Frightfully Fast Bash - 2009/05
by Michael Ramsey
Bountiful racing thrills and sportsmanship in the Mojave Desert
Long ago, before anyone knew what the letters in NASCAR stood for, people with hot-rod machines met on secluded tracks to see whose home‑brewed V8 could set the pace. These drivers used cars that were more than likely the same ones they drove to work or to the grocery store. Since the keys were handed to them, tweaks here and there began a relationship that created a racecar and a racecar driver. It was man versus machine, and to do well meant going faster and driving better — and at the top it meant doing both.
The story of full‑scale race airplanes isn’t all that different, except the pockets might be a little deeper. The thrill to go fast dominates, and the adrenaline rush of the race — and the addiction that follows after that first taste — is the only payoff that matters. Rarely does anyone compete for a living; a real competitor does it for the love of racing.
Step it sideways one lick: RC racing is chock full of thrills and that same adrenaline rush, only the risk to one's well‑being is reduced to a small decimal point in the equation. There is an investment; but what if you could taste the thrill of Madera‑ or Reno‑style racing and do it with a fantastic ARF model that is readily available, if not already in your hangar?
The Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) is an AMA SIG born from the spirit of the Reno Air Races: a full‑scale event held once a year in Reno, Nevada. The aircraft used in that competition are modified warbirds, home‑built Formula One aircraft, and other classes that pit civilian aircraft against each other in an entry‑level form of two‑pole competition.
In 2007, the USRA modified its entry‑level class to incorporate Hangar 9's 1/4‑scale Sundowner ARF. It's a great‑flying scale model with an 80‑inch wingspan. As of 2008, the rules were adjusted to allow Sundowners to be powered by any engine, as long as the displacement was within the manufacturer's recommendations. With that change, it was as if the competitor floodgates opened: the Sundowner class exploded with new entries. With a glow‑powered engine, the lightweight model corners extremely well and handles the 1,800‑foot course at a modest speed of 115–140 mph.
Serious Racing
During the 2008 Halloween weekend, the USRA's Frightfully Fast Bash (FFB) took place at the El Mirage Dry Lake in California, home to numerous world land‑speed records. This was the third — and last — race of the season, so it was dubbed the "National Championships."
The turnout for the FFB was stupendous, with more than 65 registered competitors. Twenty‑three entered the Sundowner class alone, and I was one of them. I live in the Midwest and flew out to the contest on a commercial airliner. Some of the behind‑the‑scenes magic at the FFB is the network of members with trailers and campers who regularly travel across the country. With handshakes and secret barter agreements, they transport models, including mine — a benefit of being part of such a fine association of people. They take racing more seriously than breathing, so the care and feeding of model aircraft goes without question.
I thank Peter Goldsmith, Craig Greening, and Kenny McSpadden for delivering my precious Sundowner to the rugged high desert. Upon my arrival they and other good people met me and welcomed me into the USRA group. Dave Wiseman was especially helpful in introducing me, and Eric Hunter, the association president, fielded several of my phone calls prior to the event. I must have asked him every conceivable question about preparing for the race, except for what I should wear — but they have that covered too. I wasn't the only one who forgot clothing basics; thank you, Stacey Hanbury, for making those Wal‑Mart runs. This USRA group is like family.
Scott Baker was the FFB organizer and event director. The event also hosted competitors from Canada and Japan. All the preparation and organization required teamwork and generous spending. One of the great tools employed (and favors spent, I'm sure) was the lap‑timer system that Martin Treat designed and built. It wasn't the prettiest thing to look at unless you're a fan of Tupperware containers, but it worked exceptionally well. The part I liked most was that communication between the pole‑judging groups was coordinated on a 2.4 GHz radio system linked by two Spektrum DX6i transmitters. Some might call the setup hokey, but it was ingenious and reliable.
Since this was my first time flying one of my favorite models in a high‑speed racing competition, I needed veterans to help me through; I had two. First and foremost was my longtime friend Chuck Hebestreit. He is not only an RC pylon‑racing veteran, but also a 1982 land‑speed record holder at El Mirage in the Formula One Sport Class E division. To hang out with him was worth the trip alone, and we got to fly model airplanes — what could be better? Craig Grunkemeyer, who attended the FFB to seal his National Championship, lent a hand whenever he could. Watching him fly was impressive and has me looking at moving up in the future. Craig and Chuck were the calm voices next to me while I flew my Sundowner and watched the three other models that were in the air at the same time. This really is a team sport.
The dry lake bed at El Mirage is a challenging venue, but the vastness of the landing area made up for sometimes‑dirty conditions. We were glad the weather was mostly overcast; that kept sunblock application down to just twice daily. This is a stick‑together crowd, so the campers and tents were huddled close. When nightfall came, we had a blast — and why not? It was Halloween. We handed out candy to the kids, dressed up like ghouls (or wore oil‑ and soot‑coated clothes), and carved pumpkins. Serious racers are also serious about having fun.
My view and experience of the racing at El Mirage is personal, but throughout the race classes other teams and racers were equally involved. Three higher classes were offered at this event: Formula 1 GT, Formula 1, and Unlimited. In that order, speed increases along with the complexity of the airframes and components.
- Formula 1 GT: The next class up from Sundowner. These 1/3‑scale models are flown with the Zenoah GT‑80 engine on gasoline. They are easy to fly, go fast, and their light wing loadings make them friendly. Setup is critical, and landing is typically a bigger challenge than flying due to stiff undercarriage components.
- Formula 1: Uses the same models as GT, except the engines are modified or substituted to run on alcohol. These models fly about 160–180 mph — roughly 20–30 mph faster than the GT class.
- Unlimited: What people pay to see. These models often look like warbirds but with a sleeker profile, streamlined canopies, and sometimes modified wings and tail surfaces. "Unlimited" means builders can do almost anything to make these models go as fast as possible, frequently using engines in the 150cc–250cc displacement range.
Safety is of the utmost concern with the USRA. Not a single airplane gets to the flightline without a stringent safety check and inspection. If a model is repaired during the race, it must visit the inspection team again.
The three‑day competition scheduled the four classes to race twice on Friday and twice on Saturday, with a plan for three races on Saturday, final races on Sunday morning, and then the Gold finals. Wouldn't you know it — unseasonable rains doused the surrounding area and eventually the "dry" lake bed. Our event was cut short by the ranger's orders to evacuate. We had to "bug out" quickly, stowing mechanics' tents, campers, E‑Z UP canopies, golf carts, and picnic tables across the 8‑mile‑long facility in less than an hour.
Thanks to the well‑organized crew of volunteers running the event, the FFB was called official, and awards were given at the El Mirage Welcome Station. This is also where the 2009 USRA national records were tallied and winners honored.
A New Year for Racing
The USRA currently has two events scheduled for the 2009 flying season:
- Mid June — Ashtabula, Ohio
- Mid October — California
There is a chance a third event may be added in roughly August in Rantoul, Illinois.
Anyone can enjoy racing, even if you're not participating. As a spectator, the first race is just as nail‑biting as the last. Sometimes the advanced skills of those involved are hard to notice; just a few thousandths of a second can separate competitors. But that doesn't stop the crowd from getting to their feet and cheering.
I'm looking forward to racing my Sundowner with these good people again at the first chance I get.
— Michael Ramsey [email protected]
Sources
- USRA: http://usrainfo.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
