Meyers Auto Tech Championship Series
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Thanks for racing in 2026, we'll see you in 2027!
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Apple Cup
Rain fails to dampen R/CU's enthusiasm and great racing in Monroe
Facebook photo album available HERE
The Meyers Auto Tech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC made its final trip west of the mountains to the welcoming community of Monroe, WA, on the shores of Lake Tye. After a largely successful season with Mother Nature, she decided to bring everyone a little Seattle sunshine. For those of you not native to the northwest, this means rain! Special thank you to all who set up the race site early Sunday morning in dreary conditions, and we are thankful that the rain stopped around midday.
However, there was no wind with the rain. The cool, dense air was perfect for horsepower, and the club had all their boats running in top speed as we head towards the final race of the year. Despite the weather, the crowd turned out to watch the action, and a field of nearly 40 boats were on hand to try and capture valuable points to close out the season and try to win the coveted Apple Cup.
1/10th Scale Electric Final
1st: 1974 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
2nd: 1970 Pay'n Pak Lil' Buzzard, Joey Caines
3rd: 1962 $ Bill, Geoffry Grembowski
4th: 2026 Royer Miss Madison, Ezekiel Thrasher
5th: 1955 Hawaii Kai, Dray Newton
Nothing was going to stop Brooklyn as she clinched the 2026 championship, winning her fourth race of the year in dominating fashion with a perfect day. Congratulations to Brooklyn, the 1/10th scale electric champion!
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Paxton Reunanen
2nd: 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Mike Henriksen
3rd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
4th: 2023 Grigg's Ace Hardware, Ken Olson
5th: 1971 Country Boy, Joey Caines
6th (DNF): 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
The lineup might have looked a little different with the drivers, as Paxton was driving Mike Henriksen's boat, Mike Henriksen was driving Kevin Martin's boat after his Miss Machine Rock Band had a tough day, and Jim Whyte and Ken Olson were driving their second boats! Paxton had lane one at the start and was able to use it well, holding off Mike and a hard-charging Henry to take his second victory of the year in the gas class driving the Charlie's Girl.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 1982 Pay'n Pak, Joey Caines
2nd: 1980 Evans Marine, Talon Moore
The dual for the last spot in the final fell to Joey with the Pay'n Pak, as he held off Talon with the Evans Marine.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Steve Kinney
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd: 1982 Pay'n Pak, Joey Caines
4th: 1985 Miller American, Paxton Reunanen
5th: 1993 Miss Rock, Jake Gray
6th: 2011 Red Dot, Jason Colean
7th (DNF): 1985 Coor's Light, Mike Henriksen
No one could touch the Squire Shop in the final, as Steve Kinney simply powered around the competition and took the easy victory. The Miller American cut a buoy and had a lap penalty, which allowed Henry to take second and Joey Caines to round out the podium.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 1987 Miss Cellular One, Talon Moore
2nd: 2019 Delta/Realtrac, Zach Gordon
3rd (DNF): 2011 Miss Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
Making his nitro debut, Talon Moore navigated the Cellular One around the course and took the victory, advancing to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
2nd: 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Steve Kinney
3rd (DNF): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
4th (DNF): 1983 Miss Renault, Joey Caines
5th (DNF): 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
6th (DNF): 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Kirk Maupin
7th (DNF): 1987 Miss Cellular One, Talon Moore
This was an exciting heat from the beginning. The Miss Renault jumped the gun, so racing for the lead was the Oberto and the Miss Circus Circus, with Geoffry on the inside with lane position and Jim on the outside with speed. The field charged behind them, but was struggling to catch the two boats. On lap 3, the Circus spun in the left turn, and the Oberto took the victory, for Jim's first victory of 2026.
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September 13
Location: Lake Tye Park, Monroe, WA
Contest Director: Beau Rarig
Previous Race Winners:
Race held in Lake Tye Park, Monroe, WA 2021-Present
Race held in Yakima, WA 1976, 1978, 1992-1994
Race held in Portland, OR 1979-1984
Race held in Kent, WA 1977
Current-2020: winner shown as nitro // FE // gas
-2026: Jim Putich (2016 Oh Boy! Oberto) // Steve Kinney (1978 Squire Shop (U-65)) // Paxton Reunanen (1977 Charlie's Girl)
-2025: Paul Jackson (1994 Pete's Wicked Ale) // Mike Henriksen (1984 Team Velocity) // Mike Henriksen (1977 Charlie's Girl)
-2024: Adam Putich (2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing) // Paxton Reunanen (1985 Miller American) // Jim Whyte (1978 Miss Mark and Pak)
-2023: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernor's) // Don Mock (1985 Miller American) // Jim Whyte (1978 Miss Mark and Pak)
-2022: Dave Brandt (1978 U-65 Squire Shop) // Don Mock (1986 Miller American) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2021: Dave Brandt (1978 U-65 Squire Shop) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // John Olson (1971 Country Boy)
Prior to 2013, only nitro class run
-1994: Dave Blacksten, 1985 Miss 7-Eleven
-1993: Roger Newton, 1993 Miss Budweiser
-1992: Terry Olding, 1984 Miss Tosti Asti
-1984: Dick Ness, Miss Budweiser
-1983: Race not held
-1982: Jack Haugen, Thriftway Too
-1981: Steve Benson, Miss Vernors
-1980: Dallas Cook, Pay'N Save
-1979: Les Ruggles, Miss Supertest III
-1978: Les Ruggles, Miss Supertest III
-1977: Ron Erickson, Spirit of Dayton Walther
-1976: Les Ruggles, Maverick