Marty Davis
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2004
- Messages
- 2,445
A Rant About the Current State of Affairs in our Hobby:
Like many clubs do after hosting a race and cleaning everything up, several of the members sit around drink a few beers and talk about the hobby.
We did that after our District 3 NAMBA Double Points Race this past weekend.
The topic was "what is happening to our hobby?" How do we get more interest and new members?
This race was hosted by 2 nearby clubs because of the lack of members between the two clubs. A sad state of affairs.
I have been in this hobby for 30+ years and have enjoyed almost all of them. I served two terms on the IMPBA Board of Directors.
Why is this important? I believe that the Board of Directors of IMPBA and NAMBA are primarily responsible for the decline
of our hobby.
Hear me out......
This past weekend race had 140 boats, a very small entry list for our area. We may see up to 300 boats for some races. BUT, how many classes were there in
this race? 21 classes.... Gas and Nitro.
Here is my reasoning:
For a 2 day race assuming an average of 8 heats per hour and a day of 9 hours there is a potential for 72 heats per day. For 2 days a total of
144 heats. In order to allow the contestants to leave by 4pm and head home after an awards ceremony we can assume that we can run off 135-140
total heats. With 21 classes at 6 boats per heat you can only get through less than 1 heat per class (6 boats), Sure doesn't make much sense to
try to run a 4 round race with 21 classes and only 1 heat per class. There are typically enough gas monos and gas cats to make up 5 heats for those classes.
21 hydro and 45 hydro usually could have at least 3 or 4 heats.
How in the world are we to put on a race with this burden of 21 separate classes???? In our District the host club MUST provide all of these classes for District sponsored contests.
About the Board of Directors Meetings:
I know that in past Board of Directors Meetings someone would come forward and say how cool it would be to add a 21 sized sport class, or a special Superboat Offshore
class. Wouldn't that be cool to add those classes for everyone to enjoy. NO, THAT wouldn't be a good idea and was NEVER a good idea.
This is NOT just the recent or current Board of Directors problem, it has been going on for a LONG TIME. Even as far back as when I was on the IMPBA
Board.
The Typical District Race:
If you have raced in races with 21 class or MORE, the wait between your runs is long and your probably won't get to race more that a dozen people.
This needs to change in one way or another.
1. Reduce the number of classes in the typical race.
or
2. Have specialty races that include whatever 10 or so classes and let MANY people per class race in each.
or
3. Split Gas and Nitro Races and also let a lot of people race in the 10 or so classes.
or
4. See our hobby continue to decline.
With so many options for people to enjoy their leisure time, we are competing against MANY other options for people. We need to
be competitive. We aren't at this point.
The Big Races:
The Charleston Race every year is sold out in a matter of an hour. Isn't this a good indication of people not getting to race in their
favorite class(s).
The WinterNats has become almost a total Gas Race (1 nitro class) and it has allowed many to race their favorite gas class.
Hobart, like the Charleston Race is sold out in a matter of hours. Again, people are not given the opportunity to race many people
in their favorite class(s). A really deserving US#1 Champion is ALWAYS the winner of the Internats. Excellence in all aspects.
The Nitro Winter Championships in Brandon Florida is a Nitro Only Race and it has only a few classes and it typically fills up with up to 30+ people
for several classes. Maybe this is the template for gaining members by allowing great competition for many in your favorite class(s).
Anyway, PLEASE Board of Directors don't keep adding "Cool Classes" which are continuing to hurt our great hobby.
A Side Note:
I have been told that the Huntsville Club will be offering the Internats in June of 2017 which is using the oldest format developed at the earliest Internats.
Everyone can choose to run for US#1 in their favorite class(s) by competing in the Trophy Trials (Straightaway and Timed Oval) and then in Heat Racing afterward.
We had a similar short version in Charleston a few years ago but this one is DIFFERENT. Everyone is allowed to compete in Trophy Trials rather than just the top finishing 6
finishers in heat racing. The Trophy Trials will be run first and the heat racing afterward. If a person wants to only compete in SAW he/she can come only for that day. If they want to compete in just heat racing, they can come only for those days but will not be eligible for US#1. You make the choice.
I can tell you from attending maybe 12-15 Internats that this will be the most fun you will ever do in this hobby. I can't wait for June.
Watch for the Huntsville Club to post the entry and plan to attend. Of all the clubs in the country, the Huntsville Club will be one of the very best hosts you can find.
Sorry for being so long winded, but now I feel better getting this all of my chest....
Like many clubs do after hosting a race and cleaning everything up, several of the members sit around drink a few beers and talk about the hobby.
We did that after our District 3 NAMBA Double Points Race this past weekend.
The topic was "what is happening to our hobby?" How do we get more interest and new members?
This race was hosted by 2 nearby clubs because of the lack of members between the two clubs. A sad state of affairs.
I have been in this hobby for 30+ years and have enjoyed almost all of them. I served two terms on the IMPBA Board of Directors.
Why is this important? I believe that the Board of Directors of IMPBA and NAMBA are primarily responsible for the decline
of our hobby.
Hear me out......
This past weekend race had 140 boats, a very small entry list for our area. We may see up to 300 boats for some races. BUT, how many classes were there in
this race? 21 classes.... Gas and Nitro.
Here is my reasoning:
For a 2 day race assuming an average of 8 heats per hour and a day of 9 hours there is a potential for 72 heats per day. For 2 days a total of
144 heats. In order to allow the contestants to leave by 4pm and head home after an awards ceremony we can assume that we can run off 135-140
total heats. With 21 classes at 6 boats per heat you can only get through less than 1 heat per class (6 boats), Sure doesn't make much sense to
try to run a 4 round race with 21 classes and only 1 heat per class. There are typically enough gas monos and gas cats to make up 5 heats for those classes.
21 hydro and 45 hydro usually could have at least 3 or 4 heats.
How in the world are we to put on a race with this burden of 21 separate classes???? In our District the host club MUST provide all of these classes for District sponsored contests.
About the Board of Directors Meetings:
I know that in past Board of Directors Meetings someone would come forward and say how cool it would be to add a 21 sized sport class, or a special Superboat Offshore
class. Wouldn't that be cool to add those classes for everyone to enjoy. NO, THAT wouldn't be a good idea and was NEVER a good idea.
This is NOT just the recent or current Board of Directors problem, it has been going on for a LONG TIME. Even as far back as when I was on the IMPBA
Board.
The Typical District Race:
If you have raced in races with 21 class or MORE, the wait between your runs is long and your probably won't get to race more that a dozen people.
This needs to change in one way or another.
1. Reduce the number of classes in the typical race.
or
2. Have specialty races that include whatever 10 or so classes and let MANY people per class race in each.
or
3. Split Gas and Nitro Races and also let a lot of people race in the 10 or so classes.
or
4. See our hobby continue to decline.
With so many options for people to enjoy their leisure time, we are competing against MANY other options for people. We need to
be competitive. We aren't at this point.
The Big Races:
The Charleston Race every year is sold out in a matter of an hour. Isn't this a good indication of people not getting to race in their
favorite class(s).
The WinterNats has become almost a total Gas Race (1 nitro class) and it has allowed many to race their favorite gas class.
Hobart, like the Charleston Race is sold out in a matter of hours. Again, people are not given the opportunity to race many people
in their favorite class(s). A really deserving US#1 Champion is ALWAYS the winner of the Internats. Excellence in all aspects.
The Nitro Winter Championships in Brandon Florida is a Nitro Only Race and it has only a few classes and it typically fills up with up to 30+ people
for several classes. Maybe this is the template for gaining members by allowing great competition for many in your favorite class(s).
Anyway, PLEASE Board of Directors don't keep adding "Cool Classes" which are continuing to hurt our great hobby.
A Side Note:
I have been told that the Huntsville Club will be offering the Internats in June of 2017 which is using the oldest format developed at the earliest Internats.
Everyone can choose to run for US#1 in their favorite class(s) by competing in the Trophy Trials (Straightaway and Timed Oval) and then in Heat Racing afterward.
We had a similar short version in Charleston a few years ago but this one is DIFFERENT. Everyone is allowed to compete in Trophy Trials rather than just the top finishing 6
finishers in heat racing. The Trophy Trials will be run first and the heat racing afterward. If a person wants to only compete in SAW he/she can come only for that day. If they want to compete in just heat racing, they can come only for those days but will not be eligible for US#1. You make the choice.
I can tell you from attending maybe 12-15 Internats that this will be the most fun you will ever do in this hobby. I can't wait for June.
Watch for the Huntsville Club to post the entry and plan to attend. Of all the clubs in the country, the Huntsville Club will be one of the very best hosts you can find.
Sorry for being so long winded, but now I feel better getting this all of my chest....
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