to make some changes to the rules.
As the National Gas Chairman for
NAMBA, I think we need to spend some
time refining the rules that are in place in
our organization for gasoline engines.
With the lines between “G” classes and
“GX” classes becoming more obscure
and blurry, it is time to define these
classes so that in the future we don’t stop
the growth of the hobby and still make it
enjoyable and affordable for new racers
to get involved.
Do we need to change or redefine the
“G” rules to include all of the new things
you can do to make an engine perform
better? As a major contributor to the
rules that we are currently running, I say
no! We need to redefine “G” classes so
that they are more stock than modified
and let everything else fall into the “GX”
classes. This means that “G” class would
be a much lower cost and more of an
entry level class and “GX” classes would
be where a racer could spend as much as
they can to go as fast as they want. This
would make a real distinct difference
between the “G” and “GX” classes
giving everyone a place to race. Going
forward this will help us figure out
which direction gasoline boat racing in
NAMBA is heading because more
people will race in one class or another.
I am currently working on a rule
proposal to redefine the “G” classes in
District 19. If we make progress at that
level it will go on the national level. If
anyone has any concerns or comments, I
would like to hear them. My email
address is rstark372@aol.com.
Vote: Nitro strut proposal
Vote: Jersey proposal
Vote: Crackerbox proposal
Vote: Gas Scale Unlimited proposal
PROPWASH
April 2012
3
As you can see, your NAMBA
insurance provides you with the best
protection available through any of the
model boating organizations. Hopefully,
you will never have to make use of this
coverage, but if you do, you can be
assured that you are covered. Continued
availability of this exceptional coverage
is of course to some degree up to you.
Make sure that you are aware of all of
the safety regulations, and use common
sense in your running. Preventative
medicine is always better than having to
resort to a cure. By avoiding needless
accidents, we can insure that the
coverage will be available when really
needed.
Growing Pains
By Russ Stark
NAMBA Gas Chairman
I have been racing gas boats since the
beginning! I was one of the few gas
boaters at the first NAMBA Nationals
that let gas boats run as an exhibition
class in 1994. Since then, I have watched
gasoline boat racing transform to what it
is today.
Over the years I have seen many
changes to our hobby. But the one thing
that hasn’t changed is the fear of
something new. Every time something
new comes along, people are afraid of it
and what it might do to their competi-
tiveness. The problem with this way of
thinking is that if it wasn’t for all the
changes we’ve made over the years we
would still be going 25 MPH with our
Homelite engines and a clutch.
Recently, we have come to another
crossroad with the availability of bigger
engines and the parts that go in them.
The one thing that I hear the most when
trying to decide whether certain engines,
parts, or modifications should be legal is
the cost. Racers are scared that if
something new and better comes along,
they won’t be able to afford it, killing all
hope of being competitive in the future.
That’s why we made the “GX” classes.
This way, racers that had the ability to
purchase the latest and greatest would
also have a place to run. The problem
which has been discounted is that the
latest and greatest hasn’t been much
better than what is allowed in the “G”
classes. This brings us to where we need
Also, please note that NAMBA
insurance no longer covers you when
you are flying R/C airplanes or driving
R/C cars. This coverage had been
provided a number of years ago but has
not been part of our coverage for a
number of years. We are a model
boating organization and that is all that
our insurance covers. Some membership
cards may still refer to these activities
on the back of the cards since we have
to have 10,000 cards printed at a time,
but again, participation in R/C cars and
planes is no longer covered by our
policies.
NAMBA insurance also provides
you with a $1,000,000 personal accident
policy which covers injuries which you
may incur while running your boat or
while assisting someone else with their
boat. In the past, this has covered such
injuries as a cut hand, or torn ligaments
suffered when a boater slipped on the
mud in the launch area. This policy is
secondary insurance. That means that if
you have health insurance at work or
through a family member, NAMBA
insurance will expect your primary
policy to pay first. Then, once your
primary policy has paid what it covers,
NAMBA’s secondary policy goes into
effect. This would cover such things as
deductibles, amounts over the policy
limits, etc. If you do not have health
insurance of any kind, NAMBA’s policy
covers you the same as if it were a
primary policy.
There are of course deductibles on
both of these coverages, $500 on the
liability coverage, and $100 on the
personal accident coverage. However, in
the past, NAMBA has has been able to
pick up the cost of these deductibles,
and we assume we will continue to do
so in the future as long as funds permit.