District X - 2011/06

150 MODEL AVIATION
District X
Lawrence Tougas, District X Vice President; [email protected]
Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
AN ACCOUNT of the Vintage Stunt
Championships was generously provided by
MA Editor Emeritus Bob Hunt. Enjoy!
In 1989 Mike Keville and his wife,
JoAnn, hosted a contest at Whittier Narrows
in California, for vintage CL models and
called it the Vintage Stunt Championships
(VSC). Mike Keville wanted to see his
favorite vintage models and as many of
CL’s great pilots fly as possible. He couldn’t
travel to see them all at their home fields, so
he devised a plan to make them come to
him!
The first VSC was a resounding success.
There were two events flown: Old-Time
Stunt (OTS) and Nostalgia Stunt (which
would later be renamed Classic Stunt). OTS
was developed by John Miske and it was
first flown in 1970 at the Garden State
Circle Burners’ field in Lincoln Park, New
Jersey. The rules of the event stated that the
models flown had to be designed before
1953. OTS became a staple of CL contests
from coast to coast very quickly.
Most of the models from that era did not
employ operating flaps, but some did, and
the flaps increased the performance of the
models significantly. When the OTS event
was designed there was a 20-point penalty
for flying a model fitted with operating
flaps. It was eventually reduced to a 10-
point penalty.
Three generations of CL pilots (L-R) Scott,
Robert Jr., and Robert Harnes Sr.
Left: VSC founder
Mike Keville.
Below: VSC CD
Lou Wolgast.
The
Nostalgia
Stunt event
was the
brainchild of
Doc Passen
and Tom Dixon. It was designed with a
rolling cutoff date for designs of 30 years.
This meant that new designs would become
eligible each year. It became apparent that a
permanent cutoff date would be required so
that the more modern designs would not
dominate the event. The final cutoff date
was set at December 31, 1969. The name of
the event was also changed to Classic Stunt.
Classic Stunt models characteristically
are fitted with operating flaps, although
some opt to fly OTS designs in this event. In
1990 the Kevilles moved to Tucson,
Arizona, and moved the contest with them to
the Cholla Choppers’ Christopher Columbus
Flying Field. The Cholla Chopper members
embraced the concept of VSC and provided
the manpower to run the contest. The contest
has flourished, with a peak participation of
169 entries. Contestants have come from
England, Germany, Switzerland, Japan,
Brazil, Netherlands, Australia, and Canada.
The Cholla Chopper Model Airplane
Club is one of the oldest clubs in existence,
dating to approximately 1947. The
continued support of the City of Tucson
Parks and Recreation Department helped the
site to be developed into its current six
flying circles (three paved, three grass).
After the move to Tucson, a separate
event for Ignition OTS was added, bringing
the contest menu to three vintage CL events.
The rest is history, as the Vintage Stunt
Championships has become one of the
premiere CL contests in the world.
This year marked the 23rd VSC and it
was contested March 15-19. Attendance was
down slightly, but it was still well attended
and was a resounding success. Adding to the
fun was a string of virtually perfect flying
days with little to no wind and temperatures
in the mid-to-high 80s.
Notable achievements at VSC included
winning flights in both Ignition OTS and the
regular OTS event by Joe Gilbert of
Sapulpa, Oklahoma. This is a feat that has
never been accomplished at VSC, and Joe
won both events with the same ignition
engine-powered, Ted Snow-designed
Humongous.
Bob Hunt, from Stockertown,
Pennsylvania, won the Classic Stunt event
for the fifth time in a row. He flew a replica
of his Caprice, a model he designed in 1967.
This was the seventh win overall in the
Classic Stunt event for Bob.
My thanks go out to VSC Lou Wolgast
and Robin Sizemore for inviting me to attend
this unique and popular contest.
Bob Hunt’s Caprice.
If you have any interest in CL Aerobatics
and/or vintage models, then don’t miss next
year’s VSC. It is scheduled for March 13-17.
There are a number of “special” awards
presented at VSC each year, including the
Keeper of the Flame award, presented to
Bob Hunt. The entire list of winners and
volunteers can be found on the District X
website along with Bob’s complete report.
We have more than 70 pictures from the
VSC on our District X website at www.ama
10.org. Select the link to albums and enjoy.
If you’re not visiting the District X
website, you’re missing out on some good
stuff so check out the blog weekly.
Until next month, may you have nothing
but happy landings.
Lawrence Tougas
Vice President
1827 Santa Monica St.,
Fairfield CA 94533
Tel.: (707) 480-2053
[email protected]
www.ama10.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA
(619) 427-6392;
[email protected]
Denny Baker, Brentwood CA
(925) 513-1224; [email protected]
Duke Chung, Honolulu HI
(808) 421-1094;
[email protected]
Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV
(702) 870-6242;
[email protected]
Kevin Houser, Oro Valley AZ
(520) 490-7657;
[email protected]
Tim Johnson, Downey CA.
(562) 965-4288;
[email protected]
Rick Maida, Morgan Hill CA
(408) 778-6885; [email protected]
Scott Malta, Merced CA
(209) 723-4202;
[email protected]
Roger Willis, Buckeye AZ.
(760) 604-6773;
[email protected]
Contest Coordinators
Ellis Hall, Fair Oaks CA (North);
(916) 217-6302; [email protected]
Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA;
(619) 427-6392;
[email protected]
District X Volunteers
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