of Gas Scale and maybe 1/8 Scale FE
but nothing has materialized. Ok, so
maybe not on life support but on oxygen
to say the least.
I know that there are boats Southern
California. Both Nitro and FE. However,
I am not sure how many times any scale
class has run. The once very robust
numbers of Scale Unlimiteds have all
but disappeared. The once coveted Bill
Muncey Memorial Race in San Diego
hasn’t run or when it has, it hasn’t been
anything like what it used to be. The last
time I was there in 2007 it was still had
pretty decent participation.
How about the Pacific Northwest?
Well, for obvious reasons there are still
okay numbers and several different scale
unlimited clubs. Some are dedicated to
Gas Scale like the PNWTA. Some are
dedicated to FE 1/10th Modern and
Vintage Scale or 1/7th Scale FE. RCU
has incorporated running 1/8th Scale
Unlimited FE in to their race program as
a separate class after the FE’s ran with
Nitro for some time. In some instances
all three will run at the same race.
However, that being said the once 40-
50 boat counts of 1/8 Scale Nitro in the
days of the Czar Roger Newton are no
longer.
I am told that Texas and some
southern districts are boasting some Gas
Scale numbers. Not much in the way of
FE or Nitro. There are some 1/10th
Moderns and Vintage scales in Arizona I
believe. The Midwest seems to be
similar to the Northwest boasting Gas
and Nitro. I know something is going on
in Florida
PROPWASH
20
October 2015
In Memory of Hank Mullin
By Jay Stone
NAMBA District Seven
Long time Albuquerque High
Desert Racer member Hank Mullin
passed away on August 12, 2015.
Hank was an active member of
the New Mexico/Texas model
boating community for several
decades. He served as District
Director and was an integral part in
the planning and ultimate success of
the 2003 NAMBA Nationals.
As a racer, Hank earned many
district championships in the OPC
Tunnel classes. He also enjoyed
mono hulls and catamarans. Hank
had some of the fastest outboards
around and as a mechanical engineer,
he was always developing new ideas
and working to make his outboards
out perform his fellow racers.
Hank is survived by his wife
Almira. She is a true sweetheart and
provided support and help with district events as well. Our thoughts and prayers are
with her and the rest of Hank's family.
God speed to our dear friend. May you rest in peace.
The State of Scale Unlimited Hydro
By Mike McKnight
Scale Unlimited Hydro Chairman
Hello everyone. This is Mike
McKnight back for my second go
around as NAMBA Scale Unlimited
Hydro Chairman. Why? Well
because I didn’t realize, and you
probably didn’t either, that we
effectively haven’t had one for a
while now. Which leads me to ask
the question, what is the state of
Scale Unlimited today? Well, it’s not
really that simple of an answer
because it kind of depends on whom
you ask and where they are. There
are a lot of things that have changed in the eight years since I was last a Scale
Chairman. Scale Unlimited has more than just one class now. There are five classes
between Nitro, FE and Gas.
So let’s take a tour around the country and see how scale is doing. I can tell you
this. On the West Coast in California it is not doing well at all. In my own District
Nine, it has been on life support for some time. It still runs when we can make a three
boat minimum which is at about half of the scheduled races. The boats are here, but
most are sitting on the shelf. There is some building going on. Last year before the
NAMBA Nationals, I rebuilt my 1994 Miss Exide and repainted it for my son to run. I
know of two more new boats over the last couple of years. One was sold in the district
and that person is building another boat. I am back building again and have a glass
hull I bought in 2004 that is well on its way to completion. There have been rumblings
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