RACE CIRCULAR: Roger Newton Memorial is up next!

The seventh race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Roger Newton Memorial, set for Saturday, June 29, at Long’s Pond (Woodland Creek Park) in Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the seventh event of the year.

Location
6729 Pacific Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
 
Contest Director
David Newton
 
Context
This will mark the 16th running of the Roger Newton Memorial. Roger Newton, club founder and hall of fame RC scale racer, passed away in the summer of 2008. Since then the club has been dedicated to racing in his honor.

Roger spent his lifetime promoting and racing scale RC hydroplanes of all sizes. In the early 1970’s he created Newton Marine, a side business that sells 1/8-scale hydroplane plans. He then created R/C Unlimiteds in 1976, the first club dedicated to racing nothing but scale hydroplane models. He helped to form Classic Thunder in 1994 and then created ERCU in 2003. He was influential with scale RC racing around the world and spent his life fulfilling that dream.

David Newton will again direct the race. This year he plans to make the race bigger and better than previous years with more raffle prizes, awards, lunch and other surprises along the way. This will be a race you won’t want to miss!
 
What to Expect
(All times approximate, and subject to change)

• Racecourse will be set between 7-8 a.m.
• Open water from 8-9 a.m.
• On-site registration will be accepted until 8:30 am
• 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)
• First and second consolations (depending on boat count and attrition)
  • First connie winner is trailer in the final
  • First connie second place is alternate for the final
  • Second connie winner starts on the front line in first connie
• Final heats will be run for each class
• 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. Lunch will be provided by the club.

 
Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the Roger Newton Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to www.ercu-hydros.com/roger-newton-memorial.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a gray box just under the photo of Hawaii Kai on the event page of the website. Pre-registration will close at 6 p.m., Friday, June 28. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.
 
You can also find pre-registration by going to www.ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Roger Newton Memorial” 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 director: David Newton
• Modern class chief referee: Rick Evans
• Classic class chief referee: David Heilbrunn
• Vintage class chief referee (1/10 scale): Bob van den Akker & Mike McIntosh
• Vintage class chief referee (1/7 scale): Paul Dunlap
• Drivers representative: Paxton Reunanen
• Pit boss: David Newton
• Turn Judges: First and second place finishers from the previous heat are responsible to turn judge, or to find a replacement to send for them.

 
Jack Regas Memorial Defending Champions

• 1/10 scale modern: Nelson Holmberg, Bucket List Racing
• 1/10 scale classic: David Newton, Olympia Beer
• 1/10 scale vintage: David Newton, Hawaii Kai III
• 1/7 scale vintage: Jay Fonville, Kirby Classic
• 1/7 scale classic: Craig Mullen, Miss US
• 1/7 scale modern: Nelson Holmberg, Graham Trucking

 
Race Format

• LOVE PLAN: Three flights of preliminary heats, five laps each. Connies and winner-take-all finals.
• First and second connies for each class (depending on total boat count and attrition).
  • Boats 6-10 in cumulative event points qualify for the first connie.
  • First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer boat. Second place in first connie is alternate in the final.
  • Boats 11-15 in cumulative event points qualify for the second connie. Second connie winner advances to the first connie as a front starter.
• Final heat with top five boats in each class, plus the connie winner as a trailer starter.
• Flight Schedule
  • 1/10 scale modern
  • 1/7 scale modern/classic
  • 1/10 scale classic
  • 1/10 scale vintage
  • 1/7 scale vintage

 
Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation
Members will help clean up and pack up the trailer after the last Final heat.  Once the trailer is packed, awards and the 50/50 raffle will be presented.  All members are encouraged to show sportsmanship and help to clean up after the race and stay for the awards ceremony.
 
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.