NAMBA October 2021 Web.pub

PROPWASH 18 October 2021 District 1’s Losses… By Dave Rychalsky NAMBA History Chairman I guess, in a word, we all have to say “devastating”. Besides the obvious issues the world has with 2020 and 2021, the NAMBA members in District 1 had four kicks in the ribs. In the past year, we lost Mike “Pags” Paganelli, Charlie Ott, Louie Gerdik and Doug Twaits, Sr. All four were active NAMBA racers and integral to the success of model boating on the East Coast. Mike “Pags” was incredibly active in the Fast Electrics sector of model boating. Mike attending every race in District 1 and usually had both daughters with him. Race after race, Mike was always competitive and typically ended every season in one of the top spots. One special characteristic about Mike was his unselfish outlook to model boating. If another boater needed a part (prop, battery, receiver, anything), Mike would give that racer whatever he needed even if it meant he would have to withdraw his own boat. I recall at one race Mike noticed a couple having car troubles in the far end of the parking lot. Mike walked over and found their car battery was dead. Mike took the LiPo cells out of his boat, told them to turn on the ignition and he connected up his LiPo’s to their car to get it started. The car was up and running but it damaged Mike’s wires, so he withdrew from the class. That was typical Mike! I had a ton of laughs racing Mike and thoroughly enjoyed going with Mike to one of the FE NAMBA Nationals in Colorado. Mike was synonymous to being “The Model Boating Sportsman”, as he was always a gentleman and a fair racer. Mike “Pags” Paganelli (left) standing next to Doug Twaits at an annual District 1 awards banquet Charlie Ott had been a member of District 1 since the early 1990’s. Charlie raced sport boats, Nitro Scale Unlimited’s, Outboards and numerous Gas classes. Charlie did a stint as District 1 Director, helped run dozens of races, and was an integral part of improving model boat racing here on the East Coast. It’s such a shame that shortly after Charlie retired to Florida in District 3, his health took a bad turn and he passed. We all miss the little guy and know that model boating was a major part of his life and that he received a ton of satisfaction racing with all of his friends. Charlie competed in a few NAMBA Nationals and was district champion in numerous classes over the years. Louie Gerdik was another longtime member of District 1. Louie spent his entire retirement building model boats for himself, his club members and anyone who wanted a solid running boat. He was an avid racer in nitro sport classes, as well as a number of gas hydro classes. Personally, I have two of Louie’s boats. Both are still competitively running today, with one being over 12 years old. Louie lived in Long Island and was an active member of the LIMBA club. He was the person who picked up the lake permits, dragged the retrieve boat to the race site, and never lost his cool about anything. Louie always said that model boat building was his “therapy” for retirement. Louie was the most mild-mannered boater we have ever had in District 1.