A word with Dave Marles 09.08.2006

Dave Marles is a long term profile in model speed boat racing, we had a few words with him over breakfast one morning at the 2006 WC:

Name: Dave Marles

Country: England

City: Golborne

When did you get started with model speed boats:

Initially I was doing RC model planes, but I got bored with them and in 1979 I switched to model speed boats.

What made you start with this hobby:

I saw an FSR-V model boat race and got interested, especially in the technical aspects, engines, tuned pipes and so on. Then I checked around and it turned out that there was a local club around which I joined. In this club there were many people doing FSR-V. From then on I started doing my own designs or modifying other designs of boats. I also started racing right away and across England in 1980.

Around that time I started a business for model speed boats and model cars. I did my own designs from tuned pipes from day one as well as designing and producing boats. Additionally, in 1982, I started designing, producing and selling my own brand of propellers.

What does your wife say about your hobby:

My hobby is my business so enough said :-)

Your best race:

Clearly  at the Worlds in Potsdam (Berlin), East Germany in 1988. I won two world titles in V3.5 and V15. I remember especially the V3.5 race. Bo Zhao was just ahead of me for 29 minutes, we were only a meter apart the whole race, then I managed to pass him just before the finishing line and take the win. It was a great race!!

Your worst race:

Probably a 6 hour team race at Les Andelvs, near Paris in France. This was a 3 man team race and the sky was open non stop for the whole race, everything was wet to the bone, it was incredibly miserable!

What would you be doing if not model speed boats:

Model car racing, no doubt.