First race of 2020 finally in the books!

When we were finally able to get back to the beach and have the first ERCU race of the season, the day could not have been better.

So much fun. No controversy. No bad accidents. No jumped starts. A lot of great racing.

It’s exactly what we all waited for. And when all of the roostertails settled, it was Nelson Holmberg who took home the Diamond Cup trophies for the vintage and modern classes and Gerry Bordon who added his name (again) to the record book with the first-ever classic division win in the history of ERCU.

Holmberg had good fortune in the vintage final, as two boats were out after a mixup in the first turn just after the start. No significant damage was done to either boat, but it quickly cut the field in half. The 1975 Oberto had a good enough start that it was fortunate to be in a position to take the lead down the backstretch and hold on to it despite strong challenges from Ron Daum’s 1957 Miss U.S.

Bordon clearly had the fastest classic boat all day, in the form of his 1974 Miss U.S. And he proved it in the final. He also avenged the only second place finish of the day by beating the 1987 Oh Boy! Oberto, which was able to hold off the U.S. in classic heat 1A. Holmberg was second in the final, followed by Bill Mowatt driving the Miss Houston and Jerry Dunlap in his 1986 Boat.

Despite a wind that swept across Woodland Creek Park and onto Long’s Pond most of the day, Holmberg piloted the 2018 Oberto to a perfect day, winning all three preliminary heats and the modern final. Looks like he’s finally got that thing figured out, after a rough year in 2019. It’s the second straight year Nellie has won the Diamond Cup. Ron Daum had an awesome day with the 2009 Grandview on the Lake scoring two firsts and two seconds, including the runner up spot in the modern final. Mick Shutt, driving Jim Bakke’s 2013 Graham Trucking took third, and Mick enjoyed a great day with the boat scoring 1050 points.

Saturday’s race also kicked off the new ERCU Triple Crown Challenge. The first of three modern events was held with the Diamond Cup. Paul Dunlap drove the 2015 Dalton Industries to the fastest time in time trials, but struggles through the day led to a withdrawal for the Dalton team. Additionally, Len Taylor 2012 Spirit of Qatar, which was the second-fastest in time trials, missed the Triple Crown heat due to technical difficulties that forced withdrawal from the race. So it came down to Holmberg driving the 2013 Graham Trucking and Daum with the Turbinator. While the two-boat heat was filled with good racing, it ended on an ironic twist when both boats blew over, Daum’s in the back stretch, and Nellie’s seconds later while entering the front stretch. None of the boats finished, so Paul Dunlap was given 100 points for his time trial finish and the early lead in the three race modern series.

The next race on the 2020 ERCU Championship Series is Sunday, July 12, also at Woodland Creek Park