quest for 100MPH, The

Radio Control Boat Modeler, Jun 2003 by Turner, Jay

WHAT IS A SAW TRIAL?

The goal in a straightaway trial is to achieve the fastest speed possible on a measured 1/16-mile course. To negate any wind effects, two back-toback passes in opposite directions on the 330-foot course are averaged. Running at 100mph, it takes just 2.25 seconds to traverse the course-- straight down the center of it, that is. At Legg Lake, the irregular shoreline is confusing, and it is easy to accidentally take a diagonal line through the traps. This means that the boat travels more than 330 feet, and its recorded speed will be lower than its actual speed. It takes driving skill and experience to make two consecutive good passes-it isn't just a matter of "pull the trigger and hold on."

2002 NAMBA

All-Electrics World Straightaway Trials

THE 2001 WORLD STRAIGHTAWAY (SAW) trials, held each year at Legg Lake in Los Angeles, destroyed the notion that electric boats were limited in speed and would never approach the speed of nitro boats. At that event, the Rum Runner Cup was awarded to the boater who surpassed the 80mph benchmark-Dick Crowe for his record run of 87.1mph in a 24-cell outrigger. In 2002, given the rapid advances in fast electrics, it was not so much whether the previous year's record could be eclipsed, but rather by how much. Because of the technological progress made during the year, Rum Runner raised the bar high: the Cup would be awarded if a competitor could surpass the magic 100mph mark. Could any racer meet the challenge?

THE CHALLENGE

Win the 2002 Rum Runner Cup by achieving a 100mph record with a fast electric boat. Standing in the way: the high cost of equipment and the difficulties in choosing the right motor and ESC, designing the right hull and driveline and modifying the propellers to resist the tremendous force of a 100mph pass. With a target speed nearly 13mph faster than the previous record, electrics racers were moving into uncharted territory. Any chance of success would require lots of development and testing time. Driving a good line through the traps is always important, of course, but it is all that stands between a safe run and calamity when you approach triple-digit velocities.

THE TEAMS

Many racers vied for the coveted distinction of being the first to reach 100mph in an electric RC boat, but the most serious efforts were made by three driver/sponsor teams. Rum Runner Hobbies (Florida), Fuller's Fast Electrics (Washington State) and the JAG team (Germany) were the front-runners from the outset. Several individuals also had a legitimate shot at the Cup, and it was anyone's guess who might win.

In 2001, Team Rum Runner had worked in conjunction with Fuller's and set the top speed records at the SAW trials: 87.Imph in the 24-cell class and 87.5 mph in the 32-cell class, running the same wooden boat built by Rum Runner's Don Wollard. In 2002, however, the Rum Runner and Fuller's teams campaigned separately, and two of the 2001 team's drivers now drove exclusively for Fuller's. Team Rum Runner had new drivers and again used wooden hulls designed and built by Wollard, with the Lehner brushless motors and Hopf cells that had fared so well at the 2002 NAMBA Electric Nats.

Team Fuller's drivers had the experience to break the record, but they had to design and build their own wooden riggers for this year's event. They chose Hacker brushless motors and Fuller's Ni-Cd cells, and their props were reworked by NAMBA's nitro SAW record-holder Mark Grim.

The German JAG team's boats were innovative in design and construction. Chief designer Arne Hold used high-tech materials in his molded hulls to make them strong and light, and he included the latest wire-drive technology in the team's 100mph challengers. Team JAG's motors were Lehner brushless designs with Hopf Ni-Cd cells.

The rivalry among the teams raised the excitement to a fever pitch; it was shaping up to be a high point in fast electrics history!

THE EVENT

It was scheduled for three days, but nature intervened. Los Angeles hadn't seen measurable rain in nine months, but the first two days of the race weekend were rainy and windy, and only a few racers made passes during brief calm. It rained so hard that, much to the chagrin of hard-working timing official Mark Grim, the infrared timing lights did not function reliably. Nevertheless, Dick Crowe managed to raise the 24-cell-hydro record to over 90mph with his rigger, but no one else came close to the 100mph goal.

Sunday dawned with the promise of beautiful weather-bright sun and generally light wind allowed all 24 racers to make several runs. Wind occasionally caused blow-overs and a couple of boats sank, so many racers decided to wait for calm water. Team JAG's and 2001 contender Joerg Mrkwitschka ran his 32-cell rigger several times, but severe radio interference prevented him from making a real run for the record. It didn't look as though anyone would top the 100mph record this year-the Rum Runner Cup was safe.

Sunday evening the wind died down, and there was a rush to get in "one last pass" before dark. At dusk, Joerg put his 32-cell boat in the water for his last attempt (he had discovered that the interference was caused by his custom speed controller, and wrapping it in a piece of aluminum foil had solved the problem). His first pass topped 100mph, and a huge cheer went up from those on the shore. But could he back it up? After his second run, his two runs averaged 102.92mph-easily the fastest ever by an electric RC boat and fast enough to earn the Rum Runner Cup for 2002! Joerg made it just before dark-a dramatic end to a landmark event!