Radio Control: Pylon Racing

RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING E9 r11 Editors note following onother installment series trial columns potential RC Pylon Racing candidates replace Bill Hager Please let us know reaction applicants efforts year 1997 interesting Pylon Racing has come halt East part Midwest races washouts early turned 1000 heat Tangerine December last race year went some great races around country 1997 best ones thing common limited number entries frequency three created best most-competitive racing ever simplicity low cost changing crystals frequency limiting should enforced contests Contest Directors CDs benefit early entries because firstcome first-serve basis frequencies allows get jump paperwork prior race first heat can go off time Radio Control RC Pylon Racing possibly fastest-growing Academy Model Aeronautics AMA event ever has always entries spectators AMA Nationals Nats People love race watch racing general add third dimension flight cant beat problem RC Pylon Racing has long getting enough worker volunteers issue workers safety takes minimum 13 workers race course safety cages pylons lap-counter table still risk accident workers could somehow removed race course would eliminate risk volunteer problem Jerry Small Small Creations Southlake Dallas TX has decided must way get workers off course run contests electronically Jerry longtime racer has very innovative model design racing business partner Don Downing modeler electronics expert worked together get project off ground After discussing decided electronics would have able 1 Determine competing model crosses startlfinish line 2 Determine competing model breaks imaginary plane Pylon 1 activate light time 3 Determine whether competing model stays outside three pylons Several ideas looked Performance Design firm worked project Two company s three owners Rob Miller Mark Bench both Dallas gave demonstration Small Creations during NMPRA National Miniature Pylon Racing Association Formula Fl Quarter-40 Q-40 champion race weekend Matt Kirkwood Minnesota attendance demonstration showed race airplane would fitted dime-sized transmitter wing race course equipment would placed pylon lap counters table would show laps cuts starting treesimilar what drag racers usewould starting line would flash down clock expired Add laptop software have Rob Mark went out demowith pylons whole worksall inside Jerrys shop enjoyable watch Jerry running lumbering around pylons watching system work think turned about 130 lap time Bad Nike settingnot lean enough system looks great has promise Electronics would also solve model identification problem wouldnt matter whether airplanes heat painted same question-and-answer session followed demonstration several interesting points brought up What race airplane hits pylon damages pylons electronics What rains equipment gets wet What equipment gets hot wants go home questions cant answered until such system place hope AMA will send electronics race CD after race will returned use next event party\demo great time thanks Jerry Sharon Texas hospitality Quarter 40 started out shaky best replaced 15 class several years ago Rule change after emergency rule change discouraged some wouldbe Q-40 pilots first couple years year Q-40 has come its own premiere event racing entries up local clubs adding Q-40 schedules along Quickie airplanes look good easy build fly well engines easy set design wars finished thanks approval committee headed Rick Moreland No design has proven dominant given day comes down props thumbs Three engine manufacturers provide engines Q-40 class racing have won contests Q-40 kits available several configurations conventional foam wing cores glass fuses manufacturers offer composite wing composite wings make building snap once get past sticker shock ready bolt out box dont require painting hurry have stick race number wing ready go 1 hope have future quick easy tips build Q-40s carve props get special things support racing interested Pylon Racing dont know get started join NMPRA SIG Special Interest Group Pylon Racing knows could Pylon Racer just around corner waiting help get started 998 107