Presidents Cup
Irene Reinhart Riverfront Park
Ellensburg, Wash.
Date Saturday, May 2, 2026
Contest Director Paxton Reunanen
Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.
Click here to read the Race Circular
Ellensburg, Wash.
Date Saturday, May 2, 2026
Contest Director Paxton Reunanen
Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.
Click here to read the Race Circular
The real-life Presidents Cup trophy, as presented by H1 Unlimited in 2017. (photo courtesy of H1 Unlimited)
The Presidents 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.
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.
Race Format
- Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes
- First and second connies for both classes (depending on boat count and attrition). Second connie winner advances to first connie as a trailer. First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer.
- Second place boat in the first connie is an alternate for the final.
- Winner-take-all championship finals for vintage, classic and modern.
- Vintage Triple Crown Series event #2
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2026 race stats
2026 race results
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1/10-Scale Modern Class
1/10-Scale Classic Class
DNF Mike Walcker, 1973 Red Man Too 1/10-Scale Vintage Class
DNF Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Gale's Roostertail |
1/7-Scale Classic/Modern Class
1/7-Scale Vintage Class
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presidents cup all-time results
1/10-Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2012 — 1960 Miss Burien. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2015 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2016 – 1964 Savair's Mist. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2017 – 1971 Hallmark Homes. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2018 – 1962 $ Bill. Owner/Driver: Geoffry Grembowski. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2019 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Paul Dunlap. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1960 Gale's Roostertail. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1964 Savair's Mist. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/10-Scale Classic Race Results
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 1985 The Squire Shop. Driver: Brandon Sano. Owner: Bob Sano. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1983 Miss Houston. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Owner: Chuck Murray. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1983 Miss Houston. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1972 Notre Dame. Driver: Paul Dunlap. Owner: Rick Evans. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: Jason Walters. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/10-Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2012 – 1999 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 2010 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Craig Bradshaw. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 — 2013 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2014 — 2014 Oberto. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2016 – 2011 Oh Boy! Oberto. Driver: Gabriel Kjos. Owner: Dead Guy Racing. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2017 – 1999 Appian Jeronimo. Owner/Driver: John Bischoff. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2018 – 1976 Olympia Beer. Driver: Gerry Bordon. Owner: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2019 – 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 2015 Dalton Industries. Driver: Jerry Dunlap. Owner: Rick Evans. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 2021 Goodman Real Estate. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Modern Race Results
2021 – 1982 Gilmore Special. Owner/Driver: Rob Edwards. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 2023 Beacon Plumbing. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood (modern & classic mixed)
2025 – 1972 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Classic Race Results
2022 – 1970 Pay 'n Pak (hemi). Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1970 Pay 'n Pak (hemi). Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2025 – 1972 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Vintage Race Results
2021 – 1974 Miss Lapeer. Owner/Driver: Tyler McKeon. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1969 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1983 Island Security Systems. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: Jason Walters. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1969 Pay 'n Pak Outrigger. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2012 — 1960 Miss Burien. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2015 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2016 – 1964 Savair's Mist. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2017 – 1971 Hallmark Homes. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2018 – 1962 $ Bill. Owner/Driver: Geoffry Grembowski. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2019 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Paul Dunlap. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1960 Gale's Roostertail. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1964 Savair's Mist. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/10-Scale Classic Race Results
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 1985 The Squire Shop. Driver: Brandon Sano. Owner: Bob Sano. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1983 Miss Houston. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Owner: Chuck Murray. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1983 Miss Houston. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1972 Notre Dame. Driver: Paul Dunlap. Owner: Rick Evans. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: Jason Walters. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/10-Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2012 – 1999 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2013 — 2010 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Craig Bradshaw. Location: Silverado Lake, Adna, Wash.
2014 — 2013 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2014 — 2014 Oberto. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2016 – 2011 Oh Boy! Oberto. Driver: Gabriel Kjos. Owner: Dead Guy Racing. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2017 – 1999 Appian Jeronimo. Owner/Driver: John Bischoff. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2018 – 1976 Olympia Beer. Driver: Gerry Bordon. Owner: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2019 – 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview, Wash.
2020 – No race due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2021 – 2015 Dalton Industries. Driver: Jerry Dunlap. Owner: Rick Evans. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 2021 Goodman Real Estate. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Modern Race Results
2021 – 1982 Gilmore Special. Owner/Driver: Rob Edwards. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 2021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 2023 Beacon Plumbing. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood (modern & classic mixed)
2025 – 1972 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Classic Race Results
2022 – 1970 Pay 'n Pak (hemi). Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1970 Pay 'n Pak (hemi). Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2025 – 1972 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
1/7-Scale Vintage Race Results
2021 – 1974 Miss Lapeer. Owner/Driver: Tyler McKeon. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2022 – 1969 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2023 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1983 Island Security Systems. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood
2025 – 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: Jason Walters. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg
2026 – 1969 Pay 'n Pak Outrigger. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg