Team FEAR (south east Virginia)

[Diegoboy]

yes

[egneg]

Ben I have 2 of the 3 props done. The V935 though has to be about the worst casting I have ever seen! Is there any chance that you can exchange it?

[Meniscus]

Very cool Chuck. I have to agree with you about the casting. They had 4 and that was the best one. I'm likely going to go there tomorrow to address the 5.5 Castle bullets that don't even fit inside of each other. I guess all of the US stuff is going to crap! LOL ...not that I'm implying it's any different anywhere else!

Let me see what I can manage. For now, I say don't worry about trying to do anything with it. Meanwhile, I still have that decal for you. We didn't think about it at the pond.

[thegreat1]

ok so after seeing some real racing this weekend i realized that we REALLY need to get our ish together. i want to race but those odmba guy's boat were WAY too loud lol. so where do i sign up and what classes do my boats fall into?

[Meniscus]

Jeremy, I think we're stuck at the name for the club. From there, we can get the NAMBA paperwork completed, so forth and so on.

Let's wrap up the name and get moving. What do you say guys?

[cybercrxt]

I sure wish you guys would just join ODMBA so there would be more FE boats running. IMPBA believe it or not, is making great strides to try and get FE fit in as best as it can. If enough people would get into FE, there will be stand alone classes for it. You really have to start intermixing the nitro and FE boats first, that way as the newcomers to FE get started, more and more will get involved, and eventually, you can have your own classes. It will be the same way for Namba in this area too. I know all the guys at ODMBA enjoy the FE boats that have been running, so please don't feel they will frown or anything. Most all of those guys there will sooner or later give FE a try if it becomes more commonplace, I am pretty sure they have the cash to do so. Its just a new thing, and it takes time. Heck, I started out doing big Nitro boats, and made a complete 180 and do nothing but FE now. I'm just saying, give it a try, the organization they have in place is great, they are great people, and they gave me a shot! I drive 2.5 hours to get there, and it doesn't bother me once I get lake side!

On another note, I saw in one of the first pages, you guys were discussing micro FE boats and someone posted videos. I will say, that was fast as hell, but the thing you gotta remember, it gets windy around here, and rough, and running small boats like that, while they may do 60+mph by themselves, in a race condition, with water kicked up, you would have a lot of upside down boats. That is the main reason I am jumping up to a 30" P-spec tunnel as I have doubts my 28" tunnel would really handle really rough conditions. Just food for thought. Its so much different running with others in an oval, then just play running alone. I played around at my local pond for 2.5 years, and never realized what a big difference there is!

Anyways, you all seem like a good bunch of guys, and run FE which I like. I have met Chuck, and thegreat1. I do hope you will at least ponder it some. Just remember, most of our FE boats are a tad faster than their nitro counterparts..so it is kinda fun! haha. Take care and good luck, and if you end up having a NAMBA sponsored lake, and events, I will join your club so I have 2 outlets for running. Mike

[runzwithsizorz]

I've tried to come up with a name that was cute, or creative, and maybe logo friendly, but I guess it should just be something simple that states who we are, and where we are. I really like the use of Tidewater, for it is a LARGE area, (inclusive), and not nearly as confined as say, Chesapeake, or Virginia Beach, etc, nor is it confusing like the term, Old Dominion, or common wealth, (just where the heck are those two anyway?). I like the idea of adding Atlantic, or Virginia, cuz if I had read about Tidewater back when I was in California, I’d have thought, hmmm Mississippi? By dropping fast from the name you are also being more inclusive, maybe someone has a 3, or 4 foot battleship, submarine, or something, speaking just for myself, I’d like to see them. By using R/C, remote control, or electric, you are farther defining us, unlike the word, “model”, which, it’s a stretch, but, someone might think to mean mantle piece, unfortunately for me that would be true. Wife wants me to add a jib, and sail to the SV27 on the mantle, says it would match better the décor. Is the word “club” really inclusive? So, IMHO, the key words to describe who, and what we are is, -------
R/C BOATERS OF ATLANTIC TIDEWATER ZONE, R/C BOATZ
You just knew I’d have to sneak a Z in there didn’t you? It could be dropped.
My work here is done, talk amongst yourselves.

[Meniscus]

I sure wish you guys would just join ODMBA so there would be more FE boats running. IMPBA believe it or not, is making great strides to try and get FE fit in as best as it can. If enough people would get into FE, there will be stand alone classes for it. You really have to start intermixing the nitro and FE boats first, that way as the newcomers to FE get started, more and more will get involved, and eventually, you can have your own classes. It will be the same way for Namba in this area too. I know all the guys at ODMBA enjoy the FE boats that have been running, so please don't feel they will frown or anything. Most all of those guys there will sooner or later give FE a try if it becomes more commonplace, I am pretty sure they have the cash to do so. Its just a new thing, and it takes time. Heck, I started out doing big Nitro boats, and made a complete 180 and do nothing but FE now. I'm just saying, give it a try, the organization they have in place is great, they are great people, and they gave me a shot! I drive 2.5 hours to get there, and it doesn't bother me once I get lake side!

On another note, I saw in one of the first pages, you guys were discussing micro FE boats and someone posted videos. I will say, that was fast as hell, but the thing you gotta remember, it gets windy around here, and rough, and running small boats like that, while they may do 60+mph by themselves, in a race condition, with water kicked up, you would have a lot of upside down boats. That is the main reason I am jumping up to a 30" P-spec tunnel as I have doubts my 28" tunnel would really handle really rough conditions. Just food for thought. Its so much different running with others in an oval, then just play running alone. I played around at my local pond for 2.5 years, and never realized what a big difference there is!

Anyways, you all seem like a good bunch of guys, and run FE which I like. I have met Chuck, and thegreat1. I do hope you will at least ponder it some. Just remember, most of our FE boats are a tad faster than their nitro counterparts..so it is kinda fun! haha. Take care and good luck, and if you end up having a NAMBA sponsored lake, and events, I will join your club so I have 2 outlets for running. Mike

Mike, I've been out to the races and I have no problem with the ODMBA guys. My issues are related to what classes we can run with what we have available. It is tough to get a new boater interested in dumping $800-$1000 into the larger classes. That coupled with extended runtimes due to warm-up laps, means we have to spend some serious money in batteries.

The concept, at least as I understood it, is that if we had a NAMBA club, we could specify smaller classes. I understand your concern about small boats and choppy water, but I have a few that will do around 40mph in the rough stuff and stable for the wind. The main goal we all have is new members. If we can get someone on the water around $125, then a lot more people would participate. At the same time, we could accommodate the RTR stuff into it's own class.

When it comes to the spec classes, I understand that the intention is to level the playing field and keep the cost minimal. My issue is, why should I buy a motor or ESC for $60 ea. when I can buy a cheap motor for $20-25 and an ESC at less than $1 an amp. It's as simple as, I can provide 3 boats for newbies to drive for $300 or $1200.

The last concept was that we could use other ponds available to include those that do not want the noise. We certainly will welcome the combustion guys to a designated pond, but it is much easier to have a place to run that allows electric. Coupled with insurance for any pond, that is what has attracted me to the NAMBA stuff in addition to the race classes available.

In my mind, if you can translate the sport boating into some classes and allow for less battery requirements, then we could get more participation.

I'm just throwing the ideas out there and some of the concepts that some have discussed. If we can figure out how to make it so I have even a single boat that I could run with the ODMBA guys, then I'd certainly entertain. After all, combined is better than nothing. As it stands now, with the classes identified, I can run my No Step I as P-mono and it only does 38mph tops, even less in rough water, at almost half the size of the other P-Monos. That is out of over a dozen boats I own. I don't have any spec motors anymore and am not inclined to buy one when I could have a 180A ESC for the price. Maybe I'll just do SAWS which happens only in Elizabeth City if I'm not mistaken.

If we are going to be asked to tune down our boats due to extra speed, then that's fine, but I'm going to need more battery. Plus, if we're going to be asked to tune down the boats anyway, then why do we have to run spec motors?

Personally, I like the way they do it in Europe where they limit the battery weight. Everything will come down to setting up the hull and conditions on the day of the race.

Enough said, but wanted to share some thoughts.

[cybercrxt]

Well, it sounds like you guys have some definate thinking to do. Just keep plugging at it. Elizabeth City/ Fun Junction is where the SAWs are held twice a year. That is where I set my world record in Q-O/b Tunnel. Mike

[Chilli]

I know I'm on the other end of the state so if you guys want me to bud out I will. But I just want to give you guys some food for thought. I'm just curious as to what it is that NAMBA is providing for you that IMPBA cannot (other than more flexible pond insurance)? Also more important than the name of your club, what is your mission or ultimate goal. You guys have one of the most active R/C boating clubs on the east coast at your doorstep and I don't understand why you guys are turning your back on them without even joining and trying to make an impact. Ben, I thought you posted a month or two back that you were at a local shop with some ODMBA racers and that they seemed receptive to the idea of low cost classes.

In a little over a year, we have gone from zero FE racers in the district up to almost ten. We have at least four guys that are coming over from the nitro side. We have four IMPBA FE records on the books. And the president of your local club runs a FE Tunnel. All this and the first district race of the season hasnt even taken place yet. Whether NAMBA or IMPBA, national rules don't mean squat if your running a district race. You can make up your own rules. And thats what I did in D12. And the D12 rules don't mean squat at ODMBA club races. As a matter of fact when ODMBA runs it's district race, they can run any additional classes they want so long as they run all classes in the district points series. My guess is that if you join the club and show up with three rubber duckies, they will let you run them.

Look, I don't like some of the FE rules that I composed (and plagiarized), but they got our foot in the door. My interim goal for this year is just to give FE's as much exposure as possible. My ultimate goal is to run separate FE classes so we can dump the "detune" and "dead boat" rules. If your goal is to race smaller, low cost boats, go for it. You can create a class to suit Team Fear. Don't want one mile heats? No problem, you can run half laps around the start bouy or run four lap heats. ODMBA already has all the infrastructure to make it happen. With guidance from Doug and support from you guys, we accomplised allot in one year. Look at the respect Chuck has earned in just the last two months. If we all stick together, just imagine the impact we can make in the future. We in the RC boating community are like a small school of fish, if we stay in a tight ball, we will thrive. If we start breaking off from the school, the whole school will eventually be toast!

Thanks for listening guys. I wish you success no matter what you decide. Have a great weekend and run some boats!!! I'm going stiper fishing!

Mike (aka Chilli)

[cybercrxt]

Well said Chilli. I will tell you, we have a big opportunity to do something huge with FE being associated with ODMBA. They have been doing this for like 30 years! The club president, Dick Loeb, never touched an FE till I met him, and he holds 3 FE tunnel records now...and NO nitro records. He handed me his aeromarine mono at the end of last race and asked me to build him a mono to run as FE!!!! So you tell me how many volumes that speaks. He is 62 and has only done nitro and gas his whole life, and he won't admit it yet, but he loves FE.

I think the Team FEAR can exist as a group that races together under ODMBA, I think that is awesome actually. Its like the Tunnel Boat Mafia out of florida, its a bunch of guys that race together and believe me, people know their name. You guys could do the same thing, and make a name for yourselves really easy.

I dunno, if you guys are really doing this to be a few friends that hang out and just have fun, then come join ODMBA and lets get together as a group and grow. If you are truly wanting to hold club races, have insurance, be backed by NAMBA, etc. etc., then go for it. I will tell you tho, there is a lot more to it than just that. You need a surveyed lake where the buoys are set to NAMBA rules, you need starting software, microphone, speakers, someone who can keep up with the points totals, etc. There is a LOT to it. I just really got to thinking about what all went into it at the last race. I watched and saw how much work Dick Loeb and his wife had to do to prepare for the race. You need a retrieval boat with some sort of gas/ trolling motor, at dock down to the waters edge (if its steep), possible drivers stand. Dang, its giving me a headache to think of all this and write it down!

I am not trying to knock this, I just really would love to see more boaters at the races, and at the practice runs. I love conversating with the club members I guess, and the more FE boaters, the cooler it will be!

Anyways, happy Friday, I'm outta here! Mike

[Doug Smock]

Excellent last two posts fellas.
The Atlanta Model Boaters is a great example that the three power classes can live in perfect harmony. Three years ago a small band of FE guys found themselves without a place to run. I contacted the AMB, and now three years later we are running FIVE FE classes in the district series.
We have four gas guys running FE boats, two FE guys running gas boats it's all good. Boats is boats.
The ODBMA has some of the best racers in the hobby, the club is sound, the work is done. Pay your dues, show up on "clean up day" and go have some fun!!

However it ends up for you guys, I too wish you the best of luck!
Be safe and enjoy the hobby,
Doug

[Meniscus]

Well, I can say that, at least for me, I'm very interested. It's just a little discouraging since I don't have anything that will meet the current classes. That's my main issue. Then there's the issue of a small class. When I first got back into the hobby, luckily there were a few local guys who could help me get started.

I did mention that there is a buzz about local FE. I would like to see a small class.

Are the ODMBA local classes posted somewhere? All I'm aware of is the official IMPBA rules. If you look back at my post, I do recognize that its better to combine efforts and I'm all for it. I hope you understand that if I put forth the effort myself, it would be nice to run something and not just an exhibition fun run.

Meanwhile, I think very soon here, between Chuck, Danny, and I, we will have three 24-27" hydros, three 24-27" riggers, and I've got 3 catamarans ranging from 24-30" that could race together with a little bit of building effort.

In micro riggers, Danny has a Renegade @ 16" and a Holc at roughly 15.5". I have a Renegade and a Batrax at 16.5. I own two minicat micro hydros and it would be cheap to pickup BBY micro hydros @ $30. It's easy to buy Mystery stuff for a cheap build. Only real cost is lipos and since HK starting carrying appropriate sizes in higher C ratings.

I hope you're seeing my point here. I want to make it happen, but I'd like the opportunity to include collective interests of the local folks without costing an arm and leg.

[egneg]

The guys at ODMBA have been very good to Mike and I and will fit whatever boat(s) you have in somewhere. I have had a great time at both open water and the races and they love to see the electric boats run ... even the waveshark rescue boat. Here is a quote from an email I received from Dick Loeb ...

"We will put in electrics where applicable, sail powered hydroplanes, turbines, nuclear powered, steam and what ever else you can dream up!"



Now I will go back to conformal coating some RX's

[egneg]

Well, I can say that, at least for me, I'm very interested. It's just a little discouraging since I don't have anything that will meet the current classes. That's my main issue. Then there's the issue of a small class. When I first got back into the hobby, luckily there were a few local guys who could help me get started.

I did mention that there is a buzz about local FE. I would like to see a small class.

Are the ODMBA local classes posted somewhere? All I'm aware of is the official IMPBA rules. If you look back at my post, I do recognize that its better to combine efforts and I'm all for it. I hope you understand that if I put forth the effort myself, it would be nice to run something and not just an exhibition fun run.

Meanwhile, I think very soon here, between Chuck, Danny, and I, we will have three 24-27" hydros, three 24-27" riggers, and I've got 3 catamarans ranging from 24-30" that could race together with a little bit of building effort.

In micro riggers, Danny has a Renegade @ 16" and a Holc at roughly 15.5". I have a Renegade and a Batrax at 16.5. I own two minicat micro hydros and it would be cheap to pickup BBY micro hydros @ $30. It's easy to buy Mystery stuff for a cheap build. Only real cost is lipos and since HK starting carrying appropriate sizes in higher C ratings.

I hope you're seeing my point here. I want to make it happen, but I'd like the opportunity to include collective interests of the local folks without costing an arm and leg.

Have you tried to contact anyone from ODMBA or are you just talking about what you have in mind for how things should work. If you want to make it happen join the club ... the registration fee is not that much - $25.00.