As usual, there will be giveaways, prizes, and lunch provided by our sponsors, supporters and the club itself. It’s going to be a long day of racing, with the extra set of heats and a high likelihood of a big turnout, so be sure and be prepared. The Gold Cup is the granddaddy of them all in boat racing, so you won’t want to miss it!
With much appreciation, Jerry & Paul Dunlap, David Heilbrunn and Dennis Caines will do the work to get the race course set in the afternoon on Friday, Aug. 7, so event set up can happen between 6-7 a.m. on Saturday, and open water can be held 7-8 a.m. and we can get an early start to the day.
Location
Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course, Woodland Creek Park
6729 Pacific Avenue SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Contest Directors
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 2023 season, and there will be four flights of heats rather than the regular three. Winner-take-all finals will determine the winners of our club’s Gold Cups for 2026. There will be six Gold Cups awarded at the end of the day: 1/10 scale modern; 1/7 scale modern; 1/10 scale classic; 1/7 scale classic; 1/10 scale vintage and 1/7 scale vintage.
What to Expect
Race Format
(All times approximate, and may change)
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, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
9:45 a.m. Second flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 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, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
1:15 p.m. Fourth flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 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, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
5 p.m. Club equipment breakdown and packing — ALL HANDS
6 p.m. Awards presentation
Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the 2026 ERCU Bardahl Gold Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://ercu-hydros.com/ercu-gold-cup.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a gray box near the top of the page. Pre-registration will close at 11:59 p.m., Friday, August 7. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.
You can also find pre-registration by going to ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “ERCU Gold Cup” from the main menu, and “ERCU Gold Cup” 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
Contest Directors: ERCU Board of Directors (Jerry Dunlap, David Heilbrunn, Nelson Holmberg, Mike McIntosh, Craig Mullen, Jim McKeon, Paxton Reunanen)
Heat Draws/Scoring: Paxton Reunanen & David Heilbrunn
Chief Referee 1/10 Modern: Jerry & Paul Dunlap
Chief Referee 1/10 Classic: David Heilbrunn & Mike McIntosh
Chief Referee 1/7 Classic: David Heilbrunn & Mike McIntosh
Chief Referee 1/10 Vintage: Nelson Holmberg & Craig Mullen
Chief Referee 1/7 Vintage: Nelson Holmberg & Carl Lewis
Drivers Representatives: Jim Mckeon & Paxton Reunanen
Pit Boss: Tom Markos
Turn Judges: First and second place finishers will judge the next heat
ERCU Gold Cup Defending Champions
- 1/10 scale modern: David Newton, 2004 Miss Budweiser
- 1/7 scale modern/classic Scott Whitestine 1972 Notre Dame
- 1/10 scale classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1983 KISW Miss Rock
- 1/10 scale vintage: Mitch Dillard, 1965 Tahoe Miss
- 1/7 scale vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1982 Miss Island Security System
Race Format
- GOLD CUP PLAN: Four flights of preliminary heats, five laps each.
- Winner-take-all final heats
- Boats 1-5 in total cumulative Gold Cup points are front line starters
- Ted Jones Memorial winner is trailer in the Gold Cup final
- First connies are the Ted Jones Memorials and count as race wins
- Boats 6-10 qualify for Ted Jones Memorials and start on the front line
- Winner of the Ted Jones Memorial counts as a race win and moves into the Gold Cup final heat as a trailer boat.
- Second place boat in Ted Jones Memorial is alternate to the trailer in the final
- Second connies for each class (depending on total boat count and attrition).
- Boats 11-15 in cumulative event points qualify for the first connie.
- Second connie winner advances to the Ted Jones Memorial as a trailer.
- Flight Schedule
- 1/10 & 1/7 scale modern
- 1/10 & 1/7 scale classic
- 1/10 & 1/7 scale vintage
Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation
Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once each day’s racing is complete. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Because it’s already going to be a long day anyway, we are asking everyone to please chip in as many hands make light (and quick) work. 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. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, and Bardahl is providing keeper trophies for the first place finisher in each class.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available in the park 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 to charge your batteries if you need to charge during the day.
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