Champion Spark Plug Regatta
Local racers claim the Champion Spark Plug Regatta
Facebook Saturday photo album available HERE
Facebook Sunday photo album available HERE
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Saturday photo album available HERE
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Sunday photo album available HERE
R/CU returned for a rare second race in Two Rivers Park, one month after the first race in 2021. Racers were excited to continue the season, and Mother Nature turned in a May beauty: 90 degrees and flat waters. Thanks to the Benton County Parks Dept and the citizens of Two Rivers Park for staying clear of the water and helping us to run a safe race!
The good weather and return to racing brought another large field; 61 total boats were entered across the four classes! Longtime R/CU racers remembered it as the second-highest turnout ever. We had 28 nitro boats, 14 FE boats, 11 gas scale, and 8 1/10th scale electric boats. On site was also a decent crowd of hydro fans, who came out to enjoy the weather and watch the boat racing action.
The racing action was intense throughout the day, and soon the finals were upon us. The Champion Spark Plug Regatta was up for grabs, and everyone was going for gold.
1/10th Scale Electric
1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Joey Caines
2nd: 1970 Miss Budweiser, John Olson
3rd: 1971 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ron Cole
DNF: 1971 Budweiser Malt Liquor, Dylan Hirano
DNF: 1968 Myr's Special, Mason Dunn
DNF: 1958 Miss Moses Lake, Jim Latimer
DNF: 1962 Miss Supertest, Brad Lewis
The Pride of Pay'n Pak was called for a lane violation in the mill, then it was all the boats 7-wide across the line for the start. Some drivers pushed too hard, and failed to finish. Navigating the carnage was Joey Caines, driving Brad Lewis's Oh Boy! Oberto. The rocket-quick Oberto stayed clean to take the victory.
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1959 Nitrogen, Ken Olson
2nd: 1974 U-95, Mike Malloy
3rd (DNF): 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
4th (DNS): 1982 Executone, Henry Oord
Ken Olson continued to improve and improve his brand-new Nitrogen boat throughout the 2 races thus far, and it appears as though he has figured it out. The Nitrogen proved lighting-quick in the final, earning a spot in the final as a trailer.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
2nd: 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
3rd: 1990 Infinity Car Audio, Scott Meyers
4th (DNF): 1983 Miss Houston, Brian Packer
5th (DNF): 1959 Nitrogen, Ken Olson
All four boats on the front line were legitimately quick, and no one knew how the final would turn out. John Olson kept a tight inside line with the Country Boy, but it was Dave Brandt in lane two who held him off to take the victory. Scott Meyers battled the rough water in lane 3 to round out the podium.
FE Second Consolation
1st: 2008 Hoss Mortgage, Jason Colean
2nd (DNF): 1982 Gilmore Special, Bobby Colean
It was an uncle vs nephew for the second connie, and this time around nephew won with his beautiful new Hoss Mortgage boat.
FE First Consolation
1st: 1987 Eliminator, Bill Brandt
2nd: 1984 Lite All Star, Ron Cole
3rd: 2008 Hoss Mortgage, Jason Colean
4th: 1982 Pay'n Pak, Bob Hulliger
5th (DNF): 2008 Formulaboats.com U-5, Brady Brackett
6th (DNF): 2006 Graham Trucking, Rob Brackett
There was a bit of carnage in the right turn as the Brackett father-son duo both ended their races prematurely. Bill Brandt, the winner from the Atomic Cup, made it through to the final, holding off the rest of the field to advance as a trailer boat.
FE Final
1st: 1986 Mr. Pringle's, Jim Brittain
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd (DNF): 1983 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin
4th (DNF): 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Dave Brandt
5th (DNF): 1962 Notre Dame, Kyle Hirano
6th (DNF): 1987 Eliminator, Bill Brandt
7th (DNF): 1984 Atlas Van Lines, Don Mock
This heat was not a pretty one for intact race-boats. First, the Houston was called for jumping the gun. Going into the left turn, the Notre Dame and 1984 Atlas Van Lines tangled, spinning both boats out and blocking the turn. The Eliminator ran over the top of one of the boats, flipping upside down in the process. Then, on lap 2, with the lead the Pay'n Pak hooked in the same corner, and the 1983 Atlas Van Lines clipped it and flipping. That left two boats remaining, the Mr. Pringle's and Miss Houston. The boats slowly navigated the debris, and Jim Brittain collected his first victory of 2021 with the Mr. Pringle's!
Nitro Second Consolation
1st: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
2nd: 1976 Miss Budweiser, Ron Cole
3rd: 1994 Pete's Wicked Ale, Paul Jackson
4th (DNF): 1980 Miss Budweiser, Joey Caines
The much anticipated duel between the Pay'n Pak and the Pete's Wicked Ale never materialized, as the Wicked Ale fell off the tune early and stumbled to the finish. Fred Olson advanced easily to the first consolation, a rare position for the defending champion.
Nitro First Consolation
1st: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
2nd: 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Kirk Maupin
3rd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
4th: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
5th: 1968 Miss Eagle Electric, Monty Hopkins
6th (DNF): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
This heat featured two boats typically battling for the race victory, not the first connie victory. Fred Olson had the inside line with the Pay'n Pak, with Kirk Maupin on the outside. Kirk tried valiantly to find the clean water, but it was Fred with the Pak who took the victory and advanced to the final.
Nitro Final
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Dave Brandt
2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
3rd (DNF): 2014 Spirit of Qatar, Jim Putich
4th (DNF): 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
5th (DNF): 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
6th (DNS): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
7th (DNS): 1976 Miss U.S., Bill Brandt
The final was another heat that was not kind on beautiful race boats. The U.S. and Stroh's could not answer the starting bell, which put Fred on the front line of the final. It was five wide across at the start, and through the first turn. The Spirit of Qatar was called for jumping the gun on the outside. The Pak flipped going up the back stretch, right in the path of the Circus Circus. Geoffry made evasive moves to avoid the debris field. Up front it was Dave Brandt, sporting a mysterious hole in the sponson, and the Country Boy with John Olson battling. The Country Boy hooked left on a wave and spun out, leaving three boats running. Dave kept the boat running, to take his first victory of 2021.
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May 15-16
Location: Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA
Contest Director: R/CU Board
Previous Race Winners
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2021-Present
Race held in Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, WA 1988-2019
Race held in Olympia, WA 1986-1987
-2021: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-64) [nitro], Jim Brittain (1986 Mr. Pringle's) [FE], Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) [Gas]
-2020: Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
-2019: Fred Olson (1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak) [nitro] and Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) [FE]
-2018: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [FE]
-2017: Adam Putich (2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing) [nitro] and Mike Malloy (2007 Formulaboats.com II) [FE]
-2016: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]
-2015: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) [nitro] and Mike Gossler (1983 Executone) [FE]
-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) [FE}
-2013: John Hruby (1978 Miss Circus Circus) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken.com) [FE]
Prior to 2013, FE class not held
-2012: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2011: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2010: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2009: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2008: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2007: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2006: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Paul Jackson (1991 The Edge)
-2003: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2001: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire)
-2000: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-1999: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)
-1998: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)
-1997: Bob Adderly
-1996: John Hruby (1978 Miss Circus Circus)
-1995: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-1994: Don Mock (1982 Atlas Van Lines)
-1993: Dave Blacksten (1986 Miss 7-Eleven)
-1992: Ron Davis (1984 Competition Specialties)
-1991: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)
-1990: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)
-1989: Terry Olding (1984 Tosti Asti)
-1988: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
-1987: Dave Blacksten (1971 Miss Budweiser)
-1986: Roger Newton (1984 Miss Budweiser)