Rookie rises, veteran sweeps at detroit memorial regatta

LACEY, Wash. — The fifth annual ERCU Detroit Memorial Regatta had a little of everything Sunday — sunshine, rain, flips, rookies, veterans and even a clean sweep.

Twenty-seven drivers hauled 42 boats to the Bill Mowatt Memorial race course, chasing titles across five classes in front of a spirited crowd. By day’s end, one rookie was a champion, one veteran couldn’t stop winning and a few others were left shaking their heads.

As usual, the 1/10 modern class fired things up first, and as usual, nobody could touch Paxton Reunanen. His 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream turned the course into his own personal playground, posting a perfect 1,600-point day. Chuck Murray grabbed third, while Ron Daum’s Llumar Window Films settled for third.

The day’s biggest surprise came in 1/7 modern and classic combined, where rookie Carl Lewis turned in the performance of his young career. After a modest preliminary round, Lewis won the consolation heat just to sneak into the final. Slotted as a trailer boat, he got a last-minute promotion to the front line when Jim McKeon’s Budweiser scratched — and he never looked back. Five laps later, Lewis was a first-time ERCU champion, edging Mike Gossler’s Squire Shop and Scott Whitestine’s Notre Dame.

That win also tightened an already heated Rookie of the Year battle between Lewis and Havens, setting up a can’t-miss showdown at the season finale in Elma.

Reunanen wasn’t done yet. He went on to sweep 1/10 classic and 1/10 vintage, giving him a clean 3-for-3 day at the Detroit Memorial. His victory in the vintage class, driving Kerry Kjos’ iconic 1960 Miss Thriftway, marked the boat’s fifth consecutive Detroit Memorial triumph.

The 1/7 vintage class wrapped up the action with the biggest field of the day. Joey Caines and his 1979 Pay ’n Pak Lil Buzzard looked unstoppable through prelims, but the final heat had other ideas. Reunanen flipped early, Caines faltered, and Mark Manchester powered his 1966 Notre Dame to a runaway win — his second title of the season. Paul Dunlap, driving Mike McIntosh’s Miss U.S. 5, finished second, with Havens Jr. rounding out the podium.

With just one stop left on the 2025 ERCU calendar, the season wraps in two weeks at Elma, and plenty is still on the line — from rookie bragging rights to the final dash for championship points.