Meyers Autotech Championship Series
Powered by Rattlesnake RC
Next race: Bill Muncey Memorial, Ellensburg (WA), April 27-28
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Champion Spark Plug Regatta
Grembowski, Oord pick up first wins of the year while Barisic gets a pond bath
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Saturday testing album available here.
Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Sunday raceday album available here.
Jason Walters videos of the racing available here.
For the second time in the 2023, the Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC went to the Tri-Cities for the third race of the season. We returned to the Family Fishing Pond in Columbia Park, for an early season heat wave in Kennewick, WA. While temperatures on Saturday reminded us of the July heat we expect as the temperature approached 100 degrees, Sunday was a bit cooler with a steady breeze.
Unfortunately, overnight between Saturday night and Sunday morning, a severe windstorm came through the pits and destroyed many racers' canopies. Thanks to Jim Whyte and Wayne Beeson, who were staying on site and tried to salvage as much as they could, but it was very much a "never-seen-before" type storm. Nonetheless, a few damaged canopies wouldn't dim the prospects of the 38 boats that were on hand to compete for the Champion Spark Plug Regatta.
1/10th Scale Electric - Junior Final
1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Alex Barisic
2nd: 1976 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
DNF: 1962 Miss U.S. V, Lexy Brandt
With seven 1/10th scale electrics on site, R/CU elected to run all the junior racers in one flight and the veterans in another. For the junior racers, Brooklyn Kinney was looking to coninue her perfect-for-2023 streak, but Alex Barisic kept a cool head to take the victory with the Miss Houston. Since it was Alex's first victory in R/CU, he became the next person to take the traditional winning bath in the pond!
1/10th Scale Electric - Veteran Final
1st: 2018 Oberto, Jason Walters
2nd: 2017 Spirit of Detroit, Geoffry Grembowski
3rd: 2012 Oh Boy! Oberto, David Ramirez
4th (DNF): 2018 Miss Homestreet Bank, KC Andres
It was a dual all day between Jason Walters and KC Andres with the two modern boats, and this continued in the final for the first lap. Then, the Miss Homestreet cut a buoy, earning a one lap penalty. Walters was able to hold off Geoffry Grembowski with the Spirit of Detroit to take the victory.
Gas Scale
Video by Jason Walters
1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
2nd: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt
4th (DNS): 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
5th (DNS): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
The KISW Miss Rock had an unexpected radio issue when launched, and Dave Brandt shut the boat down so immediately the early favorite was out. With the Charlie's Girl also succumbing before the start, it was a three-boat fight for the final. All three boats jumped the gun, so Henry Oord and the Miss Houston took the early lead. Jim Whyte and the Atlas was chasing, while Bill Brandt gave hard chase but slid through the roostertail and lost his cowling. The Atlas tried hard to make up ground, but Oord and the Miss Houston kept in the clean water out front to take the victory.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 1985 Miller American, Don Mock
2nd: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen
3rd: 1975 Pay'n Pak, Wayne Beeson
While in an unexpected position, Don Mock and the Miller managed the race perfectly to take the victory over Conner and Wayne.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
Video by Jason Walters
1st: 1976 Miss Esquire Products, Bill Brandt
2nd: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
3rd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
4th: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
5th: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
6th (DNF): 1982 Atlas Van Lines, Marc Connelly
7th (DNF): 1985 Miller American, Don Mock
The field all crept to the line, and it was the traditional sprint to the first corner. Somehow we escaped mostly clean, and Bill Brandt took the early lead with the Esquire. Marc Connelly and the Atlas was pushing hard to try and catch him, but eventually his luck ran out and the Atlas went over in a spectacular backflip. It was Bill Brandt's first victory of the year in the FE class, and first for his new boat.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
Video by Jason Walters
1st: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
2nd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
3rd: 1976 Miss U.S., Steve Kinney
4th: 2012 Matrix Auto System, Brian Anderson
5th: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Gary Grembowski
6th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop U-65, Dave Brandt
7th (DNS): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
The Stroh's Light died early in the mill, and this moved up Geoffry Grembowski and the Circus from the trailer position to the front line at the start. He grabbed the inside lane, but Steven Kinney and the Miss U.S. appeared to grab the early lead. However, he was called for jumping the gun, and right after the start the Squire Shop died. With all of this chaos, the Circus had the lead and simply managed the gap to second place to take the nitro win.
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May 14-15
Location: Family Fishing Pond, Kennewick, WA
Contest Director: Dave Brandt
Previous Race Winners
Race held in Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond, Kennewick, WA 2022-Present
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2021
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
-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)