NEPRA rocket club 90s-2000s

[Williamhimka]

So here's a good story. My dad and his family lived here in PA for quite a while and moved down to SC for a while then moved back on up here after a few years. Anyways, my dad brought up in our early days of rocketry, that they used to launch rockets at the Glemboski farm down the road from the house (where we live now). So of course I found that interesting. My dad says he remembers seeing a van with a big rocket strapped on the top turning obviously going to the launch. We are located right outside of Nicholson and literally a dirt road away from where the farm is. He and my grandparents say they always heard them go off once in a while when sitting on their front porch. From my research, they had a 13,000 ft waiver and flew LPR MPR HPR with a handful of Ms. I just find it so cool just the history behind the club and how it's a dirt road away, and they used to fly right there. Just the thought of it amazes me. Dan Micheals and lots of other big guys used to fly up here as well. North Eastern Pennsylvania Rocketry association is what NEPRA stands for. The club hasn't been around for quite some time now. I'm pretty sure it went from the 90s - the early 2000s. My goal here is to try to find as many people as I can that used to fly here back in those days. If you have any pictures please attach them below. I'm extremely interested.

William

 

[RCBrust]

I was involved with NEPRA early on but my memory of all this is kinda shaky so take it with a grain of salt. When I think back to NEPRA, two different things come to mind. One is some fairly large organized launches that I attended, but I also remember meeting a guy at some farm earlier than that. I'm thinking his name may have been Tim but I'm not positive. He had a big silver rocket that he used to haul around. I can't remember how I even hooked up with him but we did a few launches at this farm with either just us or maybe one or two other guys. I think I signed off on his Level 1 or Level 2. His goal was to launch his big silver rocket as a Level 3 if I recall correctly. He did finally fly it and I believe I have some pics of that somewhere. Now, the point of all of this is, I think that was the beginning of NEPRA. I don't remember seeing this guy at the later larger launches so I'm thinking he started NEPRA and then passed the reigns onto someone else but I'm happy to be corrected if anyone else has better information.

Randy

 

[sambatterman]

Hello. I flew at NEPRA for a few years - got my level 1 and level 2 there. Drake Damerau and Dan Michaels were the fixtures there. It was a great club, but it was a haul to get there - nearly three hours for me travelling from the Collegeville, PA area. That was back in 2004-2005 for me. Dan Michaels is now flying largely at MDRA where I intend to restart my rocket interests this summer with my son, who was only 2 years old back then. Now he's old enough to fly and certify with the "old man."

 

[Johnly]

Drake was was both knowledgeable and fun to be around.
I still miss him.

 

[RCBrust]

Check out this article from Sport Rocketry in 2004. My memory wasn't so bad after all...

Randy

 

[green dragon]

Flew there often.. they even hosted an NSL as I recall.

pic 1 - Dan Michael on ladder, school club project I suppplied motor hardware for .

pic 2 - My USR Swarm on L700 AWM motor at Nepra

 

[Williamhimka]

Anyone remember this guy? Or an idea of who it would be?
Found this with a few other photos on an old website.
Thanks
William

 

[les]

Flew there often.. they even hosted an NSL as I recall.

Yes. I got my L1 at that NSL. Trip Barber signed off for me!