April 2004 187
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT (AVP)
Jim Giffin of Rancho Murieta, California,
reports on the 25th annual Golden State
Championships and the 2003 Sierra Cup. Jim
is out of the Sacramento area and covers
Northern and Central California.
“The 25th annual Golden State Stunt
Championships were held Saturday, October
18, 2003, in Clovis, California. This event
was directed by contest director (CD) Bill
Swan. The contest ran for two days and had
more than 63 contestants flying in more than
four categories. Bill has CDed this event
since its inception.
“This may be the last year for the event in
Clovis. The event organizers are considering
moving the 2004 Golden State to Mavis
Henson Field in Woodland/Davis, California.
Phillip Granderson of Oakland, California,
and his Control Line Stunt Diva.
Pilots and their aircraft wait their turn in the
contest circle at the 25th annual Golden
State Championships.
“October 17 was the start date for the 2003
Sierra Cup Free Flight (FF) Championships.
This event ran for four days and was a
tremendous success with numerous
contestants. The flying site was Waegell Field
in Rancho Cordova, California. What more
could you ask for—flying and dirt biking?
Mike McKeever of Fair Oaks, California,
with his F1C-power FF aircraft in hand.
Mike served as CD for the 2003 Sierra Cup
at Waegell Field in Rancho Cordova,
California.
“Remember: what goes up, must come
down. Keep it safe!”
Giant Scale Air Racing is alive, well, and
flying along the Colorado River in Parker,
Arizona. Kelley Hartranft provided the
following report on the 2003 Unlimited Scale
Racing Association (USRA) Blue Water
River Run Giant Scale Air Race. The photos
are courtesy of Chris Luvara at
StickandRudderPhoto.com.
“Pilots and crews from across the nation
packed their Giant Scale Race airplanes and
gear into their trailers and headed to the
Arizona desert for the third race of the 2003
USRA Championship Series in Parker,
Arizona.
“Denny and Barbara Baker together with
the Blue Water Resort and Casino and pulled
out all the stops to throw the first annual Blue
Water River Run.
Ray Thompson makes last-minute
adjustments on Jerry Bradley’s Formula
One at the 2003 Blue Water River Run.
“It was great to see the largest entry field
in several years at the race. There were 63
entries in seven different classes. The
standard USRA classes were represented—
Biplane, AT-6, Formula 1, Unlimited, and
Experimental—as well as two additional
classes: Dominator and Formula 1 GT gas.
“With great sponsorships from CRT,
Horizon Hobbies, AeroSport, Eagle Tree
Systems, Airtronics, and the Blue Water
Resort and Casino, the race promoters were
able to keep the entry fees to a minimum and
still have big payouts and prizes. Giant Scale
Racing is definitely growing!
Brian Lopez makes a quick landing-gear
repair on his father Diego’s Kelly and is
back in the race.
“More than $8,000 in cash (including a
$1,000 first-place prize in both Unlimited and
Formula 1) and $5,000 in prizes was won by
pilots in various classes as well as via
drawings for Zenoah Motors where all pilots
were eligible.
“I watched a Formula 1 battle between
Fred French and Ken McSpadden only to
turn right around and see Archie Snider and
Dave Smith duke it out in an Unlimited heat
race that was so unbelievably close around
Pylon two that both aircraft finishing the race
in one piece was a true testament to the skills
of the pilots and their callers.”
Chuck and Bruce Brown, Team Futaba,
take a break as the new USRA Lanier
Dominator 1500 Class provides an
opportunity for entry-level pilots to get a
hands-on feel for Giant Scale racing.
Thank you, Jim and Kelly. I hope to see
all the Giant Scale Racing enthusiasts
October 14-17 in Parker for the 2004 USRA
Blue Water River Run.
Till next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Associate Vice Presidents
Glenn Carter Walnut Creek CA (925) 933-2086
Jim Giffin Sacramento CA (916) 296-6165
Wayne Hamada Honolulu HI (808) 521-7733
Bill Malvey Ladera Ranch CA (949) 481-8621
Jerry Neuberger Santee CA (619) 258-4477
Bob Reynolds Tucson AZ (520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinators
George Steiner Sacramento CA (916) 362-1962
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and
Coordinators)
Arizona / California / Hawaii /
Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson
Vice President
PO Box 3312
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site : www.ama10.org
District X Report
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 187