Island Racing
By Dave Pillado
NAMBA District 9 Member
When my wife Shawna and I were
talking about when and where to go on
vacation this year, I mentioned that there
was radio controlled model boat racing
in the USVI (NAMBA District 13)
specifically in St Croix, USVI.
After showing her a few pictures of
the island, she was on board to go there
for some rest and relaxation. I made
contact with a few of my customers that
run CoCr Propellers and they were
delighted to have my family and my
racing teammate Ken Larsen as guests at
their race.
Travel time takes a full day since I
am in California and St. Croix, USVI
is as far south and east as you can go
and still be in an unincorporated
United States territory. The island has a
real historical feel to it. Beautiful
architecture and some of the nicest
people I have ever encountered. I can not
over state how welcome all of the
islanders made us feel every where we
went. Needless to say, Ken and I were
excited to see what the racing facility
was going to be like.
I was in contact with Burton Edney
and met him at the Captain Morgan
Distillery. From there we took a short
drive to the center of the island where
the race site is located. They have a
really great facility. The drivers stand is
a permanent structure and is really high
so you get a great view of the entire race
course. The club supplied Ken and I with
an awning for shade and tables so we
had a place to work on our boats.
Racing is very competitive there. The
boats were fast however I was amazed if
a situation arose, they remained calm,
cool, and collective. They were very
diplomatic in solving any questions and
then everyone would go right back to
island time. I absolutely loved it. There
was reggae music playing in the pits the
majority of the day and everyone was
just socializing with everyone else.
Ken and I were just blown away with the
friendly atmosphere the entire
race weekend. R/C boat racing in
paradise. Does it get any better than that
for us racers?
PROPWASH
2
October 2016
The response to the Rule Acknowledgment Form was overwhelmingly positive,
and we thank the hundreds of you who either signed it at an event or took the initiative
to download the form from the web site and mail it in. No "new" rule or requirement is
without controversy, however, and we received some comments that were critical of
what we had done and questions as to why we had done it. It is hoped that this
comment will provide the answers to those questions but trust that those of you who
continue to have concerns will let me know. In the meantime, you should all know that
we are revising the form for the upcoming year and are hopeful that all of our
members will recognize the benefits that it is intended to convey to the entire
organization.
News in District One - Promoting FE Racing
By Anthony Verdura
NAMBA District One Member
Earlier this year, a district heat race was held in Bristol, Pennsylvania that featured
combined both gas and fast electric powered boats. With falling numbers in attendance
at our electric events, we knew that we had to combine our events to give everyone a
chance to compete at a higher level. Mike Buck from West Milford, New Jersey took
matters into his own hands to revive fast electric racing. But first, just a little back
ground on Mike.
Mike started with radio controlled boats by chance after moving in to a house
across from a lake. His father bought two Aquacraft SV-27's and his passion was
instantly ignited. One boat turned into two boats, then three boats, four boats and you
get the picture. Now with a fleet of boats and his two twin sons Ryan and Tyler who
are eight years old, and Mike’s dad Klaus they would head out on race weekends
looking for their next trophy. Mike started racing back in 2010 and has never looked
back. He has been to Florida for the Fast Electric NAMBA Nationals and more
recently to Michigan for the Mid Michigan Electric Unlimiteds Cup.
Mike has come up with an idea that will hopefully spark some interest in owning
an electric boat. At the beginning of this race season, Mike was awarded a sponsorship
from Venom Batteries. He teamed up with Venom in offering a ready to run boat class
that would result in an entrant winning a boat for winning the event. He had six racers
sign up and they competed at the next race for a chance to win a boat. With this
promotion, Mike was hopeful that this would spark some interest back in to the
electric boat classes and boost the attendance at future races. Contact District One
Director Dennis Probst Jr. and see how successful Mike’s promotion has been this
year.
Mike Buck with sons Ryan and
Tyler and Grandpa Klaus
Ken Roohr Jr, David Willet , Brain Jenson,
Dennis Probst Jr , Bryan Mullen and James
Nguyen. And the winner is?...
