2015 Az WW XI February 20th-22nd

[D. Newland]

I know. I didn't want to wet-blanket this thread as it really needs to be focused on the weekend we just had. I did make that announcement back in Oct @ our club race, and I did so @ this event as well. It's out there...and I'm a big deal...so....

[RayR]

Thought we wouldn't notice this didn't ya? This is not a happy piece of data for me to consume.

+1, not happy about this news at all

[Todd Fleury]

Was not expecting that from you Dave.

[PatrickM]

There are many personal reasons for Dave's decision to step aside. Though it's not one of the major reasons, personally, I had been wondering how long he was going to put up with the crap thrown out by some of the arrogant idiots involved in FE...
Thanks for all you have done, Dave!

[Doug Smock]

Sounds like it was a great race. Congrats fellas!

Working at the national level has it's price no doubt. Some folks forget that at the end of the day we are grown men playing with toy boats.

Dave I hope at some point you can get back to racing.

Thanks for all of your hard work!
Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

D.

[Bullwink]

This was the most awesome 3 days of racing I have ever participated in. Thanks out to all of the out-of-towners that flew in from the cold (or drove as in the guys from Colorado). I can't believe Bob Zola of Mojo Racing shipped 9 boats from Michigan and ended up winning a couple of classes. I have trouble keeping up with 4 classes.

And of course, special thanks to Dave Newland for putting on such a spectacular event for the past 11 years!

[ron1950]

hope someone got a few vids of the racing....its been crappy weather even in Mississippi with ice and snow ...I need a boat fix

[D. Newland]

We had quite a bit of footage shot this past weekend. It's with various people, so in time we'll get it on the site. Steve has a special forum for sponsored race photos/vid's. Keep checking in.

I need to elaborate a bit on Pag's P-Ltd Cat sweep. He did borrow some schmuck's boat, but the hull tuning and prop selection/tuning as the heats went on were perfection. However, his sweep did cost him that prop, as it's now a permanent item on said schmucks boat.

Zola's determination makes him a very good competitor. We were swapping paint in P Mono, and both of us had a pretty big grin at the end of it. Though, mine was bigger as I was happier with the end result.

Pete's plan to practice very...very little the past 12 months paid off for him, too. Last year he practiced more, but had a rather dismal WW performance. This year he really had a great event and it was nice to see the smile on his face after the event.

Thanks to Tom for picking up the dinner tab for about 14 of us on Friday night, and then Pags did the same thing on Saturday! What a group of guys.

As for my decision. I don't know if it's complicated and deep, or rather simple. With that said, my kids are Sophomores in High School and the next 2 1/2 years they're in the household I will be putting more time (and money I guess) into their wakeboarding. FE is something we do together to a point, but there isn't enough family draw to make it "our thing" so to speak. Their passion is behind the Mastercraft and I want to focus more in that direction for a while.

[Todd Fleury]

Congratulations to everyone this past weekend. Dave, I can understand where you are coming from, and hope to see you back in the hobby sometime in the future.

[madmikepags]

This was a spectacular event put on by Dave and the Scottsdale Model boaters. There was great racing, great people, and a couple of great nights out. This is only my second year at this event but it seems like ive been coming forever. The first day started with me trying to get my stuff all unpacked and boats on the water, since I havent seen my boats since the Nats in Mi much less put a boat on the water. My daughter Ava hadn't run a boat since the Nats either. The boats hit the water and actually were pretty good to my surprise!!!. The highlight of day for me was Tying Ava for 2nd place in P limited Mono, and in the final heat me and Ray had a great race, he passed me for the win and to take the overall win for the class, Great Job Ray!!!Sat and Sunday was some great fun, The Q boats were crazy fast and so much fun. Ava again took her boat to a Podium finish in P limited offshore and really drove great, also on sunday Ava drove her LSH to 3 2nd place finishes behind Dave Ray and Jim. Dave Loaned me his P-lim Cat for the weekend and it was one of the best boats I have ever driven in a P-lim class. There was some fierce compettition and I was lucky enough to get all 1st place finishes.
I want to Thank Dave for putting on a great event, we all will miss him while he,s gone from this hobby. I would also like to thank Ray for taking me and My daughter in for the weekend, he was a most gracious host, really taking care of us driving us loading and unloading the truck with all my crap and just being a great guy, Thanks so Much Ray!!! The Friends I've made in this hobby I hope will be life long buddies and I hold these friendships dear.
Last but not least I was so proud of my daughter Ava, not just with the way she drove but with the way she conducted herself all weekend. Being around Mostly grown men all weekend and really having a great time with all the guys. She got all her homework done and went right to school from the airport mon morning after the redeye flight. Shes the BEST!!!!

[madmikepags]

This was a spectacular event put on by Dave and the Scottsdale Model boaters. There was great racing, great people, and a couple of great nights out. This is only my second year at this event but it seems like ive been coming forever. The first day started with me trying to get my stuff all unpacked and boats on the water, since I havent seen my boats since the Nats in Mi much less put a boat on the water. My daughter Ava hadn't run a boat since the Nats either. The boats hit the water and actually were pretty good to my surprise!!!. The highlight of day for me was Tying Ava for 2nd place in P limited Mono, and in the final heat me and Ray had a great race, he passed me for the win and to take the overall win for the class, Great Job Ray!!!Sat and Sunday was some great fun, The Q boats were crazy fast and so much fun. Ava again took her boat to a Podium finish in P limited offshore and really drove great, also on sunday Ava drove her LSH to 3 2nd place finishes behind Dave Ray and Jim. Dave Loaned me his P-lim Cat for the weekend and it was one of the best boats I have ever driven in a P-lim class. There was some fierce compettition and I was lucky enough to get all 1st place finishes.
I want to Thank Dave for putting on a great event, we all will miss him while he,s gone from this hobby. I would also like to thank Ray for taking me and My daughter in for the weekend, he was a most gracious host, really taking care of us driving us loading and unloading the truck with all my crap and just being a great guy, Thanks so Much Ray!!! The Friends I've made in this hobby I hope will be life long buddies and I hold these friendships dear.
Last but not least I was so proud of my daughter Ava, not just with the way she drove but with the way she conducted herself all weekend. Being around Mostly grown men all weekend and really having a great time with all the guys. She got all her homework done and went right to school from the airport mon morning after the redeye flight. Shes the BEST!!!!

[rayzerdesigns]

anytime mikey...and ava...hpe you didn't forget to freshen up before school..lol..and keeping y0ur dad from blowing down the walls with his snoring sunday eve...lol..this seriously was the best event I have ever attended..and I have been in the rc hobby ofr over 25 years..and if I have any say in it..next year will be even better..

[rayzerdesigns]

as for you david...you know my feelings on your leaving..but understand..you are the reason why im doing this

[Jeff]

Sounds like another great WW race.

Dave, enjoy your retirement. You can always come back out of it.

[Quietlee]

Still trying to decide what I liked best about the weekend.
I think this was my 5th trip down there and each time has been a blast. The results of the races are secondary to me. Getting together at the pond for some racing in the sunshine with a great group is all I really need.
I think the real "Heater" for this and every WW race is Dave Newland. He's got great support from his local club, but all the time, energy, and effort Dave has put into these races over the years has been extraordinary. You're gonna be missed while you're out.

Lee