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President's Cup

Trailer boats scratch and claw their way up to rare victories

Facebook photo album available HERE

YouTube playlist available HERE

The clock may have read 6:15 AM or so, but you never would have guessed it with how many people were already set up at the side of Waughop Lake in Lakewood, WA, for a full day of racing for the President's Cup. Thanks to everyone who arrived early to help setup the race course and site for the one day race, and they were rewarded with beautiful day. With temperatures around 70 degrees, a little breeze to make things interesting, it was a perfect day for the Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC and its first trip to the westside in 2023. 45 boats were on hand over four classes to try and win the coveted President's Cup, and it was a great day of racing.

1/10th Scale Electric Junior Class Final

1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Alex Barisic

2nd: 1976 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney

3rd: 1962 Lumberville, Noah Pock

Alex was the closest to the line at the start, and showed the rest of the field that his Miss Houston continues to have great speed. He paced the field and took home his second victory in a row. Brooklyn Kinney continued her solid 2023 with a run to 2nd, and Noah Pock made his R/CU debut and finished 3rd.

1/10th Scale Electric Final

1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1993 Miss Circus Circus, Dylan Hirano

3rd: 2017 Spirit of Detroit, Geoffry Grembowski

4th: 1955 Hawaii Kai III, Chuck Murray

The Brandt family debuted a new boat for either Lexy or Aidyn to run later in the year, and it was competitive immediately. Dave took the early lead in lane one and didn't look back. Dylan ran well in his new boat, with Geoffry taking the last spot on the podium.

Gas Scale Consolation

1st: 1986 Boat, Paxton Reunanen

2nd: 2014 Graham Trucking, Jeff Snell

3rd: 1962 Miss U.S. V, Derek Pierce

4th (DNS): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt

The Miss Rock inexplicably died before the race, allowing a great opportunity for the other boats to move up. Paxton and Jeff Snell dueled with the Graham Trucking running well, but it was the Boat who took the victory and moved up to the final.

Gas Scale Final

1st: 1986 Boat, Paxton Reunanen

2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

4th: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

5th: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen

6th: 1974 Miss U.S., Neil Boyle

The Charlie's Girl was first over the line however was called for jumping the gun, earning a 1-lap penalty. The Atlas Van Lines took the early lead, but a slightly scattered start by the rest of the field meant that the Boat with Paxton was quickly rising up the order from the trailer spot. As he moved into second, he began pressuring the Atlas. On the 4th lap, the Boat was inside the Atlas, and the Atlas cut across the front of the Boat exiting turn 4, earning a 1-lap penalty for lane infringement. The Boat sputtered but was able to continue, and Paxton took his first victory in the gas class in 2023, all the way from the trailer spot.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation

1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

2nd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

3rd: 1973 Pay'n Pak, Wayne Beeson

4th: 1982 Atlas Van Lines, Marc Connelly

The Atlas Van Lines was first over the line but was similarly called for jumping the gun, earning a 1-lap penalty. Henry Oord and the Miss Houston was the benefactor, as he held off the Oh Boy! Oberto and Pay'n Pak to take the victory and advance to the final.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final

1st: 1976 Miss Esquire Products, Bill Brandt

2nd: 1984 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin

3rd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

4th: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen

5th: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean

6th (DNF): 1985 Miller American, Don Mock

7th (DNF): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen

Don Mock took the early lead with the Miller American, but going up the backstretch and entering turn 3 on the first lap, the boat got light and corkscrewed up. The boat landed right-side up, but right in the field of several boats, including the Miss Rock. The Rock pulled into the pits with damage, and while the Miller recovered for this moment, it would flip again later in the heat. Up front, it was Bill Brandt who escaped the madness and took his second straight win in the FE class. Rich Matkin took second in a borrowed Atlas, with Henry Oord taking the last spot on the podium.

1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation

1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt

2nd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

DNF: 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

DNF: 1951 Slo-Mo-Shun V, Brent Edinger

DNF: 1974 Miss U.S., Steven Kinney

The Miss U.S. ran into a roostertail at the start, and the Miss Stroh's Light caught spectacular air on the backstretch to also flip. It was Trooper Dave Brandt, who was able to win despite a rocky day battling engine gremlins.

1/8th Scale Nitro Final

Check out the video from the link HERE

1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt

2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

3rd: 1976 Olympia Beer, Steve Roman

4th (DNF): 1976 Miss Vernor's, Kirk Maupin

5th (DNF): 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski

6th (DNF): 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson

7th (DSQ): 1974 Red Man, Paul Jackson

The Matrix Auto Systems was the first to expire in the heat, hooking in the first turn on the inside. This scattered the field a little bit, and Dave Brandt with the Squire Shop was able to quickly make up positions from the trailer spot. Kirk Maupin and the Vernor's took the early lead and led for nearly the entire race, but he continued to run wide lanes in search of clean water. The Squire Shop came charging hard in lane 1, and suddenly the two boats were side-by-side going up the backstretch on the final lap. The Vernor's got light and lifted off going into turn 3, and Dave Brandt capped off a rare victory from the trailer spot. Thanks to R/CU statistician Beau Rarig, who pointed out this was Dave's 120th career victory in the nitro class, a tremendous feat!

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June 11

 

Location: Waughop Lake, Lakewood, WA

 

Contest Directors: Rich Matkin 

 

Previous Race Winners

Race held in Lake Waughop, Tacoma, WA 1997-2012, 2021-Present

Race held in Twin Lakes Park, Marysville, WA 2017-2019

Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 2013-2016

Race held in Friday Harbor, WA 1990-1992

Current-2020: winners shown as nitro // FE // gas

-2022: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) // Bill Brandt (1976 Miss Esquire Products) // Paxton Reunanen (1986 Boat)

-2022: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop, U-65) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) 

-2021: Fred Olson (1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak) // Don Mock (1985 Miller American) // John Olson (1971 Country Boy)

-2020: Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2013-2019: winners shown as nitro // FE

-2019: John Olson (1971 Country Boy) // David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser T-3) 

-2018: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) 

-2017: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-64) // Chuck Murray (1977 Miss Tri-Cities Mark and Pak) 

-2016: Dave Brandt (1997 Pico American Dream) // Jim Brittain (1986 Mr. Pringle's) 

-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) 

-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus) 

-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // none

 

Previous to 2013, no FE class run

-2012: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire)

-2011: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)

-2010: Kirk Maupin (1975 Atlas Van Lines)

-2009: Dave Brandt (1999 Pico American Dream)

-2008: Steve Schmitz (1985 Squire Shop)

-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2006: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2003: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2001: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop)

-2000: Lee Robertson (1995 Pico American Dream)

-1999: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)

-1998: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)

-1997: Jesse Robertson (1989 Miss Circus Circus)

-1996: Race not held

-1995: Race not held

-1994: Race not held

-1993: Race not held

-1992: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)

-1991: Brad Lewis (1976 Olympia Beer)

-1990: Ron Davis (1988 Miss Circus Circus)

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