Matthew Stringer at the Southwest Regional
flew in Sportsman with electric power.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, hosted the annual
Southwest Regional International Miniature
Aerobatic Club (IMAC) Championships at
Bennett Field on September 27-28. The
Tournament of Champions made this site
famous as the Holy Grail of Aerobatics and
37 pilots convened to determine the final
placement for these six states in the region.
Tim and Sherry May once again planned,
directed, scored, and compiled all of the
results at the contest and the region. Greg
Clemenson, District X associate vice
president, took most of the pictures at this
contest.
The first-place winners were Bill Hempel
in Unlimited, Bernie Boland in Advanced,
Evan Curto in Intermediate, Jason Benson in
Sportsman, and Dominic Grasso won in
Basic. The regional standings for 2008 are
identical except for Basic which was won by
Don Barrett. The contest had ideal weather
and a great time was had by all participants.
CD Tim May and Bill Hempel, the first-place
winner in the Unlimited class.
Ten days later the Tucson Aerobatic
Shootout kicked off. This is the World
Series of Scale precision flying. Desert
Aircraft leads the way, sponsoring this event
every year and all the pilots compete
nationally with the hope that they will
qualify for the field in six categories.
This year saw a number of international
pilots from Austria, Germany, Australia,
New Zealand, Mexico, Northern Ireland,
and Switzerland spend thousands of dollars
to come to the Shootout. The total prize
money and gifts equal around $100,000 and
so many sponsors donate that it would be
difficult to list them all because of the
limited space.
Mark Leseberg Jr. was the winner once
again in the Invitational Class that had 20
pilots from all over the world. He also won
the fabulously entertaining Free Style
competition which is separate from the
precision flying.
TIMPA, just outside the Saguaro
National Park outside of Tucson, is the site
of the contest. They do a terrific job putting
this on with Micheal Marcellin as the CD.
Other winners included Adam Bry taking
top spot in Unlimited, Ryan Archer won the
Advanced class, Cody McClean took the
Intermediate top honors, and Kyle
Goodwine was the first place winner in
Sportsman.
Seventy of the best pilots on earth came
and gave their best in an effort to excel.
Except for the wind one day, it was a superb
contest; credit is deserved by the many who
contributed to this premiere event.
Ryan Archer and his father. Ryan has come a
long way fast. Look for him at the top soon.
Harold Bettis turned 90 and was feted by his
friends in the Silent Electric Flyers club of
San Diego. We all enjoyed Donell’s pancakes
and sausage with a cake to boot. Harold’s
close friend Don Griffin and cohorts put
together this fun birthday party.
Harold celebrated, calmly taking it all in
even when a Marilyn Monroe impersonator
came strolling up to sing Happy Birthday. He
enjoyed the breakfast, the cake, the girl, and
then took out his Easy Star and took off into
the blue yonder above San Diego Bay near
Seaworld.
Harold has been modeling for more years
then most of have been alive and he is a real
character. How many modelers do you know
who are still doing it at 90?
How many guys get Happy Birthday sung to
them like this?
Harold Bettis and friends.
Thanks to Tim Attaway, associate vice
president in California, for covering these
events this month.
District X
Jim Giffin, District X Vice President; [email protected]
Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Jim Giffin
Vice President
Box 494688,
Redding CA 96049
Tel. (916) 760-8291
[email protected]
www.ama10.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA
(619) 427-6392
Darwin Barrie, Chandler AZ
(480) 946-8955
Mike Brown, Bella Vista CA
(530) 549-3005
Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV
(702) 870-6242
Wayne Hamada, Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7733
Marc Karpowich, Logan UT
(435) 752-3639
John Lockwood, Clovis CA
(559) 298-1606
Rick Maida, Morgan Hill CA
(408) 778-6885
Scott Malta, Merced CA
(209) 723-4202
Bill Malvey, Ladera Ranch CA
(949) 481-8624
Jerry Neuberger, Santee CA
(619) 258-4477
Bob Reynolds, Tucson AZ
(520) 296-8183
Jon Wilson, Ryde CA
(916) 776-2797
Frequency Coordinators
George Steiner, Sacramento CA
(916) 362-1962
Eloy Marez, Santa Ana CA
(714) 540-4935
District X Volunteers
194 MODEL AVIATION
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Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/01
Page Numbers: 194