144 MODEL AVIATION
Politics, politics, and Pylon rules changes
Also included in this column:
• Get the “fever”
• Nifty CG gauge from Travis
Flynn
• 424 Championship race to be
held at Whittier Narrows
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Matt Russell
SuperT Radio Control Products’ CG Machine as it comes out of the package.
The CG Machine shown in use. Don’t go racing without this device!
IT’S HARD NOT to be political this year,
and we all have our personal opinions
about how things should be. We are
correct in our views because we couldn’t
have opinions without feeling that we
were right about what we believe. I will
try to keep my opinions to myself and
allow you to make up your own mind.
It is important that you participate in
the political process, or others will make
the decisions that affect you for you. It is
a certainty that some people who don’t
take part will complain loudly after the
fact, when the outcome is determined—
and I don’t want you to fall into that
group.
I am referring to the rules changes that
are afoot in Pylon Racing. Several items
are being addressed during this ruleschange
cycle, and there would have been a
few more if I had been paying attention to
the rules-cycle calendar. If you are racing
now, or have an interest in racing if the
rules were changed, you need to educate
yourself so you can contact your Contest
Board director and express your opinion.
A few rules changes are proposed for
Quickie 500 (AMA event 428), or Q-500,
and Quarter 40 (AMA event 422), or Q-
40. In various ways and from several
different submissions, there are
suggestions for slowing this event. Two
reasons are generally given for wanting
to slow it down, the first of which is to
reduce cost and difficulty, therefore
attracting more racers to the event.
The other reason is to create more of
a difference in speed between Q-500 and
Q-40. The proposed changes are
significant; some would disallow the
engines we have been racing.
WWJD—What Would Jimmy Do?
Regardless of what the resulting rules
changes are, we all need to examine our
individual efforts to recruit and expose
others to racing.
I enjoyed reading a thread on the
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association (NMPRA) Web site forum
about Jim Shinohara. He passed away 10
years ago, after suffering a heart attack
while in Europe participating in the FAI
World Championships. If you read this
thread and the “History” pages on Dave
Shadel’s Performance Specialties Web
site, you will notice that they share a
theme: Jim had an infectious passion for
fun and for helping people.
Two years ago Gary Freeman Jr.
started a popular thread titled “The
Dying Days of Racing.” I condensed the
posts and forwarded them to the
members of my local racing club here in
04sig5.QXD 2/25/08 9:06 AM Page 144
April 2008 145
Spokane for people to consider. We have
brainstormed and discussed various ways
to improve the attendance and attract
more participants at our events.
In the Southeast Don Stegall set out to
demonstrate racer models to other sport
fliers by outfitting a trailer with demo
aircraft and as a mobile hobby shop.
One of the racers in my area, Thom
Martin, related to me the results of a poll
taken some years back. It asked
numerous modelers what they liked most
about their hobby.
The overwhelming answers were the
social aspect of getting together with
other people who share a common
interest. I stopped by the race at Whittier
Narrows, California, last fall while I was
on a layover and had almost as much fun
saying hello and visiting the racers as I
would have if I had been able to
participate.
Ultimately the key to expanding our
sport has got to come from within. If each
of us who is actively racing sets a goal to
mentor a new racer each year, we would
more than offset those who lose interest
and drop out. Maybe one-third of the
pilots who get started will have the
“fever” and stick with it.
Racing can be expensive, but not any
more so than any other aspects of
modeling or recreating. (Traveling to outof-
town races is by far the most expensive
part of my hobby.) How many of us have
a spare Q-500 we could fix up for a new
racer to use in the Sport Quickie (AMA
event 424) class? A new flier doesn’t need
the fastest model to get started, and ARFs
fly great even if they are a little banged
up.
Twenty-six years ago my friend, Jim
Booker, invited me to come watch the
NMPRA Championship Race, which was
held in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had been
flying models for years, but the beautifully
finished Formula 1 models being flown so
aggressively totally blew me away. I met
some of the neatest people and instantly
had the “fever.”
When I got home I immediately set out
building my first Pylon racers. We raced
Quickie locally, and Jim contributed a
reparable Little Toni Formula 1 model I
began to patch up. For the next couple
years Jim coached and counseled my
efforts in racing. I never could have been
able to participate without his guidance
and mentoring.
Travis, Dave, and others benefited
from Jim Shinohara’s generosity, and
fliers in my area benefited from Jim
Booker’s. Who will benefit from yours?
New Product: I purchased a nifty CG
gauge from Travis Flynn at SuperT Radio
Control Products. This laser-cut unit
assembles quickly and can break down for
travel. I have used it in the shop and at the
field.
For a price of $35, you can’t be
without one. This device will be in my
toolbox from now on!
New Event: A recent development on the
race scene is a Sport Quickie
championship, which will be held at
Whittier Narrows May 17-18, with the 16th
being a practice day. This will be a contest
for two classes: Standard and Expert.
All types of Q-500 airframes will be
allowed, including composites that are
normally excluded from this event. The
race will be held on the short course, so the
competition should be exciting. Check the
NMPRA Web site for more information.
That’s all for this month. If you have
information you would like me to publish
here, call ([509] 869-6300) or E-mail me.
Thanks for your time. See you in two
months. Keep it out of the dirt. MA
Sources:
NMPRA
www.nmpra.org
Performance Specialties
(775) 265-7523
www.pspec.com
SuperT Radio Control Products
(847) 878-4161
www.supertrc.com
Visit the AMA Education Committee Web site at
www.modelaircraft.org/education.aspx
America’s
Modeling
Adventure
For information about how to become a part of this
exciting sport, contact:
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256 or (800) 435-9262 [(800) I-FLY-AMA)]
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig5.QXD 2/25/08 9:47 AM Page 145
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/04
Page Numbers: 144,145
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/04
Page Numbers: 144,145
144 MODEL AVIATION
Politics, politics, and Pylon rules changes
Also included in this column:
• Get the “fever”
• Nifty CG gauge from Travis
Flynn
• 424 Championship race to be
held at Whittier Narrows
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Matt Russell
SuperT Radio Control Products’ CG Machine as it comes out of the package.
The CG Machine shown in use. Don’t go racing without this device!
IT’S HARD NOT to be political this year,
and we all have our personal opinions
about how things should be. We are
correct in our views because we couldn’t
have opinions without feeling that we
were right about what we believe. I will
try to keep my opinions to myself and
allow you to make up your own mind.
It is important that you participate in
the political process, or others will make
the decisions that affect you for you. It is
a certainty that some people who don’t
take part will complain loudly after the
fact, when the outcome is determined—
and I don’t want you to fall into that
group.
I am referring to the rules changes that
are afoot in Pylon Racing. Several items
are being addressed during this ruleschange
cycle, and there would have been a
few more if I had been paying attention to
the rules-cycle calendar. If you are racing
now, or have an interest in racing if the
rules were changed, you need to educate
yourself so you can contact your Contest
Board director and express your opinion.
A few rules changes are proposed for
Quickie 500 (AMA event 428), or Q-500,
and Quarter 40 (AMA event 422), or Q-
40. In various ways and from several
different submissions, there are
suggestions for slowing this event. Two
reasons are generally given for wanting
to slow it down, the first of which is to
reduce cost and difficulty, therefore
attracting more racers to the event.
The other reason is to create more of
a difference in speed between Q-500 and
Q-40. The proposed changes are
significant; some would disallow the
engines we have been racing.
WWJD—What Would Jimmy Do?
Regardless of what the resulting rules
changes are, we all need to examine our
individual efforts to recruit and expose
others to racing.
I enjoyed reading a thread on the
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association (NMPRA) Web site forum
about Jim Shinohara. He passed away 10
years ago, after suffering a heart attack
while in Europe participating in the FAI
World Championships. If you read this
thread and the “History” pages on Dave
Shadel’s Performance Specialties Web
site, you will notice that they share a
theme: Jim had an infectious passion for
fun and for helping people.
Two years ago Gary Freeman Jr.
started a popular thread titled “The
Dying Days of Racing.” I condensed the
posts and forwarded them to the
members of my local racing club here in
04sig5.QXD 2/25/08 9:06 AM Page 144
April 2008 145
Spokane for people to consider. We have
brainstormed and discussed various ways
to improve the attendance and attract
more participants at our events.
In the Southeast Don Stegall set out to
demonstrate racer models to other sport
fliers by outfitting a trailer with demo
aircraft and as a mobile hobby shop.
One of the racers in my area, Thom
Martin, related to me the results of a poll
taken some years back. It asked
numerous modelers what they liked most
about their hobby.
The overwhelming answers were the
social aspect of getting together with
other people who share a common
interest. I stopped by the race at Whittier
Narrows, California, last fall while I was
on a layover and had almost as much fun
saying hello and visiting the racers as I
would have if I had been able to
participate.
Ultimately the key to expanding our
sport has got to come from within. If each
of us who is actively racing sets a goal to
mentor a new racer each year, we would
more than offset those who lose interest
and drop out. Maybe one-third of the
pilots who get started will have the
“fever” and stick with it.
Racing can be expensive, but not any
more so than any other aspects of
modeling or recreating. (Traveling to outof-
town races is by far the most expensive
part of my hobby.) How many of us have
a spare Q-500 we could fix up for a new
racer to use in the Sport Quickie (AMA
event 424) class? A new flier doesn’t need
the fastest model to get started, and ARFs
fly great even if they are a little banged
up.
Twenty-six years ago my friend, Jim
Booker, invited me to come watch the
NMPRA Championship Race, which was
held in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had been
flying models for years, but the beautifully
finished Formula 1 models being flown so
aggressively totally blew me away. I met
some of the neatest people and instantly
had the “fever.”
When I got home I immediately set out
building my first Pylon racers. We raced
Quickie locally, and Jim contributed a
reparable Little Toni Formula 1 model I
began to patch up. For the next couple
years Jim coached and counseled my
efforts in racing. I never could have been
able to participate without his guidance
and mentoring.
Travis, Dave, and others benefited
from Jim Shinohara’s generosity, and
fliers in my area benefited from Jim
Booker’s. Who will benefit from yours?
New Product: I purchased a nifty CG
gauge from Travis Flynn at SuperT Radio
Control Products. This laser-cut unit
assembles quickly and can break down for
travel. I have used it in the shop and at the
field.
For a price of $35, you can’t be
without one. This device will be in my
toolbox from now on!
New Event: A recent development on the
race scene is a Sport Quickie
championship, which will be held at
Whittier Narrows May 17-18, with the 16th
being a practice day. This will be a contest
for two classes: Standard and Expert.
All types of Q-500 airframes will be
allowed, including composites that are
normally excluded from this event. The
race will be held on the short course, so the
competition should be exciting. Check the
NMPRA Web site for more information.
That’s all for this month. If you have
information you would like me to publish
here, call ([509] 869-6300) or E-mail me.
Thanks for your time. See you in two
months. Keep it out of the dirt. MA
Sources:
NMPRA
www.nmpra.org
Performance Specialties
(775) 265-7523
www.pspec.com
SuperT Radio Control Products
(847) 878-4161
www.supertrc.com
Visit the AMA Education Committee Web site at
www.modelaircraft.org/education.aspx
America’s
Modeling
Adventure
For information about how to become a part of this
exciting sport, contact:
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256 or (800) 435-9262 [(800) I-FLY-AMA)]
www.modelaircraft.org
04sig5.QXD 2/25/08 9:47 AM Page 145