RACE CIRCULAR: Bernie Little Memorial is up next

The 10th race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series is the Bernie Little Memorial, returning to Twin Lakes Park in Marysville on Saturday, August 22. The Bernie Little Memorial honors one of the most influential figures in unlimited hydroplane racing history and a longtime supporter of radio-controlled hydroplane racing.

LOCATION
Twin Lakes Park — North Lake
16324 Twin Lakes Ave.
Marysville, WA 98271
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.
All times are approximate and subject to change.

BERNIE LITTLE MEMORIAL
Bernie Little (1926-2003) was the most successful owner in unlimited hydroplane racing history. His legendary Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 races it entered, captured the high-points championship 22 times in 40 years of competition, and won the APBA Gold Cup 14 times.

Little's first unlimited hydroplane victory came on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities in 1966. His team also became known for pioneering an enclosed driver's cockpit as a significant advancement in driver safety.

Little was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He also supported RC hydroplane racing throughout the country and sponsored R/C Unlimited racing for several years.
His contributions to hydroplane racing — both full-size and radio-controlled — are an important part of the legacy celebrated by this event.

The Bernie Little Memorial was placed on hiatus after ERCU shortened its racing schedule in 2019 and returned to the schedule in 2023.

RACE OFFICIALS
Contest Directors: Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker
Chief Referee — All Classes: Beau Rarig
Course Setup & Chase Boat: Paxton Reunanen
Drivers Representatives: Mike McIntosh & Bob Van den Akker
Pit Boss: Bob Van den Akker
Turn Judges: First- and second-place finishers from the previous heat will judge the next heat. It is the responsibility of first- and second-place finishers to provide a replacement turn judge if they have a conflict.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Racecourse setup will take place between approximately 7:30-8 a.m.
• Practice water and on-site registration will be available from approximately 8-9 a.m.
• The mandatory drivers meeting will begin at approximately 9:15 a.m.
• Racing will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m., or no more than 10 minutes after completion of the drivers meeting.
• Three preliminary flights of heats will be run for each division.
• Consolation heats will be run depending on boat count and attrition.
• Winner-take-all finals will determine the winners of all classes.
• A one-minute, 30-second start clock will be used for all racing.
• A 30-minute lunch break will be held after the second flight of heats. Members should plan to provide their own food and drinks.
• Awards will be presented following the completion of the day's racing.

The 2026 ERCU rules specify that heats are normally five laps and run counterclockwise. If a course is deemed too large for 1/10 scale, the 1/10 classes may be reduced to four laps. At the chief referee's discretion, a heat may be reduced to three completed laps if only one boat remains running.

PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-registration for the Bernie Little Memorial is available through the ERCU website. Bernie Little Memorial registration and race information. Please check the registration page for the current pre-registration deadline and payment information. After the pre-registration deadline, drivers must register in person at the race site before the on-site registration deadline.

DRIVERS MEETING
The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes. The meeting will begin at the scorer's tent within approximately five minutes of the conclusion 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 FORMAT
All classes will utilize the Love Plan:

• Three preliminary flights of five-lap heats.
• First and second consolation heats will be run depending on boat count and attrition.
• Boats 6-10 in cumulative event points qualify for the first consolation.
• The first-consolation winner advances to the final as a trailer boat.
• The second-place boat in the first consolation is the alternate for the final.
• Boats 11-15 in cumulative event points qualify for the second consolation.
• The second-consolation winner advances to the first consolation as a front starter.
• The final will consist of the top five boats plus the qualifying consolation winner as the trailer starter.

The Bernie Little Memorial race page identifies the vintage classes as points races and the remaining classes as winner-take-all final events.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE
The planned flight schedule will include:

• 1/10 scale modern
• 1/7 scale modern
• 1/10 scale classic
• 1/7 scale classic
• 1/10 scale vintage
• 1/7 scale vintage

Flight assignments and the final race-day sequence will be established following registration and the drivers meeting.

2025 DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
The 2025 Bernie Little Memorial champions are:

• 1/10 scale modern: Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream
• 1/10 scale classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW
• 1/10 scale vintage: Jerry Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
• 1/7 scale modern/Classic: Tyler McKeon, 2010 Peters & May
• 1/7 scale vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1982 Miss Island Security Systems

2026 ERCU INSPECTIONS
As part of ERCU's 2026 inspection program, the inspection team will endeavor to inspect and test boats before the first race each boat runs at.
Drivers should:

• Print and complete the Hull Inspection Form before arriving at the race site.
• Complete the member information at the top of page one.
• Bring a photograph of the full-size boat their model represents. A photo displayed on a phone or tablet is acceptable.

Inspection information and forms are available through the Resources section of the ERCU website.

VISITING DRIVERS & ROOKIE TESTING
ERCU welcomes new members and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing may be offered during the open-water period as needed. The racecourse will be closed during rookie driver testing.
Visiting racers are welcome to compete; however, visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy in the event they win the race.

COURSE & CHASE BOAT
Course Setup & Chase Boat: Paxton Reunanen
The racecourse will be established in the morning prior to practice water. Drivers should be prepared for course and water conditions to be reviewed during the drivers meeting. All drivers and crew members are expected to cooperate with race officials and course personnel throughout the event.

POST-RACE CLEANUP & AWARDS
Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority following the completion of racing. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place finishers. All members have a responsibility to assist with setup and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation and celebrate the day's competitors.

RESTROOMS
Public restrooms are available at the park and they are expected to be open.

ELECTRICITY
There is no access to electricity in the pits. Drivers who need to charge batteries during the day should plan to bring a generator or other appropriate power source.