All you need to know about the June 26 Jack Regas Memorial

Waughop Lake, Fort Steilacoom Park
8714 87th Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98498

The sixth race of the 2021 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Jack Regas Memorial, set for Saturday, June 26 at Waughop Lake in Lakewood. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the sixth event of the year:

Contest Directors
Jerry Dunlap & Bill Mowatt

Context
This race had been known as the ERCU Apple Cup since its inception in 2010, when Ben Keller created the event, complete with an exhibition race drawing as many boats as possible that ran in the 1957 Apple Cup in Chelan, Wash., to recreate that final heat.
 
After Jack Regas passed away in early 2014, Keller requested permission from the ERCU Contest Board to change the name of the event to the Jack Regas Memorial, in honor of the onetime Hawaii Kai III driver, who had not only met with Keller to see his models of the “Pink Lady”, but also followed the boat’s seasons in ERCU and ESU.
 
After ERCU high points championships in 2011 and 2012, Keller presented Regas with plaques commemorating the wins. Jack Regas meant a lot to not only the Hawaii Ka’i history, Keller, and Choral Enterprises, but also to unlimited hydroplane racing in general. ERCU is proud to have an event named for his memory.

What to Expect

• Only FOUR vehicles at a time unloading/loading. Unload and return to parking area (do not set up before returning to parking) so others can unload.
• No vehicles can load until the last heat has been run and awards presented.
• Access to the race site is through the southeast end of the parking lot. Do not open the gate and drive down the road.
• Awards will be presented following the conclusion of the final heat of racing.
• There will be a 30-minute lunch break. Participants are responsible for their lunch. 
• A new restroom facility is at the north end of the parking lot.
• There are no health issues related to Waughop Lake. In August of 2020, a treatment was applied to the lake to improve water quality.

Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the Jack Regas Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/jack-regas-memorial.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 “Jack Regas Memorial” 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. With the possibility that there may be new boats that need to be inspected or rookie drivers who may need to take a driving test, please plan to arrive early on Saturday morning.

The water will be open for testing until 8:30 a.m. 1/10 scale modern heat 1A will begin immediately at 9 a.m.

Three Minute Clock
The three-minute clock will start as soon as all drivers indicate to the Chief Referee that they are ready 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 will be asked if they are ready for the 1:30 clock. This will be explained at the Drivers Meeting.

Drivers Meeting
The Drivers Meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin immediately upon the closing of testing at 8:30 a.m. 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 at 9 a.m.
 
A Drivers Rep and Pit Boss should also be named at the Drivers Meeting. If a Drivers Rep is not named at the Drivers Meeting, the Contest Director(s) shall be the Drivers Rep.
 
Rookie/Guest Drivers
ERCU always welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. If a rookie driver needs to be qualified, we will close the course during the test session for the rookie driving test as often is as necessary. The full procedure for rookie qualifications, and for visiting drivers, is in the rulebook by clicking here).
 
2021 Rules
Please review the rulebook as is posted on the ERCU website, available under the Resources tab (or by clicking here). 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.

Jack Regas Memorial Defending Champions
Modern: Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame
Vintage: JimmeJames Cusworth, 1969 Miss Schweppes

Race Format

• LOVE PLAN: Three 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 front-line starter. Second connie winner advances to the final as the trailer.
  • If there is not a second connie, the connie winner starts on the front line as the sixth boat in and the second place boat in the connie starts the final as the trailer.
• Final heat with top five boats in each class plus the connie winner on the front line.
• Classic Triple Crown Series Event #2.
• Flight Schedule
  • 1/10 Scale modern, classic, vintage heats
  • 1/8 Scale heats (1/8 scale will not be scored; and there are no entry fees or registration necessary for 1/8 scale)

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 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) After the awards are presented, please remember to stick around to help cleanup and re-pack the club trailer
 
Weather Forecast
As of this writing, the weather is expected to be 86 degrees and sunny in Lakewood.

Covid Notice
Effective June 30, 2021, all counties in the State of Washington will be allowed to re-open with some masking and physical distancing required for those who are not fully vaccinated.
 
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 is a new restroom facility located in Fort Steilacoom Park, at the north end of the Waughop Lake parking lot

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.