Race Circular: All you need to know about the ERCU Gold Cup

The final race of the 2021 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the ERCU Gold Cup, set for Saturday, September 11 at Long’s Pond in Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the final event of the year:

CONTEST DIRECTOR
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 2021 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 2021. There will be five Gold Cups awarded at the end of the day: 1/10 scale modern; 1/7 scale modern; 1/10 scale classic; 1/10 scale vintage and 1/7 scale vintage. The club is doing its best to make sure the five actual cups are present at the event to be awarded in person.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Optional time trials will be run for a minimum of one hour immediately prior to the drivers meeting. Each boat will be allowed two runs. Fastest qualifier in each class will be the Bill Muncey Memorial Fastest Qualifier Award Winner.
• Time trials points format for both vintage, classic and modern is: 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
• There will be giveaways, surprises and a drawing throughout the course of the day
• Food will be provided for lunch, paid for by the club. Please bring your own snacks and beverages. Adult beverages are not permitted in the park.
• Awards will be presented immediately following the conclusion of the final heat of racing.
• Raffle prizes include:

             o    1/10 scale laser cut wood kit provided by ML Boatworks (this will be a gift certificate, and you’ll be able to pick your own kit)
             o    New in box EZ Up canopy provided by Bill Mowatt
             o    Fairing parts from the 2021 Graham Trucking (2021 Gold Cup damage)
             o    Parts (with photos) from the Gold Cup winning 2013 Spirit of Qatar (driven by Kip Brown)
             o    Various gift cards provided by Roostertail Talk
             o    New in box Turnigy DLux 10A Linear BEC provided by Terry Harmer
             o    Hobbywing Program Card provided by Terry Harmer
             o    Slo-Mo-Shun, Miss Thriftway, Atlas Van Lines & Miss Bardahl thumbdrives from Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum
             o    Please note you must be present to win your raffle prize.

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 underneath the race site map. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page.

You can also find pre-registration by going to www.ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “ERCU Gold Cup” from the schedule itself.

SCHEDULE
It is our intent to have the course open by 7:30 a.m., so that testing can commence once boats are registered for the event. There will be no new driver tests conducted on Saturday. The water will be open for testing until approximately 8:00 a.m. (we will provide a minimum of 30 minutes for testing), followed by at least an hour of time trials. A mandatory driver’s meeting will start immediately following time trials. Drivers that 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 no less than five minutes after the conclusion of the drivers meeting.

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. Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats and be ready when the chase boat comes back. When all drivers are at the driving area and boats launched/ready to launch drivers the 1:30 clock will be started.

DRIVERS MEETING
The Drivers Meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin immediately upon the closing of time trials at the scoring table. Drivers who are late to the drivers meeting, or do not attend, will NOT be drawn into the first heat – regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. First heat will begin no later than five minutes after the conclusion of the Drivers Meeting.

Nelson Holmberg will serve as Drivers Rep and Bill Mowatt will serve as Pit Boss.

ROOKIE/GUEST DRIVERS
ERCU always welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. Due to time constraints, and a shortened testing session, there will be no rookie driver testing available at the ERCU Gold Cup.

2021 RULES
Please review the rulebook as is posted on the ERCU website, available under the Resources tab (or by clicking here). Be sure to read the “Gold Cup Rules” section, too, on page 14. The Contest Director/Chief Referee will make every effort to be sure that officiating is consistent with the rules as published on the website, and that every effort is made to assure consistency in officiating.

NEW BOATS
As noted above, it is possible that there will be new boats in the pits that need to be inspected. We ask that you print out the 2021 Hull Inspection Form, found on the Resources tab of the club website (www.ercu-hydros.com), and complete the member information at the top of page one prior to arriving at the race site. Please also remember to bring a photo of the real boat (a photo on your phone or tablet is acceptable) that your boat models.

ERCU GOLD CUP DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

• 1/10 Scale Modern: David Newton, 1985 Miss Budweiser
• 1/10 Scale Classic: Brad Lewis, 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto
• 1/10 Scale Vintage: Brad Lewis, 1962 Miss Supertest

RACE FORMAT

• GOLD CUP: Four flights of preliminary heats, five laps each.
• First and second connies for each class (depending on total boat count and attrition).
• First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer boat. Second connie winner advances to the first connie as a front starter.
• First connies for all classes are the Ted Jones Memorial and count as an official race victory.
• Final heat with top five boats in each class plus the connie winner as a trailer starter.
• Flight Schedule

             o    1/10 & 1/7 scale modern – directed by David Newton
             o    1/10 scale classic – directed by Nelson Holmberg
             o    1/10 & 1/7 scale vintage – directed by Jerry Dunlap
             o    1/8-scale heats (1/8 scale will not be scored; and there are no entry fees or registration necessary for 1/8 scale)

• Final heat of the day will feature a 1/7-scale class

POST RACE CLEANUP AND AWARDS PRESENTATION
Following the conclusion of the final heat of the day, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the podium (first, second and third place). After the awards are presented, please remember to stick around to help cleanup and re-pack the club trailer. Any final raffle prizes will be presented at this time. Remember you must be present to claim your raffle prize.

WEATHER FORECAST
As of this writing, the weather is expected to be partly sunny and 72 degrees in Lacey.

COVID NOTICE
Effective June 30, 2021, ERCU has adopted a policy that those who are fully vaccinated may participate without face coverings and physical distancing. Those who are not fully vaccinated are asked to continue use of facial coverings, in accordance with state and local requirements.

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 day.