We were treated to great weather, fantastic racing and the best turn out of the year for the 2018 MPBA Endurance Nationals. Results from this event also count towards the 2018 National Drivers Championship, so there was a double-incentive for the racers to do well, with most of the top UK racers making an appearance.

3.5cc
The 3.5cc class had the numbers to run 2 qualifying heats on Saturday and a final on Sunday.

2018 iMBRA 3.5cc World Champion Zack Humphries dominated the qualifying with an unassailable 62 laps, giving him pole position for Sundays final. The final proved the adage ‘To finish first, first you must finish’. Zack cruised to victory 10 laps clear of 2nd place, with all the quick boats having reliability problems or stopping through driver errors. Zack also set all 10 of the fastest laps.
None of the National Drivers Championship contenders scored significant points and it now looks like the title is going to Dave Hole barring a disaster at the final race at Brentwood on the 30th.

7.5cc
The tightest racing of the weekend saw the top 3 all on the same lap and only separated by seconds. Ross Waumsley reversed the 2017 Masters result by pipping Dad Julian by 2 seconds! (Juian beat Ross by 4 seconds in the Masters). Andrew Aykroyd was a bit disappointed to take 3rd after a missed buoy meant a lost lap and a certain win with 91. Still, a 27 point NDC haul keeps him hot on the heels of Dave Pillman, who managed a creditable 4th despite having mechanical issues with his Pegasus Evo all weekend after an engine rebuild. This was damage limitation for the NDC and Dave goes into the final race at Brentwood with a slender 7 point lead over 2nd placed Andrew who has been consistent all year with his ex-Waumsley Pegasus 2.
Martin Fields is beginning to extract performance from his self-designed ‘Jekyll’ boat and set the fastest lap in round 1

15cc
A lot of attrition in the 15cc class, but Zack Humphries once again dominated with a winning margin of 11 laps. Mark Wraight claimed 2nd place with his round 1 score of 82 despite a disqualification in round 2. Dave Williams took 3rd with a solid 79 laps from his Gamma.
James Taylor put in the top 6 fastest laps in round 2 including a phenomenal 15.6 second lap for the fastest of the weekend, but could not make the podium having had 2 stops. James’ 22 points confirm him as the 2018 MPBA 15cc Drivers Champion with a race to spare.

27cc
The most laps of the weekend score of 101 propelled James Taylor to a 4th win of the season in the 27cc class. A broken front bearing in his Alpha Evo 2 scuppered Ian Folkson‘s chances of a podium and perhaps a win after James stopped in round 2. James is also confirmed as the 2018 MPBA 27cc Drivers Champion and now has an incredible 10 titles to his name.

Junior 3.5cc
3 wins in row for Thomas but with 15 points between them the title is still up for grabs at the last race at Brentwood.

On to the racing on one of, if not the largest course we have ever seen

3.5cc – A big GB entry in this class – Andrew Aykroyd, Tony Ball, Keith Burgess, Mike Broad, Colin Croxford, Robert Daniel, Ian Folkson, Miha Folkson (Jr), Dave Hole, Zack Humphries, Dave Marles, Geoff Parmenter, Richard Sewell, Nigel Smith, Julian Waumsley and Mark Wraight. The small 3.5 engines would have to work hard at full throttle for a long time on the massive course and inevitably there were several mechanical issues, together with a few collisions with buoys and other boats. When the dust settled (Of which there was a lot on the sandy approach to the pits), we had one A final qualifier – Zack Humphries was TQ and three B finalists – Andrew Aykroyd, Robert Daniel and Dave Marles. The top 3 in the B final would progress to the A and there was just the one final for the juniors so Miha was automatically in that one. Unfortunately none of the GB B Final boys were able to progress to the A, a late crash putting paid to Andrew Aykroyds chances whilst leading. . Robert Daniel missed out on 3rd place by an agonising 3 seconds and Dave Marles was plagued with mechanical issues and only completed 4 laps.
Zack took his A game to the final, where he held off Mark van Ieperen of The Netherlands to take an emphatic win with his currently unbeatable Ikarus 2.3 / O.S. 2102. This result also confirms Zack as the 3.5cc 2018 iMBRA Western League Champion, with his closest rivals unable to catch his points total of 55 with only one League Race left in Hannover.

7.5cc – GB competitors were – Andrew Aykroyd, Robert Daniel, Dave Humphries (With his 4.5cc boat), Dave Marles, Geoff Parmenter, Nigel Smith, Julian Waumsley, Ross Waumsley and Mick Szebeko. Again we witnessed a lot of attrition and only Robert Daniel made the A final despite all the brits bar Andrew Aykroyd doing enough laps in qualifying to make to the B final. Dave Humphries was a soul destroying 1 second off the A final with his 4.5cc boat. Just a tiny bit more speed and Dave will be mixing it with the big boys as he is ultra-consistent with this boat. Robert put up a strong fight in the A final but finished in 5th place, 2 laps down on winner Reiner Kaekenmeister of Germany. Geoff Parmenter and Dave Marles provided me some of the best shots of the weekend with these sequences.

15cc – GB competitors were – Mick Buonaiuto, Robert Daniel, Phill Fields, Zack Humphries, Sam Lincoln, Dave Marles, James Taylor and Mark Wraight. Phill and Zack made it to the A final, with Mick, Robert, Sam, James and Mark having to settle for the B final. Dave was not able to make the B final due to more mechanical difficulties. Unfortunately none of our boys managed to progress from the B final with Mark suffering a breakage of his new CMB91 RSEvo DFB whilst in the lead on only it’s 3rd race. Mark was understandably very concerned about a common theme in what is a very expensive engine. We understand the manufacturer is replacing Marks broken parts with ‘New Improved’ parts FOC.

27cc – GB competitors were – Ian Folkson, Dave Marles and James Taylor who all made the final. James had some mechanical issues and finished 5th. Dave unfortunately did not start as he had a catastrophic crash into the bank in the qualification rounds. The whole front of his 27cc boat was ripped apart.

Ian Folkson had his stolen boats back together with his sons electric fun boats and a big box of parts. It was more than 2 years since he’d lost them at this same venue. Who would have thought that the 2 year old 27cc boat would be pressed into action after Ian’s new boat was damaged in qualifying? It would never work after 2 years of sitting in a warehouse would it? Oh yes it did, and propelled Ian to a fantastic 2nd place podium finish.

Juniors – Miha Folkson was the sole GB competitor and from the qualifying rounds it looked like Miha had the speed to win it. Unfortunately it was not to be today and Miha finished 4th after suffering a blown plug. iMBRA World Champion Erich Costa’s son Jonah took the win by 1 lap from Lucas.

The post Haarlem International 2018 first appeared on Model Power Boat Association.]]> https://www.mpba.org.uk/2018/05/23/haarlem-international-2018/feed/ 1 https://www.mpba.org.uk/2018/04/22/zack-wins-in-stuttgart/ https://www.mpba.org.uk/2018/04/22/zack-wins-in-stuttgart/#respond Sun, 22 Apr 2018 15:19:05 +0000 https://www.mpba.org.uk/?p=6279 Congratulations to MPBA member Zack Humphries, winner in the 3.5cc class in Stuttgart. Zack topped a field packed with top European racers including current iMBRA 3.5cc World Champion Sebastien Videmont, and CMB manufacturer Mauro Braghieri. Podiums [Click to enlarge] Full results: Zack Humphries winner in 3.5cc (qualified 2nd) Julian Waumsley 6th in 3.5cc (qualified 10th) Ian Folkson 13th in 3.5cc [...]

The post Zack wins in Stuttgart first appeared on Model Power Boat Association.]]> Congratulations to MPBA member Zack Humphries, winner in the 3.5cc class in Stuttgart. Zack topped a field packed with top European racers including current iMBRA 3.5cc World Champion Sebastien Videmont, and CMB manufacturer Mauro Braghieri.

Podiums [Click to enlarge]

Full results:
Zack Humphries winner in 3.5cc (qualified 2nd)
Julian Waumsley 6th in 3.5cc (qualified 10th)
Ian Folkson 13th in 3.5cc (qualified 13th)
Robert Daniel 20th in 3.5cc (qualified 20th)

David Humphries 4th in 7.5cc (qualified 10th)
Ross Waumsley 11th in 7.5cc (qualified 6th)
Robert Daniel 16th in 7.5cc (qualified 16th)

Zack Humphries 7th in 15cc (qualified 3rd)

Ian Folkson 12th in 27cc (qualified 10th)

The post Zack wins in Stuttgart first appeared on Model Power Boat Association.]]> https://www.mpba.org.uk/2018/04/22/zack-wins-in-stuttgart/feed/ 0 https://www.mpba.org.uk/2017/06/18/mpba-interviews-zack-humphries/ https://www.mpba.org.uk/2017/06/18/mpba-interviews-zack-humphries/#respond Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:53:41 +0000 http://www.mpba.org.uk/?p=3380 This is the first of a series of interviews with some of our most successful members in National and International competition. In this article we talk to FSR-Endurance (multi) racer Zack Humphries. Zack is the current 3.5cc World Champion in 3.5cc also having won the title in 2014, 2016 15cc Silver Medallist, current IMBRA 3.5cc European Champion, winner of the [...]

The post MPBA Interviews Zack Humphries first appeared on Model Power Boat Association.]]> This is the first of a series of interviews with some of our most successful members in National and International competition. In this article we talk to FSR-Endurance (multi) racer Zack Humphries. Zack is the current 3.5cc World Champion in 3.5cc also having won the title in 2014, 2016 15cc Silver Medallist, current IMBRA 3.5cc European Champion, winner of the last 2 IMBRA Western Leagues in 3.5cc, 15cc winner at the 2016 van Marle International, 2nd in 15cc Haarlem 2018.

MPBA: How did you get into model boating?
Zack: Through my Mum and Dad, they’ve been racing for about 27 years. They had a small break whilst my dad started the family business and the boats were put away under the stairs… then I for some reason was searching for something and saw them (yes they had blue roll and were inside bags) and said why don’t you both start doing it again!
MPBA: Have you tried any other forms of model boating?
Zack: No, but I have built a 3.5cc Hydro for my secondary school.
MPBA: Can you remember your first win and how did it feel?
Zack: I can’t remember my first win as such. But my first race was as a junior at the Naviga World Championships in Italy 2008. I made the A-Final and finished in 3rd place. So that for dad, mum and I was incredible! Mum was in tears…. there’s pictures of this!! Editors Note – Yes there are. Here’s one.
MPBA: How about your first big win?
Zack: My first big win was at the 2014 IMBRA World championships in 3.5cc at the age of 20. That’s the first one I really remember.
MPBA: First International win?
Zack: Besides the world championships in 2014, it would have been the British international in the 3.5cc 2014.
MPBA: What’s your proudest moment so far in your racing career?
Zack: Contrary to what most people would probably say; I’d have to go with the 2016 IMBRA World championships finishing 2nd to Sebastian Videmont. I gave absolutely everything I had in the last few laps and even though I crashed on the last corner attempting my only possible chance to pass, it was one of the greatest races I’ve had. Video (Watch from 10:46 for the incredible last throw of the dice attack from Zack).
The other choice is at the Naviga 2015 world championships, a 3.5cc Heat. The boat wasn’t running cleanly and we hadn’t got the speed. I was in 5th place and hadn’t been able to get past any of them for the full 20 minutes. Then the whistle went; and it was like I found a second gear and had the eye sight of an eagle. I over took all four boats in front of me between centre buoy and the transponder wire. Finishing 1st in that heat!!
MPBA: What’s your favourite class to race in? Why?
Zack: Difficult. 15cc is the blue ribbon class. However, the technical ability required for 3.5cc is immense.. I’d still have to choose 15cc though.
MPBA: Let’s talk about equipment. What ingredients make a successful multi boat?
Zack: Being well setup up on the day, with attention to detail during preparation.
MPBA: How much difference does the driver make? What about the pitman?
Zack: Let’s start with the pitman. I can’t really comment too much on this, I’ve always had my Dad and would choose him over anyone. He knows the way I think and drive. I’d say the pitman is about 40% of the final result. Without them your job would be very hard as a driver. Therefore we rate the driver as 40%, leaving 20% for luck. For us; it’s not him or her. It’s always been us, as a team.
MPBA: What equipment do you currently use?
Zack: We use an assortment of gear but the majority of our equipment is from OS Engines, Multiplex, and Prestwich Models.
MPBA: How do you get more performance out of an engine?
Zack: Contact Zack Humphries at Dynamometer World.
MPBA: Any new builds on the Horizon?
Zack: Typically we build a new boat every year alternating the classes. So not yet!
MPBA: Who do you consider your biggest rivals?
Zack: There are many big names and that’s too hard to choose. Editors note – See World Champions for our opinion.
MPBA: What is it with you and blue roll?
Zack: It’s probably a question that’s best answered by my Dad. It all started years ago, we used blue paper to cover the engine bay so that no dirt or contaminates would enter the boat. It seems to have been extrapolated into this secret hiding blanket…. or is it? I’m sure now someone’s inventing X-ray glasses specially for blue roll… but don’t worry, I’ve already designed a frequency jammer if such a problem arose.

Our thanks to Zack for taking his time to talk to us.

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