PROPWASH
12
October 2014
2014 NAMBA FE Nationals
By David Newland
NAMBA FE Chairman
During June 24th to the 29th, FE’s finest gathered in Leonard, Michigan for the
2014 NAMBA FE Nationals. Hosted by District 2’s Mid-Michigan Electrics
Unlimited (MMEU), this group is really NAMBA’s FE veteran race organizers with
three national events under their belt during the past ten years. Fred Siewert and Terry
Davis are MMEU’s anchors, with racers Tom Castellani, Mike Ball, Bob Zola, Jimmy
Francisco, Don “Moose” Hineman, “Kabota” Ken Brode and Marc “Hobby Master/
Roll Your Own” Cerankowski rounding out the group.
The location of this event was at the Rochester/North Oakland Elks Lodge # 2225,
which is located at a very nice pond about an hour north of Detroit. This place sits out
in the sticks so far, that you had to watch for deer, skunks, and raccoons on the road
entering the location. It is a perfect location complete with a members lodge, a small
restaurant, bar, lounge and a huge patio overlooking the race site. In fact, many of the
newer MMEU members are also Elks members as they were the ones who approached
MMEU a few years ago about using their facility for a model boat race. Some racers
camped in their RV’s on site, and some even in tents. The Elks literally opened up
their lodge 24/7 for us so that we had use of their facilities while we were there.
Having hosted NAMBA nationals before, MMEU knew that summer weather
typically is an issue. Customary to most of their events, two rather large circus style
tents were rented so that the racers could pit under them. Fortunately, we saw rain only
on the first day, so their planning made it a non-issue. I liked the camaraderie aspect of
this type of pit set up. Another item that will probably be unique to events MMEU
hosts, is the need to move from a typical four day to a five day event. Michigan
continually pulls in bigger boat numbers at their events than any other location.
As MMEU was setting up the class schedule, they realized that they had a core
group of youths that were close in experience, and probably a step above what the
“Kids R Boaters Too” class tends to target. Many were even in the adult classes.
MMEU planned one class per day, just for these kids. Now we have all seen this
before. They stole the show! Every day too. MMEU also realized that dad’s just do
not pit very well for their kids for a multitude of reasons, right? Well, MMEU
gathered the top FE drivers and asked them to pit for these kids. They whole heartedly
accepted this invitation for all five days. No hands on the wheel either. These kids
didn’t need that kind of help. These kids WOW’d the crowd and their progression in
this hobby during the five day event was easily seen. On the last day of the event,
Tyler Davis, son of Co-Contest Director Terry Davis was heard asking Doug Twaits
Jr. if he could be on his High Points Team next year! Classy move by a classy kid.
Full results are posted on NAMBA’s web site. Please check them out as we have
full race data documented for this event.
Special recognition goes to Team West Coast for winning the Michigan Cup/Team
Competition (David Newland, Brian Buaas and Tyler Garrard), and to Doug Twaits, Jr
for winning the Mr. Offshore Award turning in more laps than anyone in our Offshore
classes.
I personally want to thank NAMBA Executive Secretary Al Waters and Karlee
Dockery for helping this event run like a well oiled electric motor. This is the second
Michigan FE Nat’s that Al has called, and it was great having him out for this event.
Karlee kept the heat sheets and scoring organized and probably worked more hours
each day than anyone there. And, she even found the time to bake cookies on the final
day of racing. Fantastic!
Two P Ltd Cats going at it
Landon Seiwert’s smile says it all
The morning drivers meeting with the Elks
lodge in the background
Anyone can announce a race but Karlee’s
efforts are what made this event click