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Futaba Marine Team
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Name: Jerry Dunlap
Location: Lakewood, Washington
Years racing: 44
National Championships: 12
Favorite classes: Tunnel Hulls and Sport Hydroplanes
Recent Accomplishments:
NAMBA national champion in 3.5cc modified tunnel hull
NAMBA national champion in 3.5cc outboard monoplane
Winner of the 7.5cc Tunnel hull sport class at the national tunnel hull championships
2008 NAMBA District 8 Champion in three classes and Overall High Point Champion
A short blurb about myself:
I began building model boats from solid pieces of wood when I was 7 or 8 years old. In the mid-50s, I began building electric powered, free running outboard runabouts and .049 powered free running hydroplanes. I designed and built my first radio control model boat in 1965. Many of my designs have been featured as construction articles in model magazines. My tunnel boat designs have been released in wood, plastic, and fiberglass by major model boating distributors for over 20 years. The Top Speed2 and Miss Vegas RTR hydroplane are two of my most recent designs to be released.
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Name: Jerry Crowther
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Years racing: 22
National Championships: 30+, and holder of over 15 World records! In Nitro, Gas and Electric.
Favorite classes: Anything thing that floats.
Recent Accomplishments:
Winner of the "Jon Bridge" Twin Award
Two time winner of the "Excellence Of Performance" award
Winner of the "President Cup"
First Person in IMPBA History to win 4 US1's at a single event
District 3 High Points champion 2008 20 Mono, X mono and Offshore.
A short blurb about myself:
I started Racing when I was 13 with a local club. I decided to start designing my own boats and just keep trying new things till I got the result I wanted. I Started Seaducer Boats in 1988 and the company grew to what it is today. I enjoy going to Record Trial events as well and love to go fast. I am the "First and Only" person to get a Monohull over 90 MPH.
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Name: Michael "Grimracer" Zaborowski
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Years racing: 18
National Championships: 12
World Championships: 1
Favorite classes: Tunnel Hulls and Sport/Scale Hydroplanes
Recent Accomplishments:
IMPBA district 4 champion in multiple classes
IMPBA District 6 Fred Johnson cup winner
IMPBA Presidents cup winner
US-1 Champion in 3.5cc Hydroplane
IMPBA National champion 3.5cc Sport Hydroplane
Two time winner at the National tunnel hull championships in 3.5cc modified tunnel hull
NAMBA 2007 LSH (Limited Sport Hydroplane) National Champion
IMPBA World Champion in D Sport Tunnel 2008
Recipient of the 2008 William E. LeFeber Award
A short blurb about myself:
I began messing around with RC boats at the age of 17. I started racing RC boats in 1991. In 1997 I started designing my own boats and from my efforts came a business called Power Surge Racing Products. I sold Power Surge Racing Products in 2005 and now work full time as the boat designer for AquaCraft Models.
The best part about RC boat racing is the great people and the incredible boat speeds. |
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Name: Chris Wittrig
Location: Orlando, FL (soon to be Richmond, VA)
Years Racing: 9
National Championships: 1
Favorite Classes: Any tunnel class. Tunnel boats require you to be both aggressive and patient while using a great deal of finesse to be fast.
Recent Accomplishments:
2006 NAMBA A class Modified Tunnel Hull Champion
Current and prior record holder in Straightaway and Two
Lap Time Trials including the fastest model tunnel boat speed record in the world.
A short blurb about myself:
I started racing model boats as a fun weekend hobby to enjoy with friends and came to appreciate not just the racing, but the great people involved in racing and giving back to that hobby. I am currently the NAMBA National Outboard Chairman and also the NAMBA.com web master. Although I have had my share of success winning races, winning district and national championships, and setting records, nothing is more rewarding that meeting new model boaters and helping them find the same enjoyment and success that I have had over the last 9 years.
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Name: Ron Zaker Jr
Location: Lombard IL
Years Racing: 20+ years
National Championships: 15+
Favorite Class: B Hydro
Recent Accomplishments:
B Hydro:
4 time US-1 champion
13 time "Hydromasters" champion
2 time "Mini Gold Cup" high points winner at Detroit
2 time District 4 high points champion
3 time "Spring Nats" winner
Set "fast time" at the 2006 Internats (oval)
D Hydro:
3 time US-1 champion
2 time "Hydromasters" champion
3 time "Spring Nats" winner at Atlanta
Set "fast time" at the 2006 Internats (oval)
F Hydro:
2008 National heat racing champion
1/8th Scale:
District 4 high points champion
Hydrofest champion at GM tech center in Detroit
Indiana Governers Cup at Indianapolis
Silver Cup winner in Illinois
A short blurb about myself:
I started R/C boat racing with a 3.5 outboard tunnel in 1988. I moved to the Hydro classes with the help of many seasoned racers. I really enjoy helping "Hydro guys" with setup if needed. I really believe it helps our sport grow and makes it much more fun. I was fortunate enough to be the first person with a 20 Hydro to break into the "teens" on the 2 lap oval at an official record trial. I live in Lombard Il and relax by flying R/C Helis.
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Name: Brian "Snowman" Buaas
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Years racing: 22 (4 FE boats)
National Championships: 4
Favorite classes: Anything Electric
Recent Accomplishments: 7 podium finishes including 4 class wins at the 2007 NAMBA FE Nationals. 6 NAMBA FE 5 lap heat records (5/8 mile) 2006-2007. 6 NAMBA FE SAW records 2004-2007. 3 IMPBA FE SAW records 2006. First FE Sport Hydro over 80mph.
A short blurb about myself: I've been playing with models since I was 7 years old. I started flying RC airplanes in 1979 and have been involved in some form of RC ever since. I tinkered with nitro boats in the 80's mostly just sport running; at the same time racing 1/10 scale off-road at a few of the SoCal tracks. Electric airplanes caught my eye in the mid 90's. I found myself designing and selling models under the Raptor Aerosports label. Club racing electric pylon planes lead to F5D pylon racing and a spot on the 1998 US F5D team competing at the FIA world champs (5th place individual, 2nd place team). I spent the next few years building/flying competition hand launch gliders (HLG). The highlight being a 7th place finish at the 2002 IHLGF where more than a quarter of the field flew my newly designed Raptor DLG. In 2004 I built my first FE boat, a 17" catamaran powered by a retired F5D pylon motor. It was great fun and surprised everyone at the 2004 LA FE SAW's, 43 mph in N2 offshore. The addiction set in and the rest is history. I try to have a no secrets attitude. There's nothing better than helping racers grow as competitors. The most memorable races are the close ones, it almost doesn't matter who wins. It's fun to win, but a hotly contested loss is more memorable than a runaway win.
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Name: Russ Williamson
Location: Champaign, IL
Years racing: 5 yrs. Marine, 20 years in the industry...
National Championships: 3
World Championships: 1
Favorite classes: .21 Sport Hydroplane, .21 Tunnel Hull
Recent Accomplishments:
2008 World Champion .21 Sport Tunnel
2007 IMPBA National Champion .21 Sport Tunnel Hull
2007 IMPBA National Champion .21 Sport Hydroplane
2007 IMPBA National Champion .21 Mod Tunnel Hull
A short blurb about myself:
I built my first boat in 1988, Dumas 1/8 Scale Unlimited Hydroplane powered by .67 OPS engine. I still remember the first time I launch it. Even the first run with engine rich, it was way cool on the water! Flying airplanes, racing 1/10 super-speedway on-road, etc., I knew boat racing would be way too much fun and it is exactly that! 17 years later (after racing 1/10 on/off-road, 1/12 scale, 1/8 on-road) the opportunity opened up to start racing on water. It is the best!
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