RACE CIRCULAR: Atomic Cup Sept. 20 at Vance Creek Park in Elma

The final race of the 2025 ERCU Championship Series is the Atomic Cup, presented by Skidfin Consulting and Hobby Chef Racing, set for Saturday Sept. 20, 2025, at Vance Creek Park in Elma. Here is all you need to know to get prepared for the upcoming race.
 
Location
Vance Creek Park, 76 Wenzel Slough Road, Elma, WA 98563
 
Context
The Columbia River cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland first climbed on the Unlimited bandwagon in 1966 with the first annual Tri-Cities Atomic Cup. There had been talk of inviting the unlimiteds there as early as 1958. But 1966 was when it finally happened. Bill Brow was the winner that first year, driving Bernie Little’s Miss Budweiser. The race remained named the Atomic Cup until 1976 when it was renamed the Columbia Cup. In 2006, when the race lost its title sponsorship from Budweiser, the event was run as the Atomic Cup once again, but with the arrival of Lamb Weston as title sponsor in 2007, it returned to being the Columbia Cup. ERCU last raced in Elma in 2023 and before that, 2012 and 2013.
 
Registration
Pre-Registration for the Atomic Cup is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/atomic-cup.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the photo at the top of the page. You may also pre-pay your entry fees online by following the PayPal directions at the bottom of the page. Pre-registration will close at 10 p.m., FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2025. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.
 
Race Officials 

• Contest Directors: Tom Markos, Nelson Holmberg
• Chief Referee (1/10 modern & 1/7 modern/classic): Mick Shutt
• Chief Referee (1/10 classic): David Heilbrunn
• Chief Referee (1/10 vintage): Bob Van den Akker
• Chief Referee (1/7 vintage): David Newton
• Drivers Representative: Tom Markos & Chuck Murray
• Turn Judges: First and second place finishers from the previous heat will turn judge next heat

 
What to Expect
(All times approximate, and subject to change)

• Race course will be set between 7:30-8 a.m.
• Practice water and on-site registration 8-9 a.m.
• Mandatory drivers meeting 9:05-9:30 a.m.
• Racing begins 9:30 a.m. (or maximum of 10 minutes after completion of drivers meeting)
• One minute-30 second start clock will be used for all racing.
• A 30-minute lunch break will be held after the completion of the second flight of heats. Hobby Chef Racing Team will provide a hot dog lunch with all the fixings for all racers in attendance.

 


Race Format

• Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes.
• First and second consolation 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.

 
Flight Schedule

• 1/10 scale modern
• 1/7 scale modern/classic
• 1/10 scale classic
• 1/10 scale vintage
• 1/7 scale vintage

 
Heat Draws
Heat draws will be completed just prior to the drivers meeting. The first heat draw will be conducted at approximately 9 a.m. and will be read verbally at the drivers meeting as a roll call. Succeeding heat draws will be conducted between flights. All heat draws will be printed and posted, and displayed on the TV screen, whenever possible. No re-draws of heats will be done.
 
Starting Clock
A 1-minute 30-second clock will start as soon as all drivers are in the driving area and will not be stopped for any reason other than health or safety (including stubborn waterfowl). Please plan ahead for your upcoming heats, including getting your own spotter, and be ready when the chase boat comes back. A trailer boat shall not cross the start line less than five seconds after the start gun. Rookie drivers who have not yet earned 1,200 career points must start from the trailer position.
 
Race Day Morning
It will be our intent to have the course open by 8 a.m. so that testing can commence once boats are registered for the event. Boat owners should prepare to have time for inspections and to be ready to race. The water will be open for testing until approximately 9:30 a.m.
 
Drivers Meeting
The drivers meeting is mandatory for ALL divisions and all classes and will begin at the scorer’s table within five minutes of the closing of time trials. Drivers who do not attend the drivers meeting will be scratched from the first heat regardless of whether they are pre-registered and pre-paid. Drivers arriving after the drivers meeting will not be added to the event until the draw for the second flight of heats.

Special Awards
The Atomic Cup will feature two special awards, created by David Newton specially for the final event of the season. The Plutonium Performance Award will be given to the racer with the most powerful, untouchable run of the day. The Meltdown Award will go to the racer with the hardest luck of the day.

Courtesy of Skidfin Consulting, all podium finishers in the days final heats will be given take home photo plaques created featuring the art from past actual Atomic Cups in the Tri-Cities with mini nuclear cooling towers on them.

2024 Atomic Cup Champions

• 1/10 Scale Modern: David Newton, 2004 Miss Budweiser
• 1/7 Scale Modern/Classic: no race
• 1/10 Scale Classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock
• 1/10 Scale Vintage: Paxton Reunanen, 1970 Burien Lady
• 1/7 Scale Vintage: David Newton, 1956 Hawaii Kai III

 
Visiting drivers
ERCU welcomes new members to the club and visiting racers from other clubs. Rookie driver testing will be offered during the open water period or lunch break as needed. The course will be closed for rookie driver tests. Visiting racers may not take home an ERCU perpetual trophy, in the event they win the race.
 
Post-Race Cleanup and Awards Presentation
Club equipment cleanup and re-packing the trailer will take priority once the race is over. Once the trailer is re-packed, awards will be presented. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers, winners. All members have a responsibility to help with set up and breakdown of club equipment. As a courtesy to your fellow racers, please stick around for the awards presentation whether you’ve won one or not.
 

 
Restrooms
There will be portable toilets available on site.
 
Electricity
There is no access to electricity in the pits. It would be wise to bring a generator or other power source if you will need to charge batteries during the day.