5 boat minimum to make a class

[Slotrc]

Just for discussion and consideration -

From my experience with RC Car Major/National Events, when multiple/multiple classes appear at the same event, and a cap is in place on total entries (after all - there are just so many hours to run the event), its best to have an allocation for each class during pre-registration and restrict a pre-entry per driver to 2 or 3 classes. 50% Entry Count for one Heat should be the minimum to run a class (ie - if 6 boats fill a heat, then minimum pre-registration could would be 3. which could allow for walkup entry at the event to fill the heat)

For Example. 6 Classes (6 boats per heat) to run with a Total Entry cap of 185. Pre-Entry cap allocation could be:

Class 1 Gas x - 36 (6 heats)
Class 2 Gas y - 36 (6 heats)
Class 3 Nitro x - 30 (5 heats)
Class 4 Nitro y - 30 (5 heats)
Class 5 FE x - 24 (4 heats)
Class 6 FE y - 24 (4 heats)

Pre-registration for each class beyond the allocation goes on waiting list for the class. Often we see multi class events become dominated by one or two classes reaching the total entry cap in hours. Allocation Caps during pre entry stage can accomplishes several important objectives. 1-increases opportunity to showcase every class intended at a major event with allocated minimum participation; 2- Increases the opportunity to raise participant level (30 drivers Vs 50 drivers participating); 3. Increase opportunity for drivers to race maximum heats/conci/finals; 4: Gives Promotor chance to close out a class by an Entry Deadline and re-allocate spots in other classes using the class wait list, to fill the schedule and obtain awards required

Normally the On Road RC Car Major and National events are separated by Nitro and Electric events.. RC Off Road is a little different but similar in class structures, Nitro and Electric are separated.

 

[John Dooling]

Maybe they shouldn't have to get a gas boat just so they can run. Here's a thought- how about dropping the limit to 3 for nitro and see how it goes. Also curious- what limits are put on boat counts for each class vs. total boat count limit for races? In other words if class count limits are much higher for gas than nitro I can see a race hitting it's max boat count effectively pushing out the others. Does this happen??

Don, I wasn’t insinuating that they should have to get a gas boat, I know many of the guys already do. In the past a lot of the gas guys have brought out there nitro boats to give it a push. At least three or four members in the Brandon club off the top of my head have gas boats so that’s where my suggestion came from. I picked up a 20 mono and before I got the boat RTR participation in the class was gone. Am I mad at anybody? … Nope.

 

[Tim Kish]

I'd like to throw a wrench in this myself
How about we stop being so arrogant to think that our extremely small group of rc Boat racers should dictate what should live or die?
If three D tunnels want to race at an event then we should do whatever it takes to make it happen or possibly loose another three people in our very small group.
Gas is definitely king right now but if you continue to turn people away it will eventually effect even the most popular classes in our hobby and eventually it will be the end of what we all love to do!!!!!

 

[Tom Foley]

Don, I wasn’t insinuating that they should have to get a gas boat, I know many of the guys already do. In the past a lot of the gas guys have brought out there nitro boats to give it a push. At least three or four members in the Brandon club off the top of my head have gas boats so that’s where my suggestion came from. I picked up a 20 mono and before I got the boat RTR participation in the class was gone. Am I mad at anybody? … Nope.

John ,you are one of the nicest guys I've ever met . Can't imagine you being mad at someone over this myself . It's a big question with lots of variables and I don't know the answer . Changing times and demographics I guess . Let's hope it changes .

 

[Bradley Maglinger]

So maybe the dust has settled on this thread a bit lol,

I have had multiple conversations with Mike Ball for a couple years and I believe it is time to bring his idea to life. We as a hobby whether it is IMPBA, or NAMBA needs to start collecting Data from all clubs whether it is a club race or sanctioned event of who is running what classes, traveling from where, etc. Information is key right? Lets face it, I travel to 12 events a year and I see the 95% of the same faces at each event. So roughly I would say it is the same 100-110 active members out of all of 800+ I see at these events I attend, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Alabama. So out of the 800 plus members in IMPBA how many of those are actually actively running a boat? Think about it, do you see the same faces everywhere you go for a race?

So then lets take it to the next level, have you ever met someone that is a member that has a lot of boats but we never see them at the pond? I have asked Lynne the past two years for a complete list of my members in D14. Once I have it, as the District Director, I am trying to find the names that I don't see at the district or any of the races I attend and contact them to see why they are not active? Maybe they don't have any help, maybe they don't have the knowledge, maybe they just want to support the IMPBA and talk RC boats? So rather than trying to decide if 5 boat min is the right thing, or if Nitro is dead (its not) or if electric is better than gas, lets collect some data and see where all the electric boats are running, where all the nitro boats are running or even to see how these power plants trend during the year. I truly believe you can plan an event better knowing this information and maybe that will help get the club races full, because we have to focus on the club level first, before we focus on these big races. If there are no clubs, there are no races of any kind.

Bradley Maglinger D14

 

[Tom David]

So maybe the dust has settled on this thread a bit lol,

I have had multiple conversations with Mike Ball for a couple years and I believe it is time to bring his idea to life. We as a hobby whether it is IMPBA, or NAMBA needs to start collecting Data from all clubs whether it is a club race or sanctioned event of who is running what classes, traveling from where, etc. Information is key right? Lets face it, I travel to 12 events a year and I see the 95% of the same faces at each event. So roughly I would say it is the same 100-110 active members out of all of 800+ I see at these events I attend, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Alabama. So out of the 800 plus members in IMPBA how many of those are actually actively running a boat? Think about it, do you see the same faces everywhere you go for a race?

So then lets take it to the next level, have you ever met someone that is a member that has a lot of boats but we never see them at the pond? I have asked Lynne the past two years for a complete list of my members in D14. Once I have it, as the District Director, I am trying to find the names that I don't see at the district or any of the races I attend and contact them to see why they are not active? Maybe they don't have any help, maybe they don't have the knowledge, maybe they just want to support the IMPBA and talk RC boats? So rather than trying to decide if 5 boat min is the right thing, or if Nitro is dead (its not) or if electric is better than gas, lets collect some data and see where all the electric boats are running, where all the nitro boats are running or even to see how these power plants trend during the year. I truly believe you can plan an event better knowing this information and maybe that will help get the club races full, because we have to focus on the club level first, before we focus on these big races. If there are no clubs, there are no races of any kind.

Bradley Maglinger D14

I am with you on this Subject Brad
Planning on mixing it back up again on the water again next year

 

[JamesEllet]

Love the idea of a census. District members, active, non active and boat counts for what's in the district. Would definitely be info that can be put to use by clubs organizing races.

 

[Tom Foley]

So maybe the dust has settled on this thread a bit lol,

I have had multiple conversations with Mike Ball for a couple years and I believe it is time to bring his idea to life. We as a hobby whether it is IMPBA, or NAMBA needs to start collecting Data from all clubs whether it is a club race or sanctioned event of who is running what classes, traveling from where, etc. Information is key right? Lets face it, I travel to 12 events a year and I see the 95% of the same faces at each event. So roughly I would say it is the same 100-110 active members out of all of 800+ I see at these events I attend, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Alabama. So out of the 800 plus members in IMPBA how many of those are actually actively running a boat? Think about it, do you see the same faces everywhere you go for a race?

So then lets take it to the next level, have you ever met someone that is a member that has a lot of boats but we never see them at the pond? I have asked Lynne the past two years for a complete list of my members in D14. Once I have it, as the District Director, I am trying to find the names that I don't see at the district or any of the races I attend and contact them to see why they are not active? Maybe they don't have any help, maybe they don't have the knowledge, maybe they just want to support the IMPBA and talk RC boats? So rather than trying to decide if 5 boat min is the right thing, or if Nitro is dead (its not) or if electric is better than gas, lets collect some data and see where all the electric boats are running, where all the nitro boats are running or even to see how these power plants trend during the year. I truly believe you can plan an event better knowing this information and maybe that will help get the club races full, because we have to focus on the club level first, before we focus on these big races. If there are no clubs, there are no races of any kind.

Bradley Maglinger D14

Lots of good info here . One thing is for certain and that is that Nitro and Gas are not evenly distributed in every district as you know . There just not near as many active Nitro racers in D 3 , period . It has been in decline for many years . Lots of formerly active racers have gotten older and simply have not been replaced by younger enthusiasts . Just the way it is . How to get them involved is another story . I try to stay in touch with most of the guys I know around here but that is only a handful . Life and other interests get in the way for me personally , can't speak for anyone else . No possible way I could make 12 races a year even if I was retired lol .

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

Lots of good info here . One thing is for certain and that is that Nitro and Gas are not evenly distributed in every district as you know . There just not near as many active Nitro racers in D 3 , period . It has been in decline for many years . Lots of formerly active racers have gotten older and simply have not been replaced by younger enthusiasts . Just the way it is . How to get them involved is another story . I try to stay in touch with most of the guys I know around here but that is only a handful . Life and other interests get in the way for me personally , can't speak for anyone else . No possible way I could make 12 races a year even if I was retired lol .

Brad's an ANIMAL Tom!
Hell of a nice guy tho.
See you guys in just over a month