2026 ERCU Championship Series
Bardahl ERCU Gold Cup
Woodland Creek Community Park — Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course • Lacey, Wash.
DateSaturday, Aug. 8, 2026
Contest DirectorsERCU Board of Directors
Drivers MeetingApproximately 8:05 a.m.
First HeatApproximately 8:30 a.m.
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 2023 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 2023.
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. The club is doing its best to make sure the six actual cups are present at the event to be awarded in person.
In 2026, the Bardahl Oil Company will support the ERCU Gold Cup as the race’s title sponsor, which seems fitting given Bardahl’s legendary status as a sponsor of unlimited hydroplane racing over the years. We thank Bardahl for its support.
Race Format
- Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026
- (All times approximate, and may change)
- 7-8 a.m. Open water
- 8:05 a.m. Mandatory Gold Cup Drivers Meeting & heat draw announcement
- 8:30 a.m. First flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
- 9:45 a.m. Second flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
- 11-11:30 a.m. Lunch break
- 11:30 a.m. Third flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
- 1:15 p.m. Fourth flight of heats (1/10 modern, 1/7 modern, 1/10 classic, 1/7 classic, 1/10 vintage, 1/7 vintage)
- 3 p.m. Ted Jones Memorials (consolations) for all appropriate classes. Gold Cup first connie are the Ted Jones Memorial and count as race wins. Winners also move up to the Gold Cup finals as trailer boats.
- 4 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)
- 5 p.m.Club equipment breakdown and packing — ALL HANDS
- 6 p.m. Awards presentation
2026 Race stats
2026 GOLD CUP results
1/10 Scale Modern Class
- 1995 Miss Budweiser, Paxton Reunanen
DNF2001 Llumar Window Film, Ron Daum
DNF2015 Graham Trucking U-7, Nelson Holmberg
DQ2015 Dalton Industries, David Heilbrunn
1/7 Scale Modern Class
- 2003 Miss Chrysler Jeep, John Sjostrom
DNF2023 Beacon Plumbing, Paxton Reunanen
DNS1991 American Spirit, John Havens Jr.
DNS2023 Goodman Real Estate, David Heilbrunn
1/10 Scale Classic Class
- 1983 Miss Rock KISW, Paxton Reunanen
- 1983 American Speedy Printing, Jim Hagen ^
- 1973 Red Man Too, Mike Walcker
DNF1971 Country Boy, Paul Dunlap (Owner: Tom Markos)
DNF1986 Squire Shop Brittania, Nelson Holmberg
DNS1975 Pay 'n Pak, Nelson Holmberg
1/7 Scale Classic Class
- 1976 Natural Light, Chuck Murray
- 1976 Miss Budweiser (backup, U-95), John Havens Jr.
- 1978 Miss Mark & Pak, Wayne Beeson
DNF1976 Gilmore Special, Rob Edwards
1/10 Scale Vintage Class
- 1960 Miss Thriftway, Paxton Reunanen (Owner: Kerry Kjos)
- 1962 Gale V, John Earnest
- 1967 Gale's Roostertail, Wayne Beeson
DNF1964 Miss Exide, Paul Dunlap
DNF1969 Notre Dame, Marc Connelly
DNS1972 Miss Budweiser, Mick Shutt ^
1/7 Scale Vintage Class
- 1969 Pride of Pay 'n Pak Outrigger, Paxton Reunanen (Owner: Mike McIntosh)
- 1974 Kirby Classic, Jay Fonville
- 1962 Miss U.S. 1, John Havens Jr. ^
- 1962 $ Bill, Bob Van den Akker
DNF1962 Notre Dame, Scott Whitestine
DNF1966 Notre Dame, Mark Manchester
^ – denotes started as a trailer
2026 TED JONES MEMORIAL results
1/10 Scale Classic Class
- 1983 American Speedy Printing, Jim Hagen
- 1976 Olympia Beer, Chuck Murray
- 1976 Mark & Pak, Wayne Beeson
DNF1974 Lincoln Thrift, Carl Lewis
DNS1985 Coor's Light, Jerry Dunlap
1/7 Scale Classic Class
- 1972 Notre Dame, Scott Whitestine
- 1973 Red Man, Mike McIntosh
- 1976 Natural Light, Chuck Murray ^
- 1971 Pride of Pay 'n Pak, Craig Mullen
DNF1976 Miss Vernor's, Carl Lewis
DNF1975 Pay 'n Pak, Dennis Caines
1/10 Scale Vintage Class
- 1972 Miss Budweiser, Mick Shutt
DNS1962 Miss U.S.1, Ron Daum
1/7 Scale Vintage Class
- 1962 Miss U.S. 1, John Havens Jr.
DNF1957 Maverick, Jim McKeon
DNF1980 Evergreen Roofing, Craig Mullen (Owner: Denise Sjostrom)
DNS1960 Miss Spokane, Ron Manchester
DQ1965 Probe, Terry Harmer
ERCU Gold cup all-time results
1/10 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners2003–2026
- 20031957 Maverick. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
- 20041957 Maverick. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
- 20051970 Pay ‘n Pak’s Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20061970 Pay ‘n Pak’s Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20071969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20081969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20091972 Miss Timex. Owner/Driver: Jason Hartley. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20101969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20111971 Hallmark Homes. Owner/Driver: Bill Smiley. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20121957 Hawaii Ka’i III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Juanita Beach Park, Kirkland
- 20131961 Miss Supertest II. Owner: John Earnest. Driver: Ryan Opfer. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20141960 Miss Thriftway Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20151975 Miss Vernors Owner/Driver: Robert Roberts. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20161970 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20171970 Parco's O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20181969 Miss Schweppes. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20191957 Hawaii Kai III. Driver: Jerry Dunlap. Owner: Ben Keller. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20201971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20211960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20221960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20231960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20241954 Slo-Mo-Shun IV. Owner/Driver: Mitch Dillard. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20251965 Tahoe Miss. Owner/Driver: Mitch Dillard. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20261960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
1/10 Classic Class Race Winners2020–2026
- 20201985 The Squire Shop. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20211976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Jay Fonville. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20221979 Squire Shop. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20231976 Olympia Beer. Owner: Paxton Reunanen. Owner: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20241975 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Mitch Dillard. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20251983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20261983 Miss Rock KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
1/10 Modern Class Race Winners2003–2026
- 20031980 Tempus. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
- 20041972 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
- 20051974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20061972 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20071974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20081978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20091982 Executone. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20101982 Executone. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20111982 Executone. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley
- 20122010 Formula Boats. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Juanita Beach Park, Kirkland
- 20132011 Miss Peters & May. Owner/Driver: Ryan Opfer. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20142011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20152014 Oberto. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20161983 Miss Houston. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20171983 Miss Houston. Owner/Driver: Chuck Murray. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20182011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20191972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans. Location: Lake Silverado, Adna
- 20201988 Miss Budweiser. Driver: David Newton. Owner: Harry Gatjens. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20211991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20221991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20232017 Spirit of Detroit. Owner/Driver: Geoffry Grembowski. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20242016 Grigg's Ace Hardware. Owner/Driver: Mitch Dillard. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20252004 Miss Budweiser. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20261995 Miss Budweiser. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
1/7 Vintage Class Race Winners2021–2026
- 20211986 Miss Bahia. Owner/Driver: Terry Harmer. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20221958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen (Co-Owner: Ben Keller). Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20231958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20241982 Island Security System. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20251982 Island Security System. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20261960 Pride of Pay 'n Pak Outrigger. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
1/7 Classic Class Race Winners2021–2025
- 20211972 Notre Dame. Owner: Gary Hansen. Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20221970 Pride of Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Community Park, Lacey
- 20231970 Pride of Pay 'n Pak. Driver: Bill Mowatt. Owner: David Newton. Location:: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20241989 Winston Eagle (lobster). Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey %
- 20251972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
- 20251972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
1/7 Modern Class Race Winners2022–2026
- 20221990 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owners: Denise & John Sjostrom. Driver: Bill Mowatt. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Park, Lacey
- 20231980 Pay 'n Pak. Owner: Aaron Olson. Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Park, Lacey
- 2024no race due to boat count (modern/classic combined)
- 2025no race due to boat count (modern/classic combined)
- 20262003 Miss Chrysler Jeep. Owner/Driver: John Sjostrom. Location: Long's Pond, Woodland Creek Comm. Park, Lacey
% – Modern/Classic classes were combined for racing in 2024-25