Apple Cup
Brandt and Reunanen claim victory to draw title fights nearer, while Olson stretches his lead in Gas Scale at the Apple Cup
Saturday photo album available HERE
Sunday photo album available HERE
YouTube playlist available HERE
R/CU made its first visit to Monroe, WA, to a busy Lake Tye Park. The site has previously been used by other clubs in the region, but it was the first time in about 4 years that roostertails had flown over the waters. The local citizens were impressed, and the beautiful park produced great racing. Sunday dawned breezy, damp, and cool, but the wind calmed down and left perfect water for R/CU to rip up for the penultimate race weekend of the year.
With championships decided in two weeks, everyone was on their "A" game as they challenged for the first Apple Cup trophy awarded since 1994.
1/10th Scale Electric Final
1st: 1971 Budweiser Malt Liquor, Dylan Hirano
2nd: 2013 Graham Trucking, Joey Caines
3rd: 1970 Miss Budweiser, Mason Dunn
With the agreed-upon starting procedure of roundnoses on the frontstretch, and pickleforks on the backstretch, it was a 3-boat shootout for the final. Dylan Hirano took the early lead with the Malt Liquor, but Mason made a divebomb attempt in the left turn to try and overtake him. The Budweiser slid wide into the Malt Liquor, earning a 1-lap penalty. From there, it was smooth sailing for Dylan, who took his second consecutive victory in the 1/10th scale class.
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
2nd: 1990 Infinity Car Audio, Scott Meyers
3rd: 1959 Nitrogen, Joey Caines
4th (DNS): 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Brandon Sano
Jim Whyte salvaged an uncharacteristically bad day by taking the consolation heat and advancing to the final over the ailing Infinity Car Audio and Joey in Ken Olson's Nitrogen.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
2nd: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
3rd: 1985 Coors Light, Jeff Griffin
4th: 1993 Miss Budweiser (T-3), Jeff Snell
DNF: 1957 Miss U.S. IV, Donn Lange
DNF: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
This race was a battle of the top 2 in the 2021 championship, and it was gonna come down to who had the outright speed and lane position. John Olson showed remarkable crawl speed to snag lane one, and up the backstretch it was side-by-side for the lead with the Miss Rock of Dave Brandt. However, lane position won out, and John was able to use the shorter course to build a lead. The boat showed good speed and the Rock bounced off a few rollers, and the Country Boy was able to take the victory. It was John's fourth victory of the year in the gas scale class.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen
2nd: 1983 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin
3rd: 1982 Gilmore Special, Bobby Colean
4th: 1982 Pay'n Pak, Bob Hulliger
5th: 1986 Miller American, Don Mock
6th: 1969 Notre Dame, Marc Connelly
7th (DNF): 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt
The Notre Dame (1972) was on the inside lane at the start, with the Miller American and KISW Miss Rock charging hard on the outside. The Miller was a touch too early, and was called for jumping the gun. The 1972 Notre Dame cut a few buoys on the left turn, which put the Miss Rock into the lead. Paxton was able to hold off his hard-charging grandpa in the Atlas, and take his 3rd victory in a row. The 1969 Notre Dame finished third in the water but lost a few parts, demoting him to last, and the Gilmore with Bobby Colean collected his first R/CU podium.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
2nd: 1974 Red Man, Paul Jackson
3rd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
4th: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
5th: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
Two boats that are lightning quick but had suffered a little adversity early in the day met in the consolation, and it was Scott Meyers who was able to beat Paul's Red Man to the finish. Scott and the Stroh's advanced to the final as the trailer.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt
2nd: 1966 Miss Bardahl, Fred Olson
3rd: 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
4th: 2010 Superior Racing, Jeff Griffin
5th (DNF): 1976 Miss Vernor's, Kirk Maupin
6th (DNF): 1983 Miss Renault, Joey Caines
7th (DNF): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
Dave Brandt raced Brenda's U-65 Squire Shop for the first time in awhile, and proved it was the correct decision by taking lane one and pulling away from an intensely competitive field. Kirk Maupin's Vernors went dead in the right turn, leaving the Olson brothers to give valiant chase. But in the end it was Trooper Dave, taking the victory and stealing a few needed points in the drivers' championship. Fred and John Olson rounded out the podium.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 11-12
Location: Lake Tye Park, Monroe, WA
Contest Director: Mike Cathey
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
-2021: Dave Brandt (1978 U-65 Squire Shop) [Nitro], Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) [FE], John Olson (1971 Country Boy) [Gas]
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