I.M.P.B.A International Regatta

[sbowden21]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, The IMPBA internats use to be the biggest race of the year up until about 8-10 years ago. Now all we have is a nitro nats which is heat racing only with no US-1 to be given out, don't get me wrong the nitro nats is great idea and also usually a great race. But I was thinking what if IMPBA held a true Internats every 4 years kind of like how soccer does with the World Cup. It would give plenty of time to determine a site, promote the race, and get entries up, as well with you would only be able to attend this prestigious event every 4 years.. It would be nice to see heat racing and time trials again and to be able to compete for those covenant US-1 TROPHYS. Just a thought here would like to hear if anyone else would think this is a good idea or bad idea... I've heard from a lot of people that they don't think a true nats is possible anymore I really hope that's not the case because honestly the most fun I've ever had boat racing has been at previous internats!!!

Lets hear what ya think?!?

 

[Andy Brown]

I'm with you on that Sam. Or maybe every other year. Certainly something needs to be done to make the race special.

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

That's a great Idea. Call it the IMPBA World Cup.

 

[stan simpson iv]

Every other year sound's like a good number.

 

[Bob Kensill]

IMPBA already has this kind of plan in effect

 

[sbowden21]

IMPBA already has this kind of plan in effect

That's good news!

 

[SayMikey]

Few people can afford to take off 8-12 days for a r/c boat race,time has caught up with the Internats style of race.The last few attempts were a bust,

 

[Rob Betke]

I would like too see one happen every four years like Sam said. I have never had the chance to race for US 1 before.

 

[Andy Brown]

The World Champs in Europe are a full two weeks long. Add travel time and many are taking 16-18 days for r/c boat racing.

The numbers of entries are similar to what IMPBA Internats had 25-35 year ago.

30 boats is normal for a Seniors class and the Juniors turn out 12 -15 boats in the same classes. That's about 45 boats per class.

Most class are Nitro with only a few Gas classes.

Are Europeans wealthier? I don't think so. Most of them Camp in TENTS at the race site.

I see many American boat racers skip r/c boats races and do things that take MORE money and time.

The Naviga World Champs are held every other year. One must QUALIFY in his own country to participate.

Naviga only allows a certain number of participants from each country. It's NOT come one, come all!

I participated for the first time in 1998 by Invitation for the NAVIGA organizers.

Racers travel from New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Far Eastern Russia and many other long distances to participate.

The race is held Every Other year. The off year is used for Qualifying in each country.

The race is always held in August so families with school aged children can participate.

 

[Marty Davis]

Sam:

In order to pull of an Internats format, it would require that it only be a nitro event. Both IMPBA and NAMBA have added so many classes that you would not be able to have many entries per class. I CD'd the last Internats in Charleston and the turnout was not super. The people that attended loved the format, but there are just to many other things that families do in their vacation time. Might be something that won't happen again. I sure hate that, as it is the most fun (other than the Hydro Masters) that I have had the pleasure of competing in.

I think that in order to do it again, it would really be necessary to split gas and nitro. Might be time for that anyway.

Might even be time to limit the number of classes for such a race for some of the less attended classes. Just run maybe 10 classes or so.

 

[ZZ RACING]

The option of running the US-1 format or the Nitro Nats format is there. It is a huge expense for the host club to do the US-1 format and it is an 8 day event. Marty hit it on the head. Racers just are not willing to spend that much time at a race. And the guys that work have to almost take 2 weeks as it runs Sat to Sat. I know it has been a premiere race in the past but times have changed. Charleston was the last club to use the US-1 format in 2012 and it did not get the entries needed to be the big premiere race it should have been and the club usually gets good numbers for their races. The 2009 and 2010 Internats were also a flop due to lack of entries. Using the Nitro Nats format is much easier on the host club and the racers attending. It is usually a 3 or 4 day event and most guys can do that. I'm not saying that the US-1 format is dead but it is up to the host club and most are not willing to take the chance.

 

[seaducerpete]

I was a the 2012 internats drove 15 hours to get there I think that the realy eary date killed the 2012 internats

 

[Brandon Atwell]

I was a the 2012 internats drove 15 hours to get there I think that the realy eary date killed the 2012 internats

I know we had planned to go, but with the date backed up to where it was i would have had to miss a week of school. Thats what killed it for us.

 

[Jim Recker Jr.]

Hi Marty and Chris. I remember the 1978 Internats in Columbiaville Michigan. They had open water on Monday, 1/16 straightaway trials on Tuesday, 1/3 Oval Trials on Wed.

Then heat racing (1 round per day) on Thurs. , Fri., and Sat. Banquet was on Sat. night. Racers drove home on Sunday. Can something of this format be duplicated? I agree it was only Nitro back then. However back then classes were:

A-B Mono

A-B Hydro

C-D Mono

C-D Hydro

E-F Mono

E Hydro

F Hydro

1/8 Scale

A lot fewer classes and a lot less days you had to attend. If I was provided 3 years notice for an event like this, I'd quit my Bowling league to save the money.

If it's not a World Championship year, it would also cut down on days scheduled for the entire event.

 

[Tony Jacuzzi]

I think the Internats format is very hard on the host club and its working members. I think its a bigger committment to host a weeks worth of racing , time trials, banquet, and open water, than most single clubs can accomplish. Perhaps a district approach or a BOD approach to hosting might work every few years.

 

[Ron Jefferson]

I think the Internats format is very hard on the host club and its working members. I think its a bigger committment to host a weeks worth of racing , time trials, banquet, and open water, than most single clubs can accomplish. Perhaps a district approach or a BOD approach to hosting might work every few years.

I suggested that years ago Tony and got shot down. The old "why don't you step up" deal. It is a huge commitment for a club to host on their own. Just a couple of people from each district co-ordinated by the directors would make way more sense and lighten the load. We'll see how the idea goes over coming from someone else.

Ron

 

[gooycheese]

2009 nats where awesome....Mike Lang and his club had weeks to prep for the event.....they did an awesome job stepping up and filling in when there was a chance of no nats.

Yes I would Like a Internats also.... honestly not sure i could afford it unless it was really close to home.

District approach or multiple district approaches work also..... BOD makes no sence.......lol thats funny

 

[Chris Wood]

I have said it way to many times

You must limit classes and even consider paying a outside org to run that race. Clubs just don't want to mess with all the work it takes.

 

[Jim Recker Jr.]

Multiple clubs to all pitch in. For example, if the Nats are held in Ottawa, and planned 3 years in advance, they can ask Toronto, Quebec and NY state clubs to assist. Even if there are racers with CD or pit boss experience that can help for a round or an hour before tagging out, it's a group effort. Usually there are many racers that show up that have CD creds next to their IMPBA #. Pinch me if you think I'm dreaming .

 

[Greg Bonahoom]

Since the number of classes is not going to decrease any time soon, maybe we should think about splitting up the race by hull type on a 4 year rotation. For example, year one is tunnels, year two is outriggers, year three sport/scale/thunderboat, year four is mono type hulls. This way, there would be less of a burden on the host club and the event would be much shorter. I think that this could work very well and could keep the internats/us-1 format alive.