5th annual `The
Michigan Cup’ FE Recap
By Ken Joye
This year host club `Mid Michigan
Electric Unlimiteds’ or MMEU, decided it was time to move to a larger
venue with FE boat classes growing in size and increasing racer entries.
The MICHIGAN CUP race was held at Camp Dearborn in Milford Michigan.
Camp Dearborn also used by a local nitro club, would prove to be large
enough for the expanded venue.
The MMEU club did a fantastic job offering an extra large tent to house
all 30+ racers entered under one roof, with tables and chairs and plenty
of A/C power. The weather was perfect, sunny in the high 70’s each day,
a nice change from the series of torential rains that hit the
mid-Michigan area during the past month. MC5 was said to be largest
NAMBA FE event ever held to date!
With the generous help of title sponsor Chris Fine of FINE DESIGN MARINE
(http://finedesignrc.com/default.htm) and all the MC5 class and door
prize sponsors, the event was a financial success. Funds raised at this
MMEU event support local club racing, meeting expenses and down payments
for MC6.
A whooping 24 NAMBA and MMEU club classes were offered over the 3- day
weekend. The classes offered at Michigan Cup are based on popularity and
chosen by a pre-race survey. Judging by the bulging class heat schedules
FE boat racing is increasing tremendously in popularity, popular 12 cell
classes like Limited Sport Hydro and P Offshore typically had 3 flights
of racers entered. This year MMEU also decided to utilize a larger NAMBA
Nitro course for the Offshore S&T and 1/8 Scale Hydroplane classes. This
concept proved that FE can compete with Nitro/Gas and provided more room
for the more powerful larger boats to stretch their legs.
Speaking of powerful boats, MC5 racers didn’t hesitate to enter the high
cell-count classes rarely offered at FE venues. The new `S ‘(19-24 cell)
& `T`(25-32 cell) Offshore 4 minute endurance classes are growing in
popularity and are fun to watch running on the larger nitro course. Most
racers opt for nitro-based hulls using single or twin brushed or
brushless power plants, in most cases equaling or exceeding their nitro
rivals in performance. Aeromarine (www.aeromarinerc.com) is one
manufacturer that currently works with FE racers, doing light lay-up FE
versions of their popular nitro/gas hulls specifically for larger FE
boat classes.
This year the decision to offer an experimental FE 1/8 Scale Unlimited
Hydroplane class was made. Based on off-season dialog on the popular
RUMRUNNER RACING FE internet forum (http://rumrunnerracing.com), it was
decided FE 1/8 Scale Hydroplanes would be use`T’ power specs (24-32
cell) following NAMBA rules for hull setup. 1/8 Scale was a huge success
thanks to the large undertaking of some select experienced FE racers.
Rules were relaxed to help draw as many in to the field as possible.
There are (3) theories on how to setup a FE 1/8 scale.
*1st Concept, take a standard NAMBA or IMPBA 1/8 hull (glass or wood)
around 7-9 lbs avg. Drop a 2280 Lehner BL(geared 32 cell) or Brushed 355
Plettenberg(direct drive 32 cell) motor in with a 3/16 shaft with a
60mm+ 1/8 equivalent prop.
*2cd Concept, take a light-lay-up NAMBA or IMPBA 1/8 hull (glass or wood
kit) around 3-4 lbs avg. Drop a 2280 Lehner BL(geared 32 cell) or
Brushed 355 Plettenberg(direct drive 32 cell) motor in with a 3/16 shaft
with a 60mm+ 1/8 equivalent prop.
*3rd Concept, take a light-layup NAMBA or IMPBA 1/8 hull (glass or wood)
around 3-4 lbs avg. Drop a BL or Brushed 355 Plettenberg/Ultra (high-rev
direct drive 26-28 cell) motor in with a .150 shaft with a 50mm+ prop.
1/8th Scale was run a larger NAMBA Nitro/Gas course, race speeds were
observed in the mid to high 40’s and should increase as more FE 1/8th
Scale Hydro experience is gained. WARNING this is not a class for the
novice or racers on a tight budget. It will however give you
butterflies, goose bumps, quivering hands and a huge grin!
When the best racers in North America come to `The Michigan Cup’ you can
expect oval records to fall. Chris Fine not only sponsored the race but
also did a great job of breaking (2) NAMBA oval records. Here’s the
lowdown on the NAMBA oval racing records that were broken.
*Q-Mono 67.19 seconds Chris Fine
*T-Mono 70.04 seconds Chris Fine
We proudly display our dedicated Class Sponsors on the winners
list below. For more information Winning Setups can be
viewed on the MMEU website Just click on:
http://www.mmeu.com/mmeu/fpdb/results.asp
Big thanks to the MC5 MMEU core Dennis Whitt, John Hainer, Terry Davis and Ken
Joye for their never-ending support and MC5 dedication. Becca Hainer and Cathy
Stolz were MMEUs amazing scoring gurus that held to high standards all weekend.
Impeccable course and site setup help from MMEUs Terry Davis, Norm K.(Uncle
Norm), Tom Costello, Jay Stolz and CAFEs Kelly Brooks etc. was also big-time
appreciated.
If you would like to participate or take-in next years exciting NAMBA ‘Michigan
Cup’ race stay tuned to the MMEU website
http://www.mmeu.com/ .
The 3-day `Michigan Cup’ is the largest FE race in the North America and
sponsors are the key to our success. The following Sponsors listed below
generously contributed to our MMEU MC5 club raffle and MC5 Class Sponsorships.
MMEU MC5 Class Winners
|
