3-d printed hulls, full throttle drama steal show at ERCU Jack Regas Memorial

MARYSVILLE — The whine of electric motors and the shimmer of the north lake at Gissberg Twin Lakes Park brought more than just horsepower to Marysville on Saturday.
 
As the ERCU Championship Series hit the halfway mark of its 2025 season, 42 boats — the biggest turnout this season — made waves in the Jack Regas Memorial, delivering high-speed drama, surprise performances and a taste of the future with the debut of 3D-printed hulls.
 
The sixth stop on the 12-race calendar saw competition in five classes. In 1/10-scale modern, six boats took to the water, including two brand-new, 3D-printed hulls piloted by top drivers Paxton Reunanen and David Newton. Newton’s 2025 Goodman Real Estate proved stable, fast and ultimately dominant, sweeping the class with a perfect day, including the final heat win. The race also welcomed H1 Unlimited U-40 co-owner Sharon Stocklin, who watched closely throughout the day as the sport’s evolution began to take shape.
 
Veteran racers Nelson Holmberg (2024 Flav-R-Pac) and Tyler McKeon (2024 Bucket List) each claimed two preliminary heat wins but couldn’t keep pace with Newton’s groundbreaking craft. McKeon took second in the final, followed by David Heilbrunn’s 2015 Dalton Industries in third. Flav-R-Pac’s skid fin connected with something in the water at the apex of turn one and rolled the boat onto its lid during the mill.
 
In the combined 1/7-scale modern/classic class, McKeon was flawless. His 2010 Peters & May posted a perfect 1,600-point day, taking all three prelims and the final. Gary Simmons made a splash in his season debut aboard Mike McIntosh’s Beacon Plumbing, winning two heats and placing third in the final. Holmberg, driving Aaron Olson’s 1980 Pay ‘n Pak, took second.
 
Six competitors squared off in the 1/10 classic class, but none could touch Reunanen’s 1983 Rock. He notched another perfect score with three prelim wins and a victory in the final over McKeon’s 1977 Natural Light and John Havens Jr., who made an impressive class debut in the 1981 Spirit of the Air Force.
 
Reunanen repeated the feat in 1/10 vintage with his 1960 Gale’s Roostertail, collecting his second perfect day. Chuck Murray (Savair’s Mist), Heilbrunn (Blue Chip) and Holmberg (Pay ‘n Save) also scored heat wins. David Newton subbed in for his son Dray in the final, steering the Squire Shop to second behind Reunanen, with Heilbrunn’s Blue Chip taking third.
 
Parity defined the 1/7 vintage class, where eleven boats battled in tightly contested prelims. Bob Van den Akker (Seattle Too) and McKeon (Lapeer) each took two heat wins, while others — including Terry Harmer (Probe) and Jim McKeon (Maverick) — also picked up victories. In a thrilling final, McKeon’s Lapeer edged Harmer and Van den Akker to secure the win.
 
The ERCU tour now heads into the season’s second half, with momentum, innovation and tight championship races building as the chase for the checkers continues.
 
Next up is ERCU’s first visit to Lacey this year, for the Roger Newton Memorial which will be run on the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course. Pre-registration is open now by clicking here, and the race circular will be posted soon.