Encouraging newcomers?

[Andy Greene]

Come to one of our club races and then tell me nitro is not a whisper away from a ghost town. It's gone gas in Chesapeake because of the "fun factor". That's a fact, and it happened naturally. You think somebody pressured myself, John Finch, John Bonanno, or Steve Speas into buying gas. That would be funny. "We" as most others have more fun with it. QUOTE- B/S

Preston as one of the newbies, Im gonna jump in with both feet,thats just me.If I had encountered your attitude toward nitro boats, I never would have left F/E. I was one of those guys , who showed up with what he had! After less than one season, I have purchased 2 other nitro boats/b-mono and Open cat. and I am having a blast, Ask yourself why that is- I WAS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND STEERED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION by our local clubs. Contrary to what your club or yourself may believe,nitro isnt a thing of the past. You sound as bad as the electric guys crying about cell technology, GET OVER YOURSELF. No you cant CREATE a class for him to run in, but you sure as hell dont have to run him off either.. Just my 2 cents , for what its worth coming from "that guy" ...

 

[piper_chuck]

Chuck,

I don't think you read carefully.

Preston, I read carefully. And then I combined what I read with the anti-nitro speeches I've heard from you to fill in the blanks. Your attitude shows through quite clearly with statements like "I guess that since the other guy blew a few bucks on RTR..." It's unfortunate that instead of recognizing such a person as a potential new club member, you would choose to drive him away with belittling statements.

I started this thread not to embarrass ODMBA, but to point out the effect that people can have on enthused newcomers. How many "long well established clubs" have gone away due to a lack of new members? How many more guys do you think there are who are willing to spend $300-400 on a small nitro RTR boat vs the $700-800 it's going to cost for a gas starter boat? Can we really afford to allow elitist attitudes to so casually chase away the guys who "blew a few bucks on RTR" boats?

If a person wants to support and encourage newcomers, they will find ways. If one wants to push others to their individual idea of fun, they will find ways. You and I have very different opinions on how to support newcomers and it's highly unlikely that any discussion here will change anything.

 

[Andy Greene]

Chuck,

I don't think you read carefully.

?

If a person wants to support and encourage newcomers, they will find ways. If one wants to push others to their individual idea of fun, they will find ways. You and I have very different opinions on how to support newcomers and it's highly unlikely that any discussion here will change anything.

Couldnt have said it better myself. THANK YOU , Chuck. Come on down to Dist 3 Preston, we have 2 clubs in our local area that have a very large nitro following as well as GAS. Guess what , we co-exist, like we should . Somewere in my "newbie-take your nitro boat home-electric boat running" febel mind ,I think F/E -Nitro AND Gas should make every effort they can to bridge the gaps between themselves as quickly as possible. We are STRONGER as one, not THREE. Remember one thing, were racing and playing with RC BOATS!!!! period.No matter what makes em go,We need EVERYONE that has an interest to get involved,no matter how far past that "entry level" point YOU think you are.Dont ever forget where YOU started in this hobby. Im done. :angry:

 

[Roxyflash]

We had a guy join are club.He is tight on cash bought a RTR 18 boat.This is great were losing members and having him join just makes more fun.We try to help newbies as it get discouraging seeing the fastest riggers in the midwest run.But theres a money factor.He joined IMBPA for the insurance which if you run at are lake you must be a member.Also joined are club.But the more they run they either get a better boat or bail out.You just need to relax let these guys run and enjoy what they bring.I sure wouldnt like what happened to the guy they wouldnt run.What a bunch of BS.Just to run the little rtr 18 still cost alot for the average person.So try to be nice and when they get good at running it let them try one of your faster boats its great to see them smile and go home happy not pissed off .We cant keep losing people.I like gas also it started there but owned a lot of nitro because gas isnt big here.But i got a scratchbuilt whiplash and its my funnest boat.Reason being cheap to run on a low budget.Runs all day for under 5 bucks.I cant run my nitro boat for under 5 bucks a run if i install a new plug.The thing you must remember is that all people are not racers but just funboaters.So incourage them to join your club and have fun.

 

[Joe_Knesek]

There was a time that GAS boats were unpopular @ ODMBA as well. Then a couple new boaters showed up with a GAS cat & mono one weekend. John Bonano, who was the president at the time, was faced with this same decision. Both raced that weekend. The cat ran in the 60 hydro class & the mono ran in 40 mono. One of the new boaters was Buck Madrey who later became IMPBA's first GAS director.

When I first moved to Richmond I was running riggers but after driving one of John Finch's Twincrafts I decided to move to monos because of the "fun factor". Then one weekend Dick Tyndall called me and said a new boater had a 40 rigger & he asked me if I would dust off my 40 rigger and bring it to the club race so this boater could have someone to race. At the next club Dick introduced me to the new boater, we raced together that Sunday and for several afterward. I'm glad Dick introduced me to Kentley Porter that weekend.

 

[sport hydro]

As a "newbie", I started by building a sport 40. When I joined my club, there was no one else running that class in the club. They did not tell me I couldn't run, but helped me get into running it on non race days to learn. Then I started attending races in the district. Our club runs both gas and nitro. It should not matter what you like, let the person run what he or she likes.

We lost a couple members the year I joined because of the attitude of a couple members. They wanted to try and get F/E going in our club and were told there was no electric classes period. That is not the way to do things. We have a new member this year. He bought one of those "RTR" gas boats for $800 dollars. It does not fit in to any class but he was giving the opportunity to come out on non race days and run. Several members are helping him get it running. One member even let him run his gas mono to let him see first hand how fast they can be.

If we want to keep model boating around we need to keep open minds and attitudes toward all types of boats. What would auto racing be like if nascar said you can only run fords at our races? Think about it.

 

[John Knight]

There was a time that GAS boats were unpopular @ ODMBA as well. Then a couple new boaters showed up with a GAS cat & mono one weekend. John Bonano, who was the president at the time, was faced with this same decision. Both raced that weekend. The cat ran in the 60 hydro class & the mono ran in 40 mono. One of the new boaters was Buck Madrey who later became IMPBA's first GAS director.

When I first moved to Richmond I was running riggers but after driving one of John Finch's Twincrafts I decided to move to monos because of the "fun factor". Then one weekend Dick Tyndall called me and said a new boater had a 40 rigger & he asked me if I would dust off my 40 rigger and bring it to the club race so this boater could have someone to race. At the next club Dick introduced me to the new boater, we raced together that Sunday and for several afterward. I'm glad Dick introduced me to Kentley Porter that weekend.

Joe,

You may not remember, but I was also running my 40 rigger, a new Roadrunner, in the club at that time. Only thing running was cats until Kentley and you came in with your riggers.

I remember well when Buck Maddrey came into the club. He was the first gas boat coming in but others slowly followed. What never did was the tunnels. I had the only tunnel, a 20 Prather, until I moved away in 1995, and ran in the 20 hydro class against the riggers and cats. But slow as it was, it finished almost ever heat and won the club high point award for all hydro classes in 1992. The tortoise does win at times!

Create classes, any way you can to allow the new racers to be able to run, get a flavor of racing and the fellowship of our hobby. The CMB club does that every time. We have a club member with FE now and he will run against either the monos or hydros as needed. May only do 4 or 5 laps to offset the speed difference but he CAN run. Same with the gas boats. Create an open class(es). No excuse for not being able to run. If you welcome them in with what they bring then maybe they will get later what others are running and fit in better. But if they don't, so what!

 

[Henrietta]

Chuck,

I don't think you read carefully.

?

If a person wants to support and encourage newcomers, they will find ways. If one wants to push others to their individual idea of fun, they will find ways. You and I have very different opinions on how to support newcomers and it's highly unlikely that any discussion here will change anything.

Couldnt have said it better myself. THANK YOU , Chuck. Come on down to Dist 3 Preston, we have 2 clubs in our local area that have a very large nitro following as well as GAS. Guess what , we co-exist, like we should . Somewere in my "newbie-take your nitro boat home-electric boat running" febel mind ,I think F/E -Nitro AND Gas should make every effort they can to bridge the gaps between themselves as quickly as possible. We are STRONGER as one, not THREE. Remember one thing, were racing and playing with RC BOATS!!!! period.No matter what makes em go,We need EVERYONE that has an interest to get involved,no matter how far past that "entry level" point YOU think you are.Dont ever forget where YOU started in this hobby. Im done. :angry:

Ok gang - I'm tired of hearing how our club (ODMBA) has a bad attitude towards newcomers when that is simply not the case. This is ONE case, ONE persons experience, and now ODMBA is a terrible place to be? I'm there EVERY race, this year as secretary, and we don't turn anyone away. Larry (president) and I go out of our way to make sure we talk to spectators or folks walking around looking like they might be interested in joining. I'm embarrassed that this man had this experience, don't know who he spoke to or how we (Larry and I) missed him. I wish someone had pointed him in our direction for information about the club. We do combine classes in order to include ALL racers if it's feasible. Gas and nitro do co-exist, but we can't help it if more folks are buying gas - last time I checked the rules they didn't govern what boats are purchased by members. Again, we as a club discussed this at our drivers meeting on Sunday, and we are all VERY SORRY it happened. However, isolated incidents shouldn't result in public club-bashing.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Ok gang - I'm tired of hearing how our club (ODMBA) has a bad attitude towards newcomers when that is simply not the case. This is ONE case, ONE persons experience, and now ODMBA is a terrible place to be? I'm there EVERY race, this year as secretary, and we don't turn anyone away. Larry (president) and I go out of our way to make sure we talk to spectators or folks walking around looking like they might be interested in joining. I'm embarrassed that this man had this experience, don't know who he spoke to or how we (Larry and I) missed him. I wish someone had pointed him in our direction for information about the club. We do combine classes in order to include ALL racers if it's feasible. Gas and nitro do co-exist, but we can't help it if more folks are buying gas - last time I checked the rules they didn't govern what boats are purchased by members. Again, we as a club discussed this at our drivers meeting on Sunday, and we are all VERY SORRY it happened. However, isolated incidents shouldn't result in public club-bashing.

Christi beat me to the post. While my clubmate (& friend) Preston may seem like one of the bad guys here I can tell you without reservation he has done more for & in support of both the ODMBA club & the IMPBA than many others. It's real easy to sit back & play armchair quarterback critiqueing how it should be done but until you've walked in those shoes don't be so quick to point fingers. I can guarantee you that there isn't one person here who wasn't short with someone if you were having a bad day at the pond & just didn't want to be bothered. Yes perhaps this one incident got mishandled but we've all made mistakes & the last thing the ODMBA club wants is to turn away a potential new member. Chuck, I asked you directly to put this person in contact with me, have you done so?? h34r:

 

[Andy Greene]

-However, isolated incidents shouldn't result in public club-bashing./ Sorry that is your feeling that MY comments are aimed at your club, they arent, they are squarely aimed at one member of your club.

 

[Henrietta]

-However, isolated incidents shouldn't result in public club-bashing./ Sorry that is your feeling that MY comments are aimed at your club, they arent, they are squarely aimed at one member of your club.

And mine are aimed at the whole tone of the thread not one person in particular. I save my personal attacks for a PM not for the entire site.

 

[AWaddle322]

removed

 

[Henrietta]

-However, isolated incidents shouldn't result in public club-bashing./ Sorry that is your feeling that MY comments are aimed at your club, they arent, they are squarely aimed at one member of your club.

And mine are aimed at the whole tone of the thread not one person in particular. I save my personal attacks for a PM not for the entire site.

As an outsider looking in it would appear to me this thread was started to educate people about there actions towards newcomers. All names were left out. It also appears that one of your club members took the blame (by trying to explain the situation). it appeaard that your own club member changed the tone off this thread and seeing what he wrote i see where it could have happened to any club out there (he is really not to blame). You in my opinion are actually blowing this up and making it look worse than it really is. Something bad happening is a bad thing but how the people that are involved conduct thereself after this misfortune (as i understan it your the president of this club pull your people together, give them a good direction to head and make sure it does not happen again) Saving personnal attcaks for pm or this board will do nothing but split your club up. What has happened has happened know figure out how to make a positve of experience out of this situation as possible and move on.

this thread will certianly make me think about how I treat tha guy is walking around in the pits or that guy that shows up with something different.

Do not ruin your club over this one isulated incident.

Sincerely,

Allen

I most certainly not the one blowing this up or ruining our club - I am trying to publicly defend it. I also almost NEVER post anything, just read for information, and I don't attack a person in PMs or otherwise. I felt someone else was doing that. However I couldn't take anymore bad comments about ODMBA. Anyone who has been to one of our races knows our group welcomes all and tries to have fun - don't want opinions to change b/c of this one incident.

 

[AWaddle322]

I most certainly not the one blowing this up or ruining our club - I am trying to publicly defend it. I also almost NEVER post anything, just read for information, and I don't attack a person in PMs or otherwise. I felt someone else was doing that. However I couldn't take anymore bad comments about ODMBA. Anyone who has been to one of our races knows our group welcomes all and tries to have fun - don't want opinions to change b/c of this one incident.

If you noticed I removed my comments real soon after posting them. I reread the post I determined that I was wrong. I apoligize and had hoped I removed it before anyone saw it.But I do have a question for DREW2. What more did you expect him to do. he was offered a class to race in. do you think he should have dropped what he was doing and go out and buy a boat so that he would have someone to race against? As a new racer you could have a boat 10 mph faster than the next person and still will probably not win due to the fact the do not have boat racing skills yet so what difference does it make if the other boats are faster than him. When I started racing i probably would have been better off if I had starte with something slower than I did. I had equipment that would compete with the best of the best anywere in the world but I still could not drive. All I needed was laps. it took over a year before I won a race and a lot of laps.At this point it is simply about making laps for the newbie. Rember some of the best racers in the world will answere any question that you ask them but most are there for a purpose and they are concentraiting on there purpose of being there and this purpose various alot among people.

Allen

 

[Henrietta]

I most certainly not the one blowing this up or ruining our club - I am trying to publicly defend it. I also almost NEVER post anything, just read for information, and I don't attack a person in PMs or otherwise. I felt someone else was doing that. However I couldn't take anymore bad comments about ODMBA. Anyone who has been to one of our races knows our group welcomes all and tries to have fun - don't want opinions to change b/c of this one incident.

If you noticed I removed my comments real soon after posting them. I reread the post I determined that I was wrong. I apoligize and had hoped I removed it before anyone saw it.But I do have a question for DREW2. What more did you expect him to do. he was offered a class to race in. do you think he should have dropped what he was doing and go out and buy a boat so that he would have someone to race against? As a new racer you could have a boat 10 mph faster than the next person and still will probably not win due to the fact the do not have boat racing skills yet so what difference does it make if the other boats are faster than him. When I started racing i probably would have been better off if I had starte with something slower than I did. I had equipment that would compete with the best of the best anywere in the world but I still could not drive. All I needed was laps. it took over a year before I won a race and a lot of laps.At this point it is simply about making laps for the newbie. Rember some of the best racers in the world will answere any question that you ask them but most are there for a purpose and they are concentraiting on there purpose of being there and this purpose various alot among people.

Allen

I must have been too fast and didn't notice I do appreciate it though - thanks!

 

[piper_chuck]

Ok gang - I'm tired of hearing how our club (ODMBA) has a bad attitude towards newcomers...

That is why I did not mention the club name or location. I wanted this thread to be a discussion about encouraging newcomers, not club bashing. Unfortunately, Preston decided to post the club name and the tone of the thread immediately changed from solving a problem to defending a specific club.

Chuck, I asked you directly to put this person in contact with me, have you done so?? h34r:

Yes, and I just sent him a reminder in case he lost your contact info.

 

[Henrietta]

Ok gang - I'm tired of hearing how our club (ODMBA) has a bad attitude towards newcomers...

That is why I did not mention the club name or location. I wanted this thread to be a discussion about encouraging newcomers, not club bashing. Unfortunately, Preston decided to post the club name and the tone of the thread immediately changed from solving a problem to defending a specific club.

I understand about keeping the club on the down-low, but knowing it's your club being talked about and reading what was being posted make you want to defend yourself, don't you agree? Like Don said, Preston's always been a big part of the club and felt it necessary to explain some things even though he wasn't at the lake that day.

 

[John Knight]

The fact remains that this could happen at any club, on any day, at any time. Don is right, hit any person at the wrong time, and the impression could be bad. Not intentional in the least. Preston is a great guy and Don is right about his hard work for others.

Lesson to be learned for all of us is simple. Be open for the new racers, welcome them in and make room for them. That is the only theme needed from this subject. Smacking a club, it's members or a person in it will serve no useful purpose. EVER.

 

[Henrietta]

The fact remains that this could happen at any club, on any day, at any time. Don is right, hit any person at the wrong time, and the impression could be bad. Not intentional in the least. Preston is a great guy and Don is right about his hard work for others.

Lesson to be learned for all of us is simple. Be open for the new racers, welcome them in and make room for them. That is the only theme needed from this subject. Smacking a club, it's members or a person in it will serve no useful purpose. EVER.

Well said John - thanks and see you in a few weeks!

 

[Andy Greene]

The fact remains that this could happen at any club, on any day, at any time. Don is right, hit any person at the wrong time, and the impression could be bad. Not intentional in the least. Preston is a great guy and Don is right about his hard work for others.

Lesson to be learned for all of us is simple. Be open for the new racers, welcome them in and make room for them. That is the only theme needed from this subject. Smacking a club, it's members or a person in it will serve no useful purpose. EVER.

Your right, lesson learned. Maybe this thread caught ME on one of those days I never try and go out of my way to stick my nose were it doesnt belong and in this case I did. To those my comments offended,my appologies. I guess sometimes it seems to me like the different power sources (gas-nitro and f/e) dont always co-exist as a whole, thats a shame,it gets under my skin and in this case I let it. Sorry guys/gals, and ODMBA.