2023 Meyers Autotech Championship Series
Powered by Rattlesnake RC
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Thanks for racing in 2023!
Columbia Cup
Likely a record 64 boat field caps huge Water Follies weekend
Testing photo album available HERE
Raceday photo album available HERE
Since 1978, R/CU has been proud to be a part of the Tri-Cities Water Follies. With our pit area and race course about 300 yards behind the big boat pits on the Columbia River, the R/CU Columbia Cup is a great way to showcase to fans, crew members, and even drivers of the big boats the best of scale R/C boat racing. This year, the Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC did not disappoint, with 64 boats entered across four classes. It was a robust field, and thanks to everyone who helped set up, run the racing, and tear down after a long day in the sun.
1/10th Scale Electric Junior Final
1st: 1974 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney
2nd: 1962 Lumberville, Noah Pock
DNF: 2023 Grigg's Ace Hardware, Aidyn Brandt
DNS: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt
Team Brandt unfortunately had a tough final, with Lexy's American Speedy Printing failing to get off the beach and Aidyn's U-3 stopping before the end. Team Brandt's cousin Noah had another great day learning with the Lumberville, and pushed Brooklyn across the final. However, it was Brooklyn Kinney with the fast Miss U.S., who took her 3rd victory of the year in a dominating performance.
1/10th Scale Electric Veteran Final
No video available.
1st: 2003 Miss Budweiser, David Newton
2nd: 2019 Graham Trucking, Paxton Reunanen
3rd: 2024 Wiggins Racing, Jason Colean
4th: 1976 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
5th (DNF): 2018 Oberto, Jason Walters
6th (DNF): 2011 Degree Men, Ron Hartley
7th (DNF): 2017 Spirit of Detroit, Geoffry Grembowski
The nearly-all modern boat field hit the line, with the Spirit of Detroit sputtering to a stop at the starting line. David Newton and Paxton Reunanen continued their all-day long dual with the Budweiser and the Graham, and while they battled closely the Budweiser had just enough speed to eke out the victory. Chalk another victory up to the Mini-Czar!
Gas Scale Consolation
No video available.
1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
2nd: 1974 Miss U.S., Neil Boyle
3rd (DNF): 1964 Miss U.S. V, Derek Pierce
4th (DNF): 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
5th (DNF): 1993 Miss Budweiser (T-3), Jeff Snell
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt
2nd: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
3rd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
4th: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
5th: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt
6th: 1967 Miss Bardahl, Monty Hopkins
The Charlie's Girl, American Speedy Printing, and Bardahl all were called for jumping the gun, and the resulting start behind them was a bit scattered. The Miss Rock came up strongly thru the middle, and never looked back despite some hull damage from earlier in the day. It was Dave's second Columbia Cup in a row in the gas class, and his second victory of the year.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
No video available.
1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
2nd: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen
3rd: 1973 Pay'n Pak, Wayne Beeson
DNF: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean
At the start, the Smokin' Joe's finally hit it perfectly after a few jumped starts earlier in the day. However, it was the quick Oberto who took the lead and held on, advancing to the final as a trailer.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
No video available.
1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
2nd: 2015 Miss Elam Plus, Fred Stock
3rd: 1983 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin
4th: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen
5th: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres
6th (DNF): 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
7th (DNF): 1968 Miss Bardahl, Randy Gosseen
Several boats incurred penalties at the beginning of the heat, and that meant that the Atlas Van Lines with Rich Matkin led through the first lap. Unfortunately, the Atlas swapped ends in a spin on lap two, and while he recovered to finish on the podium he fell behind the leaders. Randy Gosseen and the checkerboard Bardahl took the lead and held on for two laps after this, with the Elam Plus chasing and the Oh Boy! Oberto charging up from the trailer. Then, the Bardahl took a rough wave and crashed in the right turn; in the avoidance, the Oberto took the lead and captured an unlikely win from the trailer position. It was Jim's first FE victory of the year, and featured a 2nd place by the Elam in only its second race.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
No video available.
1st: 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
3rd: 1997 Pico American Dream, Aidyn Brandt
4th: 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
5th: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski
6th: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain
The 2016 Oberto trolled up in lane one and never looked back, quickly rounding the buoys on the inside and advancing to the final in an impressive run.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1977 Squire, Kirk Maupin
2nd: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt
3rd: 2008 Miss Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich
4th: 1974 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney
5th: 1972 Notre Dame, Paxton Reunanen
6th (DNF): 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
7th (DNF): 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
The Miss Beacon Plumbing had the inside lane with the Pride of Pay'n Pak in lane 2, however both boats were a little slow at the line. The Squire and the Squire Shop had speed on the outside lanes, and as we've seen so many times, set off on a Maupin vs Brandt race. This time, it was Maupin who emerged on top, as the Squire kept the lead and collected Maupin's 3rd straight Columbia Cup and his second win of the year.
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July 27-29
Location: Family Fishing Pond, Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA
Contest Director: R/CU Board
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
-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