Dean Chenoweth Memorial

Crash-filled day ends with the veterans returning to glory

Photo album available HERE

Photo album from Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) available HERE

YouTube playlist available HERE

 

R/CU returned to the banks of Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park in central Washington for the third race of the 2019 Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC and Nova Rossi Marine USA. Open testing on Saturday brought beautiful conditions, with sunny skies and little wind. Sunday dawned a bit cloudier, but remained remarkably calm; perfect for an R/C boat race.

 

48 boats were on hand to compete in the four classes. There were several new boats, including Jim Putich's  nitro 2016 Oberto, Bob Hulliger's FE 1982 Pay'n Pak, and Ken Olson's 1962 Miss Bardahl. Also, R/CU welcomed a new racer, as Vern Atkinson took his first laps in the 1/10th scale electric class.

 

The calm waters brought aggressive drivers, as everyone pushed to find every inch of water. It resulted in multiple collisions, but we still had a full field to finish up the day with the finals.

 

1/10th Scale Electric Final

1st: 1962 $ Bill, Geoffry Grembowski

2nd: 1964 Tahoe Miss, Vern Atkinson

 

Earlier attrition reduced this field to a two-boat duel, and it was the veteran Grembowski taking a smooth victory over the rookie Atkinson, who kept his nose clean and learned a lot in his first every R/CU race.

 

Gas Scale Consolation

1st: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

2nd: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Olson

 

This was another two-boat duel, and one that featured two of the prettiest boats in the club. Ken is still working to get the brand-new Bardahl dialed in, as the Atlas powered around and was able to advance to the final.

 

Gas Scale Final

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st: 1982 Gilmore Special, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1985 Coor's Light, Jeff Griffin

3rd: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

4th: 1983 Miss Houston, Brian Packer

5th: 1967 Miss Bardahl, Monty Hopkins

6th (DNF): 1982 Executone, Tim Hines

 

The Gilmore struggled off the line, putting the Spokane team 1-2 over the first lap in a half. The Houston was out front, with the Executone charging in second. Then, the Houston cut the entrance pin on the right turn, and the Executone got caught up in the roostertail, leading to a one-lap penalty for the Houston, and a dead Executone. This vaulted the Gilmore back into the lead, and Dave Brandt calmly steered around to pick up his third victory in 3 races for 2019.

 

1/8th Scale Electric Final

1st: 2008 Formulaboats.com II, Rob Brackett

2nd: 1999 Miss Madison, Henry Oord

3rd: 1994 Miss Exide II, KC Andres

4th: 1982 Pay'n Pak, Bob Hulliger

5th (DNF): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen

6th (DSQ): 1984 Atlas Van Lines, Don Mock

 

The Atlas Van Lines got the early jump and lead from the outside in the left turn, but cut over the Formulaboats's nose in the left turn, earning a one-lap penalty. The KISW Miss Rock lost a cowling in the melee, and subsequently flipped down the backstretch. On the next pass around, the Atlas ran over the striken Miss Rock, earning a disqualification. Emerging from the chaos was the familiar Formula-red, and Rob Brackett recovered from the first lap to pick up his second victory in the 2019 season.

 

1/8th Scale Nitro Second Consolation

1st: 2011 Valken Sports, Rob Brackett

2nd: 1974 U-95, John Gatjens

3rd (DNF): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson

 

The Valken has struggled to finish heats this season, so it was a personal validation for Rob as the boat ran solidly and took the easy victory over the U-95. 

 

1/8th Scale Nitro First Consolation

1st: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson

2nd: 2011 Valken Sports, Rob Brackett

3rd: 1994 Miss Budweiser (T-3), Paxton Reunanen

4th: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, Jeff Griffin

5th: 1983 Miss Houston (Blue), Steve Roman

6th (DNF): 2007 Boeing Dreamliner, Rich Matkin

 

The first consolation had a couple of quick boats, but it was the new Pay'n Pak that emerged victorious. Using lane one from the start, Fred was able to hold off the hard-charging Valken.

 

1/8th Scale Nitro Final

1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Dave Brandt

2nd: 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt

3rd: 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy

4th: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson

5th: 2007 Miss Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich

6th: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

7th (DNS): 1971 Country Boy, John Olson

 

The 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Beacon Plumbing, and Pride of Pay'n Pak, were all called for jumping the gun at the start. This left three eligible boats to battle for the victory, and it was Dave who broke through to claim his first nitro victory of 2019. It was a remarkably clean final, after a long day of attrition and collisions.

 

 

 

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May 18-19

 

Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA

 

Contest Director: Dave and Brenda Brandt

 

Schedule

The trailer will arrive at 10 AM on Saturday. Open testing will occur through Saturday.

The racecourse re-opens for testing at 8 AM on Sunday. Testing will last from 8:00-9:30 AM, with the drivers' meeting at this point. Racing will begin immediately after and last through the day.

 

Previous Race Winners

Race held in Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, WA 1984-1986, 1989-1990, 1998-present

Race held in Elma, WA 1987-1988, 1991, 1993-1995

Race held in Olympia, WA 1992

Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 1996

Race held in Lake Waughop, Tacoma, WA 1997

 

-2019: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-64) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II) [FE]

-2018: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-64) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [FE]

-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]

-2016: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Bob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) [FE]

-2015: David Newton (1996 Smokin' Joe's) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) [FE]

-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) [FE}

-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and David Newton (2012 Spirit of Qatar) [FE]

 

Previous to 2013, only nitro class run

-2012: John Hruby (1978 Miss Circus Circus)

-2011: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2010: Kirk Maupin (1975 Atlas Van Lines)

-2009: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2008: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2006: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2005: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)

-2004: Lee Robertson (1993 Miss Budweiser)

-2003: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)

-2002: John Stubbers (1997 Miss Crazy Tomato)

-2001: Race not held

-2000: Race not held

-1999: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)

-1998: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)

-1997: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop)

-1996: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)

-1995: Dave Blacksten (1986 Miss 7-Eleven)

-1994: Dave Blacksten (1986 Miss 7-Eleven)

-1993: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)

-1992: Mike Phillips (1966 Miss Bardahl)

-1991: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)

-1990: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)

-1989: Dallas Cook (1961 Tempest)

-1988: Dallas Cook (1961 Tempest)

-1987: Ron Davis 

-1986: Roger Newton (1984 Miss Budweiser)

-1985: Dick Ness

-1984: John Logan (Harrah's Tahoe Miss)