The Electric Formula One class is in
development. The LR-1A Pogo, in
front, is a prototype from E-flite that
is roughly 25-class size.
I am excIted about the opportunity to
write for MA. Scott Causey’s new job
provides him with no time to support this
column. As his Pylon teammate, it seemed
natural for me to jump in and take it on.
I’ll start with a quick overview of my RC
Pylon Racing background. I’m 33 years old. I
am married to a very tolerant and beautiful
wife named Michele. My daughter is 4 years
old and my son will turn 2 this June. My
family is tremendous, and we’ve made some
great Pylon memories in the last few years.
I’ve been actively racing for six years,
after a long hiatus. I grew up in Montana, racing Quickie 500 (K&Bs,
Rossis, and Nelsons), or Q-500, and Formula 1 as a kid. Those were
some great years, traveling to contests with my father, Earl; brother,
Brian; and a big group from Billings.
We would load up, bench race (do some racing smack talk) the
whole way there, race hard all weekend, and bench race all the way
home. I learned a lot about maturity, the thrill of victory, the agony of
defeat, and how to compete.
I am extremely competitive and race to win. But as I’ve aged, found
a career, and had a family, I’ve learned to appreciate everything else
that goes along with an RC Pylon race, win or lose.
The friendships forged with Pylon racers from across the country
have become as important, if not more so, than winning. RC Pylon
Greetings, racing fans!
June 2010 123
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
MA’s new RC Pylon Racing
author prepares to start his
Chuck Bridge-built Vortex at
the 2009 AMA Nats.
Ken Van Tyle (near) and Dan Ulledahl (far)
launch Great Planes Vipers during a Q-500
(AMA event 428) race Also included in this column: in Paola, Kansas.
• What I like; your results may vary
• NMPRA Electric Formula One
• Quick tricks
• The improved NMPRA Web site
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/22/10 11:06 AM Page 123
Racing provides me with an escape from the
stresses of my job. Race weekend allows me to
act like a kid and race model airplanes with
people I enjoy.
Last year I was fortunate enough to win
Quarter 40, or Q-40, and the Overall AMA
National Championship. I’ll try not to bore
you with a glory-day recap, but it truly was a
dream come true. There is something special
about winning the AMA Nats, and it’s a
memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Equipment Preferences (Biases): In Sport
Quickie (AMA event 424) I fly a Great Planes
Viper with the standard Thunder Tiger Pro .40
engine. In future columns I’ll cover the
modifications I use to beef up some weak
areas on the aircraft.
The Viper is a good-flying model for Q-
500, is reasonably priced, and is perfect for
local racing. My next Viper will likely be the
Ready-to-Cover (RTC) version, although the
ARF goes together quickly and keeps the time
investment to a minimum.
I’m a big fan of Sport Quickie on the
475.5-foot AMA short course. The local
interest we’ve generated in the Kansas City/
Wichita, Kansas, region has been fantastic.
The AMA short course equates to 2 miles for a
10-lap race, compared to 2.5 miles for the
AMA long course.
The Sport Quickie class is an excellent
entry-level event when flown on the short
course. It equalizes airframe performance and
provides great racing action for novice and
experienced racers.
For Q-500 (AMA event 428) I have one
Bird of Prey from Lyle Larson of California
Speed Pros. This old model was actually the
first Q-500 aircraft I bought. Lyle made me
a deal on a couple of preowned kits two
days before my wedding. I fly this design at
local races and at Can-Am Pylon Society
events.
I own two Vortex racers that Chuck Bridge
constructed. He is a phenomenal builder, and
the Vortex has been a proven winner for many
years. Randy Bridge was extraordinarily
helpful during my re-entry into the sport and
called for me during an entire season.
I try to stay loyal to both Lyle and the
Bridges, to repay their support throughout the
years. I can gear up a Chuck Bridge Vortex in
124 MODEL AVIATION
one nap time (approximately three hours),
which helps keep things smooth on the home
front.
In Q-40 (AMA event 422) I fly the Proud
Bird II from Lyle Larson of California Speed
Pros. Fuselage and vertical fin changes
corrected some flight characteristics of the
initial design. It felt like it sank going around
the poles and climbed with full rudder input
during takeoff.
The recent increase in horsepower of the
long-stroke engines has put the Proud Bird
wing and airfoil in its sweet spot. The model
takes off well and accelerates hard on the first
lap.
The wing seems well suited for the current
speeds we’re running, but it will not turn as
hard as on some other designs. If you own a
Proud Bird II, try backing down the elevator
throw slightly to scrub less speed through the
turns.
Q-40 is hands down my favorite event. The
models look cool and fly on rails. The speeds
are approximately 190 mph on the course. The
first time I flew a Q-40 racer, I was hooked.
The ratio of adrenaline rush per dollar spent
associated with this class is unequaled.
NMPRA Electric Formula One: An RC Pylon
Racing event that is being developed has
created quite a buzz. The class is called
“Electric Formula One,” and the models are
fashioned after full-scale Reno racers.
This event is centered around equipment
available at hobby shops, which appeals to a
broader audience. The rules are written around
an airframe with a 375-square-inch wing area,
built with standard ARF materials. E-flite is
prototyping an LR-1A Pogo ARF, which
became available this spring.
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association (NMPRA) President Scott
McAfee pledged to have electric-powered
Pylon models to demonstrate at the 2009
AMA Nats. With the help of Jerry Small of
Texas, a longtime Pylon innovator, Scott
delivered. Pete Bergstrom of Horizon Hobby
has also been a great advocate of Electric
Formula One and has spearheaded the LR-1A
development.
Numerous modelers are designing and
building kits for this new class. These racers
look great and, by all accounts, fly awesome.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on
one soon, to provide you with first-hand
information.
For more information and great photos,
check out the discussion thread titled
“NMPRA Electric Formula One Racing is
Here!” on the RCGroups Web site.
Quick Tricks: Use your model’s CG to trim
the straightaway. If your airplane feels like it’s
drifting in toward the pylon as it travels from
Pylon Three to Pylon One, it’s nose-heavy.
Slide the CG back.
A tail-heavy model will not want to drop
the nose on landing and seems jumpy on the
course. Work the CG by shifting the battery
location.
Use the rudder to trim your model’s yaw in
the straights. If the tail is hanging low or high,
trim it out with a couple clicks of rudder.
Flying with the tail up or down exposes the side
of the fuselage, which acts like a parachute.
If your model feels like it dives or balloons
up through the turns, use lead tape or coins to
add weight to a wingtip. If the tail kicks up, the
airplane needs tip weight on the top wing, and
vice versa. If the tail wants to kick down
through the turn, add low tip weight.
Don’t try to figure out why this works;
simply accept that it does. At least that’s what I
finally had to do.
New NMPRAWeb site: The National
Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA)
has an updated Web site, thanks to the vision
and dedication of NMPRA President Scott
McAfee. I am excited to have been chosen to
lead the team that developed it.
The development team included Jim Allen,
Randy Bridge, Mike Helsel, Scott McAfee,
Dave Norman, and Tom Scott. What a
tremendous group of experienced racers with
which to work. I may be biased, but we have
delivered a nice product to current and future
NMPRA members.
A great deal of time was spent defining and
organizing information that would appeal to
new and seasoned Pylon racers. Content
includes rule information, radio-equipment
preferences, manufacturer lists, how-to articles,
event results, and tons of other Pylon
information.
Exciting pictures were a must, and we
designed each page with a unique racing photo.
The NMPRA forum is a great place to get
advice from racers around the world. The photo
gallery features numerous event pictures from
the past five or six years. Scott Causey provided
most of those pictures, and they definitely
capture the excitement of RC Pylon Racing.
I am hopeful that this column has spurred your
interest. I encourage you to check out the new
NMPRA Web site and learn more about this
exciting sport. If you have questions or
comments about this column, or requests for
future topics, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
Race hard! MA
Sources:
Great Planes
(800) 637-6050
www.greatplanes.com
California Speed Pros
(605) 787-6340
www.calspeedpros.com
Can-Am Pylon Racing Society
www.capsracing.com
E-flite
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
NMPRA
www.nmpra.org
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/06
Page Numbers: 123,124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/06
Page Numbers: 123,124
The Electric Formula One class is in
development. The LR-1A Pogo, in
front, is a prototype from E-flite that
is roughly 25-class size.
I am excIted about the opportunity to
write for MA. Scott Causey’s new job
provides him with no time to support this
column. As his Pylon teammate, it seemed
natural for me to jump in and take it on.
I’ll start with a quick overview of my RC
Pylon Racing background. I’m 33 years old. I
am married to a very tolerant and beautiful
wife named Michele. My daughter is 4 years
old and my son will turn 2 this June. My
family is tremendous, and we’ve made some
great Pylon memories in the last few years.
I’ve been actively racing for six years,
after a long hiatus. I grew up in Montana, racing Quickie 500 (K&Bs,
Rossis, and Nelsons), or Q-500, and Formula 1 as a kid. Those were
some great years, traveling to contests with my father, Earl; brother,
Brian; and a big group from Billings.
We would load up, bench race (do some racing smack talk) the
whole way there, race hard all weekend, and bench race all the way
home. I learned a lot about maturity, the thrill of victory, the agony of
defeat, and how to compete.
I am extremely competitive and race to win. But as I’ve aged, found
a career, and had a family, I’ve learned to appreciate everything else
that goes along with an RC Pylon race, win or lose.
The friendships forged with Pylon racers from across the country
have become as important, if not more so, than winning. RC Pylon
Greetings, racing fans!
June 2010 123
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
MA’s new RC Pylon Racing
author prepares to start his
Chuck Bridge-built Vortex at
the 2009 AMA Nats.
Ken Van Tyle (near) and Dan Ulledahl (far)
launch Great Planes Vipers during a Q-500
(AMA event 428) race Also included in this column: in Paola, Kansas.
• What I like; your results may vary
• NMPRA Electric Formula One
• Quick tricks
• The improved NMPRA Web site
06sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 4/22/10 11:06 AM Page 123
Racing provides me with an escape from the
stresses of my job. Race weekend allows me to
act like a kid and race model airplanes with
people I enjoy.
Last year I was fortunate enough to win
Quarter 40, or Q-40, and the Overall AMA
National Championship. I’ll try not to bore
you with a glory-day recap, but it truly was a
dream come true. There is something special
about winning the AMA Nats, and it’s a
memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Equipment Preferences (Biases): In Sport
Quickie (AMA event 424) I fly a Great Planes
Viper with the standard Thunder Tiger Pro .40
engine. In future columns I’ll cover the
modifications I use to beef up some weak
areas on the aircraft.
The Viper is a good-flying model for Q-
500, is reasonably priced, and is perfect for
local racing. My next Viper will likely be the
Ready-to-Cover (RTC) version, although the
ARF goes together quickly and keeps the time
investment to a minimum.
I’m a big fan of Sport Quickie on the
475.5-foot AMA short course. The local
interest we’ve generated in the Kansas City/
Wichita, Kansas, region has been fantastic.
The AMA short course equates to 2 miles for a
10-lap race, compared to 2.5 miles for the
AMA long course.
The Sport Quickie class is an excellent
entry-level event when flown on the short
course. It equalizes airframe performance and
provides great racing action for novice and
experienced racers.
For Q-500 (AMA event 428) I have one
Bird of Prey from Lyle Larson of California
Speed Pros. This old model was actually the
first Q-500 aircraft I bought. Lyle made me
a deal on a couple of preowned kits two
days before my wedding. I fly this design at
local races and at Can-Am Pylon Society
events.
I own two Vortex racers that Chuck Bridge
constructed. He is a phenomenal builder, and
the Vortex has been a proven winner for many
years. Randy Bridge was extraordinarily
helpful during my re-entry into the sport and
called for me during an entire season.
I try to stay loyal to both Lyle and the
Bridges, to repay their support throughout the
years. I can gear up a Chuck Bridge Vortex in
124 MODEL AVIATION
one nap time (approximately three hours),
which helps keep things smooth on the home
front.
In Q-40 (AMA event 422) I fly the Proud
Bird II from Lyle Larson of California Speed
Pros. Fuselage and vertical fin changes
corrected some flight characteristics of the
initial design. It felt like it sank going around
the poles and climbed with full rudder input
during takeoff.
The recent increase in horsepower of the
long-stroke engines has put the Proud Bird
wing and airfoil in its sweet spot. The model
takes off well and accelerates hard on the first
lap.
The wing seems well suited for the current
speeds we’re running, but it will not turn as
hard as on some other designs. If you own a
Proud Bird II, try backing down the elevator
throw slightly to scrub less speed through the
turns.
Q-40 is hands down my favorite event. The
models look cool and fly on rails. The speeds
are approximately 190 mph on the course. The
first time I flew a Q-40 racer, I was hooked.
The ratio of adrenaline rush per dollar spent
associated with this class is unequaled.
NMPRA Electric Formula One: An RC Pylon
Racing event that is being developed has
created quite a buzz. The class is called
“Electric Formula One,” and the models are
fashioned after full-scale Reno racers.
This event is centered around equipment
available at hobby shops, which appeals to a
broader audience. The rules are written around
an airframe with a 375-square-inch wing area,
built with standard ARF materials. E-flite is
prototyping an LR-1A Pogo ARF, which
became available this spring.
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association (NMPRA) President Scott
McAfee pledged to have electric-powered
Pylon models to demonstrate at the 2009
AMA Nats. With the help of Jerry Small of
Texas, a longtime Pylon innovator, Scott
delivered. Pete Bergstrom of Horizon Hobby
has also been a great advocate of Electric
Formula One and has spearheaded the LR-1A
development.
Numerous modelers are designing and
building kits for this new class. These racers
look great and, by all accounts, fly awesome.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on
one soon, to provide you with first-hand
information.
For more information and great photos,
check out the discussion thread titled
“NMPRA Electric Formula One Racing is
Here!” on the RCGroups Web site.
Quick Tricks: Use your model’s CG to trim
the straightaway. If your airplane feels like it’s
drifting in toward the pylon as it travels from
Pylon Three to Pylon One, it’s nose-heavy.
Slide the CG back.
A tail-heavy model will not want to drop
the nose on landing and seems jumpy on the
course. Work the CG by shifting the battery
location.
Use the rudder to trim your model’s yaw in
the straights. If the tail is hanging low or high,
trim it out with a couple clicks of rudder.
Flying with the tail up or down exposes the side
of the fuselage, which acts like a parachute.
If your model feels like it dives or balloons
up through the turns, use lead tape or coins to
add weight to a wingtip. If the tail kicks up, the
airplane needs tip weight on the top wing, and
vice versa. If the tail wants to kick down
through the turn, add low tip weight.
Don’t try to figure out why this works;
simply accept that it does. At least that’s what I
finally had to do.
New NMPRAWeb site: The National
Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA)
has an updated Web site, thanks to the vision
and dedication of NMPRA President Scott
McAfee. I am excited to have been chosen to
lead the team that developed it.
The development team included Jim Allen,
Randy Bridge, Mike Helsel, Scott McAfee,
Dave Norman, and Tom Scott. What a
tremendous group of experienced racers with
which to work. I may be biased, but we have
delivered a nice product to current and future
NMPRA members.
A great deal of time was spent defining and
organizing information that would appeal to
new and seasoned Pylon racers. Content
includes rule information, radio-equipment
preferences, manufacturer lists, how-to articles,
event results, and tons of other Pylon
information.
Exciting pictures were a must, and we
designed each page with a unique racing photo.
The NMPRA forum is a great place to get
advice from racers around the world. The photo
gallery features numerous event pictures from
the past five or six years. Scott Causey provided
most of those pictures, and they definitely
capture the excitement of RC Pylon Racing.
I am hopeful that this column has spurred your
interest. I encourage you to check out the new
NMPRA Web site and learn more about this
exciting sport. If you have questions or
comments about this column, or requests for
future topics, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
Race hard! MA
Sources:
Great Planes
(800) 637-6050
www.greatplanes.com
California Speed Pros
(605) 787-6340
www.calspeedpros.com
Can-Am Pylon Racing Society
www.capsracing.com
E-flite
(800) 338-4639
www.e-fliterc.com
NMPRA
www.nmpra.org
RCGroups
www.rcgroups.com