2008 News »

12/31/08

To assist with the record keeping, if at all possible please send your 2009 membership fee ($25) and boat registrations ($5 per boat) to club treasurer Henry Marvin prior to the meeting on January 11. Fill out the registration form (click here for form) with all current information, especially email address, even if there has been no change from 2008.

Make checks out to â€œERCUâ€ and mail your check and registration form to:

ERCU

5327 South 140th Street

Tukwila, WA 98168

12/29/08

Congrats to Jim Latimer, who correctly named the most recent mystery boat as the 1937 Notre Dame. He was the first one to send in the correct answer. Thanks go out to everyone who submitted guesses. There were a handful of correct answers that came in after Gentleman Jim’s. Thank you to Brian Lepinski, who submitted the photo.

12/27/08

The December newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

12/26/08

Here’s another mystery boat to challenge your brain and your knowledge of historic unlimited hydroplanes. Thanks to our RCU friend Brian Lepinski for this one!

As always, if you think you know specifically which boat this one is, send an email to the webmaster.

12/21/08

The mystery is solved, thanks to Skip Young, who correctly said it’s the “CU-22, which was called Alter Ego originally (but never ran as that), and was called Miss Canada at one time. Went on to become the first Miss Tosti Asti when it was purchased by Jim Sedam.” Ben Keller also had the right answer.

Here are the full photos:

Paul Sawyer’s Alter Ego unlimited class hydroplane. Built by Les Staudacher, designed by Paul Sawyer, with help by Ted Jones. Power is General Motors Allison V-12. In 1956, Staudacher began construction of this hydro. It was never completed for him and he retired from racing. It wasnâ€™t put into the water for 18 years. The boat finally hit the water when Bob Schroeder, briefly raced it in 1974 as the CU-22 and in 1982 as the Miss Canada. It was this craft that became the original Miss Tosti Asti in 1983.

Information from http://vintagehydroplanes.com/2001redwing.html, and in thanks to Jim Latimer.

12/20/08

Don’t forget we have a mystery boat posted. Only two folks have taken guesses yet, and Jim Latimer â€” who sent us the picture â€” says neither are correct.

To see the current mystery boat, and send in your own guess, click here.

UPDATED: Here’s a tease that might give a bit of a hint on the mystery boat.

12/17/08

Hello All,

We have some reassuring news after Monte went in for an angiogram today. His heart looks pretty good 11 years after his by-pass surgery. There are a couple of places they may put a stent in later â€” if he exhibits some symptoms â€” but nothing necessary right away. If he can maintain a moderate (I realize that word “moderate” is hardly conceivable to him) including the good exercise routine he’s already doing, he should do well. Just no pedal to the metal, fight or flight kind of stuff.

Taking a treadmill test to qualify for school bus driving, the doctor noticed a couple little glitches and had only seen one glitch last year. So the doc decided he wanted a look â€” thus the angiogram. Actually, it’s reassuring for us to know that 11 years after bypass surgery, his heart it doing working fairly well. His doctor will confer with a couple other stent specialists and get back with us. It really gets down to Monte behaving himself….

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Love,

Ellen (& Monte)

12/16/08

Here’s another cool video of an RC craft. It’s a hand-built B-29 bomber that’s huge. Notice the size of the propellers compared to the guy’s leg as he starts it. The aircraft runs on four chainsaw engines.

Click here to see the video, and thanks to Bill Smiley for sending this in.

12/15/08

Here’s another mystery boat to challenge your brain and your knowledge of historic unlimited hydroplanes. Thanks to Jim Latimer for this one!

As always, if you think you know specifically which boat this one is, send an email to the webmaster.

12/11/08

This is what true hydro geeks do in the offseason. These are a couple of shots of Kirk Pagel’s game board; Thunderboating, the Game. It was made & marketed by the Unlimiteds Detroit group (UD) a few years back. Kirk has “enhanced” the game with the help of Jerry Courtway who is building these small boats for the game board. It’s better than “Monopoly”!! Jerry does a great job with the small boats, and earns every penny of the fee he charges to make one for someone.

12/10/08

Red Dot World Headquarters was the host of the first ERCU Membership Meeting of the winter on Sunday, December 7, and 25 hardy souls were in attendance as the rules for 2009 were discussed, along with general discussion on the state of the club. The proposed rules modifications reflect most of the revisions made during the 2008 season â€” including, among other things, new definitions concerning buoys, driving etiquette, registration and inspections, and methods of breaking ties. Details of the proposed modifications will be sent in their entirety to the membership before the next meeting.

Registration for members and boats for the coming year will begin with the January meeting. As usual, inspection of each boat will be required before participating in its first race of the year, and members are encouraged to have the inspections done at the pre-season members meetings between January and April. Your boat must be registered for 2009 before it can be inspected.

The next meeting is set for 11 a.m., Sunday, January 11.

12/7/08

Just in from Ben Keller (OK, last night, not 5:30 a.m. on Sunday): Take a look at the “Hawaii Kai Hauler”! They still have to detail it â€” remove overspray, re-install weatherstripping, etc. â€” so I won’t have it back until Monday or Tuesday but it looks like the real hauler from 1957!

12/6/08

Don’t miss the December ERCU Member Meeting. In addition to all of the important news and information that will be shared, not to mention the camaraderie to be had, the Elite Husky Racing Team will perform its rendition of the Washington State Fight Song.

The meeting starts at 11 a.m., Sunday, December 7, at the Red Dot headquarters. More information and an agenda can be found by clicking here.

12/4/08

Here’s the U-14 Tomyann which was built, owned and driven by Joe Taggart in 1965. This photo was taken on the Ohio River, in Madison, Ind., back in 1965. It’s the correct answer to the mystery boat that’s been posted on this website for the last few days.

Those who submitted the right answer include: Skip Young, Jim Latimer, Mark Gran, Ron Daum, Mike Campbell, Gary Simmons, and Kerry Kjos.

Thanks go out again to Kirk Pagel for providing the photos and history of this boat for the Mystery Boat fun. Stay tuned for our next Mystery Boat, provided by Gentleman Jim Latimer. Coming soon.

12/3/08

Here is the agenda for the December ERCU Membership Meeting, to be held at the Red Dot corporate office on Sunday, December 7. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., and is expected to adjourn about 1 p.m. Hope to see you all there! Red Dot’s headquarters are located at: 495 Andover Park East in Kent. You can customize directions from your own starting point by clicking here.

AGENDA, December 7, 2008 ERCU Member Meeting

1.Â Â Â Call to order and start attendees list.

2.Â Â Â Old Business

3.Â Â Â Reports of Officers:

3.1Â Â Â Â Â Secretary – Rick Lentz

3.2Â Â Â Â Â Registrar/Treasurer – Henry Marvin

3.3Â Â Â Â Â Race Coordinator – Mike Gossler

3.4Â Â Â Â Â Technical Inspector – Mike Campbell

3.5Â Â Â Â Â Scale Inspector – Bob VandenAkker

3.6Â Â Â Â Â Statistician – Ben Keller

4.Â Â Â Reports of Standing Committees: None

5.Â Â Â Review equipment needs – buoys, boat, trailer

6.Â Â Â Discuss trailer towing for 2009

7.Â Â Â Present to membership 2008 rule changes made by the board

8.Â Â Â General discussion

9.Â Â Â Show and Tell

10.Â Adjournment

12/2/08

Another photo for the most recent Mystery Boat. Does that mean we haven’t heard the right answer yet? Hmmm . . . it’s a mystery.

If you think you know specifically which boat this one is, send an email to the webmaster. Our thanks to Kirk Pagel for his help with the mystery boat.

12/1/08

It’s again time for our friendly monthly reminder that there are still several boats that we need bios for. If yours is one of them, please click here for a boat bio form, complete the form and send it back. We’ll even go find the photos for you that go with your bio. There’s minimal work for you to do. The goal here is to collect and post as many as we possibly can for the “Boats” pages on our website. Once we receive that form, it’ll be a quick turnaround to get your boat bio posted. Thanks! Send questions or completed bios to the webmaster.

The list of boats that are missing bios on the website is below.
Vintage Â Â Â Modern
1947 Peps V Â Â Â 1971 Country Boy
1952 Such Crust IV Â Â Â 1972 Notre Dame
1954 Gale V (Lewis) Â Â Â 1973 Miss Budweiser
1955 Miss Thriftway Â Â Â 1973 Pay ‘n Pak
1956 Shanty I Â Â Â 1974 Country Boy
1957 Thriftway Too Â Â Â 1974 Red Man
1958 Breathless Too (Reiser) Â Â Â 1974 Weisfields
1958 Nitrogen Â Â Â 1976 Olympia Beer
1958 Pay ‘n Save Â Â Â 1978 Miss Madison
1958 Miss Wahoo Â Â Â 1980 Miss Budweiser
1961 Miss Madison Â Â Â 1982 Atlas Van Lines
1962 Miss Seattle Too Â Â Â 1988 Vantage Ultra
1963 St. Regis Â Â Â 1993 Frosted Flakes
1964 Miss Exide
1964 Tahoe Miss
1966 Miss Lapeer
1966 Wayfarers Club Lady
1967 Atlas Van Lines
1968 Harrah’s Club
1968 Miss Bardahl
1969 Notre Dame
1970 Miss U.S.
1972 Miss Timex
1975 Sunny Jim Jam

11/30/08

Here’s the first look at our most recent mystery boat.

If you think you know specifically which boat this one is, send an email to the webmaster. Our thanks to Kirk Pagel for his help with the mystery boat.

11/30/08

This just in from our friend David Williams . . .

“The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum will be holding its Annual Membership Meeting, Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. Once a year we all gather to share a meal, honor our outstanding members and elect new board members and officers.

“This year’s dinner will include a special tribute to Roger Newton. We all know how much Roger like a good barbecue, so in his honor we will be serving a fantastic meal including barbecued ribs and deep-fried turkey!

“Because this meal is a bit more expensive and complicated than previous Annual Meeting meals, I would REALLY appreciate a good head count in advance so we will know how many Turkeys to fry. So please RSVP to David Williams by e-mail or phone at (206) 764-9453 by Monday December 1.”

Space is limited, so please RSVP soon!

11/28/08

Our friend Scott Stanton at Bullithead Design has provided us a new slideshow for the home page of e-rcu.org. His work is very well done, and appreaciated. For more information about Bullithead Design, please click here. By the way, if you’re not seeing the new slideshow (which includes photos of Nigel Steere’s T-Plus, the Llumar and 1973 Miss Budweiser, the Van’s PX and Miss US, several members on the drivers stand, the club membership photo, and a photo of the 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto and 1972 Hallmark Homes (black)), be sure to clear out your web browser cache and click the “refresh” button on your browser.

11/21/08

While it’s not actually a 1/10-scale fast electric hydro, it is a pretty cool RC boat. Among radio controlled hydros, Peter Muller’s turbine-powered Oh Boy! Oberto hasn’t raced as yet, having only gone into the water for the first time in early November, but on craftsmanship alone Peter’s beauty is deserving of special praise too. You can see her in action here. (NOTE: The wmv file is higher resolution and 33 megabytes so it may buffer a few times depending on your net speed but should play fine the second time around.)

Thanks to Jack Lowe of UnlimitedsOnDown for sharing the video.

11/18/08

The November newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

11/14/08

Results from the 2008 ERCU Awards Banquet are now online! You can find them here.

11/13/08

Newton Marine Update

Newton Marine is pleased to announce that it has now re-opened and is back into full operation. David Newton has taken this opportunity to restructure its processing and delivery service. Newton Marine will have a more efficient and faster turnaround, and is now taking orders from domestic and international customers.

To those that still have outstanding orders, David is working feverishly in getting these backorders out. You are most welcome to contact them at newtonmarine@gmail.com to check on progress with your order. When contacting them, please provide your plan number, date of purchase as well as your check number so they can cross check files with your order. Thank you for your patience and understanding and we trust that everyone will enjoy the new and better service we are now offering.

Newton Marine also now has a new website up and running and fully functional to take orders, which you can find at www.newtonmarine.com. It is hoped that you will find this website more user-friendly, to match the restructuring of Newton Marine.

David reports that Newton Marine has not increased prices in 34 years, but we has had to increase prices to be in line with todayâ€™s production costs.

The 2008 Newton Marine price guide is as follows:

â€” Allison engine plans (Stock or Turbo-charged) $20 ea.

â€” Rolls Royce Merlin plans $20 ea.

â€” Trailer plans (2 sheets) $20 ea.

â€” 3 x 5 color prints of most boats $2 ea.

â€” 8 x 10 color prints of most boats $10 ea.

â€” ‘HYDRO CLASSICS’ coloring book featuring line drawings for the 28 unlimited hydroplanes that raced in the 1950′s. $13.95 ea. (Including shipping and handling.)

Plans price schedule for 2008

â€” Sheet #1 paint scheme: $35

â€” Sheet #2 three-view layout: $20

â€” Sheet #3 bulkheads: $20

â€” Shipping & Handling: $10 (USA) $20 (International)

Total: $85 (Includes shipping in USA)

Total: $95 (Includes shipping Internationally)

You may order by email at newtonmarine@gmail.com or by mail at our address:

Newton Marine

c/o David Newton

14518 167th Pl SE

Renton, WA 98059

You can also find Newton Marine on the web at www.newtonmarine.com.

11/8/08

Mike Gossler at PGI Models is reporting that the Castle Hydra 120s he’s had on backorder since May have arrived in stock. He’s selling them for $177.99 at www.pgimodels.com.

10/31/08

10/30/08

Contributed by friend of ERCU Skip Young, here’s a button for sale on eBay that Dan and Brian Gilmore might be interested in. Click here to see it.

10/29/08

The guest speaker at the banquet will be Ron Jones Sr. Just a reminder that the banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday, November 8 at the Great American Casino in Tukwila.

10/22/08

There will not be a members meeting scheduled for November â€“ the banquet on Saturday, November 8 will be taking its place. The next members gathering will be Sunday, December 7. Time and place will be identified well in advance.

10/21/08

The ballots have been received and counted, and the results are now final. The board members that have been elected for the 2009-2010 term are Jeff Campbell, Mike Campbell, Ben Keller and Rick Lentz. They will join Mike Gossler, Henry Marvin and Bob VandenAkker to comprise the ERCU Contest Board for 2009. Thank you to everyone who voted.

10/21/08

Newton Marine is pleased to announce that it has now re-opened and is back into full operation.

David Newton recently passed along the following information.

We have taken this opportunity to restructure our processing and delivering service. We will have a more efficient and faster turn around. We are now taking orders domestic and international. To those that still have outstanding orders, we are working feverishly in getting these back orders out. You are most welcome to contact us at newtonmarine@gmail.com to check on our progress with your order. Please when in contacting us provide your plan number, date of purchase as well as your check number so we can cross check our files with your order. Thank you for your patience ad understanding and we trust that everyone will enjoy the new and better service we are now offering.

We have not increased our prices in the past 34 years but we have had to increase our costs of these plans to be in line with todayâ€™s production costs.

Our 2008 price guide is as follows:

â€” Allison engine plans (Stock or Turbo-charged) $20 ea.

â€” Rolls Royce Merlin plans $20 ea.

â€” Trailer plans (2 sheets) $20 ea.

â€” 3 x 5 color prints of most boats $2 ea.

â€” 8 x 10 color prints of most boats $10 ea.

â€” ‘HYDRO CLASSICS’ coloring book featuring line drawings for the 28 unlimited hydroplanes that raced in the 1950′s. $13.95 ea. (Including shipping and handling.)

Plans price schedule for 2008

â€” Sheet #1 paint scheme: $35

â€” Sheet #2 three-view layout: $20

â€” Sheet #3 bulkheads:Â $20

â€” Shipping & Handling:Â $10 (USA) $20 (International)

Total: $85 (Includes shipping in USA)

Total: $95 (Includes shipping Internationally)

You may order by email at newtonmarine@gmail.com or by mail at our address:

Newton Marine

c/o David Newton

14518 167th Pl SE

Renton, WA 98059

You can also find Newton Marine on the web at www.newtonmarine.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was great to see David racing with ERCU again at the Bernie Little Memorial on Saturday, October 18. Here’s hoping he’ll return to the ERCU pits again very soon â€” and frequently.

10/20/08

More photos have come in from the Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championships presented by Meyers Auto Tech have come in from Paul Montague, of Vancouver.

Paul says the photos are free for us to use them “for personal, hobby, non-profit and non-commercial use only. Your membership is welcome to use them. Just download them from the site. If there are posted or published in any form, I ask to be credited as the original photographer.”

If anyone wants to use them for commercial use, please contact Paul via email. You can find all of Paul’s photos from the race by clicking here. The password you’ll need to access the photo gallery is: fastboats.

10/20/08

So who says unlimited hydroplane racing is dead? Certainly not Hammacher Schlemmer. The catalog shopping company offers this 1/10-scale model of the 1953 Ferrari Arno XI hydroplane that set a world 800kg-class speed record at 150.49 miles per hour. Click here to see the online catalog entry and photos.

10/17/08

The October newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

10/15/08

Scott Barbour of Barbour’s Photography in Vancouver was at the Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship presented by Meyers Auto Tech this past weekend, and has offered up previews of the photos he took during the race. You can see the photos by clicking here. If you’d like to order any copies of the images, you can contact Scott directly (via email) by clicking here.

10/14/08

Due to continuing conflicts with the Bellevue Pond, the Bernie Little Memorial Race sponsored by Stout Tools and PGI Models, scheduled for Saturday, October 18 will be moved to the Cherokee Bay Community Club location in Maple Valley.

Many thanks to Dan Gilmore for all his help in making this change possible. Setup will start around 7 a.m., with open water available as soon as the course is set.

UPDATE: Mike and Jeff announced on Tuesday evening that there will be lunch provided thanks to a couple of members who offered contributions to make that happen, and that there will be lots of treats, a few tricks, a bunch of prizes, and a Dash for Gas.

10/14/08

At Seafair, Eric Bourlet of PSMBC extended an invitation to our club to participate in their last three events of the year at Lake Waughop in Tacoma. Jim Bickford reiterates here.

The schedule from the NAMBA District 8 website is as follows:

October 19, Pumpkin Scramble
November 9, Turkey Shoot
December 7, Frostbite Follies

Format for the events is: Saturday – two-lap time trials to see what actual speeds of your boats are. Unfortunately, records cannot be set because 1/10 scale is not yet a NAMBA class.
On Sunday, the schedule holds oval racing. Events on both days should get started at about 9 a.m., with the driver’s meeting at 8:30 a.m.

Entry fees are $3 and $5 per boat, which goes to the Puget Sound Model Boat Club (gas/nitro).

10/12/08

At yesterday’s Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship presented by Meyers Auto Tech, we held the annual Best of Show contest [sponsored by Flying Shamrock Racing Team], at which drivers, owners, family, friends and spectators were asked to vote for their favorite boats, based on no particular criteria. When the voting was completed, Henry Marvin’s 1993 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes took the honors in the modern class; while Jeff Campbell’s 1969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger won first prize in the vintage class.

10/10/08

Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship media partner The Daily Insider ran a reminder of the big race in today’s online edition. To see today’s edition, click here and scroll to the third story (nearly midway down the page).

10/10/08

Quickly following the Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship, presented by Meyers Auto Tech will be the rescheduled Bernie Little Memorial.

The final race of the 2008 season, the â€œBernie Raceâ€ will be Saturday, October 18 at Bellevue Downtown Park, and is sponsored by Stout Tools. Contest Directors Jeff and Mike Campbell are set to put on yet another super-fun race on a super-fun â€“ and challenging â€“ small race course.

Stout Tools has provided another of the bench top band saws like the one that was won by Mark Gran at the season opener, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta in Centralia.

The race will be held under the â€œnormalâ€ format for ERCU races â€“ three rounds of preliminary heats, connies and finals.

There may be a few other surprises, so if youâ€™re interested in one last chance at racing your hydro for the season, make sure to be there.

10/9/08

Here is the event schedule for the Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship, presented by Meyers Auto Tech, set for Saturday, October 11 at Salmon Creek Regional Park (Klineline Pond) in Vancouver, Wash.

7-9 a.m.,Â Course and pit area setup

9-10:30 a.m.,Â Practice and testing

10:30-10:40 a.m.,Â Mandatory drivers’ meeting

10:44 a.m.,Â â€œFive to the Oneâ€ for vintage heat 1A

10:50 a.m.,Â Vintage heat 1A

1 p.m.,Â Lunch break â€“ Best of Show judging

Approx. 4:15 p.m.,Â Final Heat (vintage class)

Approx. 4:30 p.m.,Â Final Heat (modern class)
Approx. 5 p.m.,Â Trophy Presentation

10/9/08

If you’re planning to attend the Red Lion Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship presented by Meyers Auto Tech this Saturday in Vancouver, Wash., please bring your generator if you have one. There is no power at the race site. If you don’t have a generator, come anyway. If everyone who has one brings theirs, we’ll have plenty of power.

10/7/08

The sponsorship staff at the Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championships offices is proud to announce that the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay, along Vancouver’s beautiful waterfront on the Columbia River, has come aboard as the Diamond Sponsor of the Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship this Saturday.

The race is now known as the Red Lion Hotel Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship.

If you’re planning to stay overnight in Vancouver during the World Championships, please consider the Red Lion. More information can be found online at: redlion.rdln.com/HotelLocator/HotelOverview.aspx?metaID=46

The Red Lion Hotel at the Quay is built at the location of the Port of Vancouver USA’s original shipping terminal (Terminal One), property that is still owned by the port. It’s location is south of the race site, but it’s only a 10-minute drive from the hotel to the race site.

If you and your spouse have been looking for a weekend getaway, perhaps this is it…a nice hotel, in a nice area, with several great restaurants around … including the restaurant in the hotel … in downtown Vancouver.

We also got the terrific news that one of our founding sponsors of this event, Meyers Auto Tech of Kennewick has returned for another year, and has upped their commitment. Thanks Scott & Jessica!

10/7/08

Congratulations to Ryan Bradshaw, Kelsey McIntosh and Brent Hall, all of whom passed the 1,200 career point mark during the Roger Newton Memorial this past Sunday at Cherokee Bay. They are officially no longer required to make trailer starts. Congratulations Ryan, Kelsey and Brent!

10/6/08

The ERCU Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship (for 1/10-scale unlimited hydroplanes) is all set for Saturday, October 11 at Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond (1117 N.E. 117th Street, Vancouver, WA). Thanks to Craig Mullen, the trailer will be there early on Saturday morning, so set up will begin at 7 a.m., with testing and practice to begin as soon as set up is completed. Our drivers meeting will begin at 10:30, and the five to the 1 for modern heat 1A will be called as soon as the drivers meeting is finished. Pizza and drinks will be served.

The day’s racing schedule will include four preliminary heats, connies for both classes (as appropriate by turnout), and of course finals for both classes. We will also run a Vintage Dash for Cash, and a Challenge Race between the Outrigger Pay ‘n Pak and each of the modern boats that won a race this season (1977 Charlie’s Girl, 1978 Circus Circus, 1973 Red Man Too, 1974 Country Boy, and the 1976 Miss Cotts Beverage.

The traditional Best of Show Awards will also be handed out, with spectators, racers, family and friends all having the opportunity to vote on the best of show modern and vintage boats.

It’s quite an exciting weekend. The staff of the Cascade Cup/NAMBA Worlds is looking forward to seeing you all in attendance.

10/4/08

Two more Vancouver businesses have joined the Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship as sponsors. Law Firm Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt (Lisa Lowe) and West Coast Bank (Lihua Lennox) have provided their support to the event. Thank you Lisa and Lihua!

10/3/08

Cougar Racing Team has joined in on the action as a sponsor of the Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championships.

10/2/08

Coming up next on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series is the Roger Newton Memorial, Sunday, October 5, 2008 at Cherokee Bay Community Club in Maple Valley, Wash. Special thanks go out to CD Rick Lentz and chef Dan Gilmore for all of the work they’ve already put in to the race. The schedule includes three rounds of five-lap preliminary heats, connies as appropriate for boat turnout and, of course, the winner take all finals in both modern and vintage. It’ll be a great remembrance of our founder and our friend.

After that, the Cascade Cup returns with the NAMBA World Championships at Klineline Pond in Vancouver, Wash. It’ll be a special event, including a pizza lunch for racers thanks to sponsors Flying Shamrock Racing Team and Great Lakes Boat Shop, an extra preliminary heat of racing, a vintage Dash for Cash (thanks to sponsors John & Diane Earnest), a best of show contest, and a shootout that pits the Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger against each of the modern boats to have won a race this season (both sponsored by Flying Shamrock Racing Team, which provided cash prizes for both modern and vintage). World champions will be the boats with the most points in each class, and the winner of each winner-take-all final heat will be the Cascade Cup champion. Keep an eye on this website for more information, as we’ll keep updating as often as news breaks.

10/1/08

Two more sponsors have joined the ranks of the Casacde Cup/NAMBA World Championship. Ben Keller’s Choral Enterprises Racing Team has joined up as a Gold Sponsor, while The Daily Insider of Vancouver is in as an advertising partner for promoting the 2008 race.

9/30/08

It has been confirmed that the Bernie Little Memorial race, which was postponed in July, will be contested at Bellevue Pond on Saturday, October 18. We have been assured that all foreign objects will have been removed from the pond before then, leaving only water (and probably a few leaves) to play in. The Bernie Little will officially be the final race of the 2008 ERCU Red Dot Championship Series. Appropriate that former Miss Budweiser crewmen Jeff and Mike Campbell are the contest directors for this race. More details will come soon.

9/26/08

ERCU Statistician Jeff Campbell reports that Mike Mcintosh and Zane Courtway now have 1,200 career points and are no longer required to make trailer starts. Congrats guys! Great job!

9/24/08

Sponsorships are now available for the NAMBA World Championship/Cascade Cup on October 11 in Vancouver, Wash. If you’re interested in seeing the sponsorship packages, click here. For more information, or if you’d like to be a sponsor, contact Nelson Holmberg by email.

9/24/08

The next race up for ERCU will be the Roger Newton Memorial, scheduled for Sunday, October 5 at the Cherokee Bay Community Club in Maple Valley. Previously scheduled as the Diamond Cup, it has been renamed to honor our club founder and lifetime everything hydroplane guy. Set-up will commence at 8 a.m., with drivers meeting at 10:45 a.m. and racing to get underway at 11 a.m. This will be the typical race format of three preliminary heats followed by consolation heats and winner-take-all final. The winner of the first connie will be able to move into the final as a trailer. If the boat count and interest allows, multiple second connies may be scheduled. Power is available from the clubhouse, but spare generators may be helpful if you want to bring them. Contest Director Rick Lentz is asking everyone with a boat built by Roger to bring it for display for the day. If there are enough able to run (4 or more) there will be an exhibition race for a cash prize. In addition to a full fun day of racing, Chef Dan Gilmore has indicated that a gourmet luncheon may be in the works. Confirmation will follow. Hope you all can make it!

9/21/08

It’s a big day for ERCU. The Indy 500 of 1/10-scale unlimited hydroplane racing â€” the ERCU Gold Cup â€” is underway at Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley, Wash. Testing and qualifying first, a driver’s meeting at 10:30, and racing beginning at 10:45. Keep an eye on E-RCU.org for results. For more information about the race, a list of all-time winners, directions to the race site, and the results from last year’s vintage and modern finals, please click here.

9/20/08

VANCOUVER, Wash. â€“ A two-year old national championship event is growing up and moving out this fall.

After back-to-back years as host of the American Power Boat Association National Championship [for 1/10-scale unlimited hydroplanes] at Woodlandâ€™s Horseshoe Lake Park, Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds [ERCU] is moving its season-ending event to Vancouver.

The event will be a fundraiser for the Parks Foundation of Clark County.

On Saturday, October 11, 2008, ERCU will host the Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championship, which is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., at Salmon Creek Park [Klineline Pond]. The race is sanctioned and insured by the North American Model Boat Association [NAMBA], and put together by ERCU. Holmberg is the eventâ€™s coordinator.

Each racer participating in the event will run a unique boat, a 1/10-scale model of an actual unlimited hydroplane that has raced at some point in the real sportâ€™s history. The three-foot-long models are capable of speeds approaching 55 miles per hour, powered by lithium polymer batteries that energize brushless electric motors. These high-performance models are, for the most part, built of carbon fiber, fiberglass and other composite materials, and range from $3,000-$6,000 in value.

In â€œreal lifeâ€, unlimited hydroplanes are typically 30 feet long and reach straightaway speeds of 200 mph these days, but the boats of today are far superior in technological advances to the ones that brought hydroplane racing to the Pacific Northwest. In 1950, the Slo-Mo-Shun IV went to Detroit and won the Gold Cup with a radical new â€œthree-pointâ€ design that meant only three points of the hull â€“ including one blade of the three-blade propeller â€“ actually touched the water while it was racing.

Several of the real unlimited hydroplanes â€“ most of which are based in and around Seattle â€“ pass through Vancouver on I-5 or I-205 every year, before and after their annual late September race in San Diego. Theyâ€™ve raced in Vancouver just one time, though â€“ in August of 1979 when the Miss Budweiser, Atlas Van Lines and Squire Shop hydroplanes staged an exhibition event on the Columbia River at Marine Park.

ERCU rules, specific to boat eligibility and racing, will be the standard for the event. For a copy of the ERCU rule book, click here, and scroll to the “rule book” link for a PDF document.

9/19/08

The September newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

9/18/08

Flying Shamrock Racing Team has announced it is sponsoring the fastest qualifiers in both vintage and modern at the Gold Cup this weekend. The plaque will be entitled the Roger Newton Fastest Qualifier and will also come with a $25 gas card for each winner. Mike Gossler is making the plaques.

Qualifying for the Gold Cup is not required, but it sure is fun â€” and allows for as many as three extra runs. The new awards may just provide a little incentive to run boats in the qualifying sessions.

9/13/08

Two boats that haven’t yet run this season â€“ the 1970 Miss U.S., and the 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto â€“ will make their first tests of the season this afternoon. Bill Shearer, the new owner of the Miss U.S. â€“ which he bought from Henry Marvin this summer â€“ is excited to drive his first vintage boat for the first time. Mick Shutt on the other hand recently finished (close enough … finishing the dummy motor is all that’s left to do) his brand new 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto, and will test it for the first time today, with the intent of racing it for the first time at the Gold Cup on September 21. We’ll follow up with photos and a full report on the blog afterwards.

9/12/08

Now that Seafair is in the record books â€“ congratulations to Bill Smiley and Mike Campbell for taking home the hardware â€“ itâ€™s time to plan for the premier event of the club. The Gold Cup will be contested Sunday, September 21 at Lake Wilderness. The event will run four sets of preliminary heats, so set-up will commence at 7 a.m. Time for testing will be available as soon as the course is set. The drivers meeting will be held at 10:15, with racing to commence at 10:30, to allow a little more time for the full slate of heats for the day. Lake Wilderness was voted the favorite course in a recent informal vote, and the Gold Cup should be one of the favorite events of the year. Hope you can all make it â€“ it should be a fun day for all!

9/4/08

The NAMBA World Championships get a little ink in a local Vancouver “Insider” publication. Click here.

9/3/08

SAVE THE DATE: The 2008 ERCU Awards Banquet is set for Saturday, November 8, ,from 6-10 p.m., at the Great American Casino in Tukwila (same place as last year). Cost is $15 per person attending. It’ll be a buffet dinner including salmon and a baron of beef. The evening’s special guest will be announced soon.

9/3/08

Next up on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series presented by Bullithead Design is the Seafiar Trophy Race, set to take place on Saturday, September 6 at Lake Tye in Monroe. Setup begins at 8 a.m., with open water as soon as the course is set and gear is assembled. The driver’s meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and the one-minute gun for heat 1A of the modern class will go off at 11 a.m.

The picnic shelter, which has power, has been reserved, but even so, those with generators are encouraged to bring them and share. It should be a great day of racing.

Contest Directors are Craig Mullen and Ron Daum.

9/1/08

The Flying Shamrock Racing Team has become the first official sponsor of this year’s Cascade Cup/NAMBA World Championships in Vancouver, Wash.

This year, the Flying Shamrock Racing Team will provide support to the event by providing cash prizes for the vintage and modern best of show, lunch, and a rematch of the Outrigger Pay ‘n Pak vs. the modern class boats that won races in 2008.

8/22/08

The race formerly known as the Cascade Cup/ APBA National Championships is changing.

Because of an APBA rule we weren’t aware of back in the winter, when the club made a decision to move to NAMBA, we can no longer host the APBA National Championship, so we’ve worked with NAMBA and race organizers to address that.

Also, because of citizen unrest about the uses of Horseshoe Lake â€” and a pending lawsuit after a model boating accident at the same park last year â€” the normal location of the last event of the year will also change.

We just learned today that the Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation Department has approved a permit for us to race at Salmon Creek Regional Park in Vancouver, and we’d previously gained approval from NAMBA to run the NAMBA World Championship for 1/10-scale fast electric unlimited hydroplanes.

So … that means the Saturday, October 11 race will be held at Salmon Creek Park (Klineline Pond) in Vancouver, Wash. (only 14 miles further than Woodland).

There will be lots more details coming very soon, so keep an eye on the website, newsletter, your email, and ERCU: The Blog as the next few weeks go by.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Contest Director/Event Coordinator Nelson Holmberg by email.

8/21/08

For anyone who might be interested in racing over Labor Day weekend, our friends in the Emerald Radio Control Boat club (Eugene) have invited ERCU members to attend the NAMBA District 8 race theyâ€™re hosting on August 30-31.

Theyâ€™re looking for 1/10-scale hydros to be a part of their event, and the classes (modern and vintage) will be set up if enough drivers commit to participating.

The guys in Eugene have a nice permanent facility for racing that theyâ€™ve recently developed in Eugene, after moving from neighboring Springfield.

Pre-registration would be appreciated, if youâ€™re thinking of going to the event, and can be done online at www.namba8.com, then click on â€œRace Entryâ€.

8/19/08

This coming Sunday (August 24) is the day of the next race on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series presented by Bullithead Design schedule â€” the Stan Sayres Memorial Trophy. This is the oldest race in the history of the club, to be run again under the competent direction of Contest Director Monte Steere. The race this year will be held at Cherokee Bay, with set-up scheduled for 8 a.m., testing open around 9 a.m., driverâ€™s meeting at 10:30, and the real action getting underway at 11 a.m. To confirm directions to the site, check the race’s Schedule page.

8/17/08

Finishing second doesn’t always mean “first loser”, as some people have rather pessimistically said during the Olympics this summer, and Bob VandenAkker is a perfect example of that.

During today’s most important event of the Columbia Cup â€” the Roger Newton Memorial Dash, which featured the second place finishers from all of the day’s heats â€” VandenAkker gave a spirited chase to Ron Daum’s newly-reworked Such Crust III, but finished second, which was perfect enough to make Bob the winner of the dash.

What that meant was the money collected in terms of sponsorship and further donations for the prize of the dash, will go to the Roger Newton Fund at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Bob VandenAkker’s name.

How much is that donation? How about $425?

Dash sponsors ERCU, Rose City Model Yacht Club, Eugene Radio Controlled Boats and Jeff Campbell, seeded the prize pot with $50 each. But when that was announced before the Dash, a rush of donations came in, and an additional $225 was collected from today’s Columbia Cup participants in literally one or two minutes. Race organizers tried really hard to capture all of the names of donors and how much they contributed, but it was happening so fast that we regret that we couldn’t get a full complete list. So, as not to leave someone out, we won’t try to name all of the names. The donors know who they are, and they know their donations were very much appreciated.

There is rhyme and reason to the format of the dash. The last time Roger ran a raceboat at Tualatin â€” which he called one of his favorite ERCU race sites â€” he was second in the Columbia Cup points standings, and the vintage final. So the field being filled with second-place finishers, and the “winner” being the second place boat was done by design.

8/16/08

While at Seafair, Judy Fenton met a bachelor that a lot of people across the country apparently made quite a big deal about. You see, this bachelor is named Andy Baldwin, and he was “The Bachelor” on ABC’s “reality” show of that name. Judy had her picture taken with Andy (thanks to Mick Shutt), but Bob has nothing to worry about.

8/15/08

Just a reminder that the ERCU Columbia Cup is set for Sunday, August 17 at Lake of Tualatin Commons. Set up begins at 8 a.m., followed by testing. A drivers meeting will be held at 10:45 a.m., with racing to begin at 11 a.m.

The breaking news on the race day is that there will be a third Dash added after the finals. This one, the Roger Newton Memorial Dash will provide â€” thanks to sponsors ERCU, Rose City Model Yacht Club and the Eugene Radio Controlled Boat club â€” a donation to the “Roger Fund” at the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, and to Medic One, in the name of the Dash “winner”. A full format and explanation of the Dash will be explained on race day.

We hope to see you there!

8/15/08

Our most sincere apologies to Doug Brow, Patrick Gleason and Gale Whitestine, as they were all omitted from the recent newsletter story about ERCU members who had a major impact on the big-boat work that was done at Seafair.

“I had them in my notes and even have pictures of them all in their uniforms working, too,” said Nelson Holmberg, who authored the story for the newsletter. “It’s my bad and I’m sorry for leaving them out.”

Gleason and Whitestine worked on the U-48 Albert Lee presents Lakeridge Paving while Brow was an ABRA official for the second week in a row.

Gleason’s job on the 48 was working with the computer systems and cockpit, while Whitestine is the crew chief, and while hobbled with a pair of crutches, that didn’t stop him from being uber-productive.

Brow, who worked as an official in the helicopter at Tri-Cities a week before the Tri-Cities race, repeated his duty again in Seattle.

That brought the total number of ERCU members working in the pits to keep things running for the big boats to 13 of our 58 members.

8/14/08

There’s a nice story previewing this weekend’s ERCU Columbia Cup at Lake of Tualatin Commons in today’s issue of The Oregonian. Click here to see the story.

8/13/08

The August newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

8/12/08

Rick Lentz has announced that the name of his race, scheduled for Sunday, October 5 at Cherokee Bay Community Club in Maple Valley, has been changed from the Diamond Cup to the Roger Newton Memorial Cup, effective immediately.

8/11/08

The Columbia Cup was scheduled for this coming Saturday, August 16. And while no one has planted any unusual object dâ€™art, or even junk, in the middle of the pond, like Bellevue, we have just learned that the memorial service for Roger Newton has been scheduled for 2 p.m. at the museum on that day. As a result, the Columbia Cup race has been moved to Sunday, August 17, still at the Lake of Tualatin Commons, with an added highlight being the Czar Memorial Dash. Details for that dash will be revealed at the race. All other information will remain as announced in the August 8 announcement seen below.

Roger would undoubtedly want us to continue racing, so all who are available to race are encouraged to attend. If you’ve never been to the Lake of Tualatin Commons, it was one of Roger’s favorite ERCU race sites and he would highly recommend that you give it a try. You can find directions and more information on the Schedule page for the Columbia Cup.

8/11/08

Announcement of the Celebration of the Life of Roger J. Newton (courtesy www.rcunlimiteds.org)

Join the Newton family for a “Celebration of the Life of Roger J. Newton” at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum this Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m. David Newton will deliver a special tribute to his father and there will be a video-slide show documenting Roger’s life. Guests are encouraged to offer short stories and tributes about the man we all loved.

Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
5917 South 196th St.
Kent, WA 98032
206 764-9453

Click here for a map of the museum’s location, and to get directions from your own starting point.

Don Mock is putting together the video-slide show so if you have one or two favorite Czar photos please get them to him. Emailing a digital version is best, by clicking here but you can get the print photo to Don either mail before Wednesday to 723 S.W. Austin Place, Seattle, WA 98106 or drop them off at the museum. And feel free to bring your favorite Czar photos on Saturday to share.

Also, the museum is building a very special memorial to Roger. It will be a huge R/C hydro mobile to hang in the lobby. It is hoped to have part of the mobile finished by Saturday’s event. If you have a Roger Newton built, designed or simply inspired 1/6th, 1/8th, 1/10th or 1/12th scale boat that you would like to donate to the project please contact Marc Connelly or Don Mock.

8/9/08

From David Newton (on www.rcunlimiteds.org):

I regret to inform everyone that my father passed away this morning at 10:44. He developed may complications after his surgery due to the severity of the heart attack. He passed quietly and quickly without any pain or discomfort. In lieu of any flowers please send donations to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum or Medic 1. I will get more detail on that later. Everyone can take comfort in knowing that he is up there now racing with my mother, Troy and all of the other fellow hydroplane brethren that has been taken from us. Thank you for everyone’s support throughout the entire process for my dad. I know it meant the world to him to know before he passed that so many people loved and cared for him. It is my hopes to continue the plan business as I know how important it was for him to continue the growth and development of model hydroplane racing. For now Newton Marine is on hold, after the dust settles I will make announcements to fill the backlog of orders and info everyone of the future of its direction. God bless you dad you are now at peace.

If you’re interested in leaving a memorial message for Roger, there is a guestbook on www.rcunlimiteds.org)

8/9/08

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I just got word that Roger â€œThe Czarâ€ Newton passed away this morning due to complications of his recent heart attack, and bypass surgery.

Our great friend and the founder of our hobby â€“ not to mention our club and several others â€“ was receiving life support, assistance from two artificial hearts, and treatment from other medical advances, to give him time to try and fight for his life. Seems it just wasnâ€™t enough.

The complications developed after Roger had triple-bypass surgery this week. David Gardner and Rick Lentz passed word to me, and asked that I alert the rest of the membership.

As of this announcement, service details have not been made, but Iâ€™m sure weâ€™ll hear the arrangements from David when they are set.

All thoughts and prayers for David and Debbie, as well as all of the many people who Roger J. â€œCzarâ€ Newton touched, would be greatly appreciated. Not sure whether David is accepting phone calls at this time, as heâ€™s probably and understandably overwhelmed.

8/8/08

The news from yesterday was sounding good, but this is the latest update.

This is a call to all prayer warriors. I just talked to David at 7: 50 a.m. today. Roger is going in for more surgery, as his heart is not functioning on it’s own and another procedure is being done as at University of Washington Medical Center. David is saying that if this does not work, Roger would need a heart transplant. I am sorry to be the bearer of such dire news, but need everyone to be praying for Roger and of course for David, Debbie and all of the family. I would not suggest calling David for several hours as he is going to try to get some sleep from being up all night.

When I have more information, I will pass it on.

Regards,
Bill Smiley

8/8/08

ERCU’s only points race is just about here. It’s time for the Columbia Cup. Set for Saturday, August 16 at the Lake of Tualatin Commons, the Columbia Cup will be in its second year as an event on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series. It will also be ERCU’s second visit to the Lake of Tualatin Commons in just over a month, when the Columbia Cup takes to the race course. An excellent, fun-filled day of racing is promised, along with weather equally as nice as the weather for the Oregon Emerald Cup. The Columbia Cup is a points race, so consistency is super-important. It also means that it’s possible to win the final yet still not win the race. In 2007, Mike and Jeff Campbell swept the vintage and modern championships in Tualatin. Jeff had a perfect day, scoring 1,600 points with the 1969 Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger, while Mike survived a challenge from Henry Marvin and the Frosted Flakes, which finished just 31 points behind the 1974 Country Boy. Set up begins at 8 a.m., with testing beginning immediately after course set up is complete. The drivers meeting will begin at 11 a.m., followed immediately by modern heat 1A. Great Lakes Boat Shop is sponsoring a $50 Dash for Dinner (at the ClaimJumper Restaurant) after the day’s racing is finished, and Mick Shutt is sponsoring a $50 Dash for Gas.

8/7/08

Dear Boating Community,

Thank you for all of the well wishes, prayer and support for my father and my family. I know this has meant the world to him and kept his spirits high throughout the entire ordeal.

His surgery was a success yesterday, which means today we need to begin the process for healing from the surgery as well as a healthy future. He will have to limit himself in a way in which we both are not looking forward to, and unfortunately I believe we will have to bow out of hydroplane racing for the rest of the year. I know that for my father and myself this is a tough decision, but it is necessary to ensure more boat races to come for us both. It goes without question that each and everyone of you would do anything for us at the races to help us, but I believe your support for a healthy recovery and limiting my dad without him pushing himself to race or even run a boat is the best outlook for a recovery. I hope you all share this notion with my family as it is a great concern of ours. We don’t want him to overexert himself and create further problems down the road. We look forward to racing again in 2009 and many more boat races to come!

Thank you for the generous support,

David Newton

Numerous well-wishers sent messages to Roger Newton over the weekend at the Chevrolet Cup at Seafair. On the left is a get well poster at the Ellstrom pits, and on the right is “the world’s fastest get well card”, affixed to the transom of the U-48 Albert Lee presents Lakeridge Paving, signed by each member of the crew. It’s clear that Roger Newton is very important to the world of hydroplane racing.

8/6/08

Tualatin’s Lake of the Commons comes alive with hydros. A story in the Tigard-Tualatin Times about ERCU’s Oregon Emerald Cup, that was held Saturday, July 12 at the Lake of Tualatin Commons. This story features Dan and Brian Gilmore.

To see the story, click here.

8/5/08

Tuesday Update: Roger had another good day and had no V-tac episodes, so his heart is getting stronger. I talked to him last night and his voice was much stronger then it had been since he was admitted on the last Monday. He is now transfered to Overlake Hospital and will possibly have the bypass and defib and pacemaker all installed tomorrow sometime during the day. Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.

- David Newton

8/4/08

Get well soon, Roger. All of your racing friends are pulling for you!

Chet “The Jet” Lepinski forwarded along this photo, which was taken Saturday night at Safeco Field, when Brian Anderson of RCU and Unlimited News Journal made arrangements to have a get well message posted on the stadium’s message board.

8/2/08

We have a winner! Jim Latimer correctly named the July Mystery Boat first, but Kerry Kjos also got the right answer, so we had a couple of correct answers.

The Mystery Boat is … the former U-3 Tahoe Miss! It’s sitting in the Laherty brothers back yard in Kenmore. Last seen as U-66, Boothead’s Luau, Mark & Pak, Elliot Dog Ration etc. The U-66 was acquired by the Laherty’s in 1979, and sat there ever since.

Kerry Kjos added, ” Many people haveÂ tried to get the brothers to donateÂ it to the museum, with no luck. They also have a Maverick, two-stage Allison engine rusting away!”

8/1/08

Here’s another pic of the July Mystery Boat, and a hint provided by Kirk Pagel. If you know what boat this is (was), email the webmaster.

Hint: “It’s sitting in the Laherty brothers back yard in Kenmore. It was acquired by the Laherty’s in 1979, and sat there ever since.”

7/31/08

Thanks to David Newton’s comments on another website, here’s an update on the Czar:

“I just got home from the hospital and wanted to update everyone on my fathers confiton. He was moved from CCU to a normal hospital room today, so he is now accepting vistors but still not up for phone calls. The doctors want to let his heart rest and recover before a surgery, so we are looking to have the surgery in a week from Friday which he will be transfered to Overlake hopspital for. As he has one artery completly blocked, one partially and two branches blocked it will be a quadrulple bypass. I will keep everyone informed as it goes along, but right now he just has to rest until surgery time. He is coherent, talkative and worried about the boats lol, so his spirits are up. Sorry if I have not gotten back to anyone via email or phone, I have had many calls, it is kind of hard to keep track of, but I will try my best to keep everyone informed.”

“Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. It means alot to myself, my family and my father to know that we have so many friends in and out of racing. I think my father and I are truly blessed with the community of people that we have met and made friends with because of hydroplane racing.”
7/30/08

Here are two more pics of the July Mystery Boat. Keep your guesses coming to the webmaster.

7/29/08

Thanks to ERCU Chairman Ron Daum for sharing the following information from Stephanie Gardner regarding David’s surgery to share with our members:

“David’s surgery went very well and he is healing as expected, with his back pain managed. He’s up walking, showering, etc. and will see the surgeon for a follow up on Monday. He contracted a throat infection so is pretty miserable with a sore throat.”

Thanks to Bill Smiley for the following updates regarding Roger “Czar” Newton:

“Roger is in the Hospital at Valley General. He had a heart attack that was diagnosed about 6 p.m. Monday. There is some severe blockage. He is stable in Critical Care Unit (CCU) as of 1 a.m. (Tuesday). Place him in everyone’s prayers. My feeling is that they will most likely do a bypass, as the blockage did not allow them to open up the affected vessels with angioplasties procedures..

“I just spoke to the CCU nurse to check on Roger. He’s stable now, but they won’t let him take calls for a while so the nurse said she won’t take calls. Everything is as good as could be expected for now. I heard Roger answer to the nurse that it was ok to have her tell me about his condition-he sounded like the Czar. I told her to tell him that we would be praying for him and that I talked to Monte.”

The prayers and thoughts of everyone in ERCU, of course, goes out to Roger for a complete recovery.

UPDATE (9:18 p.m., Tuesday, 7/29/08) â€” RCU Chairman Harry Gatjens provided the following update on the International Waters bulletin board:

“Roger is at Valley General Hospital in Kent, Wash. He is not seeing visitors except family and not taking phone calls. They tried to correct his issue with a “stint” (a spring that expands the blood vessel to let more blood through), that however proved unsuccessul. So they will have him rest for a few days to recover from that procedure and then most likely do a bypass.

“While severe, heart bypasses hae become almost routine these days. Both of my brothers had them last year, one was back to work in 30 days the other in three months. I am not medically trained nor do I know the specifics of Roger’s condition, but I feel optimistic about his upcoming procedure. Luckily David had decided to move back home wih Roger the end of this month anyway so Roger should have good care when he get’s home. David is a really good kid.

“I would expect him to be in the hospital through the weekend and then hope he has a truly spectacular and speedy recovery.”

David Newton’s post on International Waters said: “He was admitted to the hospital last night, apparently he had the heart attack over the weekend in Tri-Cities. They worked for four hours to try and clear the valve and put in a stint but were unsuccessful as it was worse then they had originally thought and are waiting to possibly do a bypass. Right now he is stable and in the ICU. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, I will try to update on his condition as soon as I can.”

7/29/08

Thanks to Golden Thunder Racing Team’s Kirk Pagel, and crew chief Chick Bartsch (who took the photos), we have another Mystery Boat. This one may not be easy, unless you’ve seen the boat as it currently lies.

Kirk sent us four photos, as well as a photo of the boat when it was running (which will only be revealed once we have a winner.

If you know which boat this is, shoot an e-mail to the webmaster with your answer. The only catch is that this time, we’ll only show photos at the beginning, and start providing clues as we get closer to the reveal of the real boat.

7/28/08

After a week of voting on your favorite race site so far this season over at ERCU: The Blog, we have a tie!

In the end, it turned out that after 19 people voted, six members said the Lake of Tualatin Commons was their favorite site, and six said Lake Wilderness in Maple Valley was their favorite. Three said Twin Lakes in Marysville was their favorite, and two said Westmoreland Park in Portland was their favorite. One vote each went to Lake Tye in Monroe, and Fort Borst Park in Centralia.

Thanks to everyone who participated. We’ll continue doing polls on ERCU: The Blog.

7/25/08

Need a backup, or replacement, speed control? If so, you’re in luck. Mike Gossler at PGI Models has just announced that he has Castle Baracuda 125s for sale online at www.pgimodels.com. These speed controls are priced at $139.99.

7/22/08 â€” Museum Gala & Auction is coming soon

It’s time again for the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum’s annual Gala and fundraising auction. the event is set for Thursday, ,July 31, at the museum and features a theme based on the tumultuous summer of 1968. All proceeds benefit the museum. The evening’s agenda includes dinner and an auction, along with special guests Bill Boeing and Mira Slovak. Tickets are $100 per person, and more information is available on the museum’s website at www.thunderboats.org.

7/21/08

Over at ERCU: The Blog, you can vote for your favorite ERCU race site that we’ve run at so far this season. It’s an unscientific poll, just for fun, but it’ll be fun to see what the results are.

7/18/08

7/16/08

The July newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

7/13/08

Congratulations to Bill Shearer, proud owner and driver of the 1978 Miss Madison. At the MaxAmps Oregon Emerald Cup on Saturday, July 12, Bill eclipsed the 1,200 point mark that he needed to reach to shed his rookie trailer start status. He went over the 1,200 point mark during heat 3B of the Oregon Emerald Cup, and did a great job of starting right on the money with the rest of the field in heat 4B. Unfortunately, the Miss Madison didn’t want to cooperate for starting the Bob Miller Memorial (a.k.a. the modern consolation final), but Bill did achieve his 1,200th point, and did a good job of starting on the front line in heat 4B. Good job, Bill!

7/10/08

Details about the MaxAmps Oregon Emerald Cup this Saturday, July 12, at Lake of Tualatin Commons.

FORMAT:

* Slightly-modified ERCU Race format
* Four preliminary heats of five laps each
* Modern winner-take-all final heat
* Vintage winner-take-all final heat
* Chuck Hickling Memorial â€“ vintage first consolation. Counts as a race win.
* Bob Miller Memorial â€“ modern first consolation. Counts as a race win.
* Second and third connies in each class will be run if turnout supports them.
*

WHATâ€™S DIFFERENT?: This race will include four flights of heats instead of the normal three flights.

The top seven boats in each class will automatically be seeded in to the final. The seventh boat to qualify for each final will start as a trailer.

Boats 8-13 in the vintage class will be seeded into the Chuck Hickling Memorial. Winner does not move into the Oregon Emerald Cup final, but is awarded a race win for the Chuck Hickling Memorial.

Boats 14-20 in the vintage class will be seeded into the second connie. Winner will have the opportunity to move up to the Chuck Hickling Memorial as the trailer.

Boats 8-13 in the modern class will be seeded into the Bob Miller Memorial. The seventh boat to qualify for the Bob Miller Memorial will start as a trailer.

Points, in all flights and all heats, will be distributed as normal.

All ties will be broken, if necessary, by season standings.

THREE RACES IN ONE: The connies will be named the Chuck Hickling Memorial (vintage) and the Bob Miller Memorial (modern), and both will count as an official race win for the first place finishers. These two race wins would be in addition to the Oregon Emerald Cup, which will go to the first place finisher in each winner-take-all final heat.

7/9/08

Due to the obstruction sitting in Bellevue Pond, and the unavailability of an alternate Puget Sound region site for that date, the Bernie Little Memorial Race, originally scheduled for July 20, will be postponed until further notice. Think of it as too much debris in the water, similar to past problems for the big boats on the Ohio River.

7/7/08

Big thanks go out to our newest title sponsor — for a race. MaxAmps, based in Nine Mile Falls, Wash. (outside Spokane), has signed on as title sponsor of the Oregon Emerald Cup, this Saturday, July 12 in Tualatin.

MaxAmps and their products can be found online at www.maxamps.com.

7/6/08 â€” History of the real Oregon Emerald Cup

The real Oregon Emerald Cup was only held one time, in the small Oregon town of Dexter â€“ located just 20 miles east of Eugene. It was the first, and only (to date), unlimited race in Oregon.

Seattleâ€™s Billy Schumacher piloted the Pride of Pay â€˜n Pak around Dexter Lakeâ€™s 2Â½-mile unlimited course on August 15, 1971 to sweep all three heats and win the Oregon Emerald Cup, 1,200 points toward the national unlimited title and the lionâ€™s share of a $15,000 purse. It was Oregonâ€™s first (and only â€“ to date) unlimited event, and was sponsored by the Eugene Jaycees.

Pride of Pay â€˜n Pak moved into third place nationally behind Miss Budweiser (Dean Chenoweth) and Miss Madison (Jim McCormick), but he had a long way to go. As the season waned, Miss Bud had 6,996 points; Miss Madison, 6,313; Pride of Pay â€˜n Pak 6,017; and Atlas Van Lines (Bill Muncey), 5,595.

SchumacherÂ toured the Dexter Lake course at 109 mph in the final heat, but was under his qualifying mark of 112 mph set the day before. He announce then that he intended to win the Dexter race, where his only real competition was McCormick, who drove the community-owned 13-year-old Miss Madison for three second places and 900 points. Schumacher ruled heats 1A and 2A and Chenoweth and Muncey took heats 1B and 2B, respectively. Muncey was fined $200 for violating an APBA rule concerning unsportsmanlike conduct after an argument with referee Bill Newton.

Of course, ERCU’s complimentary re-creation of the Oregon Emerald Cup is entering its second season. It is title sponsored by MaxAmps, and presented by Schumacher Racing Team, Saturday, July 12 at Lake of Tualatin Commons in Tualatin, Ore.

(story by Lawrence Barber â€“ reprinted to www.lesliefield.com from Yachting, October 1971, p. 179)

7/5/08

Next up on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series is the MaxAmps Oregon Emerald Cup, presented by Schumacher Racing Team, Saturday, July 12, at the Lake of Tualatin Commons, in Tualatin, Ore.

While it was originally reported that this race would be a modified Fan Plan, that plan has changed.

Instead, now, the Saturday race will be made up of four rounds of preliminary heats, followed by enough connies to give each boat the opportunity to run five times, and of course the winner-take-all finals. Second connie winners will be given the option to move into the first connies as a trailer boat.

The connies will be named the Chuck Hickling Memorial (vintage) and the Bob Miller Memorial (modern), and both will count as an official race win for the first place finishers. These two race wins would be in addition to the Oregon Emerald Cup, which will go to the first place finisher in each winner-take-all final heat.

The pressure will be on Craig Mullen, as he drives the same boat that won the only real Oregon Emerald Cup in the history of the sport â€“ the 1971 Pride of Pay â€˜n Pak, driven by Billy Schumacher.

Setup of the course and pit area begins at 7 a.m., followed by open water and testing until 10:30 a.m. Registration will run from 9-10 a.m., and the drivers meeting will start at 10:30. Modern heat 1A is scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m.

Directions to the race site are available on the schedule page, which you can reach as simply as clicking here.

Big thanks again go out to our race sponsors, MaxAmps and Schumacher Racing Team.

If you haven’t already made plans to come south for July 12, now’s the time to make those plans.

7/3/08

Media coverage of the Rose Festival RC Regatta just keeps coming. This week, The Bee newspaper, which covers the Sellwood and Westmoreland neighborhoods in Portland on a monthly basis, printed a story and photos covering the race we had at Westmoreland Park in Portland. Members mentioned in the feature story included Roger Newton, Dave Reiser and Nelson Holmberg.

To read the story online, click here.

7/3/08

Mick Shutt has taken over as Contest Director of the Columbia Cup. Thanks Mick! We appreciate you joining in to help put on a race. The Columbia Cup will be held Saturday, August 16 at the Lake of Tualatin Commons in Tualatin, Ore.

The Columbia Cup is a points race, which means even if you win the final, you may not necessarily be the winner of the race. Consistency pays big dividends at this event.

7/2/08

The club now has a blog online. ERCU: The Blog can be found at: http://ercutheblog.blogspot.com/. The beautiful thing about having a blog, which is different than the chat rooms or bulletin boards that we’ve tried in the past, is that the blog doesn’t necessarily need the interactive participation in order to be a success. But it provides a quick, easy place to go for breaking news, and it’s easier to update remotely than a website is.

When you have time, click on over to the blog and check it out. You might find some use to it.

7/1/08

After the Sahara Cup at Lake Tye in Monroe, Mark Gran shook his rookie status, as he reached a total of 1,229 points in the vintage class. Congratulations Mark, you no longer have to start as a trailer (unless you win a connie to get into a final, of course). Now you get the fun of starting every heat with the rest of the field, banging into the first turn at full speed with five other boats! Doesn’t that sound fun?

But seriously, congratulations Mark! You’re having a great season.

6/27/08

BREAKING BIG BOAT NEWS: The U-25, owned and driven by Dr. Ken Muscatel has made it to Evansville. Here’s one of the very first photos of the new look of the U-25, to prove it. Stay tuned for more information regarding the first race of the ABRA 2008 season.

6/26/08

Think the photos below are from Jeff Campbell’s boat shop? Nope. Mick Shutt’s shop is the site of concurrent construction of two boats this year. Mick is currently not only racing the 1976 Miss Vernor’s, he’s also building his fleet of the future â€” the 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto and the 1978 Miss Budweiser. Things are moving along nicely for Mick. Don’t be surprised to see either of these boats racing before the end of this season.

6/22/08

Mark Gran has sent in a few photos that he took at Tastin’ and Racin’, and wanted to share with members and those who visit the website. Enjoy!

Thanks to Mark for these great photos. You’d think, by looking at them, that Mark is a professional photographer, with top-notch equipment, but to Mark’s credit, he explained these were taken with his point-and-shoot digital camera with a 10x zoom lens. Great job Mark. Thanks for sharing with us!

6/19/08

The June newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

6/18/08

For those of you that have been wondering where Dave Gardner has been here is the latest news: He will be going in for back surgery on July 22. Hopefully this will cure his constant back pain. Then maybe he can resume racing again.

â€” Roger “Czar” Newton

6/18/08

What do Chip Hanauer, Billy Schumacher, George Henley and Nate Brown all have in common? Well, not only did they all win the Gold Cup, they will all be taking part in our special Salute to the Gold Cup event on Friday, June 20 at 7 p.m., at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum.

Chip, Billy, George and Nate will take part in a two hour panel discussion where they will talk about their Gold Cup victories, and answer questions from the audience.

These four drivers represent five decades of Gold Cup racing. Billy won as a driver in 1967-68. George won in 1974-75. Chip won numerous times in the 1980s and 90s, Nate won in 2004, and Billy won again, as an owner, in 2006.

The Salute to the Gold Cup is part of the Museum Lecture Series and is free to all members ($5 for non- members). Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the presentation starts at 7 p.m.

For more information, click here to visit the museum’s website

6/13/08

Even though the Presidentâ€™s Cup at Lake Wilderness on June 14-15 is still in everyoneâ€™s sights, this is a reminder that the Sahara Cup follows the following Saturday, June 21, at beautiful Lake Tye in Monroe. Contest Directors Bob VandenAkker and Mike Gossler will be attempting to put on the show without the benefit of all the snow, sleet and wind that greeted us at the last Lake Tye adventure in April, but we are assured that they will do their best to overcome the disadvantages caused by that loss. Set-up will commence at 7 a.m. that Saturday, with the course to be ready for testing by 9 a.m. The drivers meeting will commence at 10:45, with the first heat of modern class competition hitting the water at 11 a.m. We also expect the temperatures to rise above 35 degrees, so this race day should be even more enjoyable than the previous one.

PGI Models of Auburn, Wash., is the race sponsor for the Sahara Cup.

6/5/08

Mark your calendars for one of the more visible races on the schedule, June 14-15, in terms of community support. The Presidentâ€™s Cup is run in conjunction with Maple Valley Days, an annual community festival in which ERCU is a featured event. This is a two-day event, and Contest Director John Williams is requesting the following schedule be set for this yearâ€™s club activities. Saturday will be the set-up and practice day, with events right next to the pits through most of the afternoon. Due to the parade Saturday morning, the window of opportunity has to be monitored closely. John is requesting that the trailer arrive at 7 a.m., with volunteers to help, and all work necessary to set the course and prepare the scaffolding be completed by 9 a.m. The park is closed at this time during the parade, which means the course will be open again at noon for the remainder of Saturday afternoon. It would be very much appreciated if boats could be run that afternoon, to help add to the show for the community.

Sunday morning it is advised to arrive early as well, as a track meet will be utilizing the shoreline as in years past. Racers should plan to arrive and be unloaded before the start of the run at 9 a.m., which could last until about 10:30 a.m. We will be able to offload during this time, but the runners will have the right-of-way at all times. Racers will be able to drive vehicles to the lakefront to unload, but will have to park in the formal parking area at the top of the hill once unloaded

The drivers meeting is tentatively scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Sunday, with racing to start at 11 a.m. This is a show for the community as much as a racing event for ERCU, so all who can come down during Saturday will enhance the show that much more. The weekendâ€™s events can be viewed by clicking here.

6/5/08

A little more media attention for the Rose Festival RC Regatta, from The Bee, a monthly newspaper in Southeast Portland. To see the brief story, click here.

6/4/08

The first day of June dawned like so many other Seattle spring days â€“ cloudy, cold and threatening rain. It did stay cloudy and cool through the day, but 10 hardy racers were spared any of the wet stuff (from the sky anyway) at the Lake Pleasant venue. Bob VandenAkker secured the site for what seems like the 23rd consecutive year so that the residents could enjoy the day of boat racing that they have come to appreciate every June. Although it was not an official ERCU event, five modern and 10 vintage boats were present, and found a way to put on a pretty good show. The morning was spent tweaking, adjusting and just plain fixing boats from the aftermath of the first four races of the year. Around noon the event started in earnest, with four sets of preliminary heats followed by a vintage connie and the two finals.

The modern class was represented by Mike Campbellâ€™s â€™74 Country Boy, Rick Lentzâ€™s â€™74 U-95, Craig Mullenâ€™s â€™71 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak, Bob VandenAkkerâ€™s â€™74 Miss U.S. (not a â€œrealâ€ ERCU boat but very nicely done just the same), and making itâ€™s first showing this year, Nigel Steereâ€™s â€™94 T-Plus. To no oneâ€™s surprise, the Country Boy swept the day with its usual sterling performance (and Mikeâ€™s good driving). The Pay ‘n Pak and T-Plus tangled in the third heat, with the Pakâ€™s skid fin slicing about half-way through the T-plus, before the T-Plus got itâ€™s revenge by knocking the offending fin to the bottom of the lake. Nigel was able to apply the 200 MPH tape to keep it together and take an overall second place in the final. The U-95 continued its string as the only boat besides Country Boy to finish all its heats, and snagged an overall third in the final. Due to the usual gremlins, the Pay ‘n Pak, even with a brand new skid fin, and the U.S. were not able to finish the final heat.

All ten Vintage boats continued to run through the day, so a four-boat consolation heat was run to determine the trailer for the final. Craig Mullen and the â€™71 Hallmark Homes (red) ran away from the field to advance, with Mike Gosslerâ€™s â€™63 Miss U.S. V finishing itâ€™s only heat of the day in second place (anyone want to buy a good roundnose . Monte Steereâ€™s Grand Olâ€™ Lady, the â€™52 Slo Mo V, came out of moth balls â€“ again â€“ but along with the long distance traveler, John Earnest and the â€™62 Gale V who came all the way up from Battle ground to play, were not able to finish. The final looked to be another barnburner, with Mike Campbellâ€™s â€™68 Harrahâ€™s Club, Brian & Dan Gilmoreâ€™s barge â€“ er, â€™60 Thriftway Too â€“ and Jeff Campbellâ€™s screaming (literally) â€™69 Pride of Pay N Pak (hooktail) all piling up the big points from the preliminary heats. Filling out the field was Ron Daumâ€™s â€˜58 Wildroot Charlie, Lentzsâ€™s â€™58 Miss Bardahl and VandenAkkerâ€™s â€™66 Miss Lapeer, along with the trailer Hallmark Homes. The start was what you would expect, with the top boats sprinting into an early lead. But by the last lap there was a real race between â€“ are you ready for this â€“ the Wildroot Charlie, Bardahl and Lapeer. Charlie beat out the Bardahl by a nose with Lapeer about two boat lengths behind. The Hallmark appeared to be in good shape to pull off a win, except the Hallmark forgot it was the trailer and started with the pack, resulting in a lap penalty that it could not make up, thereby finishing in fourth. The â€œbig threeâ€ all encountered gremlins and did not finish, for what seems like the first time ever!

Thanks go to Bob for arranging the dayâ€™s events, to Dan and Brian Gilmore for hauling the trailer and preparing lunch, to Jeff and Judy for running the heats, and everyone for set-up and clean-up. For a non-race the day was still a lot of fun.

5/30/08

This video just in from ERCU’s most recent first-time race winner, Gary Hansen, who is a proud sponsor of the U-17 Miss Red Dot hydroplane, which will be testing this weekend at Tastin’ and Racin’ at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah. To see the video, click here.

5/29/08

Some sad news out of Washougal. Jesse Shehan’s shop caught fire earlier this week, doing pretty significant damage to the structure and to boats and tools in the shop. Jesse reports that the Spirit of Dayton Walther and St. Regis were still in his truck after the Rose Festival RC Regatta, so they were spared, but the new St. Regis which had recently been painted and was ready for decals, was in the shop at the time of the fire.

The Columbian covered the fire. To read the story, click here.

If you want to send Jesse a note, click here to email him.

5/28/08

Doug Campbell is makingÂ new 1/10th scale balsa laser-cut Merlin engine kits. Here are a few shots of the first test build. This guy weighs in at 1.3 oz with sealant and coats of primer. It’s actually easier to build than the Allisons. Look for availability in a few weeks.

Jim Clark is organizing a group buy of Doug’s Merlin and Allison laser-cut 1/10-scale motor kits. They will be $20 each for the Merlins, and the price for the Allisons will be announced soon.

Shipping should be around $15, and the shipping costs will be split when Jim gets a total number of kits ordered. If you’re interested in ordering some, e-mail Jim to let him know how many and what type motor you want. The price is a $5 savings for each motor and several dollars saved in shipping costs.

â€” Jim Clark

5/23/08

Race day is almost here for the Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta presented by Portland Parks and TechJet Imaging. In addition to the ERCU races, there will be a Kids Race thanks to a couple of the event’s sponsors. Schumacher Racing Team and DA Graphics have teamed up to provide kids the chance to race smaller R/C boats and keep those boats after the day is done.

The first 10 kids age 8-15 who sign up for the Kids Race at the race site on Saturday morning will be included in the race, and will get to keep their boat.

The Kids Race will be three laps on a shortened course, two boats at a time in a total of five heats, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

A sign up sheet will be available in the model hydroplane pits on the north side of the Casting Pond at Westmoreland Park, beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 24. For more information, email our webmaster here.

For more details about the main event, please scroll down.

5/22/08

NewsChannel 8 (Portland’s NBC station) today paid a visit to Westmoreland Park to help promote the Rose Festival RC Regatta, featuring ERCU members Mick Shutt, Jesse Shehan and Nelson Holmberg and their boats.

True to the spirit of live TV, not everything worked quite perfectly, but the end result was some great promotion of this weekend’s race, and of ERCU. Unfortunately, Jesse’s Spirit of Dayton Walther met a drain stanchion in the center of the pond at about 40 miles per hour, and the result wasn’t pretty. Mick’s 1976 Miss Vernor’s kept wanting to spin the drive line (as did the Red Man one time, as you’ll see on the video). But when all was said and done, the TV coverage worked well and ERCU’s exposure was positive.

Here’s a link to the four live spots, edited together here. If you haven’t yet decided whether to come to Portland this weekend for the race, now would be a good time to start charging batteries and make the decision to come south this Saturday.

5/22/08

Rose Festival RC Regatta

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Event Schedule

7-9 a.m.,Â Course and pit area setup at Westmoreland Park Casting Pond

9-10:15 a.m.,Â Practice and testing

10:15-10:25 a.m.,Â Driver’s meeting

10:25 a.m.,Â â€œFive to the Oneâ€ for modern heat 1A

10:30 a.m.,Â Modern heat 1A

12:30 p.m.,Â Lunch break â€“ Kids Race

Approx. 4 p.m.,Â Winner-Take-All Rose Festival RC Regatta Final Heat (modern class)

Approx. 4:15 p.m.,Â Winner-Take-All Rose Festival RC Regatta Final Heat (vintage class)
Approx. 5 p.m.,Â Trophy Presentation

Directions to Westmoreland Park in Portland

You can find directions from whichever starting point you like to the race site by clicking here, then on â€œGet Directionsâ€ near the top of the page, and typing in your starting address under â€œStart address.â€

Hotels near Westmoreland Park

Unfortunately, there arenâ€™t a lot of hotels real close to Westmoreland Park and the Casting Pond, but there are several that arenâ€™t too far away at all, and theyâ€™re convenient in terms of driving to the park.

Here are some choices:

Shilo Inn â€“ Convention Center

518 NE Holladay Street

Portland, OR 97232

www.shiloinns.com

800-222-2244

(4 miles from race site)

Shilo Inn â€“ Rose Garden

1506 NE 2nd Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

www.shiloinns.com

800-222-2244

(4.3 miles from race site)

Holiday Inn â€“ Downtown/Convention Center

1441 NE 2nd Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

www.holidayinn.com

1 888 HOLIDAY (888 465 4329)

(4.2 miles from race site)

DoubleTree Hotel â€“ Lloyd Center

1000 NE Multnomah
Portland, Oregon, USA, 97232

www.doubletree.com

1-503-281-6111

(4 miles from race site)

There are, of course, lots of other options for hotels and motels in the Portland/Vancouver area, but these are just a few suggestions that are close to the race site.

5/21/08

Hereâ€™s a little history about the newest ERCU venue â€“ home of the Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta presented by Portland Parks and TechJet Imaging this Saturday – May 24th. Donâ€™t miss this event. It will be a history-making event, as the first Rose Festival Event in Southeast Portland since the Alpenrose Milk Carton Boat Races left the Casting Pond in 2002 when it was drained.

Located at the intersection of SE McLoughlin Blvd. and SE Bybee in Portland, Westmoreland Park began as a part of a residential subdivision that was subtracted from the Ladd Estate’s Crystal Spring Stock Farm in 1909. By the 1930s, the site east of the subdivision had been converted from a wetland to serve time as a dairy, brickyard, and airstrip known as Broom Field. However, as development increased, residents requested that these empty fields be turned into a city park.

In 1935, the City Planning Commission recommended development of recreational amenities for the nearby residents and “the improved appearance and traffic safety of McLoughlin Boulevard (also known as US Highway 99W, which preceded Interstate 5) as a major traffic freeway entrance to the city.” In January 1936, the City of Portland purchased the 45-acre parcel called Fairways Addition from Oregon Iron & Steel Co., a business owned by the Ladd Estate Co.

The Commission proposed a plan, prepared by architect Francis B. Jacoberger, for the park. The City of Portland and the Federal government began to develop the vision of Jacobergerâ€™s plan as a â€˜make workâ€™ proposal under the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

The WPA projects resulted in a casting pond, a model yacht lagoon (known as the Duck Pond), a fly casterâ€™s club house, bridges, a water supply for the casting pond supplied from Eastmoreland Golf Course, and grading of the athletic fields.

In August 1936, the hand-excavated, 410-foot by 350-foot casting pond served as the site for the 28th International Casting competition. Other amenities in the Jacoberger Plan included archery and croquet fields; badminton, volleyball, tennis, handball, and basketball courts; horseshoe pits; night illumination of the casting pond; and dressing room buildings.

In 2002, Eastmoreland Golf Course (east of McLoughlin Blvd., and the casting pond) was the site of some fairway remodeling, and while the work was being done, the old wood strake pipe that supplied the casting pond with water was crushed.

Model boaters and fly casters lost the pond and rumors popped up about a new use for the then-nearly 70-year old concrete facility when the pond was drained, making big news across the city of Portland. Google maps satellite photos still show the pond without water. Among the rumors that cropped up were new uses for the pond that included filling it in and building new ball fields, or constructing a skate park inside of the pondâ€™s space.

Thanks to a group led by Neal Paddison of the Portland Model Power Boat Association, and numerous other model boaters and fly casters, the Parks Department and the city found a way to make sure there was water in the pond. It was a five-year effort that finally paid off in 2007 when the pond was re-filled and fitted with a new system for delivering water into it. It was also retrofitted to allow for the parkâ€™s daily irrigation to be drawn from the pond each morning, with refill coming from the stream just to the west of the pond.

The pond holds approximately 2.8 million gallons of water and takes nearly two weeks to fill from empty.

5/20/08

As has been previously announced, the Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta presented by Portland Parks and TechJet Imaging has a received a lot of promotion and local interest, which should make it a great day for all. Looks like the weather could even be cooperating. In fact, this race may have everything we need, except power. Therefore, everyone with a generator should plan on dragging it along with you â€“ that will complete a perfect day! See you all there â€“ set-up around 7 a.m., drivers meeting at 10:15 and racing to start at 10:30. Check the Schedule page on the website for location and driving directions if you arenâ€™t familiar with the SE Portland area.

5/19/08

Congratulations to both Carl Lewis and Steven Mallard, who correctly identified our Mystery Boat last week. Carl was first to identify it as the 1962 Gale’s Roostertail, less than 12 hours after it was posted on the website, and Steven was most diligent in his account of which boat it is.

The only way to do Steven’s answer justice is to quote it directly. “The mystery boat is: 1962 Gale’s Roostertail, built by Gale Enterprises. 1966 Smirnoff 2Â Bill Cantrell 1967-68 Gale’s Roostertail (Sunburst) Jerry Schonith 1970 Miss Schwepps, Fred Alter (leased from Gale) 1971-72 Towne Club, Fred AlterÂ Â 1973 the boat went to Bob Gilliam of Washington, he raced as Valu Mart 1974 last raced as My Cupee (Love Bros). Sat out since then until 1993 when Dave Bartush of Detroit (U-13) bought for his collection, were it sits in a warehouse with other old hydroplanes.”

Steven is the co-chair for Pit Tours at the APBA Gold Cup in Detroit, so ERCU: The Website’s reach is proving to be far and wide across the hydroplane world.

Thanks to everyone who participated. On this one, we had record participation for a Mystery Boat contest.

5/18/08

Seattleâ€™s Seafair may be known for bringing unlimited hydroplane racing to the West Coast, and the Tri-Cities Water Follies may well host one of the best hydroplane race sites in the history of the sport, and thatâ€™s all fair and good.

But ERCU is bringing unlimited hydroplane racing to Portlandâ€™s Rose Festival â€” and thatâ€™s substantial.

The Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta presented by Portland Parks and TechJet Imaging is set to take place Saturday, May 24 at Westmoreland Park in Portland.

A special part of the raceday program will be the Schumacher Racing Team Kids Race, presented by D.A. Graphics, where select children in attendance will be given the opportunity to race 1/16-scale hydros provided by the sponsors. The Kids Race will be just for the glory of it all, and each child will be allowed to keep his or her boat as a gift from our sponsors.

The Regatta is such a big deal to the City of Portland that both the Parks and Recreation Bureau and the Rose Festival Foundation are doing an exceptional job of helping make sure all of the Tâ€™s are crossed and Iâ€™s dotted.

Along the lines of this being a big deal, Portlandâ€™s top-rated morning news show (NewsChannel 8 at Sunrise) will be doing live remotes from the park, featuring ERCU members and boats to preview the race on Thursday, May 22. It has also already been mentioned in some of the smaller local papers in neighborhoods surrounding the park, and in all of the Rose Festival’s printed materials and website.

Raceday setup (on May 24) will begin around 7 a.m., with the course opening for testing and practice immediately after setup is complete. A driverâ€™s meeting is scheduled for 10:15 a.m., with racing expected to start at 10:30 a.m.

Be sure to make your arrangements to travel to Portland for the first part of your Memorial Day Weekend to take part in this historic and exciting event.

Hotel information will be following soon.

5/17/08

Today’s hint for the Pagel Mystery Boat contest (photo below, dated 5/15/08) is: Photo was taken in November 1979.

Friday’s hint (just a reminder): Here it sits after being outside for over six years with brush growing up around and through it.

If you know which boat this is, shoot an e-mail to the webmaster with your answer.

5/16/08

The May newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

5/15/08

Thanks to Golden Thunder Racing Team’s Kirk Pagel, we have another Mystery Boat. This one may not be easy, unless you’ve seen the photo before. Kirk sent the photo, and four clues, as well as photos of the boat when it was running (which will only be revealed once we have a winner. If you know which boat this is, shoot an e-mail to the webmaster with your answer.

Today’s hint is: Here it sits after being outside for over six years with brush growing up around and through it.

5/11/08

Gentleman Jim Latimer and Craig Mullen have officially shed their “rookie” tags, having reached 1,200 points for their careers in ERCU. Mullen, who has experience in the modern class, had earned 831 points with a vintage boat in 2006. He now has 1,312 points this year for a total of 2,143 career points.

Latimer, on the other hand, is a first-timer in ERCU who bought the Miss Everett from Howard Price after a long career in RC Unlimiteds. He started the 2008 ERCU season scoring 521 points at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta in Centralia. He then followed it up with 751 points at the Bill Brow Memorial to raise his ERCU career total to 1,272.

Congratulations to both Jim and Craig for shedding their rookie shackles. Neither of them are any longer restricted to trailer starts in preliminary heats.

5/8/08

We have a winner!

This hull sat underneath the I-94/I-75 overpass for many years? Which hull? It ran as Such Crust IV (1) G-7 from 1952-53, then as the Thunderbolt (2) U-18 from 1960-62 and as the Spirit of Detroit display boat for many years.

It was Such Crust lV originally (Dawnaâ€™s boat in ERCU), then became the 2nd Thunderbolt, U-18 from 1960-62.Â Those are the only two names that it ever actually raced under.

The pictures and photo history of the boat are on the UD website.Â The picture on the railroad track is taken by Larry Wilson, the boat on a crane as Thunderbolt was taken by Jeff Dunn.

Our winner is Gary Hansen, who’s response, “The boat in the picture ran as Such Crust IV (1) G-7 from 1952-53, then as the Thunderbolt (2) U-18 from 1960-62 and as the Spirit of Detroit display boat for many years,” was exactly the answer that Jim Latimer was looking for.

Congrats Gary, and thanks to everyone who played. We had really good participation and a lot of close guesses.

5/7/08

Can you name the boat below that lay rotting along an abandoned railroad somewhere?

If you think you know the answer, send an email to the webmaster. Thanks to Jim Latimer, who submitted the photo and posed the difficult question.

UPDATE (5/8/08) â€” We’ve had lots of good (and close) answers, but we still haven’t seen the exact answer that Mr. Latimer is seeking. Keep trying.

5/6/08

You’ve probably already seen this in the local news, but it was hard to resist posting such a great story of sportsmanship, and we can be proud that it happened right here in the Pacific Northwest. Granted, it doesn’t have anything to do with hydroplane racing, or even R/C hobbies, but stories of good sportsmanship should always be recognized. Thanks to ESPN and YouTube for the video you can find here.

5/6/08

PGI Models, owned by ERCU’s own Mike Gossler, continues to grow and its most recent addition to the hardware collection in its inventory is the rudder assembly built by Jeff Campbell. The complete rudder assembly â€” which includes the mount, tiller arm, rudder blade, bushings and a collar â€” goes for $45. A replacemend rudder blade alone is also available on the site, which goes for $21.50. To order your rudder assembly today, or to find out more about what PGI Models has to offer, click here for the company’s website.

5/5/08

Here’s a bit of a construction update on the 1973 U-8 Red Man:

As of last night, the boat is all put together. The cowling is complete (minus driver, dash, steering wheel and windshieldâ€¦which are all still to comeâ€¦and are the final assembly that needs to be done), and attached, the dummy motor is complete and attached, all of the hardware is in place (still need to do an antennaâ€¦but thatâ€™s no big deal). Next up is some testing time. Weâ€™d hoped to have gotten it out yesterday, but 1) there just wasnâ€™t enough time, and 2) truthfully, there just wasnâ€™t enough work finished yet. But nowâ€¦weâ€™re ready, so perhaps that will happen one night this week, after work. After that test itâ€™ll be time for paint (assuming I did everything right with alignment and balance).

Very special thanks go out to those who have been very helpful in the project including Kirk Pagel, Mick Shutt, Jeff Campbell, Rick Lentz, and Craig Mullen.

â€”Nelson Holmberg

5/4/08

While we’ve had a recent rush of new or updated boat bios, it’s again time for our friendly monthly reminder that there are still several boats that we need bios for. If yours is one of them, please click here for a boat bio form, complete the form and send it back. We’ll even go find the photos for you that go with your bio. There’s minimal work for you to do. The goal here is to collect and post as many as we possibly can for the “Boats” pages on our website. Once we receive that form, it’ll be a quick turnaround to get your boat bio posted. Thanks! Send questions or completed bios to the webmaster.

5/3/08

The next event on the ERCU Red Dot Championship Series presented by Bullithead Design for the1/10-scale hydros is Saturday, May 10 for the Bill Brow Memorial, sponsored for the third year by Seattle Service Asphalt Paving Specialists. The race will be held again at the south lake at Twin Lakes, just north of Marysville. Contest Director Henry Marvin has requested excellent weather for that day and is preparing daylong musical entertainment, so plan now to attend. Remember this site does not have power, so if you have a generator, bring it with you. Also back for the third year will be the Hydropalooza spectacular â€“ you will want to see this!

For the newcomers who have not been to Twin Lakes, and for some of us old-timers who may be directionally challenged, the site is about 40 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Go north on I-5 to the Smokey Point exit 206, Turn left (west) over the freeway and proceed to the first light. Turn left (south), and left again (east) around the new shopping center. The road will turn to the right (south) and become a frontage road adjacent to the freeway. The lakes are about one mile south of the exit. You can also get directions from your house by clicking the “directions” link on the race page.

Set-up will begin around 7 a.m., and the course should be ready to test by 9 a.m. The driverâ€™s meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with racing to begin at 11 a.m.

5/1/08

Another sponsor has signed on for this year’s ERCU race that’s an official event of the Portland Rose Festival (Portland’s version of Seafair), as Schumacher Racing Team has joined forces with title sponsor Hometown Hobbies, Portland Parks & Recreation and TechJet Imaging to bring (model) hydroplane racing to the Rose Festival.

The Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta presented by Portland Parks and TechJet Imaging is set for Saturday, May 24 in the Casting Pond at Westmoreland Park in Southeast Portland. It’s the only Rose Festival event in Southeast Portland this year.

More information about Schumacher Racing Team can be found here.

More information about the Rose Festival race can be found here, or can be found by contacting Contest Director Nelson Holmberg by e-mail.

4/30/08

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum has a new Gallery on its website, which includes many super cool photos, many of which haven’t previously been on the website. It’s most certainly worth a look. You can find it at www.thunderboats.org, and click on “Gallery” in the left navigation column.

4/29/08

Construction continues on one of the newest additions to ERCU’s fleet of vintage boats, as Fred Holmberg’s 1973 Red Man (U-8) gets closer to a first test, and new paint. Hardware installation is complete, and the AstroFlight motor system has also been installed. Additionally, the cowling has been put together and is ready to be attached. A brief test is proposed for Sunday, May 4 in Portland.

With just a couple of other minor things to get done before paint, Team Red Man is feeling like it’s within the 80-40 rule for completing a model boat. While it would be great to have the boat ready for the Bill Brow Memorial at Twin Lakes, that’s not likely, so we’re now shooting for the Rose Festival RC Regatta in Portland.

4/28/08

On Saturday 13 hardy souls braved the sun and nice weather to attack the club trailer with brooms, cleaner and elbow grease to clean up after the last race and also make some long-needed upgrades.

Besides scooping out the approximately three tons of sand and completely drying out all the contents, members installed braces and shelving inside and organized the contents.

A spare tire, jack and wrench were purchased, and a spare tire bracket was fabricated and mounted to the tongue. The chase boat was cleaned, waxed and polished and the oarlocks replaced, just in case the motor wasnâ€™t operable. The wheel bearings were even repacked, thanks to a heads-up check and action by Mark Gran.

As promised, pizza arrived at noon, thanks to Rick, Bob and Judy. A special thank you is offered to the Red Dot Corporation, who provided the use of their shop for all this activity.

Thanks too to the following members who contributed their efforts to the cause: Jeff Campbell, Monte Steere, Mike Campbell, Brian Gilmore, Rick Lentz, Mark Gran, John Burkey, Bill Smiley, Bob VandenAkker, Judy Fenton, Mike Gossler, Craig Mullen and Steve Twardus.

4/22/08

A message from our hard-working Tech and Scale inspectors:

“Thank you to everyone who helped set up and tear down at Lake Tye. The weather conditions were tenuous but we pulled it together. We have three weeks until our next race, Mike and I would appreciate if all boats were up to snuff in technical/scale areas. Though variances were granted (i.e. Vernors (no driver), Thousand Trails (no wing)), we have granted enough variances for the year. It is up to the CD before the start of the race to grant a variance for the day. Thanks, Bob.”

4/18/08

Contrary to popular reports, and the “best” forecasts of Seattle media and weathermen and women, the ERCU Silver Cup is still set to be run on Saturday, April 19. The trailer is set to arrive at the park around 7 a.m., and setup will commence shortly there after. For directions to Lake Tye, be sure to visit the Silver Cup schedule page.

4/15/08

This Saturday ERCU inaugurates Lake Tye in Monroe as the site for the Silver Cup, hosted by CD Monte Steere with the gazebo sponsored by Golden Thunder Racing Team. For those of you needing directions, check the schedule page for a link to map out the area. Set-up will commence at 7 a.m. â€“ helping hands are always welcome. Boat inspections for this yearâ€™s first time racers need to be completed before 9:30 a.m. The drivers meeting will start at 10:30 a.m., with racing getting underway at 11 a.m.

4/14/08

What is the end result of a great event that draws a crowd? At the end of the Champion Spark Plug Regatta in Centralia on Saturday, Contest Director John Earnest was approached by the assistant editor of the Centralia Chronicle newspaper who thanked ERCU for having the event in town, and offered coverage of the event in 2009. No doubt that offer will be followed up on in time for the 2009 ERCU season opener.

4/13/08

Mark Gran was the lucky winner of the Stout Tools drawing at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, taking home a brand new Stout STX-250 X-Band Saw and an ST-CS250 Cutting Station. Congratulations Mark, and thanks again to Stout Tools for their generous donation.

4/12/08

Mike Gossler and Jeff Campbell post season-opening victories at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta. Photos and a full story can be found here.

4/11/08

The April newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

4/10/08

ERCU has become one of the hydro-related organizations that has caught the attention of KNDU/KNDO’s HydroInsider.com website. The website has recently posted a preview of ERCU’s season opening Champion Spark Plug Regatta in Centralia. We’re grateful that Paul Dughi and the crew at KNDU/KNDO, and their audiences find our news interesting enough to post. If you’ve never before checked out HydroInsider.com, now would be the perfect time to do so â€” and consider bookmarking it. The site, and its attached blog, are updated daily.

4/8/08

The 2008 season is just around the corner, and true to recent ERCU history, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta will kick off the season. This yearâ€™s race, which marks the third time in six years that the first race of the year is held at Fort Borst Park in Centralia, is expected to draw another large crowd. Last season, Jason Hartley scored his first career race win, driving the Hallmark Homes to first place in the vintage final, while Mike Campbell started a sterling season with his 1973 Country Boy, taking first place in the modern final.

Contest Director John Earnest is so comfortable with the preparation for the race that he and Dianne spent nearly two weeks vacationing in Denmark, where their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live. Thanks to the pondâ€™s vicinity to I-5, more than 100,000 people are expected to witness (at least in part) ERCUâ€™s first race of the 2008 Red Dot Championship Series presented by Bullithead Design. PGI Models are providing plaques, and new perpetual trophies are ready to go. It promises to be an exciting start to the season, as always, so if your boats arenâ€™t yet ready for the year ahead, itâ€™s time to get out the dust rags and tools, and charge the Lipos. A special thanks goes out to Lois with the Centralia Parks Department for her help in arranging the park reservations.

The trailer will arrive at 7 a.m., and set up will commence shortly thereafter. Testing will begin as soon as all of the set up is finished, with racing to begin about 10:30 a.m.

Finally…while the season opening weather in Centralia has been less than fun, that’s no reason to skip this year’s race. The forecast is for mostly sunny and 73 degrees.

Let’s go racing!

4/7/08

Rick Lentz has provided several photos from the April ERCU Member Meeting. You can see those photos by clicking here, or by going through the website’s “Photos” section. Thanks Rick!

4/5/08

More photos of the 2008 ERCU Spring Training session have been sent in by Rick Lentz. You can see those photos by clicking here, or by going through the website’s “Photos” section.

4/4/08

Many thanks go out to Stout Tools, which has generously donated a Stout STX-250 X-Band Saw and an ST-CS250 Cutting Station to the club, and provided for us to determine our own way to decide how to give it away. The Contest Board will determine whether to hold a raffle, or a contest of some sort, in order to give away this great prize.

To see the X-Band Saw and the Cutting Station, you can click here, and look up the two different tools.

Huge thanks go out to Stout Tools for their support of ERCU, and to Jeff Campbell who has been on point for contact with Stout Tools. There’s little doubt this will be a popular item to be awarded to one lucky winner!

4/3/08

This Sunday April 6 is the final pre-season meeting of the year, being held as usual at the Red Dot lunchroom at noon. This will be a good time to have your boat inspected before the start of the season (in Centralia on Saturday, April 12!) We can also review any questions on rules, and get some more hands-on work with the computer.

4/2/08

Just a reminder that there are still several boats that we need bios for. If yours is one of them, please click here for a boat bio form, complete the form and send it back. We’ll even go find the photos for you that go with your bio. There’s minimal work for you to do. The goal here is to collect and post as many as we possibly can for the “Boats” pages on our website. Once we receive that form, it’ll be a quick turnaround to get your boat bio posted. Thanks! Send questions or completed bios to the webmaster.

3/31/08

I’m pleased to announce that group of members has stepped up to sponsor the gazebo at the third Lake Tye race in Monroe. For personal reasons, the group wishes to remain anonymous, but is made up of active ERCU owner/drivers wanting to help the club.

So, now all three races at the Lake Tye site will have the gazebo available, with it’s shelter and electricity.

Hats off to everyone who made this possible!

Golden Thunder Racing Team is sponsoring the gazebo for the first race at Lake Tye, the Silver Cup, which will be hosted and CD’d by Monte Steere on April 19.

On June 21, Bob VandenAkker is sponsor of the gazebo for the second Lake Tye race, the Sahara Cup, hosted and CD’d by he and Mike Gossler.

On September 6, Ron Daum brings the Seafair Trophy race to Lake Tye with the anonymous gazebo sponsors.

Kirk Pagel

Golden Thunder Race Team

WEBMASTER’S NOTE: Thanks to everyone who sponsored the gazebo for all three races. We most certainly appreciate everything they do for the club!

3/30/08

This just in from Doug Brow, who did a little spring testing of his own on Sunday, March 30 in the Beautiful San Juan Islands:

“I just thought I’d drop a line to let you know that Sunday was a beautiful, sunny, calm day in the San Juan Islands, and was just an absolute perfect day for testing 1/10 scale hydroplanes. Because of that, I charged up all of my batteries and tested both the 1966 Miss Budweiser and the 1978 Squire Shop at three different locations around the island, and I must say both boats ran really well (FAST) with no problems.

“The main reason for going out was to test, but I also admit I was trying out different locations that could be possible race sites for next year, and I now have a couple of places in mind that will make a nice race location.

“I’m sorry to say it, but I’m glad I didn’t make the long drive down to spring training day yesterday, but by the looks of the pictures on the website, it wasn’t a very pleasant day weather-wise.

“Best regards. I’ll see you all at the first race!”

Doug Brow

3/29/08

A couple of hearty Campbells run the Outrigger during a snow flurry at Cherokee Bay. It was just one instance of crazy spring weather during ERCU’s 2008 Spring Training.

ERCU’s 2008 Spring Training was a lot of fun,and a success for those in attendance, despite the bizzar Washington spring weather. The members in attendance â€” Monte Steere, John Williams, Kirk Pagel, Ralph Jorgenson, Rick Lentz, Nelson Holmberg, Ben Keller, Jesse Shehan, Mike Gossler, Bob VandenAkker, Judy Fenton, Mike Campbell, Jeff Campbell, Mark Gran, John Burkey, Dawna Gross, Craig Mullen, Dan Gilmore, Ron Hornung, Gerry Bordon, Ryan Bradshaw, Craig Bradshaw, and Brian Gilmore â€” experienced great weather, snow, rain, hail and even a bit of a breeze at times.

Numerous boats, which all looked great, were tested numerous times and even Judy drove a boat (there’s more to the story, so be sure to ask Judy about it). Dawna tested her new boat, the Pay ‘n Pak Lil’ Buzzard, too.

New boats including VandenAkker’s Miss Lapeer, Gossler’s Miss U.S. 5, Jeff Campbell’s 1969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak, and Mike Campbell’s Tahoe Miss, all got in numerous laps. Even the Gilmore’s new Thriftway Too, not quite finished, was seen on site.

See photos of the event by clicking here.

3/27/08

OK, it’s a bonus post for today, but it’s most certainly appropriate for the first day of the Sweet 16, this photo comes from Brian Gilmore, who hopes ALL Washingtonians can agree on the message in the photo, at least for today. GO COUGS! Beat UNC in the Sweet 16! (Photo by Brian Gilmore, former WSU linebacker).

It has been suggested, by the way, that more signs like this one in the world could help bring peace to the Middle East, a stable U.S. economy, rising valuation of the U.S. Dollar, elimination of air pollution and human rights strife in China, and positive political relations between the U.S. and Nicaragua and North Korea.

3/27/08

Several times this winter, KNDU’s HydroInsider (Tri-Cities) has recognized Kirk Pagel’s solid work with the Big Boat News in our newsletter, but this month ERCU and Kirk got really good placement. Just a couple of days ago, Kirk’s latest Big Boat News was included on HydroInsider as the Top Story. As of this morning, the story is still there, but now resides under the “Top Headlines.”

ERCU: The Newsletter, and the ERCU website, also got high praise from the good folks at HydroInsider, including a recommendation: “it might be worth bookmarking on your web browser and checking in from time to time.”

Thanks to Paul Dughi at KNDU for the kind recognition and regular readership of our website and our newsletter. If you haven’t been following the big boats on KNDU’s HydroInsider.com, we’re confident in saying that when you do, you’ll find it to be the most comprehensive, and most-frequently updated big boat website on the net. It is highly recommended.

3/26/08

Some cool news just in, shared by Ron Daum:

“The full size 1955 GALE V is well underway. The sides and bottom are being installed and the sponsons will be next. The transport trailer is done. I have sent new pics to the Thriftway website but they aren’t posted as yet. I hope to display the boat at the Detroit Gold Cup in July.” While the new pictures aren’t quite yet posted on the Miss Thriftway website, there is a lot of information and several other photos on the site.

Bill Black

Joplin Missouri

3/25/08

If youâ€™re ready for the long wet & cold winter to be over, so we can all go out and race model boats, then the ERCU Spring Training Fun Run is for you. As weâ€™ve done in years past, the last weekend of March will have an event set up that simulates a race, but provides the opportunity to do a little practice, get your boats inspected, and more. Spring Training is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 at Cherokee Bay Community Club in Maple Valley. Set up begins at 9 a.m. â€“ please feel free to come early to help with setup â€“ and the event will run through the day, as long as anyone wants to play. And hereâ€™s what you can expect:

- The driverâ€™s stand will be set up;
- A full course will be set up, using the clubâ€™s buoys;
- The public address system will be set up; and
- The clubâ€™s computer will be set up to practice entering race results and scoring.

Thereâ€™s even a possibility that a period of the day will be blocked out for some practice heats that will provide for an opportunity to practice officiating, recognizing hazardous situations on the course, and the like. While there is electricity available at Cherokee Bay Community Club, generators should be brought to the event, just in case thereâ€™s a limited availability of plug-ins. ERCU Contest Board members will be administering driving tests for new rookies, and the clubâ€™s scale inspector and technical inspectors will be conducting annual inspections that are required for participation. Itâ€™s a great opportunity to shake out all of the bugs in your racing program before the season begins. Not to mention satisfying your need for speed.

3/24/08

Just a reminder that technical inspector Mike Campbell and scale inspector Bob VandenAkker will be in attendance at the ERCU Spring Training day coming up on Saturday, March 29. This would be a perfect opportunity to bring your boats for the inspections that are required before the start of each ERCU season. The more boats that are inspected before the season starts, means fewer will need to be inspected during the testing time at the season’s first races. If you can’t make it to the Spring Training day, you’ll have another opportunity to have your boat inspected before the season starts at the April Member Meeting, scheduled for Sunday, April 6 at the Red Dot headquarters in Kent.

3/23/08

The March newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

3/22/08

A photo sharing opportunity from 2007 modern class Rookie of the Year Brian Gilmore. “The boat dad is with is the Hurricane IV that we were helping Roger Newton sand down at the Hydro Museum, funny looking but cool old boat, should be pretty cool when done. The other photos ought to send Team Husky into a tailspin.”

3/21/08

Mark Gran says “itâ€™s not much to look at yet,” but sent pictures of his Breathless II, which is just about ready. Fact is, the Breathless is looking great. Take a particular look at his driver. Wow! Primer is done and the boat is ready for paint. Mark was hoping to test on March 22-23, and then get the boat out to the paint shop. Here are the pictures.

3/20/08

The 2008 ERCU Schedule is getting closer to being finalized, rather than tentative, as Race Coordinator Mike Gossler continues his hard work on making sure race arrangements are confirmed with not only each volunteer Contest Director, but also with each community and race site that we’ll be running in this year.

A change to the tentative schedule has recently been announced, as well, with the Maple Valley Days/President’s Cup presented by Williams Racing Team being pushed back a week to June 14-15 in order to best match up with the Maple Valley Days celebration.

The schedule, as it stands today, is updated on the club’s website and you can see it here, or by clicking on the Schedule link to the left.

3/19/08

The Gazebo at Lake Tye, which looks like a great spot to hang out during the races. It will be sponsored by Golden Thunder Racing Team at the Silver Cup. (photo by Kirk Pagel) Â Â Â Lake Tye, looking to the North-Northwest. (photo by Kirk Pagel)

Seeing that it’s been three years since ERCU raced at Lake Tye in Monroe, Golden Thunder Racing Team owner Kirk Pagel paid a visit to the site and provides this update.

Getting to the site is an easy 20 minute drive from I-405 at the Woodinville interchange with eastbound SR-522. Directions to the site can be found on the race site pages on the ERCU schedule page.

There is ample parking and rest facilities near the park’s gazebo. The lake sits unprotected from the prevailing N-NW winds, but has a large, flat beach for the drivers stand and pop-up tents. There is a large play area for kids near the Gazebo.

The Gazebo, which will be sponsored by Golden Thunder Racing Team for the April 19 Silver Cup, includes a barbeque pit and at least one big picnic table, and most importantly, has six duplex ground 110 outlets with weather-proof caps. With 12 cords, the club can cut down or eliminate the need for on-site generators.

This is a great site, and I encourage the club and/or other members to consider sponsorship of the Gazebo ($50 per event) for other ERCU events.

â€” Kirk Pagel, Golden Thunder Racing Team

3/14/08

This news about the “new” U-50 just in, from our own intrepid reporter, Kirk Pagel, who covers the big boat connection . . . who got the information from ERCU’s Go Fast Turn Left insider Patrick Gleason.

“The boat is fresh out of the paint shop and is going back together nicely. Plans are for the hull to run at Tri-Cities and Seattle this year. As you can see, the team expects the paint job to beÂ real â€œcrowd pleaser.â€ Its number designation is U-50. Announcements on the driver and the sponsors will be made soon.”

As a reminder, Lakeridge Paving Owner Greg O’Farrell purchased “Lucky” from Fred Leland during the offseason in order to create a two-boat team. It’s the webmaster’s understanding that plans are for the U-48 Lakeridge Paving, the primary hull in the Go Fast Turn Left team, to run the full six-race schedule in 2008.

3/13/08

So here’s the scoop on Sue Williams (Isaacson) and the Miss KYYX record run in 1977, courtesy of the hydroplane history website www.lesliefield.com. Thanks to those who played along.

“They call her Seattle Sue, and yesterday on Lake Washington, she became the fastest female ever to step on the throttle of an unlimited hydroplane.

“Sue Williams, a 28-year-old Boeing worker and a limited boat racer, piloted the U-96 KYYX unlimited to a measured mile clocking of 163.043 miles per hour. Williams, who competes against her husband, Gary, in the 225 cubic inch limited hydro ranks, set the record on her second try early yesterday afternoon.

“The mile course went from south to north, starting not far from Seward Park and finishing near the Stan Sayres, pit area unlimited layoutâ€™s start-finish line. On her first attempt, Williams was timed at a speed of 130 mph plus â€” far slower than the 175 m.p.h. time she had hoped to attain. ‘This thing doesnâ€™t smooth out until it hits 150,’ husband Gary chided, urging Sue to put her foot into it.

“She did just that and came in with the record. The previous measured mile record for a woman was 138 m.p.h., set at Lake Havasu, Ariz., in a tunnelboat.

“The U-96 will depart today for Tri-Cities and the Gold Cup race on Sunday. But Seattle Sue wonâ€™t be in the cockpit. Owner-driver Peter LaRock will be at the helm.”

(Reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 27, 1977)

3/12/08

Mike Gossler’s new company, PGI Models, Inc., has recently launched a really sharp looking website to provide the RC hobbyist with quality products from graphics and model kits to motors, speed controls and batteries. “Goss” says the offerings continue to grow, so to keep an eye on the website.

The site has a shopping cart for easy online ordering, and easy payment methods including PayPal, Visa or MasterCard.

You can find the new site at: pgimodels.com. The webmaster is about to place an order himself!

3/12/08

As the first race of the season draws nearer, the last race in May is starting to heat up. The Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta now has a pair of presenting sponsors as well, and special thanks go out to the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau (Jeff Milkes and Kevin Stoecker) and TechJet Imaging (Jason Beatty) of Vancouver. The two of them are the race’s presenting sponsors. Thanks again to these great sponsors. More information will be available about both of them, and the race, in future website updates.

3/11/08

Does anyone know the story behind this video, posted on YouTube and pointed out by our hydro friends at KNDU HydroInsider? If anyone knows the true story behind Sue Williams’ (Isaacson) world record run (163 mph), in the Miss KYYX unlimited hydroplane (U-96.5), please let the webmaster know. Was it a publicity stunt? Was it a real record that never was formalized? Where was it run?

Oh . . . and Rick, the hull will look familiar to you.

3/7/08

The batteries are here! If you ordered MaxAmps batteries in the club’s group order, the batteries will be distributed at the ERCU member meeting, Sunday, March 9 beginning at 11 a.m., at the Red Dot Headquarters in Kent. You can customize directions to Red Dot from your own starting point by clicking here. Rick Lentz will be distributing the batteries. Thanks Rick!

3/7/08

Your loyal webmaster will be on vacation today through March 15, returning home on March 16. However, thanks to the modern technology of wireless internet and laptop computers, the site will still be updated occasionally during vacation. It may not be updated as frequently as normal, but if you have content to contribute, please continue to email it to Nelson, and we’ll post it as quickly as we can.

3/6/08

Mick Shutt installing the drive line on his 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto. Â Â Â Rick Lentz’s 2002 Silver Dollar Casinos hull in the rough.

Winter construction continues in many shops. Mick Shutt, for example, is working on two brand new boats for the 2008 season â€” the 1976 Miss Budweiser, and the 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto â€” has the paint done, with the exception of a little touch-up work on the Bud, and hardware has been test-fitted on the Oberto, and paint is up next on the to-do list.

At the same time, Rick Lentz is about to take delivery of his 2002 Silver Dollar Casinos hull in the rough. Rick’s to-do list on the new hull includes finishing fill and sanding, paint, hardware installation and cowling and wing work.

3/6/08

Remember to set your clocks FORWARD Saturday night, or else plan to miss the first hour of the meeting on Sunday. Meeting time is 11 a.m., PDT not PST.

3/5/08

The Lake Waughop test session at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood was an unqualified success. By all appearances, the preparation and investment in all-new high-quality hardware and systems will really pay off for 2008. The boat accelerated incredibly and rode like it was on rails.

Afterwards, Roger said, “I’m giving the check back! I don’t remember it ever being that fast!” The “Pink Princess” was the only electric there but all the nitro guys really took notice of how quick the Kai was, in spite of the good-natured “Hawaii Quiet” and “sounds like a hairdryer” jokes.

Several R/C clubs, classes and types of nitro-powered boats were represented, including Roger Newton’s beautiful new 1/6 scale U-8 which at one point did a complete 360-degree blowover, coming back to shore under power and mostly undamaged. This was reminiscent of George Stratton and the UL Wildfire in Kelowna a few years back.

The sound of that big motor was in direct contrast to the quiet Himax in the 1/10 scale Kai. Jerry Dunlap handled the public address duties and kept everything organized. The setting was beautiful with eagles soaring overhead and pleasant early-spring weather.

â€” Ben Keller

3/3/08

Sunday, March 9 is the next meeting for the club. Of special interest this month will be discussions on rules application and driving decisions. This would also be a great time to bring your boat for 2008 inspection. The meeting will start at 11a.m., at the Red Dot headquarters, earlier than usual to allow time for thorough discussion of the driving rules.

AGENDA, March 9, 2008 ERCU Member Meeting

1.Â Â Â Call to order and start attendees list.

2.Â Â Â Reports of Officers:

2.1Â Â Â Â Â Secretary: Reading and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting

2.2Â Â Â Â Â Registrar/Treasurer: Report on Finances and Registration Status

2.3Â Â Â Â Â Race Coordinator: Schedule Review

2.4Â Â Â Â Â Statistician: Comments

2.5Â Â Â Â Â Technical Inspector: Comments

2.6Â Â Â Â Â Scale Inspector: Comments

3.Â Â Â Reports of Standing Committees: None

4.Â Â Â Reports of Special Committees: Rules, Progress Report

5.Â Â Â Old or Unfinished Business: Training

5.1Â Â Â Â Â Rules â€œChalk Talkâ€

5.2Â Â Â Â Â Scoring Spreadsheet Instruction

7.Â Â Â Show and Tell

6.Â Â Â Adjournment & Boat Inspection & MaxAmps Order Distribution

3/2/08

Kirk Pagel reports that the Unlimited NewsJournal is holding its annual fundraising auction to “beef up” funding for the publication on Sunday, March 9, the same day as our ERCU meeting. The auction does not start until 2 p.m. It is Kirk’s hope that ERCU members will come over to the auction at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum after the March Member Meeting at the Red Dot facility is completed.

2-5 p.m.
UNLIMITEDS UNANIMOUS CLUB MEETING AND AUCTION
FREE admission to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum
- E.K. Muller Memorial Auction
- Unlimited Newsjournal fundraiser
- Walk-in auction items gladly accepted
- Special guest: U-13 crew chief Curt Tavenner

3/1/08

SEATTLE â€” After a full Saturday’s worth of work, the 1973 Red Man (U-8, vintage) of Fred Holmberg is another step closer to being ready to run in 2008. Saturday’s work was highlighted by the first two coats of white paint on the decks.

The boat will be rolled Sunday for paint on its underside. Most of the hardware for the new boat has been secured and the missing pieces will be picked up soon. The boat will debut in 2008 outfitted with AstroFlight power, Graupner props, and NiMh juice as Fred gets used to driving the boat and learning the ins and outs of competition.

The Karelsen hull (#7132, originally built in 1971 as the black Hallmark Homes), was assembled in 2007 by Jeff Campbell, and was sold to Fred midway through the 2007 season and is one of the few Karelesen hulls still available for registration in ERCU. Fred chose to built this boat as the 1973 Red Man (U-8, vintage) because it is a sister ship to his son Nelson’s 1973 Red Man (U-81, modern).

In real life, the two hulls raced together as a two-boat team owned by Jim McCormick through the second half of the 1973 season. The U-8 was the primary boat, which ran each of the nine races, with McCormick as its driver through Seafair. George Henley drove the U-81 for two races, though it failed to qualify in its first appearance, at the Gold Cup in Tri-Cities. Henley did manage to qualify the U-81 for the World Championships at Seattle, but failed to start a heat. Nearly a month later, at the Clearwater Cup in Toledo, Ohio, McCormick split time in the U-8 with Danny Walls, and drove all of the heats for the U-81. Walls took over the U-8 for the final race of the year, the National Champions Regatta at Detroit, but failed to earn any points. The U-81, meanwhile, with McCormick in the cockpit, had a solid day of racing with three second place finishes, which was good for third behind the Miss Budweiser and the Pay ‘n Pak “Winged Wonder”.

2/29/08

The Hawaii Kai III returns to the water this weekend (photo by Jim Clark).

LAKEWOOD, Wash. â€” Choral Enterprises is gearing up for its first-ever test session, set for 11 a.m., Sunday March 2 at Lake Waughop at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.

The U-8 Hawaii Kai III is returning to 1/10-scale fast electric unlimited racing. In the 2008 Red Dot ERCU Championship Series presented by Bullithead Design, the Choral Enterprises Racing Team (CERT) intends to make its presence felt, following the example, among others, of Newton Marine, Golden Thunder Racing, and the very successful Campbell Brothers.

The “Czar”, Roger Newton built the current Hawaii Kai III in 2006 from carbon fiber composite materials. He drove the boat to a third place finish at the Bill Brow Memorial in her only appearance of 2007. After suffering damage, the “Pink Princess” remained on the sidelines for the rest of the racing campaign. During the 2007-2008 off-season Newton refurbished the boat. He will drive at the launch and coach new owner Ben Keller, who plans to take a turn behind the wheel to “get his feet wet” for the first time. The new 1/6 scale nitro class unlimiteds will also be testing.

Veteran Robbie Roberts, who currently ranks 27th in the all-time career driver point standings for the vintage class, will take the wheel at the Spring Training Test Day on March 29 at Cherokee Bay.

Hawaii Kai III namesakes have been competitive in the past, finishing in seventh place in the 2005 ERCU Vintage Class standings with Roger and David Newton sharing the driving duties, and having won three races: the Stan Sayres Memorial in 2005, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, and the Harmsworth Trophy in 2004, all with Roger Newton at the wheel. This is good enough for sixth place on the all-time victory list.
In an effort to be competitive the Kai has been outfitted with brand-new high quality equipment including a Himax HB3630-1500 WC brushless motor mated to a Castle Creations Hydra 120 Speed Control, stainless steel shaft and Newton-modified Octura x447r beryllium prop. An Octura x447r set up by Andy Brown at CMDi Racing High Performance Propellers has been ordered. Graupner K45r carbon fiber props will also be used. Power will be provided by MaxAmps 4000 and 4200 mAH capacity 4S2P LiPo batteries. Drivers will enjoy brand-new Spektrum equipment: DX3R DSM2 Radio, SR3100 receiver and Z590M High Torque metal gear servo.

For more information contact Choral Enterprises at: softtop@comcast.net

2/28/08

Here’s the reason that the “Green Beanie” is up for sale. The Red Man racer has a new boat transport, which will help cut costs on fuel for the long trips to Seattle and back. The extra money, or at least some of it, will hopefully be used to continue supporting the racing and fun had by Nelson & Dawn while they attend ERCU races throughout the season. If anyone is interested in the details of the former boat and gear transport which is now for sale, please see the For Sale page.

The new rig is a 2008 Toyota Yaris, which, while small, has plenty of room for not only the 1978 Red Man, but also all of the gear that goes with the racing organization, and still comfortably sleeps the “co-owner” in the passenger seat after those early wake-up calls we make on race weekends.

2/26/08

Here are some events at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum (5917 S. 196th, Kent, WA), that may interest you. Save the dates. More information about the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum can be found on its website.

Sunday, March 9

2-5 p.m.
UNLIMITEDS UNANIMOUS CLUB MEETING AND AUCTION
FREE admission.
- E.K. Muller Memorial Auction
- Unlimited Newsjournal fundraiser
- Walk-in auction items gladly accepted
- Special Guest, Curt Tavenner, U-13 crew chief

Friday, March 21

7 p.m.
MADISON MOVIE REUNION
FREE for museum members. $5.00 for non-members.
- Panel Discussion of movie stunt drivers, such as David Williams, Ken Muscatel, Ike Kielgas, and others.
- A showing of “Madison” will follow.

Friday, April 18
OPEN MIC NIGHT
FREE for museum members. $5.00 for non-members.
Enjoy the musical talents of our extended museum family.
- Chip Hanauer on guitar.
- Don Mock and special guest drummer.
- Kent Strong Combo. Ken is our gift shop manager.
- The S.O.B.s from Seattle Outboards Association:
- Pat Gleason, Nate Brown and Craig Fjarlie.
- Open mic for others wishing to perform.

2/24/08

Hometown Hobbies and A-Main Raceway has recently joined the ERCU team as title sponsor of the Rose Festival RC Regatta in Portland this year. The store, located about 600 yards away from the Casting Pond at Westmoreland Park â€” site of this year’s race, is mostly focused on gas cars but ownership and members are indeed interested in boats. This year’s race will be known as the Hometown Hobbies Rose Festival RC Regatta. There’s even a possibility that our newest race sponsor might just buy a boat and join the club in time for the Rose Festival race. Dave Reiser, one of Portland’s ERCU members, races cars with his son Mario at A-Main Raceway. More to come.

2/23/08

Kerry Kjos reports having found another option for environmentally-safe lubricant that might just work for our boats. Having found “KEL Pure Silicone” at Parkrose Hardware, Kerry reports that it is a food-grade pure silicone lubricant. A 9 3/4 oz. spray can goes for $10.99. Labeling says KEL is for food and drug equipment.

2/21/08

Golden Thunder Race Team has committed to Biokleen’s Soy Blends SL-100 lubricant for the 2008 ERCU season.

Team owner and manager Kirk Pagel put the water displacement type lubricant to a field test, and came up pleased with the results.

“It’s all it says it is,” Pagel said. “A ‘green’ approach to lube the moving parts on a 1/10th scale electric-powered hydroplane. It works where you normally may have used WD-40, but leaves no ‘sheen’ in the water and no residue on the shop rag.”

The 4-ounce spray container is available at local Fred Meyer stores or direct from the manufacurer. Google: Soy Blends SL100. The price is $4.99 at most stores.

Golden Thunder Racing will use the SL-100 product at all race sites in 2008.

2/19/08

The February newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

2/16/08

Mike Gossler has announced that PGI Models/Pacific Graphics is now a Flight Power Battery Dealer. The specific battery that our club would use is the EVO30-45004S. Here is a description per Flight Power page on the battery: A premium product with increased power density for applications and pilots where only power matters. All products a whopping 30/60C. EVO 30 is designed primarily for EDF projects and .90 size 3D competition helis and f5B where flight time is less of a consideration than raw power, and reliability under extreme loads counts for everything. Fast charge rates up to 3C approved in conjunction with balancing, the FlightPower V-Balance is ideally suited.

Gossler is also a dealer for Himax Motors and we should have a new e-commerce website hopefully by end of February. The new website will be www.pgimodels.com, and the link will redirect to the website when it is complete.

2/14/08

Henry Marvin reports some good news! Steve Baker, vice president of Seattle Service, has confirmed his commitment for sponsorship of the Bill Brow Memorial Regatta for the third year in a row. His contributions have been responsible for making this one of ERCU’s top venues and has been an excellent example of the ultimate race sponsor. We thank Steve for his continued support of ERCU and of Henry’s Bill Brow Memorial Regatta at Twin Lakes Park in Marysville.

2/12/08

How cool is this stuff? The first official Unlimited Hydroplane League race was held on January 26, with a 17-boat field, including ERCU’s own Nelson Holmberg, driving the Superior Racing Team’s 2007 U-25. Unfortunately, the U-25 was involved in a head-on collision with another boat in the mill of heat 1A, and was out for the day. Anyway, Scott Pryzbylski has done a beautiful job of making an unlimited hydroplane racing video game. Video of the final heat from the January 26 race is now available for viewing. The next race is February 16.

Here is the video. the announcer might sound familiar to you.

Part 1

Part 2

2/8/08

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum kicks off the 2008 Museum Lecture Series with a panel discussion hosted by Unlimited hydroplane legends Ron Jones, Sr., Dixon Smith and Ken Frankel. February’s topic of discussion is Propellers â€” Past, Present and Future.

This highly technical discussion is sure to be of interest not only to our museum membership, but also to anybody currently involved with hydroplane racing.

The panel discussion is slated for Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Wash.

The lecture is free to museum members and only $5.00 for non-members. Coffee and other refreshments will be provided. Come early to reserve your front row seat.

2/7/08

ERCU MEETING AGENDA

February 9, 2008

Red Dot Corporation Lunch Room

1.Â Call to order and start attendees list.

2.Â Reports of Officers:

2.1Â Â Â Â Â Secretary: Reading and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting

2.2Â Â Â Â Â Registrar/Treasurer: Report on Finances and Registration Status

2.3Â Â Â Â Â Race Coordinator: Schedule Review

2.4Â Â Â Â Â Statistician: Comments

2.5Â Â Â Â Â Technical Inspector: Comments

2.6Â Â Â Â Â Scale Inspector: Comments

3.Â Reports of Standing Committees: None

4.Â Reports of Special Committees: Rules, Progress Report

5.Â Old or Unfinished Business:

5.1Â Â Â Â Â Insurance for 2008: NAMBA

6.Â New Business:

6.1Â Â Â Â Â Club battery order from MaxAmps (Rick)

6.2Â Â Â Â Â Rule Change Presentation and Discussions led by the Rules Committee

7.Â Show and Tell

8.Â Adjournment & Boat Inspection

2/6/08

The Northwest Model Hobby Expo is scheduled for this weekend at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe. Showtimes for the February 9-10 show are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Almost 100 national and local vendors offer the latest in hobby products as well as some surprises for your health and well-being.

2/5/08

Just a reminder that the February ERCU Member meeting is Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at noon at the Red Dot Corporation lunchroom.

2/4/08

John Williams has announced that he will have a limited quantity of Allison and Rolls Merlin dummy motors available for sale at the ERCU Member Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Red Dot lunchroom. If you want one of John’s beautiful dummy motors, please bring cash to the meeting with you.

2/3/08

Whoever said Cougs and Huskies couldn’t work well together was wrong. Mark Gran and Nelson Holmberg are living proof of that. On February 2, Gran brought his new Breathless II to the Cougar Racing Team West Vancouver shop for assistance in installing hardware. By the end of Mark’s visit, his motor, drive line, rudder, steering system, and strut were all installed.

2/2/08

Just a quick reminder that if you have any boat hobby-related stuff you are trying to sell, you can post it online at our website. There’s a For Sale page linked off the top of the Club Info page.

2/1/08

1/31/08

Golden Thunder Racing Team owner Kirk Pagel has named another driver to his squad. At a press conference in Port Orchard, Pagel announced today that Zane Courtway will join the team, driving Golden Thunder’s number two boat at the Bill Brow Memorial in Marysville, and at the ERCU Gold Cup in Maple Valley.

“Jerry called me the other night & confirmed that Zane will drive with us in Marysville and at Lake Wilderness,” Pagel said. “It’s just two races, but it’s a great way to lure him back into the fold.”

Zane had his first taste of 1/10-scale racing in the 2007 Apple Cup exhibition at Chelan, driving Rick Lentz’s 1958 Miss Bardahl to a third-place finish in the final. He also was third in one of the earlier preliminaries.

“I was really impressed with the way Zane handled Rick’s boat in Chelan, not to mention Ron Hartley’s $ Bill while practicing, in his first time running a 1/10-scale hull,” Pagel said. “That made me want Zane on my team. Nellie does a good job for us, but he’s rolled the boat over a few times in critical situations. Maybe Zane will keep a boat shiny-side up.”

Golden Thunder Racing Team, founded in 2007 by Pagel with the brand new 1957 Shanty I. The team expanded later in the season when Pagel acquired the 1957 Maverick from Roger and David Newton.

1/29/08

Quick Quiz. Any guesses whose boat shop this is? Send your guess to the webmaster. Bonus points if you can identify the boat under construction on the bench.

1/28/08

This year’s ERCU group battery order has been closed. We totalled 53 packs this year, so thanks to everyone who participated in the order! Next step is to get a total price from MaxAmps, which includes shipping & handling. We expect to have orders to deliver at the March ERCU Member Meeting.

1/27/08

The February ERCU Member Meeting has again been moved â€” this time to SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, beginning at noon at the Red Dot lunchroom. This move is made to accomodate members who would like to attend the Northwest Model Expo at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, and the NAMBA District 8 meeting, which begins at noon on Sunday during the show. Scale clubs â€” both electric and nitro â€” have become the majority in the district, so our voices are welcome at these District 8 meetings. If you have questions about the ERCU Member Meeting move, or the NAMBA District 8 meeting, contact Ron Daum.

1/26/08

All previously registered boats from 2007 have until January 31 to re-register. All of those boats which have not re-registered will be placed on the “Up for Grabs” list. This list will be posted in early February and will contain the names of newly-available hulls. If you have any questions concerning this or any of the registration rules please email me your questions and phone number. I will be happy to answer your questions.

â€” Henry Marvin, ERCU Registrar/Treasurer

1/25/08

Just a reminder that today is the deadline for your orders if you want to participate in the club’s battery buy from MaxAmps. We’re up to 43 packs on the order, and there’s special pricing for us only for the 4,000 mAh packs. For more information, or to order, contact Nelson Holmberg.

1/24/08

The Contest Board today announced that Jeff Campbell has been appointed to fill its open position. Jeff Campbell has been appointed to replace Nelson Holmberg, who resigned from his position of Statistician earlier in the week. Campbell will start his board duties immediately, and will fill out the remainder of Nelson’s term, which expires at the end of the 2008 season.

1/21/08

It is with great regret that I must announce that our Statistician, Nelson Holmberg, has tendered his resignation from the Contest Board. As chairman I understand the reasons for his decision and it is with even greater regret that I find myself accepting his resignation.

During his short tenure on the board, Nellie brought great insight and energy to the organization. As our webmaster he put together this fantastic website which is a window into our hobby. Fortunately for us, Nellie has agreed to remain as our webmaster and newsletter editor.

This also creates a vacancy on the Contest Board which in accordance with the By Laws, the Contest Board will fill by an appointment yet to be determined.

â€” Ron Daum, Contest Board Chairman

1/20/08

BATTERY ORDER UPDATE: So far, our club battery order is looking like a success, but there’s still lots of time to get your order placed. Orders are due to Nelson Holmberg by January 25, so we can alert MaxAmps on how many we’ll need. Nelson will collect money from members at the ERCU member meeting on Sunday, Feb. 10.

So far, nine different club members have accounted for an order of 36 LiPo packs from MaxAmps. If you’re still thinking of ordering new LiPos for the 2008 season, and want them from MaxAmps, please be sure to submit your order by Friday, Jan. 25.

For more information about the batteries available from MaxAmps, click here.

1/18/08

In deference to those who would like to partake in the Super Bowl mystique this year, the February meeting for ERCU has been rescheduled to noon on Sunday, Feb. 10 [one week later]. Then, to keep dates as evenly spaced as possible, the March meeting will be moved to noon on Sunday, March 9. The final winter meeting will retain the April 6 date.

Do put on your schedules ERCU Spring Training on Saturday, Match 29 at Cherokee Bay, arranged by Dan Gilmore. This will be a great day for having your boat inspected before the season, test out the new running gear, and generally enjoy a day with your boating friends. Sunshine has been ordered.

1/18/08

In order to keep the Rose Festival RC Regatta as an official part of the Portland Rose Festival, we’ve had to swap dates for the Rose Festival RC Regatta and the Oregon Emerald Cup. Details are on the Schedule page.

1/17/08

After reviewing the options, the ERCU Contest Board has decided that insuring with NAMBA (North American Model Boat Association) for 2008 is to the overall benefit of the club, which means we will no longer be affiliated with APBA, effective immediately. The cost to the membership will be determined, and members will be so notified. If you have any questions please direct them to any board member.

To apply for membership in NAMBA, please fill out the application found here. You can mail it in with a check for your $45 membership fee. You can also fax the application in with your credit card information for payment. While filling out your application, the Club Affiliation is ERCU and the Area of Interest interest is 1/10 Scale Electric Unlimited. you should send their applications in with their checks to the address given on the form.

1/15/08

The January newsletter is posted here. You can also find it in the Archived ERCU Newsletters section.

1/13/08

The Formula Boats display hydro was seen today at the Portland Boat Show. It’s not every year that you see a real hydro in Portland, so this was kind of fun. My apologies for the quality of the photos not being up to par. I took them with my phone camera. If I had expected to see a hydro at the boat show, I’d have taken my good camera. By the way, Dawn and I did NOT buy a boat today. But we were tempted by a couple.

â€” Nelson Holmberg

1/7/08

It was announced yesterday at the ERCU Member Meeting that a club battery order is being put together from MaxAmps â€” which is a Washington company, based in Nine Mile Falls (near Spokane). We’ll be getting a 20 percent discount on this year’s order, so if you’re interested in buying, please contact Nelson Holmberg as soon as possible to place your order. Money will be collected from those who participate in the buy at the February 3 club meeting.

Deadline to place your battery order is JANUARY 25, 2008. After that deadline, Nelson will request a specific cost for the shipping and handling in order to know exactly what each of us will owe for our batteries. He will also ask whether direct shipping is available to each member who orders, or whether it’d be more cost-efficient to ship the whole order directly to Nelson, then distribution completed at the March ERCU Member Meeting.

Here are the details of the available batteries (within the club’s battery regulations) from MaxAmps.com.

* â€¢ 4,000 mAh (20C Constant)
* â€¢ 4,200 mAh (20C Constant)
* â€¢ Balancing taps of your choice can be added, if you choose, before delivery (Hyperion taps are standard, no charge. Others available, and installed for $2.99 extra per pack, are ThunderPower, AstroFlight Blinky, Align/Equinox, or FMA Cell Pro Taps).
* â€¢ Deans plugs can be added, if you choose, before delivery ($2.50 extra per pack).

â€¢ With the 20 percent discount, pricing looks like this (with balancing taps and Dean’s plugs added):

â€¢ 4,000 mAh â€” $128.38 per pack, plus approximately $9 for shipping and handling*.

â€¢ 4,200 mAh â€” $154.78 per pack, plus approximately $9 for shipping and handling*.

* â€” Shipping and handling charges could change as a result of this club order. Exact cost for shipping & handling will be shared with the club before money is collected.

Shameless plug: Nelson used these batteries throughout the 2007 season, and was very pleased with their performance and durability, not to mention the customer service from MaxAmps.

Drivers who also used MaxAmps batteries at some point during the 2007 season include: Mick Shutt, Doug Brow, Rick Lentz and Kerry Kjos. If you’ve got any questions about their batteries, please feel free to check with any of these drivers.

1/6/08

At today’s ERCU Member Meeting, we had a good discussion about doing what we can to avoid the oil sheens that sometimes come off our boats when we can. The question was asked if there were any good options that didn’t leave a sheen, and the all-natural option of Biokleen’s Soy Lube SL-100 was mentioned. All reviews are that SL-100 is the natural equivalent of WD-40. Here’s a little more information about Soy Lube, direct from the Biokleen website.

BIOKLEEN’S SOY LUBE SL-100: Non-Toxic & Ozone Safe:
Finallyâ€¦An effective non-aerosol lubricant thatâ€™s safe for you and the earth. Most petroleum-based lubricants are harmful or fatal if swallowed. Soy Lube SL-100â€™s biobased formula is made entirely from renewable resources for an effective lubricant that lasts longer and is less hazardous than mainstream alternatives.

â€¢ PENETRATES stuck/slow moving parts
â€¢ CLEANS with dissolving action
â€¢ PROTECTS against corrosion and rust
â€¢ SEALS and dries out moisture

This product is available at Fred Meyer stores, natural grocery stores like Whole Foods, and many other locations, both in the Puget Sound and Portland areas. More information about Biokleen and all of its products, including a store locator, is available at their website, www.biokleenhome.com.

1/3/08

The first of the month is here again (already!) and itâ€™s time for the next members meeting â€” Sunday, Jan. 6 at the Red Dot Corporation in Tukwila. The meeting will commence at noon, with the board meeting at 11 a.m. The Rules Committee will also be meeting at 11 a.m. Hope to see you all there! Red Dot’s headquarters are located at: 495 Andover Park East in Kent. You can customize directions from your own starting point by clicking here.

The agenda for the member meeting is as follows:

1.Â Â Â Â Call to order and start attendees list.

2.Â Â Â Â Reports of Officers:

2.1Â Â Secretary: Reading and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting

2.2Â Â Registrar/Treasurer: Report

2.3Â Â Race Coordinator: Draft schedule

2.4Â Â Statistician: Heat finish efficiency report; Columbia River Division update

2.5Â Â Technical Inspector: Report on K-45 prop and 3S battery test

2.6Â Â Scale Inspector: Comments

2.7Â Â Webmaster: Boat bios, other updates

3.Â Â Â Â Reports of Standing Committees: None

4.Â Â Â Â Reports of Special Committees: Rules, progress report

5.Â Â Â Â Old or Unfinished Business:

5.1Â Â Insurance for 2008

6.Â Â Â Â New Business:

6.1Â Â Environmental issues for 2008

6.2Â Â Club battery order from MaxAmps (Nelson & Rick)

7.Â Â Â Â Show and Tell

8.Â Â Â Â Adjournment & Registration

1/2/08

True to ERCU tradition, the Shady Lake New Year’s Fun Run was run on New Year’s Day. A new Fun Run â€” for the Columbia River Division â€” also started on January 1, at Westmoreland Park in Portland. For more information, and photos, from both Fun Runs, click here.

1/1/08

The boats available for registration as of January 1, 2008 are as follows:

1957Â Thriftway TooÂ U-62
1966Â Miss BardahlÂ U-40
1974Â Red ManÂ U-81
1982Â Atlas Van LinesÂ U-00

â€” Henry Marvin, ERCU Registrar

1/1/08

Happy New Year!

We’re starting a new news page for the new year. You can still find all of the past years’ news in our archives, however. There are links below to all of the ERCU news from over the years.

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2008 News

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