management System. that’s used for scoring races. Every effort will be made to avoid preferred driver/spotter heat conflicts, but sometimes those cannot be avoided. 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 9:00 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. Inspections In 2024, all new boats will be inspected before the first race they run at. We ask that you print out the 2023 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com), 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 models. Visiting Drivers ERCU always 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. Restrooms There are public restroom facilities on site at Scott Lake Park and they 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. 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. 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 As of this writing, weather.com predicts 63 degrees with just a 20% chance of any rain. Diamond Cup Defending Champions
Registration Pre-registration for the 2024 ERCU Diamond Cup at Scott Lake is open. To register, navigate your web browser to www.ercu-hydros.com/diamond-cup.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, April 19, 2024. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m. |
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