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Champion Spark Plug Regatta

Jim Putich finally grabs first R/CU win in the Tri-Cities

Sunday photo album from Digital Roostertails HERE

For the second time in 2025, the Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC returned to the Tri-Cities for the Champion Spark Plug Regatta. Testing was on Saturday in conjunction with the H1 Unlimited Spring Training event in Columbia Park, which brought many fans to the pond where R/CU raced. 

Sunday brought unusual weather for Tri-Cities, with wind in the face of drivers and cooler temperatures. The drivers' persevered, even with a larger gust that destroyed a few canopies. Remarkably, the wind quieted down in the afternoon, and the water was at its best for the finals. Forty boats were on hand across four classes to race for the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, and the competition was fierce on the water. 

1/10th Scale Electric Final

1st: 2024 Miss Apollo, Jason Colean

2nd: 1955 Hawaii Kai, Enzo Henriksen

3rd: 1960 Miss Burien, Jason Walters

4th (DNF): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt

The 1/10th scale class evolved into a battle of pickleforks (Miss Apollo, American Speedy Printing) and roundnoses (Miss Burien, Hawaii Kai) all day. In the final, the American Speedy Printing picked up a buoy violation before the boat stopped, and Jason Colean took his first victory with his Miss Apollo boat. Enzo Henriksen out-dueled the veteran Jason Walters to take the second spot.

Gas Scale Consolation

1st: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

2nd: 1967 Miss Bardahl, Monty Hopkins

3rd: 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ken Olson

4th (DNS): 1984 Risley's Express, Derek Pierce

The Atlas Van Lines took the early lead in the consolation, but Ken Olson with the Pay'n Pak was not letting him go. He hung about a roostertail back, but the Atlas took a wide entry to the right turn on the final lap. Olson stuffed the Pay'n Pak, going for the dramatic overtake on the inside...but the boat did not stick, drifting to lane four on the exit. The Pay'n Pak was called for a lane violation as the Atlas rode the roostertail but recovered to take the victory and advance to the final.

Gas Scale Final

1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen

3rd: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

4th: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

5th (DNF): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

6th (DNF): 1969 Notre Dame, Mark Anderson

The Miss Rock and the Charlie's Girl were dueling in the mill, trying to get the inside lane with respect to each other. No one paid attention to Mark Anderson, making his first R/CU start in some time, who crawled up to the line with the Notre Dame in lane one. Unfortunately, the boat was called for jumping the gun, which earned a one-lap penalty before the boat spun in the right turn. Up front, it was the Miss Rock, who struggled initially to get around the Notre Dame, trying to hold of the Charlie's Girl. Dave was able to succeed, and the Miss Rock made it 3-for-3 in 2025 to take the victory.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation

1st: 1984 Team Velocity, Conner Henriksen

2nd: 1972 Notre Dame, Lexy Brandt

It was a duel between two young guns for a spot in the final, with Conner making his first race in 2025 a successful one, as the Team Velocity held off the Notre Dame to advance to the final.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final

1st: 1987 Eliminator, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1984 Team Velocity, Conner Henriksen

3rd: 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Aidyn Brandt

4th: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres

5th: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

6th: 2011 Red Dot, Jason Colean

7th (DNF): 1974 Miss U.S., Jason Walters

The Miss Houston was called for jumping the gun, contributing to an early one-lap penalty. Dave Brandt with the Eliminator was on the inside and took an early lead, but had to battle the wind with the smaller and lighter hull. Jason Walters showed renewed speed as he continues to get acquainted with the Miss U.S., and battled the Eliminator hard on the outside for several laps before the boat tipped over the edge and crashed on the backstretch. Dave took his second victory of 2025 in the FE class, with Conner coming up impressively from the trailer spot and fellow youngster Aidyn Brandt rounding out the podium.

1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation

1st: 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

2nd: 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson

3rd: 2011 Miss Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski

4th (DNF): 1983 Miss Renault, Joey Caines

The Stroh's had been quick but hampered by the wind all day, but Scott was able to keep it on the water for the consolation to take the victory and advance to the final.

1/8th Scale Nitro Final

1st: 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich

2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

4th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Aidyn Brandt

5th (DNF): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

6th (DNF): 2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich

7th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt

This was a slightly chaotic final, with the referees convening after the race was complete to determine the final order of finish. Adam Putich had the inside lane with the checkerboard Beacon, with Geoffry in the Circus in Lane 2 and Jim Putich with the Oh Boy! Oberto in Lane 3. Charging hard on the outside was the Squire Shop with Dave Brandt. The Squire Shop (U-65) and Oh Boy! Oberto tangled at the entrance to turn one, with the Oberto losing some wings in the process and the Squire Shop spinning out. The judges ruled that the Squire Shop encroached on the Oberto, which meant that the Oberto was not penalized for losing parts. The Beacon Plumbing had the early lead before flipping on the backstretch, which gave the lead to the Oberto. Geoffry tried to overcome with the Circus, but could not catch Jim and the Oberto. This was Jim's first victory in R/CU (he has had several in the former sister club, UNW), which was well earned after showing consistent speed over the past couple of years.

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May 17-18

Location: Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond, Kennewick, WA

Contest Director: Dave Brandt

Previous Race Winners

Race held in Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond, Kennewick, WA 2022-2023, Present

Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2021, 2024

Race held in Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, WA 1988-2019

Race held in Olympia, WA 1986-1987

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

-2025: Jim Putich (2016 Oh Boy! Oberto) // Dave Brandt (1987 Eliminator) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)

-2024: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) // David Newton (1984 Atlas Van Lines) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)

-2023: Geoffry Grembowski (1979 Miss Circus Circus) // Bill Brandt (1976 Miss Esquire Products) // Henry Oord (1983 Miss Houston)

-2022: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) // Bill Brandt (1987 Eliminator) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) 

-2021: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-64) // Jim Brittain (1986 Mr. Pringle's) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) 

-2020: Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2019-2013: winners shown as nitro // FE

-2019: Fred Olson (1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) 

-2018: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) // Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) 

-2017: Adam Putich (2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing) // Mike Malloy (2007 Formulaboats.com II) 

-2016: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) 

-2015: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) // Mike Gossler (1983 Executone) 

-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) 

-2013: John Hruby (1978 Miss Circus Circus) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken.com) 

 

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)

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