PROPWASH
October 2016
9
NAMBA Nationals History – Back in the Hunt
By Dave Rychalsky
NAMBA Historian Chairman
It has been a few years since my last article, however I think it is time to update
everyone on the latest news. Our current NAMBA Nationals Banner is filled with
patches from 1972 to 2016. During this year’s Nationals Awards Banquet in Wichita,
Kansas our historical banner was displayed for everyone to view. Dave Bestpitch was
able to add the 2016 patch to the banner prior to the banquet. It has been 18 years since
our original banner was lost. No one seems to know what happened to that banner, but
that is just the way things happen. The search for that banner was futile, so an effort
ensued to re-create the banner. Many members chipped in and donated their patches to
our current banner. Dave Bestpitch, Al Waters and I have been making sure this
current banner never gets lost. It is part of NAMBA’s history, which will show
generations to come where we have hosted NAMBA Nationals since our inception.
Since I am a collector of sorts, I understand that some paraphernalia will never be
reproduced and can be lost forever.
Years ago, I started a collection of NAMBA Nationals Programs, Pins and spare
Patches. There are a few missing pieces that I am sure can be filled by some of our
older members. Believe it or not, I need a spare Patch, Pin and Program from 2015 at
the Nitro and Gas NAMBA Nationals at Lake Minden, California! Yes LAST YEAR.
I need all three. There has to be some spare sets from last year, so please look.
I also need the Pins from 1980, 1981, 1984 & 2001.
I need the Program from the 1980, 1981, and 1988 Nationals.
Finally, for the remaining spare Patches, I need 1973 (Seattle), 1976 (Baltimore),
and 1984 (Newark).
I would like to thank all of you all for looking and especially to those who donate
their NAMBA memorabilia to our Historical Collection.
For those of you that would like to donate their Patch, Pin or Program to the
NAMBA National Historical Collection, please send to:
Dave Rychalsky
10 Timber Road
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
You can also e-mail me at
My First Boat
By Shane Forrest
District 19 Model Boater
1982 was the best year of my life as a kid. This was the year that I got my first
model boat and was able to live with my dad full time. My mom and dad divorced
when I was six years old so we lived in Temple City, California. My dad dabbled in
model boats in the mid seventies at Legg Lake, S. El Monte, California. I remember he
bought a hull at a nearby swap meet. My uncle was into model planes at the time. As
memory serves me, they took the motor from an airplane and put it in a boat. I don't
recall ever seeing it run. I do recall watching boats run at Legg Lake with my dad
though.
He then remarried and moved to Las Vegas. I had to stay with my mom in Arcadia,
California. I would visit my dad every summer and would always hound him about a
model boat. It had been years since I had seen a boat or been to Legg Lake. After my
dad had been living in Las Vegas for about three years he heard through the grape vine
that a park in Las Vegas that had a pond was starting construction on a model boating
facility. I was absolutely floored when I heard the news. My mom then let me go live
with my dad.
My dad told me if I could save $150 he would put in the rest to buy a model boat
for me. I saved the money that year and we paid a visit to the new model boat facility
called Sunset Park. We met a man by the name of Bob Erickson. He was a funny old
(Continued on page 10)
many times prior.
Jerry’s participation in model boating
extends beyond Texas and New Mexico.
Each year Jerry can be found at various
District 19 events. Even now, living in
the Fort Worth area, Jerry still makes a
concerted effort to attend races in
Tucson, Lake Havasu and Las Vegas.
Jerry has always promoted NAMBA
as a family hobby. Jerry’s daughter, JJ
traveled to races with him while she was
a youngster. Jerry proudly supported
and watched as she won many
championships herself. Jerry’s son,
Heath also raced at various times
throughout the years. After Jerry’s kids
moved on and started their own
families, Dale Roberts began traveling
to races with Jerry. Up until about a year
ago, Dale and Jerry traveled to just
about every race they could fit in the
schedule. Jerry often offered a calming
voice as a pit person for Dale over the
years on his many race wins as they
traveled together. Now living closer to
his children, Jerry is making sure that
his grandson Dylan is now an active
racer in District 7. Jerry can now be
found at events with his grandson and
wife, Carole Jean.
We have always given Jerry a hard
time because he builds boats for some of
the oddest classes. He always replies
with a shrug of the shoulders and states
that he will do whatever he can to help
make sure people have classes to run
their boats. Building so many different
types of boats, Jerry always seems to
have a ton of parts. It is quite common
for him to walk over to struggling
boaters and hand them parts they need
to make their boats work properly. Jerry
never looks for reimbursement. We
believe it is because he gets the greatest
joy seeing those around him enjoy the
hobby as much as he does.
There are truly a lot of great people
involved in this hobby. As members of
District 7, we feel blessed to have a
great man like Jerry representing our
area and keeping an eye out for our
own. As a result of Jerry’s continued
guidance, NAMBA District 7 continues
to be as strong as ever.
Congratulations Jerry Wright on your
NAMBA Hall of Fame induction.
