Sun, Speed and Seafair: Toledo Delivers a Championship Saturday

TOLEDO — Sunshine, smooth water and fast racing produced a full day of memorable action Saturday as the Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds brought the annual Seafair Trophy Race to South County Park in Toledo, with dramatic final heats deciding championships across six competitive classes.

While preliminary heats set the stage in the points race format, the afternoon finals determined the trophy winners, rewarding drivers who could deliver when the pressure was highest.

In 1/10 scale modern, David Heilbrunn's Dalton Industries was a rocket all day, gaining two heat wins and a DNF before a second in the final to clinch the race win. That consistency was rewarded in the final when Heilbrunn was able to run a comfortable cruise enough to finish second. By doing so, he held off Nelson Holmberg's 2023 Flav-R-Pac for the points race win, 1,100-1,000. Holmberg benefited from the cruise to win the final heat. Tom Markos rounded out the podium in the 2015 Graham Trucking with 850 points.

The 1/10 classic class featured one of the day's strongest performances as Paul Dunlap drove the 1971 Country Boy to a dominant, and perfect, 1,600-point victory after sweeping every preliminary heat and the final. Nelson Holmberg's 1986 Squire Shop finished second with 1,400 points, while Wayne Beeson's 1976 Mark 'n Pak claimed third with 1,094 points.

Scott Whitestine was equally impressive in 1/7 classic, guiding the 1972 Notre Dame to 1,600 boat points and another wire-to-wire victory. Dennis Caines finished second aboard the 1975 Pay 'n Pak with 1,269 points, followed by Wayne Beeson's 1976 Mark 'n Pak at 1,050 points.

The 1/10 vintage division produced one of the day's closest championship battles. Dunlap's 1964 Miss Exide held off Heilbrunn's 1965 Blue Chip, finishing with 1,295 boat points to Blue Chip's 1,194. Utah visitor Ken Boyle - in the Pacific Northwest for the NAMBA Nationals next week - ran his 1972 Timex to a podium finish, taking third with 1,050 points. The Miss Exide captured the final heat to seal the championship.

In 1/7 vintage, Whitestine added another trophy by steering the 1962 Notre Dame to 1,325 boat points. Joey Caines' 1970 Pay 'n Pak finished second with 1,200 points, while John Havens guided the 1962 Miss U.S. to third with 1,100 points. Havens' Miss U.S. won the final heat, but Whitestine's consistency throughout the day proved enough to secure the overall Seafair Trophy championship.

The lone 1/7 modern entry still running at the end of the day was John Havens in the 1991 American Spirit, finishing with 525 boat points. It was Havens' first career race win in ERCU.

Saturday's racing once again showcased one of ERCU's unique formats, where consistent preliminary performances build the foundation, but championship finals often produce the day's biggest drama. Several classes saw drivers rise to victory in the finals, while others relied on dominant preliminary performances to withstand late challenges and carry home Seafair Trophy hardware.