IMPBA, NAMBA, FE Rules Etcetera

[DPeterson]

I can attest to the fact Howard doesn't wear anything pink. Whitee-tightees is another story. :)


Dave Newland

2003 Nat's. My first. LSH. It was even in the rulebook that it was for "beginners". I raced against Crowe and Twaits, etc, etc. I wouldn't have wanted it any different.

These first race stories are great. This one could be titled either "The beginners class that didn't exist" or "Just because it is written doesn't mean it is so". Crowe and Twaits - the two guy's on the very top of the RC boat racing food chain running the beginners class.

My first organized race was at Batavia. Bought a Greg Shweers built H & M Viper LSH from Ray Fuller. The boat was ballistic. Had to race against Paul Pachmeyer, Dan Proulx and Ed Hughey to name a few. More racers in there day at the top of their game. Hit the famous wall at Batavia twice due to my inexperienced driving. Had the fastest boat on the pond that weekend. I was hooked.

Spent the next few years actually targeting classes that had the toughest racers to beat. Didn't win that many overall races but got enough heat wins against these guys to make it all worth while. Of course now I have that pesky Sean Kewley to deal with all the time.

Anybody got open water around the Midwest yet?

Doug

[photohoward1]

Not frozen but snowy and Cold.

[T.S.Davis]

First day of spring 2012 it was 82 degrees in Deetrout. Today.......29. SOB! Tired of winter!

Your right Doug. The first time I saw LSH was Fine, Whitt, Twaits and Vega. I think Ken was running with them too. Whitt was running the first Viper to make it's way to the states. Not one of us realized it wasn't legal neither. I doubt anyone cared then anyway. ewww look! eeelectric powered!

[lackabucks1]

Question. AMA insurance has always covered rc boats and cars. Indeed AMA has a great car track and now a rc boat racing lake. Greg Hahn of AMA is a boat racer. Now to question. Will boating organizations recognize AMA membership for competition purposes? I suspect they won't, but as an RC pilot who also has fe boats and is on a very fixed income, duplicate memberships is a pain. Opening competition to a group of 140,000 RCers might really spice things up.

[photohoward1]

From Rules to Insurance? BTW your home owners covers you too! Maybe not competitions but sport running.

Question. AMA insurance has always covered rc boats and cars. Indeed AMA has a great car track and now a rc boat racing lake. Greg Hahn of AMA is a boat racer. Now to question. Will boating organizations recognize AMA membership for competition purposes? I suspect they won't, but as an RC pilot who also has fe boats and is on a very fixed income, duplicate memberships is a pain. Opening competition to a group of 140,000 RCers might really spice things up.

[photohoward1]

From Rules to Insurance? BTW your home owners covers you too! Maybe not competitions but sport running.

Question. AMA insurance has always covered rc boats and cars. Indeed AMA has a great car track and now a rc boat racing lake. Greg Hahn of AMA is a boat racer. Now to question. Will boating organizations recognize AMA membership for competition purposes? I suspect they won't, but as an RC pilot who also has fe boats and is on a very fixed income, duplicate memberships is a pain. Opening competition to a group of 140,000 RCers might really spice things up.

[photohoward1]

One More thing. I see all these Ohio guys on this forum but have never run into them at a race or club. What gives? If you don't race or belong to a club why do you care about IMPBA, NAMBA or AMA?

[T.S.Davis]

NAMBA does not recognize AMA insurance coverage. Our insurance is based on an assumption that you are aware of and are following the safety guidelines set forth in the rule book. I suspect that IMPBA is very similar in those regards. Plus there might be confusion if there truly was an incident. Say you were injured by me but it happened because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe you weren't aware you couldn't be out in the row boat while boats were racing/practicing. Just an example. Not saying you would do that. But if an incident occurred who's insurance steps in? Mine? I was following the rules but the injured party was not. AMA? The sight insurance provided by the organizing body? It's kind of a mess.

That's the same reason IMPBA nor NAMBA recognize the coverage of the other. Too much potential for lawyer'n. My understanding at least. One of the rule books even says that your not insured by them if you are insured by the other at the same time. I'm paraphrasing and I can't remember which book has that in there.

Pretty sure you can race with either organization without being a member. NAMBA for sure. IMPBA (I think) needs you to be a member of some organization (AMA would work) or another and then pick up single event insurance at the race site. It's a pretty good setup for those that don't race all the time. Both organizations have single event insurance available. Most venue have the forms available on race day too.

I'm with ya on the membership cost thing. I don't usually join IMPBA every year as there are few if any FE races to attend where I'm at. I can run at fuel events but typically it's exhibition around here. If I run with fuel they enact special rules that only apply to FE so that there is less risk of us actually winning.

Not being a member of IMPBA is why I get so much crap from guys when I comment on the IMPBA rules. I just want em to be the same or close so that on those occasions that the planets align we're all running close to the same junk. There aren't enough of us to ignore any of us. I know I'm not alone on that thinking.

[Doug Smock]

The IMPBA does not recognize AMA insurance coverage.

[sjslhill]

Ama

It's really a good idea...If you think insurance will be carried by a small group like the IMPBA and NAMBA in the future, it won't be possible. Obama Care is going to destroy the insurance companies. my 2 cents I really thought that was Grims idea and I think it's a good one. However, if I were the AMA, I'd never let you guys race under my insurance.

[lackabucks1]

I've been repeatedly told I had to be a member of one of the two groups. As to comments about Ohio guys, you obviously have not been at the meets in Celina at East view Park lake. Insurance has been the one issue I've heard talked about. What I'm suggesting is that cooperating with the largest modeling group in the country could bring numerous benefits to all the RC hobby groups at a time when we are all being threatened by gov't regulations. Perhaps form an overall National RC group to lobby for our interests. The boat people may not get excited over the current threats to RC flying, but idiot gov't regulators almost always write over broad regulations that can be interpreted any way they please. In numbers there is strength.

[T.S.Davis]

Not sure who is telling you that or why. Could be that in order to play on pond X,Y,Z for more than a single event you need to be insured. To play on our pond locally the city requires those playing to be a member of some organizing body that provides insurance with membership. It works.

You asked if either organization recognized AMA in regards to competition. They don't. Got off on a tangent with the insurance thing. Sorry about that.

I can't speak to the possibility of teaming with the AMA to lobby the usurpers. I'm no longer on the BOD for NAMBA and never was with IMPBA. I swear we've had this same conversation before though.

[photohoward1]

Celina at East view Park lake.....It has been a while. Maybe all the Ohio guys could hook up at the big Michigan Race. Would be cool to kick there butts! "Team Buckeye"

[Randy Rapedius]

Woahhhh.....Mister cheap and and explosive....currently only 3 RTR's in the fleet out of 12 FE's so think before you talk Ray

Myself and only a few others (not you) have done more to try and promote FE in the area and came up with club rules for those classes that are probably some of the easiest to adhere too and will also allow most to compete elsewhere.

All you do is try and cheapen everything to the point that nothing is overly reliable. I've seen many of your explosive end results.

If it wasn't for myself and Chris...there would be nothing in this area and even he has gotten frustrated with all the associated bitching from those that do nothing but want everything.

Think Ray......then comment.

Step up anytime Ray to help.

Sigh...no-one held a gun to anyone's head to leave NLMBC last year....Our club did nothing but provide an option at a more or less centrally located pond. I'm looking forward to seeing NLMBC's schedule for FE races this year. Also, they seem to be more orientated to gas/nitro as was evident. Just about every delay at their events was blamed on FE guys for one reason or another.

Besides, people always have excuses, remember MMM and the WWK site? The waters to rough, the winds from the wrong direction, the sun is in my eyes, its too cloudy, we can't see the marker bouys....... FE is suffering from general lack or participation in what is probably the most populated area of Canada. Changing the current rules isn't going to change any of that.

Its just not that popular.

The Michigan guys have the right idea...by a SV27 and race it as is. From store to pond.

I suppose IMPBA and NAMBA could adapt a Hobby King only class.

WOW!!!! Nice way to talk to fellow racers. The ''Step up anytime Ray to help'' is real classy. Making such a comment to a guy in a wheel chair is pretty low Doby! No wonder the FE boys are leaving the Pied Piper and returning to the NLMBC. Did you lose your flute John?
NLMBC has always had WWK that could be used to hold FE ONLY races for IMPBA members. All it takes is SOMEONE to step up and organize. Lots of talk but no action.
Until you guys find a true leader that is respected by the majority amongst your group, you will never fully expose your potential.

[Doug Smock]

Hi Randy,
Welcome to OSE.