ERCU’s Bernie Little Memorial Packs Surprises and Sky-High Action in Marysville

MARYSVILLE — The 2025 ERCU Bernie Little Memorial at Gissberg Twin Lakes Park felt more like a festival than a model hydroplane regatta, with racers walking away not just with points but also with T-shirts, books, gift cards and other prize drawings.

Add in a full day of fierce on-water battles among 44 boats and 24 drivers, and the event lived up to its namesake’s flair for showmanship.

Presented by ERCU’s 2024 Contest Directors of the Year, Mike McIntosh and Bob Van den Akker, the regatta blended camaraderie and competition in the club’s best tradition. When the spray settled, familiar names again found their way to the podiums — though not without a few dramatic twists.

Reunanen’s winning ways
Season points leader Paxton Reunanen kept his roll going in the 1/10 modern class, steering his way past a tough final field that included California visitor Mike Dunn and Idahoan Mike Henricksen. Reunanen outdueled Bucket List Racing representatives Tyler McKeon and Nelson Holmberg for the win, a result that has become his calling card in 2025.

The 1/10 classic division turned into a Reunanen showcase as well. Piloting the 1985 Miss Rock KISW, he posted a perfect 1,600-point day to top Chuck Murray’s Olympia Beer and Holmberg’s Atlas Van Lines. Not to be outdone, he also went four-for-four in the 1/7 vintage class with the 1982 Island Security, earning another flawless 1,600-point score.

Big air, big drama
The day’s biggest jaw-dropper came in 1/7 modern/classic. Making his long-awaited season debut and return to ERCU, Mike Gossler debuted a pristine new 1977 Squire Shop hull and immediately impressed — until a spectacular blowover down the backstretch in round two. The boat caught air in what some called the highest launch in ERCU memory before splashing back to earth. Gossler bounced back later, but in the final it was McKeon who took advantage, pushing his Peters & May past Rob Edwards’ Gilmore Special and John Havens Jr.’s Budweiser.

Vintage surprise
In the 1/10 vintage class, substitute driver Jerry Dunlap provided the day’s Cinderella story. Filling in behind the wheel of Paul Dunlap’s 1964 Exide, Jerry methodically piled up points before stealing the final with five smooth, error-free laps. His victory in the heat helped clinch the overall title on points, edging Reunanen’s Gale’s Roostertail and David Heilbrunn’s Blue Chip.

Next up
With perfect scores, spectacular crashes and even a “belated 21st birthday” podium for Joey Caines in the 1/7 vintage division, the Bernie Little Memorial again delivered thrills worthy of its legendary namesake.

ERCU’s traveling fleet next returns to the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course in Lacey for the Detroit Memorial Regatta on September 6. Pre-registration is already open (click here).