Everything You Need to Know About the ERCU Governor’s Cup

GISSBERG TWIN LAKES PARK
16324 Twin Lakes Ave., Marysville, WA 98271

The eighth race of the 2021 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Governor’s Cup, set for Saturday, August 14 at Twin Lakes Park (North Lake) in Marysville. Here is all you need to know to be prepared for the eighth event of the year:

CONTEST DIRECTORS
Kelly Gruol & Mike Hughes

CONTEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S CUP
This will mark the 10th running of the ERCU Governor’s Cup. It is modeled as a recognition of the Indiana Governor’s Cup, run for 50 years in Madison, Indiana.

The real race is typically held the first weekend in July and is the city of Madison’s celebration of Independence Day. Madison has hosted its regatta on the Ohio River annually since 1951. Hollywood recognized Madison’s love affair unlimited hydroplane racing in 1999 when the movie “Madison” starring Jim Caviezel was released.

Informal racing took place in Madison as early as 1911, but the first major race didn’t occur until 1929 when the now-defunct Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association conducted a race for the 724 cubic inch class, which evolved into the unlimited class after World War II. The MVPBA conducted the Webb Trophy – the MVPBA equivalent of the APBA Gold Cup – at Madison in 1930.

The unlimited races at Madison in 1950, 51, 52, and 53 were one-heat multi-class free-for-all affairs. They did not count for national high points.

In 1954, the unlimited finally raced for national high points in Madison. This largely came from the efforts of Madison Courier columnist Phil Cole. Madison then had an uninterrupted string of high points unlimited races through 2012, when not even sweltering temperatures could stop teams from racing on the Ohio.

In 2013, the races were canceled because of flooding on the Ohio that covered the pit area. Land-based events associated with the regatta went on as scheduled, and teams opened the boats and haulers to the fans for up-close views of the fleet and meet-and-greet opportunity with the crews, drivers and owners.

The 2017 race was conducted, but only as a four-boat exhibition. Jimmy Shane, driving the Miss Madison Racing Team’s Oberto was declared the unofficial winner of the event, which did not count as an official win.

As depicted by the movie “Madison”, the city also hosted the APBA Gold Cup in 1971, when Miss Madison Racing Team won its first-ever APBA Gold Cup, with Jim McCormack driving. Miss Madison Racing – running as the Goodman Real Estate presents Homestreet Bank – won the 2021 APBA Gold Cup and Governor’s Cup, providing proper celebration of the event’s 50th Anniversary.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• We will set up and use the club’s scaffold for the driver’s stand
• No vehicles can load until the last heat has been run and awards presented.
• Awards will be presented following the conclusion of the final heat of racing.
• There will be a 30-minute lunch break.

PARKING
Parking inside Twin Lakes Park, nearest the racing area at North Lake is limited to three cars, as well as any vehicles with current disabled parking placards.

The rest of us are allowed to drive in to unload before the event and load up after the event, with a maximum of three cars at a time.

In order for those who wish to drive in for unloading and loading to know whether or not they will exceed the Snohomish County Parks limit, we will be using three batons. The batons are to be passed much like a relay race. These batons will be placed at the entry gate to be picked up. You must have a baton in order to drive in. Upon leaving, please pass the baton to the next waiting driver, or leave it at the entry gate.

Please be diligent about ONLY unloading when you drive in, as others will be waiting their turn. Simply unload your vehicle, return it to the parking area, walk back and THEN set up your pit area. Same for loading at the end of the race. Please break down your pit area and get it ready for loading BEFORE bringing your vehicle back into the park.

Jerry Dunlap will set and take down the race course, so he will be permitted to park full-day inside the gate. Bill Mowatt is pulling the trailer, so he too, will be permitted to park full-day inside the gate.

PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-Registration for the Governor’s Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/governors-cup.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 “Governor’s Cup” 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.

STARTING CLOCK
A 1:30 clock that starts when all drivers are at the driving area will be used for the full day. The 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 — including waterfowl or humans who are in unauthorized boats/floatation devices on the North Lake.

Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats — including knowing who your spotter will be — and be ready when the chase boat comes back. When all drivers are at the driving area and boats launched/ready to launch drivers the 1:30 clock will start.

DRIVERS MEETING
The Drivers Meeting is mandatory for all divisions and classes and will begin upon the closing of testing at 9 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.

GOVERNOR’S CUP DEFENDING CHAMPIONS (2019)
Modern: Gerry Bordon, 1973 Red Man Too (Owner: Rick Evans)
Vintage: Robbie Roberts, 1971 Hallmark Homes

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 line starter.
• Final heat with top five boats in each class plus the connie winner on the front line.
• Classic Triple Crown Series Event #3
• 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

WEATHER FORECAST
As of this post, the weather is expected to be 84 degrees and sunny in Marysville.

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 is a portable restroom near the entrance to the park. The public restrooms may be open also, but there is no guarantee.

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.