RACE CIRCULAR: Detroit Memorial Regatta

The 10th race of the 2024 ERCU Pentair Championship Series is the Detroit Memorial Regatta, set for Saturday, August 24, at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course in Woodland Creek Park, Lacey. Here is everything you need to know to get prepared for the 10th event of the year.
 
Location
Bill Mowatt Race Course at Woodland Creek Park
6729 Pacific Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
 
Contest Directors
Jerry Dunlap & Paul Dunlap
 
Context
This was a new race in 2021, established to memorialize and celebrate ERCU members who have passed away over the years. Many thanks to Brad Lewis and David Newton for not only dreaming to create such an auspicious event, but also for their work in putting it all together. It will most certainly be a very special event, so mark your calendars now, and plan to attend.

In real life, the Detroit River Racing Association, which later became the Windmill Pointe Yacht Club, presented the Detroit Memorial Regatta in either late-June or early-July. It was one of two unlimited hydroplane races on the Detroit River each year for the first 15 years. The other race was the Silver Cup, hosted by the Detroit Yacht Club.

As a club, we’ll be acknowledging three members including Bill Mowatt, Craig Bradshaw and Ben Keller during an extended drivers’ meeting, which is to start at 9:15 a.m. There will be lots of additional action both on and off the racecourse throughout the day.

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

• Racecourse will be set between 7-8 a.m.
• Practice water and on-site registration 8-9 a.m.
• Mandatory drivers meeting 9:15-9:50 a.m.
• Racing begins at approximately 10:00 a.m. (maximum of 10 minutes after drivers meeting)
• Three flights of heats for each division (1/10 and 1/7)
• First and second consolations (depending on boat count and attrition)

          o  First connie winner is trailer in the final
          o  First connie second place is alternate for the final
          o  Second connie winner starts on the front line in first connie

• Final heats will be run for each class
• One minute-30 second start clock for all racing
• A 30 minute lunch break will be held after the second flight of heats is complete. Lunch will be provided for all members present at the event, courtesy of the club

Pre-Registration
Pre-Registration for the Detroit Memorial Regatta is now open. To find the pre-registration form, navigate your web browser to https://www.ercu-hydros.com/detroit-memorial-regatta.html, where you will find the pre-registration link in a blue box just under the race site map. Pre-payment of entry fees is not available for this race, so please bring payment with you to the race site. Pre-registration will close at 11:59 p.m., Friday, August 23. After that deadline, please register in person on site before 8:30 a.m.

You can also find pre-registration by going to www.ercu-hydros.com, then selecting “Schedule” from the main menu, and “Detroit Memorial Regatta” from the schedule itself.

Schedule
It is our intent to have the course open by 8 a.m., so that practice/testing can commence once boats are registered for the event.. The water will be open for testing until approximately 9 a.m. A mandatory driver’s meeting will start at 9:15 a.m. Drivers who 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 no less than 10 minutes after the conclusion of the drivers meeting.
 
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 the testing period. 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.
 
Race Officials

• Contest Directors: Paul Dunlap & Jerry Dunlap

Detroit Memorial Regatta Defending Champions

• 1/10 scale modern: David Newton, 1998 Budweiser
• 1/10 scale classic: Paul Dunlap 1973 Red Man Too
• 1/10 scale vintage: David Newton, 1960 Miss Thriftway
• 1/7 scale classic: Paxton Reunanen, 1974 Lincoln Thrift
• 1/7 scale vintage: David Newton, 1958 Hawaii Kai

 
Race Format

• LOVE PLAN: Three flights of preliminary heats, five laps each. Connies and winner-take-all finals.
• First and second connies for each class (depending on total boat count and attrition).

          o  Boats 6-10 in cumulative event points qualify for the first connie.
          o  First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer boat.
          o  Second place in first connie is alternate in the final.
          o  Boats 11-15 in cumulative event points qualify for the second connie.
          o  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 as a trailer starter.
• Flight Schedule

           o  1/10 scale modern
           o  1/7 scale, modern/classic combined
           o  1/10 scale classic
           o  1/10 scale vintage
           o  1/67 scale vintage
 
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, first connie and Triple Crown 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
Restrooms are available at the Bill Mowatt Memorial Race Course.
 
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.