Author: Dave McDonald
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
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CONTROL LINE RACING - 2003/12

Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]

The 77th AMA Nationals (Nats) for Control Line Racing, held July 6–11, is over. This year the side stories were more than the racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a long time; the local area received more than six inches of rain the night before the event and at least an additional four inches by the time it concluded. This made for a great deal of mud and soggy conditions.

Tribute to Jerry "Who" Meyer

Control Line Racing also lost one of its most lovable and enjoyable participants. Jerry "Who" Meyer passed away Monday after the conclusion of the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly. He could show up at a contest with Slow Rats and have enough airplanes and equipment for all of the competitors who would come.

Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I spent many hours, and I will miss him terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and better racing circle. He may be gone, but he will never be out of our thoughts.

NCLRA Fox Racing

NCLRA (National Control Line Racing Association) Fox Racing has traditionally been the starting event.

  • Junior/Senior: only two entries
  • 1st: Jason Stone — 6:33.78
  • 2nd: Doug Short
  • Open: 13 entries; slow qualifying times this year (6:32 to advance)
  • Top qualifiers:
  • Tim Stone — 6:19
  • Tom Schaefer — 6:25
  • Don Burke — 6:32
  • Finals:
  • 1st: Tim Stone — 6:00.56 (2003 Fox Racing Champion)
  • 2nd: Tom Schaefer — 6:33.18
  • 3rd: Don Burke — 7:19

Fox Racing continues to be an event that provides a level playing field for the longtime racer and the relative newcomer.

Slow Rat

Slow Rat remains a challenging event—large, heavy models with powerful Nelson engines require a skilled pilot and team.

  • Entries: 8
  • Transfer qualifiers:
  • Bill Bischoff — under 3:00
  • Mike Greb — under 3:00
  • Russ Green — under 3:00
  • Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth and final transfer spot at 3:05
  • Finals:
  • 1st: Mike Greb — 5:33
  • 2nd: Bill Bischoff — 5:51
  • 3rd: Russ Green — 6:14
  • Jerry Meyer — DNF (tank malfunction)

Clown Racing

Clown Racing was held at the Nats for the first time. Attendance was modest, but the event was well received by participants. Some fine-tuning of the rules is expected, which will likely render many of this year’s airplanes illegal next year and level the playing field.

  • Format: timed event — 7 minutes for heat races, 15 minutes for finals; tanks limited to one ounce; winner completes the most laps.
  • Common engines: Nelsons, old Mokis, some diesels (Nelson popular for mileage and reliability).
  • Controversy: some line snags during pit stops, but overall well received. The event showcased built-up airplanes as well as profiles.
  • Finals:
  • 1st: Dave Hallas — 297 laps (Clown Champ)
  • 2nd: Ralph Aaberg — 286 laps
  • 3rd: Tom Schaefer — 280 laps

Scale Racing

Scale Racing was held Tuesday; only 12 Open fliers attended. Les Akre was dominant.

  • Finals:
  • 1st: Les Akre — 5:58 (Ohm Special with Gillott power)
  • 2nd: Jim Holland — 6:23 (old Bob Fogg airplane)
  • 3rd: Mike Greb — 6:24
  • 4th: Jim Ricketts — 6:26

Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team.

F2C Team Race

Wednesday was F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials at week’s end, most teams used the day for three-up testing.

  • Entries: 6 (relaxing, smooth-paced day)
  • Common equipment: Mazniak or Vorobiey
  • Heat races: Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field; only Fluker/Lambert broke 3:30 in the three-hour rounds; only two other flights broke four minutes.
  • Final:
  • Jim Holland/David Wallick retired early at 46 laps.
  • 1st: Tom Fluker / Dick Lambert — 7:03
  • 2nd: Jim Ricketts / Bob Whitney — 8:19

Rotational speeds and a lack of contests are hurting this event; airplanes are rapidly outpacing pilots.

B Team Race

Also Wednesday. Attendance increased to 10 entries, a nod to classic racing.

  • Results:
  • 1st: Tom Schaefer — 7:13
  • 2nd: Don Burke — 7:30.76
  • 3rd: Paul Haley — 32 laps

Quickie Rat

Quickie Rat is a Thursday favorite—nice-flying airplanes and respectable speeds.

  • Junior/Senior:
  • 1st: Doug Short — 6:59 (avenged Fox Racing defeat)
  • 2nd: Jason Stone
  • Open:
  • Entries: 20; 9 to the final; 3:24 was enough to make the final
  • 1st: Mike Greb — 6:21 (K&B engine with McCollum ring and his own prop)
  • 2nd: Tim Stone — 6:33 (Scorpion design)
  • 3rd: Bob Oge — 6:35
  • 4th: John McCollum — 6:39

Quickie Rat continues to grow in popularity—easy to build, fly, and maintain. Engines are low cost and aftermarket parts are available.

.15 Rat

The first year for .15 Rat ran after Quickie Rat. This class is a welcome change from unflyable .40 Rats and the less-popular .21 Rats.

  • Entries: 6
  • Performance: high-13-second laps in progress; airplanes are extremely flyable due to smaller size.
  • Note: Henry Nelson showed a beautiful half pan—light and well made.
  • Finals:
  • 1st: Mike MacCarthy — 5:58 (inverted-Nelson-powered Rat)
  • 2nd: Tim Stone — 6:02
  • 3rd: Steve Eichenberger — 10:07
  • Vic Garner — 129 laps

This event should grow as engines are available and development continues.

Mouse I & II

Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind exceeded 20 mph, keeping many competitors away.

  • Junior/Senior (Mouse I):
  • 1st: James VanSant
  • 2nd: Wade Schoonover
  • Open (Mouse I):
  • 1st: Russ Green — 5:08 (old John McCollum airplane)
  • 2nd: Jim Holland — 5:16
  • 3rd: Victor Worley — 5:25 (first Nats award)
  • Mouse II:
  • 1st: Bob Whitney — used a Cyclone engine with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
  • 2nd: Mike MacCarthy
  • 3rd: Dave Hallas — also using a Cyclone arrangement

Could it be that the days of the Cox engine are coming to an end? Only time will tell.

Thanks and Acknowledgments

Thanks to the many workers who made this Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again provided the official fuel of Control Line Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for the Fox Racing event and engines for the Junior/Senior division. A big thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for providing awards for most of the unofficial events.

Thanks to all who attended this year. To those who did not attend, you were missed and we hope to see you return next year, not only for the Nats but for the Control Line World Championships.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.