Race Circular: Stan Sayres Memorial

The ninth race of the 2022 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Stan Sayres Memorial, presented by American SaniCan, set for Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the ninth event of the year.
 
Location
Lake Sacajawea Park
Closest address (for GPS) 1701 Nichols Blvd., Longview, WA
 
Contest Directors
Nelson Holmberg & Tom Markos
 
Context
At 48 years, the Stan Sayres Memorial is the “world’s oldest and greatest RC Scale Unlimited Race”. Started in 1974 by Roger Newton and Monte Steere, the race has been contested in Seattle Model Yacht Club and in RC Unlimiteds before finding itself a home in ERCU.
 
The only year the race was not run was 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic caused half of the ERCU racing season to be canceled.
 
Stanley “Stan” St. Claire Sayres (1896-1956) was a hydroplane racer who broke the world water speed record with his “Slo-mo-shun IV”.
 
Sayres was born in Dayton, Wash. in 1896, and studied at Whitman College in Walla Walla before entering the U.S. Army in 1917. After World War I, he ran his own car dealerships in Walla Walla and a second one in Pendleton, Ore. By 1931, when he moved to Seattle, he owned five car dealerships. Together with Harry Jensen he founded the successful company Jen-Cel-Lite, which made sleeping bags using cellulose for insulation. Harry’s brother Tony owned Jensen Motor Boat Company, and this sparked the interest in motor boat racing Sayres would have for the rest of his life.
 
What to Expect
(All times approximate, and subject to change)

• No vehicles can load to depart until the last heat has been run and awards have been presented.
• Winner-take-all final heats.
• Racecourse will be set by Paul Dunlap & David Heilbrunn between 7:30-8 a.m.
• Practice water and on-site registration 8-9 a.m.
• 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 consolations (depending on boat count and attrition)
  • First connie winner 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.
• A best of show award will be presented to the club member who has the best overall appearance (combination of pit area, displays, uniforms, boat’s scale appearance, sportsmanship, etc.)
• 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 Stan Sayres Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/stan-sayres-memorial.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, AUGUST 26. 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 “Stan Sayres Memorial” from the schedule itself.
 
Schedule
It is our intent to have the course open by 8 a.m., so that testing can commence once boats are registered for the event.

The water will be open for testing until approximately 9 a.m. A mandatory driver’s meeting will start no less than 5 minutes after the water closes. Drivers who do not attend the meeting will not be allowed to participate in the first round of heats. 1/10-scale modern heat 1A will begin within 10 minutes of the conclusion of the drivers meeting. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats.
 
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 Director: Nelson Holmberg
• Chief Referee: Rick Evans (modern heats), Bill Mowatt (classic heats), Mike Hughes (vintage heats)
• Drivers Representatives: Mick Shutt & Jim Latimer
• Pit Boss: Tom Markos
• Turn Judges: First and second place finishers will judge the next heat

 
Stan Sayres Memorial Defending Champions

• 1/10 Scale Modern: Paul Dunlap, 2015 Dalton Industries (Owner: Rick Evans)
• 1/7 Scale Modern: Nelson Holmberg, 1972 Notre Dame (Owner: Gary Hansen)
• 1/10 Scale Classic: Chuck Murray, 1983 Miss Houston
• 1/10 Scale Vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos)
• 1/7 Scale Vintage: John Sjostrom, 1960 Miss Thriftway

 
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 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 sunny weather with a high of 83 degrees and 8 mph winds out of the west northwest.
 
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
This the “Pee for Free” Longview race! We’ll have a port-a-potty on site, provided by American SaniCan in exchange for their sponsorship of the event. Many thanks to American SaniCan for their support of ERCU and the Stan Sayres Memorial.
 
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.