.png)
Dean Chenoweth Memorial
Grembowski, Newton, and Reunanen keep the boats rightside up in Ellensburg victory runs
Photo album available HERE
Videos of many heats available on Jason Walters's YouTube channel HERE
The second-half of the weekend doubleheader dawned with fewer boats than the day before. Attrition to both boats and drivers after Saturday's tough conditions meant that the boat count was slightly down, but there were still over 30 boats competing in four classes for the Dean Chenoweth Memorial. Unlike the previous day, most of the raceday was conducted without major wind, although this would change for the finals.
As the racing neared the finals in the afternoon, racers began noticing a single rain cell heading straight for the lake. For those that know, isolated storm cells in eastern Washington often are preceded with gusty winds. Thus, after a perfect day of racing conditions, gusty winds played a significant role in the finals.
1/10th Scale Electric Final
1st: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Brady Putich
2nd: 1966 Gale's Roostertail, Dray Newton
3rd: 1957 Miss Wahoo, Rachael Newton
Brady showed the way with the modern-style hull over the two roundnoses, and used the superior speed of the Oberto to take his first victory in R/CU. Dray Newton beat out his mother, Rachael, to take second place!
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
2nd: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen
3rd: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Boyle
4th (DNF): 1985 Coor's Light, Jeff Griffin
5th (DNF): 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Dave Englehart
Jim Whyte opted to take his points boat in the consolation as opposed to his second boat that was in the final. It proved to be a smart risk for the moment, as he collected the victory to advance to the final as the trailer.
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1986 Boat, Paxton Reunanen
2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
3rd: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte
4th: 1964 Miss U.S. V, Derek Pierce
5th (DNF): 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen
6th (DNF): 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ken Olson
Henry's Miss Houston might have had a slight pace advantage in this heat on the front line, but Paxton took the early lead in lane one and drove a clean race to hold off Henry. Mike Henriksen was looking great going into the final as well, but the Charlie's Girl stuffed in the left turn in a roostertail to collect a DNF. It was Paxton's first gas scale victory of the year, and the third race winner in the class.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation
1st: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Chuck Murray
2nd: 1974 Miss U.S., Jason Walters
3rd: 1975 Pay'n Pak, Wayne Beeson
Chuck showed some increased speed with his new boat to take the victory, advancing to the final as the trailer.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1984 Atlas Van Lines, David Newton
2nd: 1984 Team Velocity, Mike Henriksen
3rd: 2015 Miss Elam Plus, Fred Stock
4th: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Paxton Reunanen
5th: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord
6th (DNF): 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Chuck Murray
7th (DNF): 1982 Atlas Van Lines, Marc Connelly
The Mini-Czar made it four victories in six races thus far, nailing the start and holding off a hard-charging Mike Henriksen with the Team Velocity. Paxton's American Speedy was expected to be a contender but spun a few times in the bumpy water, allowing Fred Stock to take a podium spot with his Elam Plus.
1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation
1st: 2010 Superior Racing, Jeff Griffin
2nd (DNF): 1980 Miss Budweiser, Adam Faussett
3rd (DNS): 2000 Miss Elam Plus, Mark Lee
4th (DNS): 1969 Notre Dame, Chip Dean
Jeff Griffin was the beneficiary of an attrition-filled heat, as he was the only one to finish the heat and advance to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski
2nd (DNF): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson
3rd (DNF): 2010 Superior Racing, Jeff Griffin
4th (DNF): 1994 Tide/Taco Time, Zach Gordon
5th (DNF): 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich
6th (DNF): 2012 Beacon Plumbing, Adam Putich
7th (DNS): 1993 Miss Rock, Brent Edinger
As the winds began to howl, this final quickly became chaotic. Adam Putich took the early lead with the Beacon, but he was the first to flip. The Circus spun in response, but was able to keep going. Next was the Oberto, placing the Matrix in the lead. The next time up the backstretch, the Matrix was the next victim to the wind, and several other boats followed suit in response. That left Geoffry and the Circus as the sole remaining runner, and he took his second victory in 2024.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 16
Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA
Contest Director: R/CU Board
Previous Race Winners
Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 1996, 2019, 2024-Present
Race held in Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, WA 1984-1986, 1989-1990, 1998-2018, 2021
Race held in Elma, WA 1987-1988, 1991, 1993-1995
Race held in Olympia, WA 1992
Race held in Lake Waughop, Tacoma, WA 1997
-2024: Geoffry Grembowski (1979 Miss Circus Circus) [nitro], David Newton (1984 Atlas Van Lines) [FE], and Paxton Reunanen (1986 Boat) [gas]
-2023: Race not held
-2022: Race not held
-2021: Beau Rarig (1983 American Speedy Printing) [nitro], Bill Brandt (1987 Eliminator) [FE], and Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) [gas]
-2020: Race cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
-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)