April 2022 Propwash Web

We have taken actions to bring the district more in line with everyone else and this will be an ongoing effort. We have implemented creative ideas to motivate racers to WANT to turn judge and do a great job of it. We have increased communication between CD’s and have made strides toward consistency, heat to heat, and race to race. We put policies in place to ensure four rounds of racing at points races and that is working well. We are doing some common sense things to gain new NAMBA members. We have worked to foster a level of sportsmanship and decorum not previously seen at the races. District 3 is blessed with some of the finest manufacturers and builders in the hobby. Rico Racing, Seaducer, AC Model Boats, SpeedFreek, Assault, Zipp kits, Gizmo, Boss 330 (Al Papitto), Daniel Place, RC Boat Company, Speedmaster Hardware (Rossi Sales), Accu-Tech, Speedmaster Boats, Patriot Boats, Roadrunner boats, Competition Marine Designs, Technology Hobbies and others. I look forward to serving these great companies as well as every District 3 clubs and members. Perhaps my greatest contribution to District 3 is that my wife Kelly takes the opportunity to serve the district just as seriously as I do. She puts in countless hours to help District 3. She is truly the wind beneath my wings! Go Fast! Turn Right! Don’t Cut Buoys! Safety Corner Post Nationals By Lohring Miller NAMBA Safety Chairman As usual the 50th Anniversary Nationals was a very safe event. Experienced racers are careful with their boat’s operation and modern radios are much more trouble free than in the past. However, loss of control can still happen. NAMBA District 3 Director By Eric Canto NAMBA District 3 Director Hello NAMBA! My name is Eric Canto. Thank you to the members of District 3 for allowing me to serve as director. It has been a whirlwind few months. Richard Romero has been an incredible mentor! Karl Loveless and Al Waters have also been invaluable in helping me learn my new role. The members of the District 3 board, Dan Hermes, Ken Haines, Al Papitto, Curtis Canton, David Sass, Joe and Brittni Milstead and Kelly Canto have worked many hours to help District 3. All of the club presidents also serve as board members and their input is critical. Having such an incredible team to work with has made heading up the largest district in NAMBA a real pleasure! I am happy to report that District 3 has already added a new club. Jeremy Hines of Panama City, FL is the creator and president of the Bay County Model Boaters. Jeremy has a great relationship with the parks department in his area and has already secured a race pond that Al Waters placed insurance on very quickly. I, Kelly Canto, and Joe Petro traveled to Panama City to meet Jeremy and offer help in moving this new club forward. We look forward to having an event there this year. The board and I are currently pursuing other new venues as well. PROPWASH April 2022 23 A day off work to race model boats followed by a day off racing model boats to fish. Our racing season started off with two spectacular three day points races. Both races were sold out events with great racing, raffles, food, and friends. Our third points race was in March and sold out as well. Our fourth race, the April race in Miami sold out and has been renamed “The Octavio Rivero Spring Memorial” in honor of Octavio who passed recently. We will be announcing some unique classes and formats for the May fun run we have scheduled in Broward. One example is that we will be offering a kid’s class limited to 17 years old and under. Board member Ken Haines offered to pay for the trophies for this class and entry will be free for the kids! We are aware that District 3 has earned a reputation of having many rules that may differ from NAMBA nationwide. (Continued on page 24)