40th Annual NAMBA Gas Nats will offer 2 FE Classes

[D. Newland]

There's been quite a bit of discussion during the past few months about the 2011 NAMBA Gas/Nitro Nationals (Legg Lake, Ca) offering FE classes. After careful consideration was given to how close the dates are between the Gas and FE Nat's, it's been decided to get 2 FE classes on the Gas Nat's schedule.

P-Limited Sport Hydro will run on Saturday, June 18th and P-Mono on June 19th.

To sign up, please visit NAMBANATS.com. I don't think the FE classes are on the schedule yet, but it will be shortly.

P-LSH will allow the 6 motors listed on the recent NAMBA proposal. If you have any questions, please let me know!

[Steven Vaccaro]

Dave I'm not trying to be controversial here, but why would they want the two nationals events to conflict?

[Darin Jordan]

Dave I'm not trying to be controversial here, but why would they want the two nationals events to conflict?

Hmmmmm.... I can't imagine why either... it's simply "insane"...

[ScarabChris]

I used to be a NAMBA member racing my gas mono. It wasn't much fun in my opinion, so many people and such a tight schedule.

But what would make it fun is to have an "anything goes" race within the same class of boats.

For example, mono's in the 40" class. Any 40" class mono can race regardless of power. I think it would be cool to see similar boats all powered differently. An all out race between gas, nitro and electric.

[D. Newland]

Dave I'm not trying to be controversial here, but why would they want the two nationals events to conflict?

No worrries, Steve, and maybe I didn't word it correctly above...or maybe I'm not understanding your question, but maybe there's something in here that will answer it. If not, let me know.

NAMBA FE and NAMBA Gas Nationals have always done their own thing with regards to scheduling. It was never really an issue. However, FE has been invited in the past to run at a Gas Nationals. Washington in '09 allowed a few FE boats to run. There's also very preliminary discussion regarding an all-inclusive NAMBA Nat's in 2012. Let me repeat...very preliminary discussion. Needless to say, things have been (kind of...slowly...a little bit) moving towards combined events. It's not for everyone or every event, but that's what's been happening.

With that said, Ken and the Waveblasters put a lot of time and effort in to their dates. They landed on a date that was 2 weeks before the Gas Nat's. Again, typically not a big deal. And it's still not a big deal.

However, the Gas Nat's organizers were asked to get some FE on the schedule. Trust me, it wouldn't have happened if Ken and I weren't OK with it. Geographically, the Florida FE event really is not in any jeopardy of losing attendance because of a few FE classes being put on the L.A. gas schedule. It's NAMBA's 40th Anniversary and I like the idea of having some FE there to represent! Also, following Darin's comment, the L.A. guys (Tyler-you're in this group, knowing you're further north), including Jeff at Insane, are making huge strides in getting F.E. to the next level in their area.

All things considered, including concerns of both events being just 2 weeks apart, the decision was made to put 2 FE classes on the Gas Nat's schedule.

Darin-put down the popcorn.

Scarbchris- NAMBA Dist 19 does run an "Open" class that kind of does what you're saying. Not quite, but it's a hoot. However, I don't think any "Open" class will make a Nat's schedule.

[properchopper]

I strongly urge any FE's within travel distance to attend; if not to race, but to experience the festivities. It's gonna' be a big party and a chance to meet (& compete if you so desire) with the Legg Lake/SoCal crew. P-Limited Sport Hydro & P-Mono covers a big part of what lots of sport runners have, and once the excitement of oval racing is experienced, it's all uphill from there

[Darin Jordan]

Darin-put down the popcorn.

Hahaha... I'm not a big fan of popcorn anyway!



However, when us West Coast FE-ers ASKED if they'd include some FE Classes, like they did last year, we were flately told NO... And we asked nicely even...

No biggy, but let's be real at least...

[D. Newland]

Hahaha... I'm not a big fan of popcorn anyway!



However, when us West Coast FE-ers ASKED if they'd include some FE Classes, like they did last year, we were flately told NO... And we asked nicely even...

No biggy, but let's be real at least...

Just pokin' fun about the popcorn.

Are you saying that you/somebody asked about FE being included at the '11 Gas Nat's and were told no?

[Chilli]

I strongly urge any FE's within travel distance to attend.

You guys have a unique oportunity to give gassers from throughout the country a taste of the FE experience. You'll be doing a service to those FE'er from other parts of the country whose IC counterparts have never seen FE's run and are reluctant to include them in local races.

GIVE 'EM A SHOW!!!!!

[Darin Jordan]

GIVE 'EM A SHOW!!!!!

Always do!!


David,

I didn't personally ask Al or anything, but when I asked our District earlier this year if FE was going to be included, they told us they were told "No" by those in charge of such things.

It's not a big deal to me, really. I think FE SHOULD be included, you know that!

Should be intersting racing.

[AlanN]

Dave I'm not trying to be controversial here, but why would they want the two nationals events to conflict?

Steve,
No need to be controversial, it's just a matter of someone wanting to sell boats. Plain as the nose on a face.

Maybe we could get some FE'ers to convert to gas!!!

[Darin Jordan]

It does raise an intersting question, however... Are we crowning "National Champions" in FE at both events??

I hope not...

[MarkF]

A lot of what has to do with electrics being run at the gas nats is the fact that more than half of the people that will be running in the electric classes are the gas racers themselfs. At the last gas race they had here in LA me and Tony were the only electric guys there. The other 4 electric racers were gas guys. The gas guys down here are starting pick up on the electric boats to have another boat to run thats not as expensive.

Mark

[Darin Jordan]

A lot of what has to do with electrics being run at the gas nats is the fact that more than half of the people that will be running in the electric classes are the gas racers themselfs. At the last gas race they had here in LA me and Tony were the only electric guys there. The other 4 electric racers were gas guys. The gas guys down here are starting pick up on the electric boats to have another boat to run thats not as expensive.

Mark

Excellent... And some of us FE'ers ARE getting or have Gas boats as well...

One day, I hope we just have a NAMBA Nationals... One big happy family...

[LuckyDuc]

Excellent... And some of us FE'ers ARE getting or have Gas boats as well...

One day, I hope we just have a NAMBA Nationals... One big happy family...

It would be nice to have ONE national event, BUT it would be pretty tough to host and support it. I wouldn't want to be the hosting club for that event. It would be a 10+ day event with all of the nitro classes, all of the gas classes, and all of the FE classes. I definitely like the idea of having some FE classes at Nat'l Nitro / Nat'l Gas events though. Why not. They should be considered specialty classes at those events.

I have a gasser in the works too