2021 NAMBA Nats Race Program

Chairman, NAMBA Vice President, NAMBA President and now currently the NAMBA Secretary. Many great friendships have come about during my journey and I expect many more. I was very fortunate that I discovered what a NAMBA Nationals was at Legg Lake, S. El Monte, California in 1991. Here it is 2021 and I have yet to miss a NAMBA Nationals. When I filled out my race entry form, I went right for the “Welcome Party”, “Paddleboat Race”, “Presidents Dinner”, and “Awards Banquet”. Then my wife reminded me that I was supposed to enter my boats. I am really looking forward to this week. by being my pit man for the day. Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck. Bill was super. He kept me out of everyone's way, making safe starts and finishing all of my heats. The boat was way out of trim, but I was on my way. One heat I didn't even get lapped. My biggest problem was at the completion of a heat. Bill would tell me to bring the boat in but the CD would say "stay on the course, boats are still racing." As a result, I would continue around the course. I think that frustrated Bill after three times. Later that afternoon, Barbara Cohen, the wife of one of the Las Vegas Mini Mariners Contest Directors came up to me. She congratulated me and handed me my first heat racing ribbon. It was a white one. You would have thought that I had won the gold. Four races, four ribbons! A perfect day in my book. I finished ninth in a field of twenty- three. My first race was the season's last. It was a successful year for me. As time went by, I got more involved with model boating meeting some really great people. Travelling to other races in other cities, bench racing and having dinner get togethers in the evening. I got so wrapped up in this hobby that I married Heather on Labor Day Weekend prior to a drivers meeting at a San Diego Argonaut District 19 race in 1990. Bill Bridge was my best man. He even used Armor All on his boots for a nice shine. The Scottsdale Model Boaters really upped the experience as all of the guys wore tuxedo t-shirts and the women corset t-shirts. A day I will always remember. Moving fast forward and being a person who likes to get involved I was fortunate to be a District 19 Treasurer, District 19 District Director, NAMBA Scale Unlimited Class The following article is from 1993 written by KC Hazen, NAMBA number 883 when she was eight years old and racing the District 19 Rookie Class. She had graduated from the Saturday Rookie Class to the adult Sport 40-1 Sunday class at this particular event. Other than a brief hiatus of not being a NAMBA member because of being able to sleep in, QVC and school, she does not race any more, but enjoys the comradery, helping out and being a NAMBA member. "Dad and I were going to Scottsdale to race. We packed four boats. The Sport 40-1 boat, the B Hydro, the B Mono, and the A Mono. We also packed about ten maple bars. Two with heart sprinkles, two with nuts, and six with just plain maple. We also packed the start box, extra propellers, one dozen root beers, five Gatorades, string cheese, the ice box, two pairs of motorcycle gloves, a Wheel of Fortune electronic game, Jeopardy electronic game, the cartridges for each game, corn nuts, candy, toolbox, clothes, necessities, flashlight, and the coffee. We headed out on our seven hour journey at4:30 p.m. I slept about five hours. We got there at 11:39 p.m. We slept in the car. We got up at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning. We drove down to the pond and talked awhile to Lenny Blake who insisted we stay at Leann's and his house instead of in a tent on the grass at the lake. We considered it. We got all our stuff set up. We started open water, tested our boats, and everything was looking good. My first heat of A Rookie wasn't very good. I ran into the shore. My dad made me a necklace with the messed up prop and some fishing line. The second heat I got first, same as the third and fourth heat. I got my picture taken. I got first for the whole day. After racing we had a great barbecue. Greg Hill sure is a great cook. We went home and stayed the night with LeAnn and Lenny. In the morning I went down with LeAnn at 8:00 to the pond. I raced Sport 40-l . I got a third in each of the first and second heats. In the third heat I got first, but then I hit Ira Cotton, my friend's boat, and my points got taken away. I got a snapped rudder, but Ira got his boat torn up. Dad and I got in the retrieve boat and picked up lra's boat. I said I'm sorry and he forgave me. He had a buyer for the boat before that. He scratched or dropped out of the last heat. Dad and I luckily got my boat finished before the fourth heat. Cathie Galbraith and Gene Bussell donated parts to fix the boat. I got a second in the fourth heat. I got a third for the whole day. Dad and I packed up and left for home." My First Accident - By KC Hazen 2021 NAMBA Nationals Page 37