Reunanen & Newton repeat, Hughes, Holmberg, Bordon all take Detroit Memorial race wins at Lake Sacajawea

Regular front-runners fared well Saturday, June 4 at the 2022 ERCU Detroit Memorial Regatta presented by Hobbytown USA of Vancouver & Portland at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview.

The 2022 Detroit Memorial Regatta gave us a chance to remember Troy McIntire (modern classes), Earl Schenck (classic classes) and Dave Reiser (vintage classes). All three of those guys were influencers, boat builders and passionate hobbyists in RC racing. They’re all deeply missed from the sport.

Mike Hughes, for the third time in five races this year, claimed the 1/10-scale modern championship after Nelson Holmberg nailed a start in lane one and jumped out to a big lead with his rejuvenated 2018 Oberto Beef Jerky. But after the Oberto rolled over at the apex of turn two on nearing the end of the second lap, Hughes took command and easily won the final.

In the 1/7-scale modern final, Holmberg was again able to gain early command with the 2021 Graham Trucking and ended up holding off David Heilbrunn driving the 2021 Goodman Real Estate.

A win in the 1/10-scale classic final capped off a perfect day for Paxton Reunanen, too. Driving Chuck Murray’s 1983 Miss Houston, Reunanen easily won the final after Rick Evans gave a hard chase with the 1972 Notre Dame, but flipped in the front straightaway ending his race.

Two Pay ‘n Pak boats went head-to-head in the 1/7-scale classic final, which provided some of the best racing of the day for two laps, and also showed us the best pass of the day (and perhaps the season, too). Craig Mullen with the 1975 Pak and Newton in the 1970 Pay ‘n Pak hooked up with both making a great start. The two speedy boats went deck-to-deck for two laps before Mullen’s boat went over after a collision between the two leaders. But it was Mullen who went through Newton’s roostertail and slipped into lane one to take the lead just a half lap before the accident. Newton went on to win the race.

Newton also claimed (again) the Detroit Memorial Regatta 1/10-scale vintage final driving Kerry Kjos’s 1960 Miss Thriftway to its fourth win of the 2022 ERCU Pentair Championship Series. Reunanen gave solid chase for two laps before Newton took control and the Coe-Z-Miss finished second.

Finally, for the fourth consecutive race, Gerry Bordon piloted his 1969 Parco’s O-Ring Miss to the championship in the 1/7-scale vintage final.

It was a really great day of racing, with 38 boats in the pits. Many thanks to Co-CDs David Newton and Nelson Holmberg for the work they put behind this special event. Also to Brad Lewis for being the person who dreamed to make the Detroit Memorial Regatta reality to help remember lost racers who left us too soon. Also to everyone who helped set up the race site, pack up the trailer, officiate heats and just generally help out through the day.