RC Models
The boat I had would certainly not be competitive so Jerry being a scratch builder suggested I get some plans and build one from scratch. Jerry took me to meet another model boater who had a set of frame plans for a sport 40 that I was able to make a copy of. I then took some ideas from other boats I had seen, and incorporated them into my own plans.
My rookie year in competition was allot of fun and I won a few races. I learned the ropes of model boat racing, and ended up club rookie of the year.
At this point there was no stopping me. I built and raced other classes of boats, Jerry talked me into writing a few magazine articles, got more involved with the club organization, and eventually was president of the club.
In 1990 I got into off road R/C car competition. I learned a great deal about electric motors, batteries, and speed controllers during this period. I also got into 1/10 scale on road car racing which included road course and banked oval. I really enjoyed car racing, but it was not much more than something to do in the winter when the ponds were frozen.
I then got the itch to take what I knew from each segment of the hobby and build electric model boats. My first few attempts were not that great; burned up motors, burned up batteries, wet electronics.. you get the idea! I soon started having some success and was getting electric boats to perform so well that I would even get the gas guys to take notice. I learned of a group of modelers who were emulating the 1/8 scale unlimited racers, but with 1/16 scale electric boats. I thought they had a really great thing going and decided to join them. Well, they were all racing vacuum formed ABS boats made by a new company called Electric Thunder Unlimiteds and didn't quite know what to think about my scratch built wood boat. My first race was a little shaky, new boat, new starting format, a few boat problems, I think I maybe won a heat. The next time out was a different story, the boat was running great, I got rid of the racing jitters. I won all of my heats and the final, got fast time of the day, and even won the concourse judging.
Other model boaters were starting to scratch build their electric boats, and Puget Sound Model Boat Club started offering electric races. PSMBC electric racing is still going strong and so is the Electric Unlimited club who started offering races for other classes of electric boats. I helped get the first national championships going for electric boat racers in 1990, and PSMBC held the first electric only nationals in 1991.
As if I didn't have enough involvement in the hobby, I decided to try to make some money from it. With my professional experience in TV broadcasting, I thought I would produce racing and instructional videos. I bought professional video gear and started taping the local races. I then went to the nationals in 1992 and taped that entire event. My first instructional video, OH BOY! Oberto Construction was allot of fun to make.
I then approached a time in my life when I decided to make some changes. I wanted to spend more time with my family and concentrate more on advancing my broadcasting career. I dropped out of the hobby completely in 1994. I will always have fond memories of the friends I made in the hobby, and from traveling to national events around the country. Perhaps in a few years when my kids move out on their own, and I have achieved my career goals, I will come back and play!