RACE CIRCULAR: ERCU Celebrates Seafair History on July 11

The eighth race of the 2026 Skidfin Solutions Championship Series season is the 24th annual ERCU Seafair Trophy race. Set for Saturday, July 11 at South County Park, Wallace Pond in Toledo. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the eighth event of the year.
 
Location
Wallace Pond, South County Park 
212 Ray Road
Toledo, WA 98591
 
Contest Director
David Heilbrunn
 
Context
In August 1951, the feature event of Seafair in Seattle was the Gold Cup. For the first time, Seattle had a major league sport; unlimited hydroplane racing. Stan Sayers Slo-Mo-Shun IV had won the 1950 Gold Cup in Detroit and earned for the Seattle Yacht Club the right to put on the race for 1951. So let us hearken back to a Seafair 70 years ago when the grass was green, the skies were blue, the Gold Cup was now in Seattle and Slo-Mo-Shun IV was defending. A time when the boats roared and thundered, the Seafair Pirates were not politically correct and the Buicks, well they were two-tone. Please join us to race on Wallace Pond at South County Park on Saturday, July 11 and relive those golden days of yesteryear if only in 1/10 and 1/7 scale form.
 
What to Expect
(All times approximate, and subject to change)

• Racecourse will be set between 7:30-8 a.m.
• Practice water and on-site registration 8-9 a.m.
• Mandatory drivers meeting 9:05-9:20 a.m.
• Racing begins at approximately 9:30 a.m. (maximum of 10 minutes after drivers meeting)
• Three flights of heats for each division (1/10 and 1/7)

·      POINTS RACE: Cumulative points over the course of the entire racing day will determine winners for all six classes including preliminary heats, consolations and finals. Ties will be broken by the boat with the highest season boat points. 

• One minute-30 second start clock for all racing
• A 30-minute lunch break will be held after the second flight of heats is complete. Members should provide their own food and drinks.
• Awards will be presented following the conclusion of the final heat of racing. Please stick around for the awards presentation and celebrate your fellow racers.

Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the Seafair Trophy Race is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/seafair-trophy-race.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, July 10. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.
 
You can also find pre-registration by selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Seafair Trophy Race” 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.
 
Seafair Trophy Race Defending Champions

• 1/10 Scale Modern: Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking *
• 1/10 Scale Classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1983 KISW Miss Rock *
• 1/10 Scale Vintage: John Earnest, 1961 Gale V 
• 1/7 Scale Modern/Classic: Mike McIntosh, 2023 Beacon Plumbing
• 1/7 Scale Vintage: John Sjostrom, 1960 Miss Thriftway

 
Race Format

• POINTS RACE: Cumulative points over the course of the entire racing day will determine winners for all six classes including preliminary heats, consolations and finals. Ties will be broken by the boat with the highest season boat points. 
• Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes.
• First and second consolation for both divisions and all 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.
• Flight Schedule
  • 1/10 scale modern
  • 1/7 scale modern
  • 1/10 scale classic
  • 1/7 scale classic
  • 1/10 scale vintage
  • 1/7 scale vintage

 
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. 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.
 
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.