Winners
The Gold Cup
An R/C Unlimiteds Tradition
 
No other event in boat racing comes close to the history and prestige of the A.P.B.A. Gold Cup. Rivaling even the Indy 500's rich tradition, the Gold Cup was first contested in 1904 and continues today as the premiere regatta in Unlimited Hydroplane racing.

It was only natural, when R/C Unlimiteds was founded in 1974, that a "mini" Gold Cup was established as the top race on the model's circuit. The R/CU Gold Cup quickly became the most sought after and prestiges victory in Northwest model boat racing. Even a beautiful replica Gold Cup trophy was built and has been passed from winner to winner over the past 27 years.

Names engraved on the trophy read like a "who's who" of Northwest model boat racing like Les Ruggles, Ron Erickson and Roger Newton. But the real story is David Jensen, R/CU's own "Chip Hanauer", who has an unprecedented 12 Gold Cup wins. First winning in 1982, at the age of 14, David then went on to win an incredible nine out of eleven from 1986 to 1996 including a string of six in a row from 1989.
Race formats for the R/CU Gold Cup are unique when compared to the rest of the races on the circuit. For several years, the winner was determined by total points, a format similar to the full size unlimited races in the 1950's and 1960's. This meant that a driver did not necessarily have to win the final heat to capture the Gold Cup.

In 1982, following his death, the "Bill Muncey Memorial" trophy was established and awarded to the winner of the Gold Cup final heat.

By 1988, R/CU switched to a "winner take all" final and installed various qualifying formats. For a few years, in an attempt to keep the Gold Cup a unique and challenging event, only the top eighteen or twenty drivers in high points, by the mid-point of the season, qualified. Later, timed qualifying runs determined the twenty boat field. All non-qualifiers competed in the Bill Muncey Memorial race held in conjunction with the Gold Cup.

In 2000, the race was held in Chelan, Washington home of unlimited drivers Mark and Mitch Evans. Chelan is R/CU's final stop on the tour and had been the site of the Norm Evans Memorial since 1993. But by adding the Gold Cup, an exciting two-day event was created. After six heats of racing over the two days, the top seven boats entered the final. The winner of the final is awarded the Gold Cup while the driver who accumulates the most points is declared the Norm Evans champion. Kirk Maupin, from Monroe, Washington, won the 2000 Gold Cup, his first R/CU win ever. Even after a crash while leading in the final, David Jensen held on to enough total points to take home the Norm Evans trophy.

In 2001, David put it all together and won his 11th R/CU Gold Cup, which was again held at Lake Chelan. Dave Brandt, from Kennewick, Washington, was in Jensen's roostertail the entire final heat and had to settle for 2nd place. But Brandt scored enough total points to grab the Norm Evans Memorial. This year (2002) David Jensen's incredible streak continued as he won both his 12th Gold Cup and 2nd Norm Evans Memorial.
Over the past two decades, competition for R/CU's Gold Cup has brought out the best in local model boaters who have displayed some of the most exciting "all out" racing around.
R/C Unlimiteds Gold Cup Champions.

Year:

Driver:

Boat:
 

 2007

Bill Brandt

1972 Notre Dame

 2006

Dave Brandt

1995 PICO American Dream

 2005

Lee Robertson

1993 Miss Budweiser

 2004

Don Mock

1984 Atlas Van Lines

 2003

Dave Brandt

1995 PICO American Dream

 2002

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 2001

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 2000

Kirk Maupin

 1977 The Squire

 1999

Jesse Robertson

1989 Circus Circus

 1998

Don Mock

1984 Atlas Van Lines

 1997

Jeff Snell

1984 Oh Boy! Oberto

 1996

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1995

Don Mock

1984 Atlas Van Lines

 1994

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1993

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1992

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1991

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1990

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1989

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1988

Ron Erickson

American Speedy Printing

 1987

David Jensen

1969 Pride of Pay 'N' Pak

 1986

David Jensen

Gilmore Special

 1985

Gale Whitestine

Atlas Van Lines

 1984

Bill Smiley

Pay 'N' Pak

 1983

Tim Grangruth

Miss Thriftway

 1982

David Jensen

Natural Light

 1981

Roger Newton

Miss Budweiser

 1980

Les Ruggles

Notre Dame

 1979

Monte Steere

Charlie's Girl

 1978

Les Ruggles

Miss Supertest III

 1977

Ron Erickson

Spirit of Dayton Walther

 1976

Monte Steere

Slo-mo-shun V

 1975

Bill Hornell

Thriftway Too

 1974

Ron Erickson

Miss Bardahl

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