Boater's helping each other.

[timothy johnson]

If you are fortunate enough to attend any of the many Nitro races around our country you will quickly learn there is abundance of help and knowledge to gain from your fellow racer's at these events.
I recently attended and raced at the 75th IMPBA nationals hosted by the Huntsville AL RC boat club. This was my second nationals I've attended at Huntsville and it was just as rewarding as the first. This race is unique because it is a week long event including SAW, Oval, heat racing and a chance to be US 1 in your class. One of the attendees at this race was a racer named Doug Twaits who many of you have raced with and are aware of his racing skills and wining boats. I first met Doug at a Charleston race around 2015/2016 when he asked me to launch one of his gas boats. I quickly learned that Doug was very meticulous about prepping his boat and the information he wanted while I was calling for him. Fast fwd to this years event and the E Hydro SAW event where you get the whole lake to yourself to make clocked speed passes for 5 minutes. For this event I was able to achieve a third place trophy with a speed of 76 MPH with my CMB 67 Road Runner. At the end of of this event Doug approached me and said I want to help you with your boat set-up, bring me your boat and I will get to it when I can. Later that day or the next day Doug came to my pit area handed me a piece of paper with the #s he found and said your #s look good but I found a better setting for the strut. He asked what prop I was running ,2519 I responded, that's alot of prop 2517 would be better. Several days later I competed against Doug and several other's in the E hydro heat racing event , after 5 rounds with another trophy for 2nd place overall. Thank you Doug!!
There couldn't be a better example for all you RC boaters to find time to attend any of the many awesome boat races around our country. I would be remiss not to mention Mark Bullard and Bob Londress for providing me with a place to pit and store my boats between races for the last several years.

 

[Tom Foley]

Great tribute to some great guys and a very rewarding and challenging hobby ! You truly never stop learning in this endeavor ! Glad you all had a great event !!

 

[Jeff Lutz]

If you are fortunate enough to attend any of the many Nitro races around our country you will quickly learn there is abundance of help and knowledge to gain from your fellow racer's at these events.
I recently attended and raced at the 75th IMPBA nationals hosted by the Huntsville AL RC boat club. This was my second nationals I've attended at Huntsville and it was just as rewarding as the first. This race is unique because it is a week long event including SAW, Oval, heat racing and a chance to be US 1 in your class. One of the attendees at this race was a racer named Doug Twaits who many of you have raced with and are aware of his racing skills and wining boats. I first met Doug at a Charleston race around 2015/2016 when he asked me to launch one of his gas boats. I quickly learned that Doug was very meticulous about prepping his boat and the information he wanted while I was calling for him. Fast fwd to this years event and the E Hydro SAW event where you get the whole lake to yourself to make clocked speed passes for 5 minutes. For this event I was able to achieve a third place trophy with a speed of 79 MPH with my CMB 67 Road Runner. At the end of of this event Doug approached me and said I want to help you with your boat set-up, bring me your boat and I will get to it when I can. Later that day or the next day Doug came to my pit area handed me a piece of paper with the #s he found and said your #s look good but I found a better setting for the strut. He asked what prop I was running ,2519 I responded, that's alot of prop 2517 would be better. Several days later I competed against Doug and several other's in the E hydro heat racing event , after 5 rounds with another trophy for 2nd place overall. Thank you Doug!!
There couldn't be a better example for all you RC boaters to find time to attend any of the many awesome boat races around our country. I would be remiss not to mention Mark Bullard and Bob Londress for providing me with a place to pit and store my boats between races for the last several years.

Hey Tim, Tyler won 1st at 2.84 secs 79.225 mph. Your time was 2.99 which is 75.250 mph. Just keeping it straight as it was a US1 event. The strut adjustment probably helped you but don’t give up on the 2519. It’s only 1/2” more pitch and with the low lifting characteristics of those props they race very well. Jeff Lutz

 

[Mike Hughes]

All those guys are a bunch of BUMS.......Especially that Dougie fella.......

Just kidding. I am happy to call those people my friends. It is a small world this model boating family. Getting smaller by the minute. I keep losing my friends in this hobby. Helping each other out is what will keep this alive for as long as we can.
Mike

 

[timothy johnson]

Thanks Mike you are big part of the help crew. Thanks for what you provide.

 

[SayMikey]

All boaters are great folks, sometimes they get testy and sometimes a lot of fun comes out.

 

[Buckshot]

#wheresdoug

 

[Danny King]

#wheresdoug

IYKYN

 

[timothy johnson]

Doug was last seen wearing a sombrero at the Huntsville awards ceremony!! Others might like to elaborate, lets just say fun was had by all. Great ending to a great week of racing. I believe you were there Buckshot.

 

[RaceMechaniX]

I knew Dougie was up to something when he started measuring my 60 hydro and taking down measurements. Joking Dougie.

Doug is a hell of a competitor, but he always helps others even if it means his competition is getting faster.

 

[the german]

Doug was last seen wearing a sombrero at the Huntsville awards ceremony!! Others might like to elaborate, lets just say fun was had by all. Great ending to a great week of racing. I believe you were there Buckshot.

I remember seen a pick with 2 guys with a sombrero .... the one was Dougie with a other "stud" ..... I think he's a buddy of Brad

Just kidding ....... I really like the pic
Alex

 

[SayMikey]

I remember seen a pick with 2 guys with a sombrero .... the one was Dougie with a other "stud" ..... I think he's a buddy of Brad

Just kidding ....... I really like the pic
Alex

Lol when you have to pee don't be first

 

[Jeff Lutz]

I think it’s important to look in the past as well sometimes. It helps you remember setups and how we all got to certain speeds at that time and sometimes it slaps you back in reality and makes you realize your not thinking about important things. I’m well aware at the Nats the weather can vary for racers in a big way especially Huntsville, I heard about the fluctuation in wind and even checked the air/weather up there during the event. Looking at E hydro the speeds were close per participant and appears the water was decent to obtain those speeds. I’m certainly not comparing conditions, but in 1993 Nats in Ft worth Texas in the summer heat Andy Brown won E hydro SAW at 84.2 mph and it also set the record at that time. 30 years ago! At the 1990 Nats Sarasota Fl ,Terry Keeley won E hydro SAW at that event at 75 mph with a OPS . 34 years ago! I agree the best way to gain knowledge in boating is in person at the races and it never hurts to visit the past as well.

 

[Bill Gibson]

Im still majorly bummed that Rick Bellinger and i had to miss this race......we had such a great time at the last Internats we raced in meeting such great people and reuniting with those that we havent seen in awhile! **** STORM! That being said, i still feel mighty grateful and lucky to to have a home and a little work shop to still go to........the storm was awful.

 

[bzubee]

I think it’s important to look in the past as well sometimes. It helps you remember setups and how we all got to certain speeds at that time and sometimes it slaps you back in reality and makes you realize your not thinking about important things. I’m well aware at the Nats the weather can vary for racers in a big way especially Huntsville, I heard about the fluctuation in wind and even checked the air/weather up there during the event. Looking at E hydro the speeds were close per participant and appears the water was decent to obtain those speeds. I’m certainly not comparing conditions, but in 1993 Nats in Ft worth Texas in the summer heat Andy Brown won E hydro SAW at 84.2 mph and it also set the record at that time. 30 years ago! At the 1990 Nats Sarasota Fl ,Terry Keeley won E hydro SAW at that event at 75 mph with a OPS . 34 years ago! I agree the best way to gain knowledge in boating is in person at the races and it never hurts to visit the past as well.

Actually the 1993 Nats were in East St Louis IL and Andy did set a SAW record. Just keeping it straight Jeff. 1994 was in Ft Worth.

 

[Jeff Lutz]

Actually the 1993 Nats were in East St Louis IL and Andy did set a SAW record. Just keeping it straight Jeff. 1994 was in Ft Worth.

That’s right! Andy recently thought he set that record in 1994 and said Ft worth but I remember it was 1993 actually and that’s where the confusion came in. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[bzubee]

Just to add to the accolades of Doug I want to include Tyler the year before at the Internats they both helped me get good numbers for my Joe Moceri Outlaw E Hydro and it is handling and running so much better now. Also add Mark Grim to that list he rebuilt my CMB. 67 and it was pulling a 2717 prop very easily. I'm so lucky to be friends with so many great boaters for such a long time. Still picking up great tips and tricks for model boating. Oh and a special thanks to Mark Anderson for the loan of a legal NAMBA engine for my Sport Hydro at this year's NAMBA Nationals in Las Vegas.