2016 NAMBA FE Nationals

[covedweller]

It's no secret that Puget Sound Fast Electric Model Boat Racing Club is hosting the 2016 NAMBA FE Nationals this year. I am a proud member of said club, and I can assure you, we are pulling out all the stops for this event. I heard a rumor, and this is strictly a rumor, that this might be the last dedicated FE National event. I point no fingers nor lay any blame. It is what it is. I do want to appeal to any racers that might be on the fence about attending. If you have any questions or special needs, please contact us either on via the event website, or through social media, and we will do everything possible to accommodate.

http://namba2016fenats.com/

[rayzerdesigns]

This is not a rumor.. Gas and fe will be combined next year in las vegas

[T.S.Davis]

Is it a 45 day event? Yikes.

[Darin Jordan]

This is not a rumor.. Gas and fe will be combined next year in las vegas

Is it a 45 day event? Yikes.

I've heard this too.

A National event is not REQUIRED to offer EVERY class listed in the NAMBA rules. My guess, and frankly, my recommendation, is that there will be selected classes offered, perhaps based on popularity or some other factor.

There are some obvious classes to include. There are also some fairly obvious ones that can be excluded.

[T.S.Davis]

Yep. Agreed.

I've been advocating NOT offering classes that there is no demand for since 2005. I've never seen a heat of ECO at any nats anywhere. I've even NOT offered classes at the 2 of the nats we hosted. That 05 nats ran almost everything. 522 entries. We had numbers for everything that year. In 09 and 14 we just didn't put them on the schedule. Saved a ton of time.

The idea being that if a class isn't offered, those racers will migrate to something more contested.

I don't mind mixed events anymore. We're all just model boaters. We've all grown up a bit. They don't hate us as bad. The friction has faded. Lots of guys run multiple fuels now anyway.

I would still be concerned about the time it would take to get both sources done though.

[Fluid]

We have had combined-power events in Texas for twelve years - FE, nitro and gas. Now that everyone uses the same course and clock/timer it is easy to put on. The only issue has been waiting on the tidal waves created by gas monos to die down before launching N-2 boats.

I enjoy meeting and visiting with the fuel guys, and have even learned a few things. I don't want a fuel boat - but I am not afraid of them either. Rather, I would encourage both NAMBA and IMPBA to run combined events as often as possible. Fear mongering does no one any good, we all play with toy boats.


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[T.S.Davis]

we all play with toy boats..

Would you believe some guys get annoyed when I say this? "THEY'RE NOT TOYS!"

.............um...............yes................. they are.

[Peter A]

Would you believe some guys get annoyed when I say this? "THEY'RE NOT TOYS!"

.............um...............yes................. they are.

HAha some get upset when you say they are just toy boats! Well those people are usually already upset about something. I have been amazed at some of that!
Here in NZ the regattas are always combined. Gassers are the majority, nitro is barely surviving, and FE has begun to gain some respect and interest. Funny though how newcomers want to start with a 80 mph gas hydro!

[Flying Scotsman]

"Funny though how newcomers want to start with a 80 mph gas hydro!"

Ah, the speed, cool looking boats, noise, rooster tails, what is not to like...just one of the hardest boats to build, setup and control for a newbie

Douggie

[Peter A]

Funny though how newcomers want to start with a 80 mph gas hydro!

Ah, the speed, cool looking boats, noise, rooster tails, what is not to like...just one of the hardest boats to build, setup and control for a newbie

Douggie

Exactly! But suggesting a slower mono to start with doesn't do it for them. Neither does it bring lasting members when they smash their boat up and or someone elses. Sorry going off topic a little.

[Doug Smock]

Rather, I would encourage both NAMBA and IMPBA to run combined events as often as possible.


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I agree. As far as I know it has worked anywhere it has been tried. And why wouldn't it?

I've taken a little heat for calling them toy boats too Terry. But at the end of the day...............

[covedweller]

Well I guess if P limited OPC tunnel and P limited Rigger are your thang, the combo deal works out just fine. I just love the variety of FE. Would be hard to include EVERYONE in a 2 day event. If I wasn't busy working ON the nats this year I would be running for sure if its the LAST one. Rest assured, PSFEMBR will do everything we can to make sure tha last one is a great one! Come on out y'all!

[Fluid]

Well I guess if P limited OPC tunnel and P limited Rigger are your thang, the combo deal works out just fine!

This makes no sense. We have run P Mono, P Offshore, P Sport Hydro, Q Sport Hydro, T Mono, T Hydro, and plenty of others (up to six classes in a two day event) in mixed fuel events with great success. We've never run the Limited classes mentioned above.

Why would any sponsoring body limit an event to only two days if there were enough boats for five? Nitro Nats in the past would run six or more days and filled each day. The rules even dictate a six to eight day Nats event.


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[properchopper]

If it wasn’t for the gas/nitro events in NAMBA D19 offering FE classes there wouldn't (with the exception of the SMB in Phoenix) be FE Sprints . The D19 Gas/Nitro races that typically include FE are season points chases that rotate between Legg Lake, Lake Havasu Az., Needles, Ca., Tucson Az., Las Vegas Nv., and Tempe, Az. With the expense of travel and the 5-boat minimum to make a class, competing for a District season points championship in FE is tough (ask Ray) . In the last few years the Southern California Scale Thunderboat Association began offering (basically) any FE class with at least three sign ups. Then these events paired up with the recently emerged Nitro group and now FE has more opportunities to both make a class AND get a seasonal high points finish (since these events are in L.A. exclusively).
We’re even seeing more crossover from the IC ranks to populate the FE classes which is a good thing given the loss of five FE racers in the last year due to relocation/passing.
It’s really “one big family” at Legg Lake and these combined events are just plain good times. Jay’s right ‘tho in that after three rounds of gas Thunderboat the course gets rather moutaineously rough for a 29” P-Ltd Cat.

[Jeff]

Well if the FE members of NAMBA are upset that the currant leadership has decided there will be no more FE nats, with out discussing this with the rank and file. You could allways join IMPBA, you would be welcome. Just saying.

Who shares the rumors and why are there any ways?