DSM and races.. is it time?

[Hydro Junkie]

At the R/C Unlimiteds races up in Washington state, we use a laptop with a program that sets the heats taking into account the number of boats as well as any MHz radios that are still being used. Obviously, we do have a few people that claim to use MHz systems when their actually using 2.4s but, as said by others, I really don't care.

 

[HTV Boats]

In the old days we manually scrambled the morning of the race and people got used to using the same crystals to pit each other. You kind of knew who used what frequencies and bought other crystals. Only a few classes 21,45, 60 ,mono, hydro and outboard. Now with computer pre-registration the 2 systems that are currently used RCRacing events and Racemasters have some sort of algarythm that scrambles the heats and recognizes matching frequencies and keeps them separated. The only issue in registering two people with the same last name or alphabetically the same is they are numerically next to each other on the list. With all the pi$$ing and moaning I gave up on signing Jay and I on the same crystals. What I did find even with classes as large as 30-40 boats we wound up in the same heat 2 to 3 out of 4 heats. Happened year after year. We did run separate in some different classes but have run outboard 21 & 45 for years, In a shootout we welcomed both making a final.
Now someone explain how separate we have an advantage. Never used the same frequency to duck anyone. We still can be paired with anyone in the field. Now put us in the same heat and we can determine how we finish and points to our advantage.
Guilty as charged registering on crystal and using DSM. Always figured with frequency hopping it hit my channel somewhere. I do like a pit person to do more than count laps. When I pit you I won't tell anyone how to race unless they want advise. I will watch the course a half a lap ahead of you and you will be aware of upcoming dead wood every lap.
Adding Jays son Max and 3 of us in the same heat is a nightmare just getting 3 boats started and launched. I take Max to electric races and we run each other all the time. FE starts 99% of the time on the water. Years of scrambling in the pits for help and missing heats we could have run has taken some of the enjoyment out of nitro. When its more work than fun I move on. For those who think you just run different classes I am. So race purist YOU WON congratulations! Toy boats?
Mic

 

[Don Ferrette]

Over 40 posts on this, you'd think big prize money was riding on it or something. Really guys- "cheating", "rule violations" "integrity" "character" over frikkin' R/C BOATS? Yeah we spend a lot of money and race hard but bottom line is they are still things we PLAY with. Those who know me know I'll race anyone anytime but I also have zero issues with guys buddying up, I'll do it as well. Sure it's not a big deal to toss in an outboard, a B hydro or even a sport 40 but I damm sure want someone who knows how to deal with tossing in AND calling for a twin. I for one don't want 4-5 grand's worth of boat sitting dead in the driving lanes because of a shxt toss (been there) and in the past I've actually had a "volunteer" pit guy freak out in a twin final and flat out stopped talking, mentally checked out during the heat with boats going dead all over the course. It might be easy for a driver running smaller boats to remember himself where the dead (or slow) stuff is but at the speeds of twins and even the bigger singles your pit man better have his act together. Also when racers travel together and run the same classes they can share support gear and that can mean a little extra valuable space in the trailer or vehicle. And some of you should go back and re-read Mic's posts as well. At least Z came clean about why he really started this thread (I saw right through it on the first post however) but at the same time to say those who buddy up to be and I quote character iffy is a load of you know what. Really surprised (and disappointed) at you Z that you would swing such a broad brush and paint anyone who signs up "be a team" as having questionable character, your words...............

 

[Grimracer]

LOL.. man Don..easy Brotha... those come from others at the races I attend..

I get this asked OFTEN and at LEAST i have the BALLS to ask the question.. your opinion fits in with the rest.. ITS AN OPINION..

To bad you choose to attack me.. thats to bad. but truth is not all that unexpected.. sorry you feel that way.

Cheers,

Grim

 

[Don Ferrette]

LOL.. man Don..easy Brotha... those come from others at the races I attend..

I get this asked OFTEN and at LEAST i have the BALLS to ask the question.. your opinion fits in with the rest.. ITS AN OPINION..

To bad you choose to attack me.. thats to bad. but truth is not all that unexpected.. sorry you feel that way.

Cheers,

Grim

Attack you? Hardly sir. Just repeated what you posted and I am truly disappointed in what you said.

 

[dr gary turner]

I enter on a freq the same as my racing partner but run DSM

I will race anybody at any time

The main reason it is a REAL PAIN TO FIND SOMEONE TO LAUNCH AND CALL 4-5 different boats 2 of them twins

It slows the race up finding a pit person and itan imposition and it is a safety issue

Discussion is always good, but to what end does it achieve and more rules and regulations for rules and regulations purposes.

So has there been a real problem with racing safety or anything else

Having to find callers is an issue again slowing the event waiting in the pits for a volunteer, it is a safety issue having a person unfamiliar with the driver the boat/twin calling a boat running 80 mph

Again what has been the problem ???

BTW I place DSM as an alternate freq so I don’t think you should be so critical

TOM, do you want to be my caller launcher. 20 hydro 40 hydro 60 hydro F hydro(twin) Single F Twin F mono

I am sure you have plenty of time to help running your 6 or more boats. HAHAHA

 

[Grimracer]

Sir...LOL NICE!. you can call me that after you are disappointed in me... NICE!

Sorry I came off too strong in that post.. I did not mean it that way.

They are just that and I know that as well as the rest.. From tunnels to Twins.. just TOY BOATS!

Grim

 

[Don Ferrette]

Sir...LOL NICE!. you can call me that after you are disappointed in me... NICE!

Sorry I came off too strong in that post.. I did not mean it that way.

They are just that and I know that as well as the rest.. From tunnels to Twins.. just TOY BOATS!

Grim

I see nothing wrong in saying sir, you are still a good guy you just disappointed me with what you said because of what it implies to anyone who buddy's up. Seriously, re-read it and give it thought at how it comes across to others, you questioned people's intergity. It's just that simple..........

 

[Grimracer]

Strange.. stuff folks.. sorry...

In the end.. what do I have to gain by asking the question... nothing.. just asking it BECAUSE for the 3rd time.. people are asking me what I think... I dont CARE WHAT HAPPENS i have ZERO stake in any of it.. I have covered myself in the choices i make in my racing program..

They are asking and its worth talking about.. it seems to me this is a good place to ask the question as we have a LARGE pool of people with opinions...

I have won all the races I have worked winning and If I win another FINE.. if I dont.. to bad for me.. FINE...LOL Its fun to hang a sponson in the water and catch up with good people..

Big fun all.. looks like we have some opinions, ideas and blasts.. we have nailed it here at I waters!

Grim

 

[BigChuck]

One month before a "Barn Burner" and like clock work the SAME BULL SXIT SUBJECT!!!! Please, make sure you have plenty of nails in the GUN.
Kill More Events....Piss of more People....Cry WOLF...AGAIN. I am not Don I will not sugar coat.
I STILL REMEMBER YOU STOPING a HEAT RACE AT THE NATS...!!! For no Reason...The GUY STILL LOST...WHAT DID YOU PROVE THEM..????
WHAT DID YOU PROVE NOW....15 years LATER...????

 

[Mark Grannis]

Anybody can go ahead and question my integrity. With me it is family, team strategy. Don't like it then come prevent us from racing each other in the runoffs. When heats are combined we do adjust when ssked. I encourage everybody to team up. Now when we beat you it is like winning twice! Yes, you deserve that feeling too.

Grim, you have indirectly stumbled on a concept of racing I think could be the next big growth of r/c boating...Team Racing. I will pursue this concept as IMPBA D3 Director very soon.

Racin' love to all,
MG

 

[Grimracer]

O boy.. all based on a question.... again.. i stated that I over stated that comment and apologized for it..

As for the team racing.. It takes two.. I have NEVER tossed my pit guy to the side EVER.. I met your Dad in 2000 (He was a good dude) you two were about as good a team as you can have.. never though of that more or less then that.

Then.. I have no idea what Chuck is talking about.. if you are sore about something that happen in TOY boats 15 years ago.. be it me or Don you are talking to... its not clear.. that seem like old water.. must be fresh in your mind tho.. sorry for what that might have been if it was me.. again. not clear.. (I do know if it was a safety issue and it was me.. I likely shut down the heat..)

I have not read anybody SO UPSET they are going to scrap model boating because of this post.. I have heard some VERY questionable comments baced on the subject, at the races i attend.... NO MORE NO LESS..

I decide to ask the question knowing full well I would be the punching bag for the topic, my OPINION on the subject and comments witch I have qualified. LOL.. I must be able to see the future.. IT CAME TRUE!



My opinions pointed NO ONE RACER out.. but I got pointed out for mine.. thats OK. I dont care.

Again.. thanks to all that commented.. Its important to understand where we have stress in the hobby (not a huge problem).. just stress and I can TELL YOU THIS IS ONE OF THEM baced on the passion for this topic and the comments at the races.


Good luck all in 2020

Grim

 

[Mark Grannis]

O boy.. all based on a question.... again.. i stated that I over stated that comment and apologized for it..

As for the team racing.. It takes two.. I have NEVER tossed my pit guy to the side EVER.. I met your Dad in 2000 (He was a good dude) you two were about as good a team as you can have.. never though of that more or less then that.

Then.. I have no idea what Chuck is talking about.. if you are sore about something that happen in TOY boats 15 years ago.. be it me or Don you are talking to... its not clear.. that seem like old water.. must be fresh in your mind tho.. sorry for what that might have been if it was me.. again. not clear.. (I do know if it was a safety issue and it was me.. I likely shut down the heat..)

I have not read anybody SO UPSET they are going to scrap model boating because of this post.. I have heard some VERY questionable comments baced on the subject, at the races i attend.... NO MORE NO LESS..

I decide to ask the question knowing full well I would be the punching bag for the topic, my OPINION on the subject and comments witch I have qualified. LOL.. I must be able to see the future.. IT CAME TRUE!



My opinions pointed NO ONE RACER out.. but I got pointed out for mine.. thats OK. I dont care.

Again.. thanks to all that commented.. Its important to understand where we have stress in the hobby (not a huge problem).. just stress and I can TELL YOU THIS IS ONE OF THEM baced on the passion for this topic and the comments at the races.


Good luck all in 2020

Grim

Mike,
Just to be a bit more clear...we still use 27mhz in E Hydro. We are introducing this DSM stuff to some classes. It reacts a little too fast for my liking, but Chad swears he can dial some of that out for this old man.

What does that orange F stand for anyway? (Hehehe)

Bring down that Team F for the "Team Challenge Invitational" coming hopefully fall of 2020.

Mike, we be good!
Respectfully,
Mark

 

[Don Ferrette]

Ok maybe we should just let this thing die off.......

Sure I called Mike out for a rather harsh and broad statement about buddying up and character/integrity and he apologized for it. With that being said I absolutely think no less of him, he's done a lot for the hobby and really is a good dude. Just wording/statement that really rubbed me (and others from p/ms I got) the wrong way. Done. However my post was not solely directed at him as a few others made some rather questionable comments (it's cheating, rule violation, avoiding certain other racers, etc) that also ruffled my feathers, is this what we are about? These are things we PLAY with, none of us are making a living wage racing model boats. In the end it's all about getting boats on the water and not worth alienating anyone (again read Mic's posts) as our numbers are too few anyways.

I look forward to seeing many of you next month in Charleston.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Wow! that was a fun read. I don't think banning 75 and 27 radios makes sense. As long as they are legal with the FCC. I do prefer to have my buddies call for me. My two main pit guys and I have worked together for 20 plus years. My preference for the information given to me in a heat is different then Mike's. However if they are not available, oh well. I also have for years signed up on the same frequencies as my pit guy at big races. We tend to run the classes that are strong in our small district at big races, thus we are in the same classes. I guess I have iffy integrity.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Grown men racing toy boats for plastic trophies.

 

[timothy johnson]

Mark, Chad is right the new DSM radio's allow the driver to slow the rudder movement down to whatever a driver likes. The problem for some is with the radio instruction's which can be complicated like for a cell phone. It's likely your driving will improve which I guess means we will keep chasing you for the winner's circle. See you in January, Tim !!

 

[Grimracer]

Mark A.. again. that was Intent to imply that that way.. but words today can not me taken back... I accept that.. sorry..

I know.. FULL WELL there are some that DO use that as a crutch.. I dont like it (my opinion) and I am pointing NO BODY OUT.. Again. its the questions of OTHERS that have brought me to post this. I have NO real reason to post this because at the end of the day its all about Radio Boat racing!

I am not surprised by the passion for this.. I have herd this for years now and with all the questions and comments I get on the subject.. I took a chance and asked the question.

I would bet.. that if the channel was removed from the sign up sheet ALL OF THIS animosity would go away. Make your pit man plans... like most we do the best we can to pre-plan that part of the race. It does not always work out but OK..


Mark G.. FUTABA.. I proudly race for Futaba as you know.. I KNEW somebody was going to toss me that card.. Not my first go around! LOL.. before that it was Airtronics.. so who knows what people will try to toss your way!

Grim

 

[Grimracer]

Regarding speed.. Tim is right.. depending on the TX you can slow them down. I have spoke to Futaba for a number of years now about providing us Boaters SLOWER servos.. but.. its a hard sell...

Grim

 

[Hydro Junkie]

Grim, that's actually one of the features I like on the 4PLS, you can slow the servos down. I have my radio set up to turn the rudder at 50% speed and return to center at 100%. I don't think slowing down the servos is the way to go. Being able to set them to a rotate at a desired speed, on the other hand, can only make servos more user friendly and versatile.