I would like to begin by introducing myself to all those that don’t know me. I was elected as the USRA president during the last racing season and took office in November. I follow a distinguished, hard working group of officers that have left USRA in great shape.
I am Martin Treat and I have been an R/C pilot since 1973. I started flying gliders with my uncle which continued until I headed off to college. While in college I was forced to stop flying due to a lack of funds. You know, poor, starving college student with a family.
After college and the family was started I went back to flying, but this time I could afford “POWER”. So I bought the latest ARF at the time from Hobby Shack and headed to the local school. After a few successful ground run-ups it was off to the air and I was hooked, again.
A short time later I moved from northern California to Fresno where I started flying every type of sport plane you can imagine. It was during that time I met John Lockwood – he was the ace at our field. He never brought a plane of his own but was also flying, not sure how he did that? John was an aerobatic pilot at the time and he was also trying to get me to go to Arizona to fly in the Cactus Classic IMAC contest. Around the same time I was flying on a Sunday afternoon (my favorite time). I had a Ultra Sport 1000 with a large Super Tigre in it that was giving me fits. As I struggled to get it into the air two strangers walked up to give me some help. They ended up loaning me some fuel that solved the problem. Those two strangers ended up being Dave Smith and Terry Raymond. They were at the field for the IMAC contest that weekend. After meeting Dave and Terry I decided to try the IMAC stuff and headed to Arizona the following year. The next few years were followed by many contests throughout the western US and in 1995 Dave and I traveled to every IMAC contest (10) between New Mexico and California culminating in me capturing the IMAC Sportsman National Championship in Las Vegas.
The same year that I had met Dave and Terry, Tom had put on the first unlimited race in Madera. I had met Tom many times before because at this time he was also an IMAC pilot. The next year at Madera while walking through the pits I ran into Dave and Terry, Dave was piloting a plane. For next many years I was involved in pitting for Dave and Terry and helping prepare their planes (mostly I was their sanding boy or I should say I was Big Daddy’s sanding boy). After the Rialto race my family responsibilities did not allow me to be involved with any form of flying, I was retired.
Three years ago I attended the Parker race to help Dave and Terry out again. Watching those big birds slinging themselves around the pylons brought back so many memories. The time was now right, the kids were gone, my business was running and I needing to get back into the air. So at that Parker race I jumped in with both feet and committed to participate in the sport that I love.
It has been quite a humbling last two years. My confidence had been tested many times and if not for the support of my wife, my team and all the other competitors it would have been very easy to throw in the towel. But that is what is so special about this organization. Sure the competition is intense but the camaraderie is unparalleled and is reminiscent of a family and that is how I feel about the USRA. So for the next two years or more, please feel that you can come to me with any question, problem or concern and I will make every effort answer your question, fix your problem or ease your concern.
For all of you that sent back your questionnaire and for those who didn’t shame on you, CRT is starting to compile the results and I hope to share some of the results in my next report. Preliminary results show that most of you are happy with the USRA as suspected. More to follow………….
I would like to close by saying thank you to all the past as well as the newly elected officers, as well as Kelley the Treasurer and USRA webmaster and Joyce the Secretary, for stepping up to assist in the operation of the USRA, I am confident that we will do everything in our power to make the USRA the best it can be. I have a lot to learn but with the help of Scott, Kenny, Kelley, Tim, Tom, Fred and many others I think we can “get ‘r done”.
Lastly, please get your memberships back to Kelley ASAP, I am sorry that the renewals are coming so late, it is completely my fault; my lack of experience caught me by surprise. Also please get your entries back to the promoters as early as possible, without their unending devotion and tireless work we would not be able to do what we do. If any of you have concerns about sending your entries in early, I understand, but the refund policies of our promoters are fair, so please get those entries in EARLY.
Ok, I am off my soap box for now.
Fly fast, turn left……………………………………
Martin Treat
President