Champion Spark Plug Regatta

2026 ERCU Championship Series

Champion Spark Plug Regatta

Vance Creek Park • Elma, Wash.

DateSaturday, March 28, 2026
Contest DirectorsJerry Dunlap, Paul Dunlap
Drivers MeetingApproximately 9:15 a.m.
First HeatApproximately 9:30 a.m.
Read the race circular

The season opening race of the 2026 ERCU Championship Series is the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, set for Saturday, March 28 at Vance Creek Park in Elma.

Even in the real boats, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta – for its entire existence – was the season opening event each year, held at Miami Marine Stadium in South Florida. For 18 of our 22 years, ERCU has started its season with the Champion Spark Plug Regatta.

Race Format

  • Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes.
  • First and second connies for both divisions and all classes (depending on boat count and attrition). Second connie winner advances to first connie as a trailer. First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer.
  • Second place boat in the first connie is an alternate for the final.
  • Winner-take-all championship finals for vintage, classic and modern.
  • Vintage Triple Crown Series event #1
Champion Spark Plug RegattaChampion Spark Plug Regatta

2026 race stats

Champion Spark Plug Regatta race statistics

2026 race results

1/10 Scale Modern Class

  1. Paxton Reunanen, 2021 Beacon Plumbing
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2015 Dalton Industries
  3. David Newton, 2015 Graham Trucking U-7 (Owner: Tom Markos)
DNFNelson Holmberg, 2023 Flav-R-Pac
DNFPaul Dunlap, 1991 Winston Eagle
DNFRon Daum, 2003 Llumar Window Films

1/10 Classic Class

  1. Brad Lewis, 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto ^
  2. Nelson Holmberg, 1986 Squire Shop Brittania
  3. David Newton, 1971 Country Boy (Owner: Tom Markos)
  4. Carl Lewis, 1974 Miss U.S.
  5. Wayne Beeson, 1977 Mark & Pak
DNFJim Hagan, 1983 American Speedy Printing

1/7 Scale Classic Class

  1. Scott Whitestine, 1972 Notre Dame
  2. Craig Mullen, 1971 Pay 'n Pak
  3. Nelson Holmberg, 1975 Lincoln Thrift (Owner: Carl Lewis)
  4. John Havens, Jr., 1976 Miss Budweiser (U-95)
  5. Mike McIntosh, 1977 Anheuser Busch Natural Light

1/10 Vintage Class

  1. Brad Lewis, 1961 Miss Supertest II
  2. Wayne Beeson, 1967 Gale's Roostertail
  3. Dray Newton, 1957 Hawaii Kai III
  4. David Heilbrunn, 1965 Blue Chip ^
DNFPaul Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
DNSMarc Connely, 1969 Notre Dame

1/7 Vintage Class

  1. Scott Whitestine, 1962 Notre Dame
DNFMark Manchester, 1966 Notre Dame
DNFJohn Havens Jr., 1962 Miss U.S.
DNFDennis Caines, 1968 Eagle Electric

1/10 Vintage Triple Crown

  1. 1961 Miss Supertest II, 1,600 points
  2. 1969 Notre Dame, 1,100
  3. 1967 Gale's Roostertail, 994
  4. 1957 Hawaii Kai III, 844
  5. 1965 Blue Chip, 769
  6. 1964 Miss Exide, 700
  7. 1957 Thriftway Too, 675
  8. 1974 Atlas Van Lines, 563

1/7 Vintage Triple Crown

  1. 1962 Notre Dame, 1,600
  2. 1966 Notre Dame, 900
  3. 1962 Miss U.S., 450
  4. 1968 Eagle Electric, 338

^ – Started final heat as trailer boat

champion spark plug all-time results

1/10 Vintage Class Race Winners2004–2026
  • 20041957 Hawaii Ka’i III. Owner/Driver: Roger Newton. (Shady Lake, Renton)
  • 20051970 Pay ‘n Pak Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
  • 20061970 Pay ‘n Pak Lil’ Buzzard. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
  • 20071971 Hallmark Homes. Owner: Jeff Campbell. Driver: Jason Hartley.
  • 20081969 Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
  • 20091963 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Bob VandenAkker.
  • 20101969 Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
  • 20111970 Parco’s O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon.
  • 20121970 Parco’s O-Ring Miss. Owner/Driver: Gerry Bordon.
  • 20131971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister.
  • 20141960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: Kerry Kjos.
  • 20151962 Gale V. Owner/Driver: John Earnest
  • 2016No race
  • 2017Miss U.S. 5. Owner/Driver: Len Taylor
  • 20181969 Miss Schweppes. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
  • 20191957 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Jerry Dunlap
  • 20201957 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Jerry Dunlap, 1,500 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20211960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton
  • 20221960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20231960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20241964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Paul Dunlap (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20251960 Gale's Roostertail. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20261961 Miss Supertest II. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners2022–2026
  • 20221960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: John Sjostrom (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20231958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20241983 Island Security Systems. Owner: Mike McIntosh. Driver: Craig Mullen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20251967 Miss U.S. V. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20261962 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
1/10 Classic Class Race Winners2020–2026
  • 20201987 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg, 1,169 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20211986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Jerry Dunlap. 1,094 points
  • 20221976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Jay Fonville (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20231976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Jay Fonville (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20241983 Miss Rock. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20251976 Atlas Van Lines. Owner: Tom Markos. Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20261982 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
1/7 Classic Class Race Winners2022–2025
  • 20221972 Notre Dame. Owner: Gary Hansen. Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20231975 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Craig Mullen (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20241975 Miss U.S. Owner: Denise Sjostrom. Driver: Craig Mullen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20251972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Gale Whitestine. (Vance Creek Park, Elma) — Classic/Modern combined
  • 20251972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Scott Whitestine (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
1/10 Modern Class Race Winners2004–2026
  • 20041970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. (Shady Lake, Renton)
  • 20051974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
  • 20061970 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell.
  • 20071974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
  • 20081978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler.
  • 20091982 Executone. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
  • 20101974 U-95. Owner/Driver: Rick Lentz.
  • 20111977 Charlie’s Girl. Owner/Driver: Bill Smiley.
  • 20122010 Formula Boats. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg.
  • 20131986 Boat. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell.
  • 20142012 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg.
  • 20151976 Spirit of Dayton Walther. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis
  • 2016No race
  • 20172011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
  • 20182011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth
  • 20191972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Rick Evans
  • 20202009 Grandview on the Lake. Owner/Driver: Ron Daum, 1,100 points (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20211985 Miss Budweiser. Owner/Driver: David Newton
  • 20221991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20231991 Winston Eagle. Owner/Driver: Mike Hughes (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20242019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20252019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 20262021 Beacon Plumbing. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners2022–2026
  • 20222021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20232021 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg (Woodland Creek Park, Lacey)
  • 20242021 Goodman Real Estate. Owner/Driver: David Heilbrunn (Vance Creek Park, Elma)
  • 2026No race

*Unless Otherwise Noted – Race was Held at Fort Borst Park, Centralia

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