Columbia Cup
Massive field races for the summer classic at the Columbia Cup
Photo album from Facebook available HERE
YouTube videos from select heats available on Jason Walters's page HERE
The Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC returned to the Tri-Cities for the second leg of the Triple Crown for 2024. Racing as part of the Tri-Cities Water Follies, R/CU was happy to entertain to hundreds of race fans, as well as crews and drivers from the big boats as the pond is a simple walk from the big boat pits. With temperatures down in the lower 90s, the weekend was perhaps a bit cooler than typical, and the racers responded.
Since 1978, R/CU has been racing as part of the Water Follies, and while there are no hard records kept, we're pretty sure that a new record was set this weekend. The field was massive; 72 boats were on hand over 4 classes of scale hydros to race for the R/CU Columbia Cup. This included 14 1/10th scale boats, so the decision was made to split junior racers (with minimal experience in other classes of R/CU) and veterans.
1/10th Scale Electric Junior Final
1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Alex Barisic
2nd: 1974 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
3rd: 1966 Tahoe Miss, Enzo Henriksen
4th: 1966 Gale's Roostertail, Dray Newton
5th: 1957 Miss Wahoo, Rachael Newton
6th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Brady Putich
7th (DSQ): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt
After the first corner, Lexy Brandt took the early lead with the American Speedy Printing, with the Oberto crashing behind the field. The Speedy held a roostertail-length lead over the Houston, but then the Speedy was on-line and stopped, before bumping the dead Oberto. This unfortunately led to a disqualification, and Alex took the lead and never looked back. It was his second victory of the year, with Brooklyn Kinney taking a consistent 2nd and 5-year-old rookie Enzo Henriksen taking third.
1/10th Scale Electric Veteran Final
1st: 2019 Graham Trucking, Paxton Reunanen
2nd: 2011 Performance Tools, Brian Perkins
3rd: 2014 Oh Boy! Oberto, David Newton
4th: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, KC Andres
5th: 2010 Miss Albert Lee Appliance, Mike Dunn
6th (DNF): 2018 Oberto, Jason Walters
Paxton had a perfect day in the Graham going into the final, and took the early lead for the first two laps. Then came David Newton, charging hard with Mike Dunn's Oberto. Going into the final turn, the front lifted off and the Oberto flipped, eventually landing right-side up. With the pressure off, Paxton coasted across the finish to claim the victory. Brian Perkins, yes the former H1 Unlimited driver, took second with a recently-purchased hull. Newton recovered to round out the podium.
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
2nd: 1986 Boat, Paxton Reunanen
3rd: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
4th (DNS): 1959 Nitrogen, Ken Olson
5th (DNS): 1984 Risley's Express, Derek Pierce
The Charlie's Girl had a slow start, with the Bardahl taking the early lead. Boyle never looked back, despite a hard-charging Paxton with the Boat. The Bardahl advanced to the final as a trailer.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Mike Malloy
2nd: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
3rd: (DNF): 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
4th (DNS): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
5th (DNS): 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
6th (DSQ): 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
This final was contested even before the race started, as the Mark and Pak was judged to cut off the Rock in the mill, earning a disqualification and causing the Rock to die. The Houston took the early lead, with Henry seeking his third victory of the year in the gas class. On lap three, the boat inexplicably flipped going into the right turn, handing the American Speedy Printing the lead. Mike Malloy held off the Bardahl, taking his first career victory in the gas class with Ken Boyle taking second from the trailer.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
2nd (DNF): 1971 Hallmark Homes, Randy Gosseen
3rd (DSQ): 1989 Winston Eagle, Fred Stock
In the first turn, the Winston turned a little quickly from lane 2 and rode up the roostertail of the Technicolor, landing directly in the way of the Hallmark. There was an unfortunate collision, and this allowed KC to take an easy victory and advance to the final.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1984 Atlas Van Lines, David Newton
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
4th: 1984 Team Velocity, Mike Henriksen
5th: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
6th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
7th (DNF): 1987 Eliminator, Dave Brandt
This was another battle between the two Daves, with the Eliminator and Atlas battling up front. On the second lap, the Eliminator took flight on the frontstretch, and Newton could afford to manage the lead back to a hard-charging Houston. Newton took his sixth victory in eight races for 2024, extending his championship lead in the standings in the process.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich
2nd: 1976 Miss Vernors, Kirk Maupin
3rd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
4th: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Mike Malloy
5th: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Gary Grembowski
6th (DNF): 1974 U-95, John Olson
This heat resembled a final in some regards, with the quality of the field! Adam Putich was on the inside, painting the buoys with his Beacon. On the outside, making his first start of the year, was Kirk with the Vernors. Adam was able to hold off the Iceman to advance to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt
2nd: 1974 Miss U.S., Steve Kinney
3rd (DNF): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers
4th (DNF): 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
5th (DNS): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
6th (DNS): 2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich
7th (DSQ): 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
On the run to the first turn, the Pay'n Pak moved from lane 4 to the inside, cutting off the Stroh's in lane one and earning a disqualification. The Oberto also failed to finish, with the Beacon and Matrix failing to reach the starting line. This left a two-boat duel, with Steve Kinney trying to run down Dave Brandt. He was unsuccessfull, and Dave took his third victory of the year in the nitro class, and his first Columbia Cup in 5 years.
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July 26-27
Location: Family Fishing Pond, Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA
Contest Director: Jason Walters
Previous Race Winners
Race held in Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA 1978-2000, 2003-present
Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2001-2002
Current-2022: winners shown as nitro // FE // gas
-2024: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop (U-65)) // David Newton (1984 Atlas Van Lines) // Mike Malloy (1983 American Speedy Printing)
-2023: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Jim Brittain (1982 Oh Boy! Oberto) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2022: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock)
-2021: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // Jim Whyte (1977 Atlas Van Lines)
-2020: Race cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019-2013: winners shown as nitro // FE
-2019: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com U-5)
-2018: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser (T-3))
-2017: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports)
-2016: Scott Meyers (2010 Superior Racing) // David Newton (1988 Miller High Life)
-2015: Dave Brandt (1969 Pay'N Pak) // David Newton (2012 Spirit of Qatar)
-2014: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) // Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus)
-2013: Adam Putich (2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing) // Paul Omerzu (2008 Formulaboats.com II)
Prior to 2013, no FE class run
-2012: John Olson (1976 Miss Vernors)
-2011: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2010: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)
-2009: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)
-2008: David Newton (1985 Miss 7-Eleven)
-2007: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2006: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2003: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire)
-2002: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-2001: Jesse Robertson (1994 Miss Budweiser T-3)
-2000: Lee Robertson (1995 Pico American Dream)
-1999: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)
-1998: Jeff Snell (1984 Oh Boy! Oberto)
-1997: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)
-1996: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)
-1995: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
-1994: Paul Kitano (1980 Pay 'N Pak)
-1993: John Howell (1974 Sunny Jim Jam)
-1992: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
-1991: Paul Kitano (1980 Pay 'N Pak)
-1990: Rick Campbell (1988 Miss Circus Circus)
-1989: Sam DeFillipps (1987 Sutphen Spirit)
-1988: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
-1987: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)
-1986: Roger Newton
-1985: Mike Hamilton
-1984: Roger Newton (1980 Miss Budweiser)
-1983: Doug Tumilson (Miss U.S.)
-1982: Jack Haugen (1957 Thriftway Too)
-1981: Steve Benson (Miss Vernors)
-1980: Dallas Cook (1967 Miss Bardahl)
-1979: Bill Osborne (1977 Charlie's Girl)
-1978: Jess Gray