Should IMPBA and NAMBA unite

[andrewh1]

I was wondering to see how many people think IMPBA and NAMBA should unite, or should they be left alone, or keep splitting up into smaller groups.

I personally think IMPBA and NAMBA should unite for the sake of the hobby, even though it would be a rough transition I think it would be worth it in the end

[Ghost 2501]

it would mean one common set of rules, so you know that if your international model powerboat is IMPBA legal, it will conform to North American specs, which makes things MUCH easier, and it removes unwanted politics.

well thats the theory

[Kmot]

This is an argument for the fast electric racing crowd. And it has been argued "ad nauseum" on FE forums.

Most of us "here" are scale modelers and neither of those organizations are worth the time of day to scale modelers.

[andrewh1]

Im sorry kmot, not trying to start anythimg but can you elaborate alittle more, i am not understanding what you mean.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

The only thing our club, Queen's Own Scale Model Combat Warship Club, requires is member and site insurance for Combat warships... So far, the NAMBA insurance has been adequet for the club and site owner's requirements.

[Kmot]

Andrew, have a look here:

http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/feforums/forumdisplay.php?f=48

Those two organizations are focused on racing. They continually argue about rules changes, size limits, battery technology, etc. Friends become enemies. Accusations fly. It gets real ugly.

Neither of those organizations have anything to do with or for scale model boaters.

[andrewh1]

kmot i am an active member on rumrunners as interplanet, but i am not involved in impba or namba, but i am an active AMA member #881188. yes these people do become enemys but the people you see on the forums arguing do not encompass the entire body of there respective organisations nor do they represent the rc boating community as a whole. I would take to racing more seriously if there was only one club, that was all.

[Ghost 2501]

over her in the UK. we have the MPBA, originally for racing (model power boat assoc.) they have diversed into scale as well.

I'll look up the website later.

[AndyKunz]

I would take to racing more seriously if there was only one club, that was all.

If you're into racing boats, the first thing you discover is that in most locales, there IS only one club - if any! And that one club might have "sister clubs" relatively near (within a 3-4 hour drive) and guess what - in most parts of the country they are either NAMBA or IMPBA.

I happen to live in an area where both are active, but you know what? It doesn't matter. Many of the same guys run in both.

There used to be only one, but they were so messed up politically that they forced a split.

The good news is that since there is so much crossover of members, the rules between the two groups are rather similar, so much so that if somebody wants to compete in both and can easily select a hull & powerplant that is competitive in both.

In my book, having two is a non-issue.

Andy

[patmat2350]

Umi, have you looked at SSMA (SCALE ship modelers' assoc.)? www.ssmana.org

They offer insurance for clubs and members of member clubs...

Pat M

[Prins Willem]

Way back when the WSBA we belonged to IMPBA as did many scale clubs. Clubs used to take turns hosting scale Internats. When I joined WSBA in 87 we paid $10 to the IMPBA and $10 to the club for dues. IMPBA tried to spin off the scale clubs into the ISMBA but I think that one sorta died on the vine as SSMA gained steam. Our club dropped IMPBA and SSMA membership and obtained our own insurance 15+ years ago.

IMPBA and NAMBA are racing organizations and are of little interest or value to scale boaters so for my part the question is moot.

andrewhendler, I think you would get more valuable input from the racing forums. I am not saying that the question should not have been posted on Dock Talk, as this is a catch all forum, but this forum is scale heavy so don't expect much enthusiasm for the question.

[Kmot]

He posted the same "poll" on RCU and is getting much more activity there that I think he was interested in seeing.

[CG Bob]

In North America there are at least 5 "sanctioning bodies" for model boating - IMPBA, NAMBA, AMYA, SSMA, & the SubCommittee. Trying to "unite" them under one organization is like trying to unite NASCAR, IRL, NHRA, SCCA, ARCA, & F1 auto racing together - it won't happen anytime soon. There are just too many special interest groups involved.

If they were to unite - how high would the annual dues be? Currently the annual single membership dues in the US are: SSMA $20; IMPBA $50; NAMBA $45; AMYA $25; the SubCommittee $36; plus whatever the local club dues are in your area. I currently pay over $100 for dues to SSMA, IMPBA, SubCommittee and Cleveland MBC. The SSMA & SubCommittee mail out their quarterly newsletters. The IMPBA Roostertail is available on-line. AMYA mails out their newsletter; and I don't know what NAMBA does for a newsletter. The AMYA and SubCommittee newsletters are nice magazines with some glossy (and sometimes color) photos. The SSMA newsletter has usually been a large photocopy printed affair with no color pictures.

[andrewh1]

Hey kmot,

I am just intersted in seeing what everybody thinks, as some people only post here, and some people only post there. though dont get the wrong idea, I was just interested in what people think about the idea, not what they think about both sanctioning bodies. But all info is welcome, So let it fly i guess

[andrewh1]

Hey CG,

Thanks for the post, I see what you mean by the whole car racing thing. Maybe clubs are going about it the wrong way and need to think of there bodies of waters as the tracks do that hold the events for these sanctioned bodies?

[Prins Willem]

Wouldn't it make sense for IMPBA and NAMBA to get together and standardize the rules. Then there could be cross competition. Non members would pay a little higher entry fee for a sanctioned event. Perhaps they could have a "Super Bowl" championship at the end of the season. Does APBA still have a R/C division?

I know I said racing orgs don't hold much interest for scale boaters, but it is an interesting philosophical exercise.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I'm in as long as we get to shoot up the competion as soon as the timer starts...

:p

[andrewh1]

Maybe we can mount guns on the sides of our RTR hydros and have a real sanctioned event

We could call it XFL :eek:

I am just kidding guys

[Kmot]

I'm in as long as we get to shoot up the competion as soon as the timer starts...

:p
Yeah? I want to see a video of you blasting your SDM out of the water! :D

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Yeah? I want to see a video of you blasting your SDM out of the water! :D

Oh, now you're completely out of context... :rolleyes:

[Tregurtha1013]

I was wondering to see how many people think IMPBA and NAMBA should unite, or should they be left alone, or keep splitting up into smaller groups.

I personally think IMPBA and NAMBA should unite for the sake of the hobby, even though it would be a rough transition I think it would be worth it in the end


I once saw a South Park episode about NAMBLA. Perhaps this is what your talking about. :D

[tugs]

I once saw a South Park episode about NAMBLA. Perhaps this is what your talking about. :D


No, NAMBA pokes buoys!

NAMBLA.......[editted for family content, as opposed to South Park]

[cyclops2]

It will still be the same.

I want the dues money and control. You still want to merge ?