Race Circular: ERCU Gold Cup

The 10th and final race of the 2022 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the ERCU Gold Cup, set for Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11, 2022, at Woodland Creek Park in Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the final event of the year.
 
Location
Long’s Pond/Woodland Creek Park
6729 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503
 
Contest Directors
ERCU Board of Directors
 
Context
The Gold Cup has long been held in high regard. It’s been referred to as “boat racing’s Indy 500” – the granddaddy of them all. It’s no different in model boat racing. In ERCU, the Gold Cup is the most coveted of all trophies. Consistent with boat racing history and the tradition of the Gold Cup, the race is one of endurance and survival. Thus, the course will be longer than others during the 2022 season, and there will be four flights of heats rather than the regular three. Winner-take-all finals will determine the winners of our club’s Gold Cups for 2022. There will be six Gold Cups awarded at the end of the day: 1/10 scale modern; 1/7 scale modern; 1/10 scale classic; 1/7 scale classic; 1/10 scale vintage and 1/7 scale vintage.
 
What to Expect
(All times approximate, and subject to change)

• Two days of action on the water, including the first flight of heats on Saturday afternoon
• Open water for testing from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday
• Optional Gold Cup Time Trials on Saturday from noon-1:30 p.m.
• Team racing format will be introduced, and there will be trophies for team racing champions
• Racecourse and club equipment to be set up beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday
• Saturday on-site registration open until noon
• Bring your own lunch on Saturday. The club will provide a pizza lunch on Sunday
• Mandatory Saturday drivers meeting at 1:30 p.m.
• One flight of heats for each division on Sunday (1/10 and 1/7)
• Modern heat 1A begins racing action at 1:45 p.m.
• Optional open water will be available from the end of the first flight of heats until 5 p.m.
• Saturday ERCU Swap Meet, social time after pits are cleaned up at a location TBD
• No vehicles can load to depart until the last heat has been run and awards have been presented.
• Winner-take-all final heats.
• Sunday practice water and on-site registration 7-8:30 a.m.
• Mandatory Sunday drivers meeting and 911 observance 8:30-8:45 a.m.
• Modern heat 2A begins at approximately 9 a.m. (maximum of 10 minutes after drivers meeting)
• Three flights of heats for each division on Sunday (1/10 and 1/7)
• First consolations (depending on boat count and attrition)
  • First connie winner is awarded a race win for the Ted Jones Memorial and is trailer in the final
  • First connie second place is alternate for the final
• Final heats will be run for each class
  • Finals will be five boats on the front line and a trailer
• One minute 30 second start clock for all racing
• 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 ERCU Gold Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/ercu-gold-cup.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., FRIDAY, September 9, 2022. 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 clicking on “ERCU Gold Cup” from the schedule itself.
 
Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 10

• 9 a.m. – Set racecourse/club equipment, registration & heat draws
• 10 a.m.-noon – Open water
• 11:30-noon – Lunch break (participants provide their own lunch)
• Noon-1:30 p.m. – Optional time trials (two runs for each boat in a period of at least an hour). Fastest qualifier in each class wins the Bill Muncey Memorial fastest qualifier award. Points will be awarded for positions in time trials as follows: 1st – 100 points; 2nd – 80 points; 3rd – 70 points; 4th – 60 points; 5th – 50 points; 6th – 40 points; Seventh place through last place – 30 points each.
• 1:30 p.m. – Saturday Gold Cup Drivers Meeting (mandatory for those in attendance)
• 1:45 p.m. – 1/10 Scale Modern Heat 1A, followed by first flight heats for all other classes/divisions.
• 4-5 p.m. Open water
• 5 p.m. – Clean up pits, club equipment and depart
• Approximately 5:30 p.m. – Swap meet/dinner, location TBD

 
Sunday, Sept. 11

• 7-8 a.m. – Reset club equipment/Heat Draws
• 7-8:30 a.m. – Open Water
• 8:30-8:45 a.m. – ERCU Gold Cup Drivers Meeting (mandatory for those in attendance) & 9/11
• Observance
• 8:50 a.m. – Heat 2A, 2B, etc. (1/10 modern; 1/7 modern; 1/10 classic; 1/7 classic; 1/10 vintage;
• 1/7 vintage)
• 9:50 a.m. – Heat 3A, 3B, etc. (1/10 modern; 1/7 modern; 1/10 classic; 1/7 classic; 1/10 vintage;
• 1/7 vintage)
• 11:50 a.m. – Lunch break (club provides lunch for all members in attendance)
• 12:30 p.m. – Heat 4A, 4B, etc. (1/10 modern; 1/7 modern; 1/10 classic; 1/7 classic; 1/10 vintage;
• 1/7 vintage)
• 2:30 p.m. – Ted Jones Memorials for all appropriate classes. (Gold Cup First Connies are the Ted Jones
• Memorial and count as a race win. Winners move up as trailer in Gold Cup Final)
• 3:30 p.m. – Winner Take All Gold Cup Final Heats (1/10 modern; 1/7 modern; 1/10 classic; 1/7
• classic; 1/10 vintage; 1/7 vintage)
• 4:30 p.m. – Club equipment breakdown and packing – ALL HANDS
• 5:15 p.m. – Awards Presentation

Starting Clock
A 1-minute 30-second clock will start as soon as all drivers are in the driving area and will not be stopped for any reason other than health or safety (including stubborn waterfowl). Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats, including getting your own spotter, and be ready when the chase boat comes back. A trailer boat shall not cross the start line less than five seconds after the start gun. Rookie drivers who have not yet earned 1,200 career points must start from the trailer position.
 
Heat Draws
Heat draws will be completed with the randomizer in our Excel workbook that’s used for scoring races. Every effort will be made to avoid preferred driver/spotter heat conflicts, but sometimes those cannot be avoided. The first heat draw will be conducted at approximately 9 a.m. and will be read verbally at the drivers meeting as a roll call. Succeeding heat draws will be conducted between flights. All heat draws will be printed and posted, and displayed on the TV screen, whenever possible.
 
Race Officials

• Contest Directors: ERCU Board of Directors
• Chief Referees: TBA (modern heats); TBA (classic heats); TBA (vintage heats)
• Drivers Representatives: TBA
• Pit Boss: TBA
• Turn Judges: First and second place finishers will judge the next heat

 
ERCU Gold Cup Defending Champions

• 1/10 Scale Modern: Mike Hughes, 1991 Winston Eagle
• 1/7 Scale Modern: Nelson Holmberg, 1972 Notre Dame (Owner: Gary Hansen)
• 1/10 Scale Classic: Jay Fonville, 1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther
• 1/10 Scale Vintage: David Newton, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos)
• 1/7 Scale Vintage: Terry Harmer, 1986 Miss Bahia

 
Race Format

• Four 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 starter. Second place in first connie is alternate in the final.
• Final heat with top five boats in each class, plus the connie winner as a trailer starter.
• Flight Schedule
  • 1/10 & 1/7 scale modern
  • 1/10 & 1/7 scale classic
  • 1/10 & 1/7 scale vintage
• Final heat of the day will feature a 1/7-scale class

 
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, first connie and Triple Crown winners. 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.
 
Weather Forecast
As of this writing, weather.com predicts mostly sunny weather with a high of 79 degrees and 7 mph winds out of the northwest on Saturday and partly cloudy weather with a high of 77 degrees and 7 mph winds out of the west southwest on Sunday.
 
Covid Accommodations
Following local, state and federal guidance, face coverings, social distancing and vaccination proof will not be required at ERCU events in 2022. Those who would like to take any precautions to their own comfort level are certainly welcome and encouraged to do so. ERCU reserves the right to change the Covid accommodations, in accordance with local, state or federal guidelines, should that need arise. ERCU will give as much notice as possible if changes are made.
 
Restrooms
There are two public restroom facilities on site in Woodland Creek Park and they are expected to be open.
 
Electricity
There is limited 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 weekend.