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Bill Muncey Memorial

Jim Brittain goes 2-for-2025, Mike Henriksen collects his first win as winds rule the day

Digital Roostertails photo album available HERE

The 2025 Meyers Auto Tech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC rolled into central Washington for the Bill Muncey Memorial, and as can occur in a spring day in Ellensburg, wind followed. Sustained winds around 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph made for challenging conditions, as near-whitecap conditions meant that the racers were throttling through the left turn to keep the boats upright.

50 boats were on hand for the second race of 2025, racing across 4 classes. It was a great day of racing as at least the sun remained out, and we were able to hold all heats despite the challenging conditions.

1/10th Scale Electric Final

1st: 1976 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney

DNF: 2024 Flav-R-Pac, Nelson Holmberg

DNF: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt

DNF: 1955 Hawaii Kai, Beau Rarig

With the breeze stiffening, the little boats struggled to stay on the water. Lexy Brandt took the early lead, but the Speedy cut inside the course going into the left turn, earning a penalty before it failed to finish. The Flav-R-Pac (welcome back Nelson Holmberg!) jumped the gun before crashing on the backstretch, then the Hawaii Kai was the last to go over. That left Brooklyn Kinney, the two-time defending champ in the class, who kept the U.S. on the water to take her first victory of 2025.

Gas Scale Consolation

1st: 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ken Olson

2nd (DNF): 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Dave Englehart

3rd (DNF): 1984 Team Velocity, Derek Pierce

4th (DNS): 1980 Candyman, Donn Lange

You might notice a trend developing. Ken Olson was the only one to survive five laps as the Pay'n Pak advanced to the final as the trailer.

Gas Scale Final

1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

3rd: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen

4th: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

5th (DNF): 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

6th (DNF): 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ken Olson

Dave Brandt took the early lead with the Rock, but it was far from easy. The Atlas charged hard but flipped and landed upright on the backstretch, but the boat died right in the glare of the afternoon sun. The boat was difficult to see, so the drivers had to pick their way around the debris while trying to manage the wind. The Miss Houston and Charlie's Girl kept the Rock honest, but Dave collected his second victory of the year in the gas scale class.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation

1st: 1984 Team Velocity, Mike Henriksen

2nd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

3rd (DNF): 2001 Znetix, Donn Lange

The Team Velocity, with damage from an earlier flip, took the early lead and never looked back, earning a trip to the final as the trailer.

/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final

1st: 1984 Team Velocity, Mike Henriksen

2nd: 1987 Eliminator, Dave Brandt

3rd: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Steven Kinney

4th: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

5th: 1976 Atlas Van Lines, Wayne Beeson

6th: 1972 Notre Dame, Lexy Brandt

7th (DNF): 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Aidyn Brandt

The first four boats at the start (Eliminator, Squire Shop, Houston, and Notre Dame) were judged to have jumped the gun at the start, earning a one-lap penalty. That left the Esquire Products in the early lead, with the Atlas and Team Velocity chasing. As Aidyn picked his way through the rough course, the Team Velocity gained ground and passed on the frontstretch. The two boats nearly collided in the left turn, which the judges ruled to be a racing incident and the Esquire hit a buoy and could not recover. Meanwhile, Dave Brandt was charging hard with the Eliminator but could not overcome the penalty, and Mike Henriksen took his first career victory in R/CU. His ceremonial dunking was agreed to be delayed until the next race, which many members considered to be sacrilegious!

1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation

1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

2nd: 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson

3rd: 2011 Miss Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski

4th: 1980 Miss Budweiser, Adam Faussett

5th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt

The Squire Shop bogged down in the start, and while trying to charge hard hit a buoy and pulled off the course. Up front, it was Bill Brandt who took the early lead and managed the Matrix and Lakeridge to take the victory and advance to the final.

1/8th Scale Nitro Final

1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

4th: 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

5th (DNF): 1974 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney

6th (DNF): 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Kirk Maupin

7th (DNF): 1971 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Brent Edinger

As the final heat of the day, the wind howled and it claimed a few victims. The Stroh's Light spun in the left turn, hitting a buoy in the process. The Esquire Products stuffed in the right turn from the lead, and the U.S. flipped on the backstretch. That left Jim Brittain, who had collected the first victory of the season, to navigate through the chaos and winning for the second time. 

 

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April 26-27

 

Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA

 

Previous Race Winners:

Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 1997-present

Race held in Elma, WA 1990-1996

Race held in Kent, WA 1981-1989

Current-2020, winners shown as nitro // FE // gas

-2025: Jim Brittain (1982 Oh Boy! Oberto) // Mike Henriksen (1984 Team Velocity) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)

-2024: Geoffry Grembowski (1979 Miss Circus Circus) // David Newton (1984 Atlas Van Lines) // Henry Oord (1983 Miss Houston)

-2023: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)

-2022: Geoffry Grembowski (1979 Miss Circus Circus) // Jason Walters (1986 Mr. Pringle's) // Henry Oord (1983 Executone)

-2021: Race not held due to COVID-19 pandemic

-2020: Race not held due to COVID-19 pandemic

 

2019-2013, winners shown as nitro // FE

-2019: Scott Meyers (1987 Eliminator) // David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser (T-3))

-2018: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) 

-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // David Newton (1988 Miller High Life) 

-2016: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Fred Stock (2008 Formulaboats.com II) 

-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // David Newton (2012 Spirit of Qatar) 

-2014: John Olson (1976 Miss Vernors) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) 

-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken.com) 

Prior to 2013, only nitro class run

-2012: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2011: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)

-2010: Kirk Maupin (1975 Atlas Van Lines)

-2009: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2008: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2006: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2005: Bill Brandt (1993 Tide)

-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2003: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2001: Jesse Robertson (1994 Miss Budweiser T-3)

-2000: Eric Akeson (1986 Frank Kenney Toyota)

-1999: Jesse Robertson (1999 Miss Circus Circus)

-1998: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop)

-1997: Brad Lewis (1988 Miller High Life)

-1996: Rich Matkin (1966 Miss Bardahl)

-1995: John Earnest (1957 Gale VII)

-1994: Steve DeSteese (1984 Miss Renault)

-1993: Ron Davis (1984 Competition Specialties)

-1992: John Hruby (1978 Miss Circus Circus)

-1991: Norm Nordby (1984 Lite All Star)

-1990: Brad Lewis (1976 Olympia Beer)

-1989: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)

-1988: Ron Erickson (1983 American Speedy Printing)

-1987: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)

-1986: David Jensen (1982 Gilmore Special)

-1985: Roger Newton (1980 Miss Budweiser)

-1984: Rick Barnes
-1983: Bill Smiley

-1982: Gale Whitestine (Tahoe Miss)

-1981: Gale Whitestine (Tahoe Miss)

 

 

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