IN THIS column I
am going to
recognize local
races. I strongly
believe local Pylon
races are the
lifeblood of this
sport.
Clubs,
organizers, and
usually the local
pilots spend a great
deal of time and
effort organizing
these events. It only seems right to give them a little ink and
recognize their efforts.
I also will recognize a newer racer and good friend of mine,
Lonnie Finch, of the Kansas City, Missouri, area. Lonnie and
teammate, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, put on quite a show at the
Kansas City Radio Control Association (KCRC) Spring Race in
April.
Lonnie also pumped out roughly a dozen Q-500 models this
past year and is an exceptional builder.
Look for building tips in a future column, since my new shop
is still coming together.
122 MODEL AVIATION
Lonnie Finch, featured in this column, built
this beautiful Vortex during the winter.
(L-R) Scott Causey, Lonnie Finch, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, and
Mike Tallman (in the background) at the spring KCRC Pylon Race.
Right: The Electric Formula 1 lineup from the 2011 Phoenix Q-40
Classic. The second model from the front is Jim Allen’s racer,
which won the Southern California Electric Formula 1.
Old Julian Airport Air Races
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
Also included in this column:
• Kansas City Radio Control
Association Spring Race
• Southern California Electric
Formula 1 Pylon Race
• Racer Lonnie Finch
08sig4xx_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/23/11 1:37 PM Page 122
“A.J. asked me to share the story of
how I got into Pylon Racing. I will also
throw out some thoughts on what the new
racer should think about when they first
get started as well. The best way to
describe how I got into racing is to tell
the story.
“One afternoon, a flying buddy, Mo
Vereecke, and I were at the field messing
around. We were talking to one of the
other modelers, waiting on our turn to fly.
He asked us if we were planning to join
the upcoming KCRC Pylon Race.
“Still being relatively new to flying—
less than a year at the time—I was not
sure what Pylon Racing was. After some
questions, explanations, and a phone call
to the local hobby shop to check on Viper
availability, Mo decided to jump in with
both feet. I decided against it because I
was into the Scale airplanes, like P-51s
and P-40s.
“By the end of the week, Mo had his
Viper set up with a couple tanks run
through the new Thunder Tiger Pro 40.
Long story short, as soon as we hit the
line for his first race—not really knowing
what we were doing—the adrenaline and
excitement hit me like a ton of bricks.
Within a couple weeks, I had purchased a
used Predator and began collecting the
essentials to start racing.
“I was fortunate enough to have one of
the best Pylon racers in the nation take
me under his wing. I am fully engulfed in
the world of Pylon now and travel up to
11 hours to attend races.
“I would now like to provide a couple
suggestions for the new racer.
“First, I would suggest attending one
or two races, if possible, and talk to the
pilots who are competing. Most, if not all,
of the racers will take the time to answer
all your questions and will make you feel
a part of the group. They will explain the
necessities to get started and tips on
setting up your first race plane.
“Secondly, you will see many
‘gadgets’ that the longtime racers use. Do
not worry about running out and
purchasing these things right away. Get
the plane—a used one if possible—and
attend a race or two to make sure you are
going to get the bug before you spend
money on the extras. There are plenty of
them to go around and, as you will
discover, racers are the nicest bunch of
people out there and are more than
willing to share their tools to help a new
racer.
“Finally, get hooked up with a veteran
racer and soak up all the information you
can.”
Thanks for the great information and
your story, Lonnie.
Have fun, race hard! MA
Sources:
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association
www.nmpra.org
Old Julian Airport Air Races
www.oldjulianairport.org
Kansas City Radio Control Association
www.kcradiocontrol.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
IN THIS column I
am going to
recognize local
races. I strongly
believe local Pylon
races are the
lifeblood of this
sport.
Clubs,
organizers, and
usually the local
pilots spend a great
deal of time and
effort organizing
these events. It only seems right to give them a little ink and
recognize their efforts.
I also will recognize a newer racer and good friend of mine,
Lonnie Finch, of the Kansas City, Missouri, area. Lonnie and
teammate, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, put on quite a show at the
Kansas City Radio Control Association (KCRC) Spring Race in
April.
Lonnie also pumped out roughly a dozen Q-500 models this
past year and is an exceptional builder.
Look for building tips in a future column, since my new shop
is still coming together.
122 MODEL AVIATION
Lonnie Finch, featured in this column, built
this beautiful Vortex during the winter.
(L-R) Scott Causey, Lonnie Finch, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, and
Mike Tallman (in the background) at the spring KCRC Pylon Race.
Right: The Electric Formula 1 lineup from the 2011 Phoenix Q-40
Classic. The second model from the front is Jim Allen’s racer,
which won the Southern California Electric Formula 1.
Old Julian Airport Air Races
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
Also included in this column:
• Kansas City Radio Control
Association Spring Race
• Southern California Electric
Formula 1 Pylon Race
• Racer Lonnie Finch
08sig4xx_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/23/11 1:37 PM Page 122
“A.J. asked me to share the story of
how I got into Pylon Racing. I will also
throw out some thoughts on what the new
racer should think about when they first
get started as well. The best way to
describe how I got into racing is to tell
the story.
“One afternoon, a flying buddy, Mo
Vereecke, and I were at the field messing
around. We were talking to one of the
other modelers, waiting on our turn to fly.
He asked us if we were planning to join
the upcoming KCRC Pylon Race.
“Still being relatively new to flying—
less than a year at the time—I was not
sure what Pylon Racing was. After some
questions, explanations, and a phone call
to the local hobby shop to check on Viper
availability, Mo decided to jump in with
both feet. I decided against it because I
was into the Scale airplanes, like P-51s
and P-40s.
“By the end of the week, Mo had his
Viper set up with a couple tanks run
through the new Thunder Tiger Pro 40.
Long story short, as soon as we hit the
line for his first race—not really knowing
what we were doing—the adrenaline and
excitement hit me like a ton of bricks.
Within a couple weeks, I had purchased a
used Predator and began collecting the
essentials to start racing.
“I was fortunate enough to have one of
the best Pylon racers in the nation take
me under his wing. I am fully engulfed in
the world of Pylon now and travel up to
11 hours to attend races.
“I would now like to provide a couple
suggestions for the new racer.
“First, I would suggest attending one
or two races, if possible, and talk to the
pilots who are competing. Most, if not all,
of the racers will take the time to answer
all your questions and will make you feel
a part of the group. They will explain the
necessities to get started and tips on
setting up your first race plane.
“Secondly, you will see many
‘gadgets’ that the longtime racers use. Do
not worry about running out and
purchasing these things right away. Get
the plane—a used one if possible—and
attend a race or two to make sure you are
going to get the bug before you spend
money on the extras. There are plenty of
them to go around and, as you will
discover, racers are the nicest bunch of
people out there and are more than
willing to share their tools to help a new
racer.
“Finally, get hooked up with a veteran
racer and soak up all the information you
can.”
Thanks for the great information and
your story, Lonnie.
Have fun, race hard! MA
Sources:
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association
www.nmpra.org
Old Julian Airport Air Races
www.oldjulianairport.org
Kansas City Radio Control Association
www.kcradiocontrol.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/08
Page Numbers: 122,123,124
IN THIS column I
am going to
recognize local
races. I strongly
believe local Pylon
races are the
lifeblood of this
sport.
Clubs,
organizers, and
usually the local
pilots spend a great
deal of time and
effort organizing
these events. It only seems right to give them a little ink and
recognize their efforts.
I also will recognize a newer racer and good friend of mine,
Lonnie Finch, of the Kansas City, Missouri, area. Lonnie and
teammate, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, put on quite a show at the
Kansas City Radio Control Association (KCRC) Spring Race in
April.
Lonnie also pumped out roughly a dozen Q-500 models this
past year and is an exceptional builder.
Look for building tips in a future column, since my new shop
is still coming together.
122 MODEL AVIATION
Lonnie Finch, featured in this column, built
this beautiful Vortex during the winter.
(L-R) Scott Causey, Lonnie Finch, Maurice “Mo” Vereecke, and
Mike Tallman (in the background) at the spring KCRC Pylon Race.
Right: The Electric Formula 1 lineup from the 2011 Phoenix Q-40
Classic. The second model from the front is Jim Allen’s racer,
which won the Southern California Electric Formula 1.
Old Julian Airport Air Races
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
Also included in this column:
• Kansas City Radio Control
Association Spring Race
• Southern California Electric
Formula 1 Pylon Race
• Racer Lonnie Finch
08sig4xx_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/23/11 1:37 PM Page 122
“A.J. asked me to share the story of
how I got into Pylon Racing. I will also
throw out some thoughts on what the new
racer should think about when they first
get started as well. The best way to
describe how I got into racing is to tell
the story.
“One afternoon, a flying buddy, Mo
Vereecke, and I were at the field messing
around. We were talking to one of the
other modelers, waiting on our turn to fly.
He asked us if we were planning to join
the upcoming KCRC Pylon Race.
“Still being relatively new to flying—
less than a year at the time—I was not
sure what Pylon Racing was. After some
questions, explanations, and a phone call
to the local hobby shop to check on Viper
availability, Mo decided to jump in with
both feet. I decided against it because I
was into the Scale airplanes, like P-51s
and P-40s.
“By the end of the week, Mo had his
Viper set up with a couple tanks run
through the new Thunder Tiger Pro 40.
Long story short, as soon as we hit the
line for his first race—not really knowing
what we were doing—the adrenaline and
excitement hit me like a ton of bricks.
Within a couple weeks, I had purchased a
used Predator and began collecting the
essentials to start racing.
“I was fortunate enough to have one of
the best Pylon racers in the nation take
me under his wing. I am fully engulfed in
the world of Pylon now and travel up to
11 hours to attend races.
“I would now like to provide a couple
suggestions for the new racer.
“First, I would suggest attending one
or two races, if possible, and talk to the
pilots who are competing. Most, if not all,
of the racers will take the time to answer
all your questions and will make you feel
a part of the group. They will explain the
necessities to get started and tips on
setting up your first race plane.
“Secondly, you will see many
‘gadgets’ that the longtime racers use. Do
not worry about running out and
purchasing these things right away. Get
the plane—a used one if possible—and
attend a race or two to make sure you are
going to get the bug before you spend
money on the extras. There are plenty of
them to go around and, as you will
discover, racers are the nicest bunch of
people out there and are more than
willing to share their tools to help a new
racer.
“Finally, get hooked up with a veteran
racer and soak up all the information you
can.”
Thanks for the great information and
your story, Lonnie.
Have fun, race hard! MA
Sources:
National Miniature Pylon Racing
Association
www.nmpra.org
Old Julian Airport Air Races
www.oldjulianairport.org
Kansas City Radio Control Association
www.kcradiocontrol.com
