April Propwash 2018 web.pub

from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. In the final round Reita looked to be the favorite, but Joe Weilnau pulled off the upset. Someone told Joe he had to go swimming because it was his first nationals win which he did. It was cold, but it didn’t matter to Joe. Just to let you know Joe, this doesn’t count as your first NAMBA Nationals win, but I do hope to see you swim in Dallas. There was a point during the race where Russ and I were standing next to each other along the lower railing nearest the pond looking up at all the people lining every inch of the upper and lower railings watching grown adults racing paddle boats. We looked at each other and knew we had just been a part of something special. The last couple of days were packed with more first time winners and some new records being recorded with great times being held by all. We had nine first time NAMBA National winners with eight new NAMBA records being recorded and with all this, I still haven’t mentioned my favorite moment of the 2017 NAMBA Nationals. One of my best friends in the world, Karl Morse was inducted into the NAMBA Hall of Fame. Karl is one of the nicest men I have every met and is one of the main reasons I am a model boater today. I want to congratulate all of the NAMBA Nationals winners, new NAMBA Nationals record holders and of course Karl Morse. To pull off a race of this size it takes a lot of special people. I truly appreciate each and every member that helped make this happen and a HUGE THANK YOU to; Tracy Osborne, Russ Stark, Brian and Caleb Bounds, Sean Boundy, Tony Ojeda, Steve Lopez, David Santistevan, Jim Osborne, Lenny and Leann Blake, Mike and Schlene Boundy, Jim Feener, Susan Osendorf, Karl Morse, Al Waters, KC Hazen, Thomas Hammer, Rich Taylor, Gary Schilling and Robert Holland. Our tech team: David Newland, Alan Terry, Shane Forrest, Ray Presnall and Jim Osborne. THANK YOU to all our 2017 NAMBA Nationals sponsors! With out your help none of this would have been possible! In December we have our year end meeting and banquet where we vote on new proposals and enjoy a great dinner together as we acknowledge all our district winners. Our 2017 meeting was a little different from past years as we had a handful of proposals with one being near and dear to me. Our behavioral conduct rule. It was important to get it voted into our district as I knew we would be talking about it on a national level but wasn’t sure if it would be passed. I was very happy to see it passed at the district level as well as other important proposals. Later that evening we had our dinner where Steve Lopez and I announced that the district would be providing their meals as well as providing them with some District 19 shirts, caps and neon pink shirts and caps for all the ladies as a huge thank you for a fun year of racing. As we all finished up our meals Steve Lopez began announcing the winners. We awarded them their year end trophies and took photos of the top three finishers in each class. Our 2017 High Points Champion was awarded to Roger Pane. Every year in our district, we acknowledge a member with our Award of Excellence trophy. This award is based on a member’s commitment and sportsmanship which best exemplifies the spirit of NAMBA and in 2017 we had more then a few to choose from. We did something a little different as we awarded three members. Mike, Schlene and Sean Boundy were our “2017 Award of Excellence” recipients for their hard (Continued on page 26) News From District 19 By Richard Romero District 19 Director We had some great racing in 2017 at the district and national level. Our 2017 race schedule consisted of eight races with Lenny Blake (Rum Racing) stepping back from holding his October Tempe race due to the NAMBA Nationals being held in our district. We saw some new boats, fresh faces and new champions in 2017! I would like to start by congratulating all our 2017 District 19 Champions: Sean Boundy: Classic Thunderboat and G-1 Catamaran * 1st time champion John Michaud: G-1 Crackerbox Richard Romero: GX-1/GX-2 Crackerbox Roger Pane: G-1 Mono, G-1 Outrigger, GX/1-GX/2 Catamaran & GX1/GX2 Outrigger Steve Lopez : G-1 Sport Hydro and GX1/GX2 Sport Hydro Russ Stark: GX1/GX2 Mono PJ Foster: Jersey Skiff * 1st time champion Michael Coleman: Open Oval * 1st time champion Susan Osendorf: Sportsman Mono Sunday * 1st time champion Darryl Hamilton: Sportsman Mono Saturday * 1st time champion District 19 was awarded the 2017 NAMBA Nationals. Co- Contest Director Russ Stark and myself decided to change it up as we held it in the month of October at Sunset Park in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. The race was well attended with almost 100 racers and over 500 boats from all three power disciplines (FE, Nitro and Gas). We opened our first day of racing with two first time winners that experienced the fresh Sunset Park pond water. Ok, maybe the water wasn’t that fresh, but who cares when its your first NAMBA Nationals win. On Monday night we held our “Welcome Party” serving over 100 people Mexican food with Jim Feener and Susan Osendorf behind the two-stroke margarita machine making sure everyone had something cold in their hands. We had a fun time with some late-night line dancing and concrete surfing lessons provided by Jim Osborne with Robert Holland by his side. David Santistevan’s mid-week mixer at the host hotel was a wonderful time and really provided us the time we needed to talk with some old friends and meet some new ones. As I looked around the room and saw everyone talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I knew we were doing some- thing right and we were all winners at that point. As we raced through out the week I had no clue what Friday nights Paddle Boat Race had in store for us. We had originally planned to have our Paddle Boat Race and Concourse judging at the host hotel, but decided to move them to the race site. I am so glad that we did. After a momentous day of racing, I setup up the paddle boat course and joined the rest of the racers as we enjoyed Grey Beard and Mud Shark beer with some great Mexican food. We had served over 100 people and sent the Grey Beard guys home with empty kegs. We then began setting up for what turned out to be one of the best Paddle Boat Race in NAMBA history (as I was told by many racers). With Al Waters on the mic we started the racing. We had some fierce racing with the gals taking on the guys. The gals were taking it to the guys through the first of couple rounds led by Reita Wahe PROPWASH April 2018 Page 25