All you need to know about the Roger Newton Memorial

The seventh race of the 2021 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Roger Newton Memorial, set for Saturday, July 10 at Long’s Pond in Lacey. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the seventh event of the year:
 
Contest Director
David Newton

Context
This will mark the 14th running of the Roger Newton Memorial. Roger Newton, club founder and hall of fame RC scale racer, passed away in the summer of 2008. Since then the club has been dedicated to racing in his honor.
 
Roger spent his lifetime promoting and racing scale RC hydroplanes of all sizes. In the early 1970’s he created Newton Marine, a side business that sells 1/8-scale hydroplane plans. He then created R/C Unlimiteds in 1976, the first club dedicated to racing nothing but scale hydroplane models. He helped to form Classic Thunder in 1994 and then created ERCU in 2003. He was influential with scale RC racing around the world and spent his life fulfilling that dream. 
 
David Newton will again chair the race. This year he plans to make the race bigger and better than previous years with more raffle prizes, awards, hot lunch and other surprises along the way. This will be a race you won’t want to miss!

What to Expect

• No vehicles can load until the last heat has been run and awards presented.
• Awards will be presented immediately following the conclusion of the final heat of racing.
• There will be a 30-minute lunch break. Lunch will be provided by world famous hot dog chef Larry Goldman.  Larry will bbq up some hot dogs and sausages, other sides will be provided but will be BYOB.
• There are a lot of prizes and give aways for the race.  Each participant will walk away with one or more of the following (this is outside of the raffle prizes):
  • 11 x 14 framed ERCU photo
  • Pentair hat
  • Pentair shirt
  • Commemorative Roger Newton Memorial sticker
  • Commemorative Roger Newton Memorial sunglasses
• There will be a raffle with many prizes to be given away. Prizes include an iCharger from Progressive RC, gift certificates to Offshore Electrics and Progressive RC, Strong Racing T-shirts, donations from the Squire Shop Restoration and many other items.  Raffle tickets will be given to each participant along with bonus tickets to those who answer random hydro trivia questions!
  • Please note you must be present to win your raffle prize. If you elect to leave the race site early you are forfeiting your chance to win.
• Best of scale awards will be handed out for each of the 1/10-scale classes

Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the Roger Newton Memorial is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/roger-newton-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 “Roger Newton 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 9:00 a.m. A mandatory driver’s meeting will start at 9:05 am. 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 immediately at 9:30 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 9:00 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 9:30 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.
 
Roger Newton Memorial Defending Champions
Modern: David Newton, 1985 Miss Budweiser
Classic: Brad Lewis, 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto
Vintage: Brad Lewis, 1962 Miss Supertest
 
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 trailer boat. Second connie winner advances to the first connie as a front starter.
• 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
  • 1/7-scale modern, 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)
• 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 84 degrees and sunny in Lacey.
 
Covid Notice
Effective June 30, 2021, all counties in the State of Washington have been 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 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.