PresidentsCupRecap

Maple Valley Days/ERCU President's Cup

Sponsored by Williams Racing Team

President's Cup gives everyone smiles


Gerry Bordon's Parco's O-Ring Miss duels with Scott Fetterly's 1961 Miss Madison.	The hooktail Pay 'n Pak (1969) runs at the President's Cup.

Fred Holmberg's 1973 Red Man (U-8) made its debut during the President's Cup, as a Father's Day gift.

For all of Mike Campbell's President's Cup photos, click here.

Race Recap

MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. – Bill Smiley’s last name perfectly matched the look on his face after the modern final of the 2008 ERCU President’s Cup.

A huge smile spread across Smiley’s face after he claimed the second modern win of his ERCU career in front of more than 100 spectators and racers at Lake Wilderness.

Jeff Campbell won the vintage final with his fantastic 1969 Pride of Pay ‘n Pak Outrigger.

The President’s Cup, again sponsored by John Williams and Williams Racing Team, was a super event as usual. A total of 47 boats – including 33 vintage were there, which made up the second-largest turnout in ERCU history.

The Father’s Day weather was perfect, and another highlight of the weekend was that two brand new boats made their first showings ever – as the 1947 Peps V and the 1973 Red Man (U-8) joined the ranks of the vintage class.

With the 33 vintage boats in attendance, race coordinators decided to run a third connie, just “for the glory”. Smiley won that heat with his 1972 Hallmark Homes (black), which had entered the connie with a heat victory and two DNFs. Dawna Gross was second with the Lil’ Buzzard and the rest of the field was unable to finish.

The vintage second connie followed, where Ralph Jorgenson took the honors in a great race with the Shanty I, which led most of the way, until the 2007 rookie of the year slipped through an open door on the final turn, and charged to the first place finish. Third place went to Rick Lentz in the 1958 Miss Bardahl. Ron Hornung with the Skip-A-Long, Steve Twardus with the Miss Pay ‘n Save did not finish.

In the vintage first connie, Craig Mullen took first driving Ben Keller’s Hawaii Kai III, moving the boat into the final. Second place went to Scott Fetterly driving his 1961 Miss Madison for the first time this season, while third went to Gerry Borden and his Parco’s O-Ring Miss. Nelson Holmberg with the brand new U-8 Red Man, Brian Gilmore with the Thriftway Too, Mike Gossler with the Miss U.S. V, and Craig Bradshaw with the Miss Budweiser, were unable to finish.

The modern connie was a seven boat show, as was the final.

In the connie, Doug Brow and Jerry Johnston jumped the gun, while Williams, Bob VandenAkker, Mullen, Bradshaw and Jesse Shehan duked it out for the lead. When the dust settled, Bradshaw came out in front with his Winston Eagle, while Johnston’s Natural Light was second, and Brow’s 1978 Squire Shop was third. Shehan finished fourth with the Spirit of Dayton Walther and Williams was fifth with the 1980 Miss Budweiser (backup). Mullen’s Pay ‘n Pak and VandenAkker’s Lincoln Thrift did not finish.

In the modern final, Smiley put himself in a great spot, alongside the Circus Circus and the Red Man (U-81), after Mike Campbell’s Country Boy blew over, as the front three boats. With the Gilmore Special and Country Boy upside-down and out of the final, Smiley and his fast Charlie’s Girl hydro only had to outrun the rest of the field for his win.

Gossler’s Circus Circus was second, followed by Holmberg’s Red Man. Fourth place went to Twardus with the 1971 Country Boy, followed by Lentz’s 1974 U-95. The Gilmore Special also wasn’t able to finish.

The vintage final was just as exciting, when Mullen’s Hallmark Homes (red) hit a great start on the inside lane and stayed with the Outrigger through the first two laps. The ‘rigger ended up winning the final, followed by Mullen and the Hallmark.

Third place – from the trailer position – went to Smiley, who drove the Hawaii Kai III in Mullen’s place for Keller. VandenAkker was fourth with the 1963 Notre Dame and Mike McIntosh was fifth as a substitute driver of Jeff Campbell’s hooktail Pay ‘n Pak. The Harrah’s Club and Miss Timex (clock) were unable to finish.

Big thanks go out to reigning Contest Director of the Year, John Williams, for having done another fantastic job as CD of the President’s Cup. He made sure that the club was represented in the Maple Valley Days parade, and spent extra money to make sure there were plenty of trophies, as well as helping to make all of the arrangements so we can continue to race in Maple Valley and be a part of their big festival for years to come.

Others besides Williams who deserve thanks for all of the help they provided in putting on the race include: Ron Hornung, Jeff Campbell, Brian Gilmore, Bob VandenAkker, Judy Fenton, John Burkey, Jesse Shehan, Craig Bradshaw, Mike Campbell, Gerry Bordon and Rick Lentz. Thanks too, go to Ron Daum and Kirk Pagel who also helped out on the mike during the day.