RC Pylon Racing
AJ Seaholm
Get ready to race on!
by Aaron "AJ" Seaholm [email protected]
This month, I want to pass along some preseason aircraft preparation tips to increase your odds of having a successful season and to prepare you to "race on!"
Batteries: Cycle or load-test your batteries to ensure that they survived the winter. For NiMH batteries, cycle them a few times to make sure they reach their rated capacity. Always store your LiPo packs at approximately 3.9 volts per cell.
Fuel lines: The silicone material in fuel lines can break down, leading to performance- and consistency-robbing pinholes. I suggest annually replacing lines for the entire fuel system—or at least every other year.
Inspection: Do a thorough inspection of the airframe and radio gear. You would be surprised to learn what vibration can do to our aircraft’s components. I have seen servo leads rubbed through, screws loose, and a host of other gremlins waiting to strike.
These are only a few steps to take before you race on. I hope they save you some headaches this year.
Vortex vs. Ninja
The 2012 AMA Nats was not the pinnacle of my Pylon Racing career. Being a glass-half-full type of guy, I left Muncie, Indiana, with several good reasons to pick up some new Quickie gear to replace the debris.
I want to compare two popular, high-end composite Quickie 500 (Q-500) offerings designed for AMA Event 426 or 428 racing. Some racers (like I) have demanding jobs and important family functions, which limit the time available to build and prepare race models.
The Vortex and Ninja are options for those in my situation. I am paying someone far more skilled to assemble and build my Q-500 models.
Before I begin the Q-500 comparison, here is some truth in advertising to help you understand the bias of this information. My best friend and Pylon teammate, Scott Causey, partnered with longtime racing friend, Tom Scott, to create CMAD Racing and offer the Ninja. I have not yet raced a Ninja in competition, but have flown several of Scott’s and called for many heats.
The Vortex is built by Chuck Bridge, and I have raced these models for many years. Chuck is the father of longtime racing friend and mentor, Randy Bridge. Randy has helped me greatly throughout the years. I have a strong loyalty to the Bridge family after nearly a decade of friendship.
The Ninja comes painted in red, yellow, or white. The model costs $560, including shipping. The kit features include carbon-fiber landing gear, a full hardware pack, a one-piece wing, skinned hinged surfaces, a removable v-tail, screws, ball connectors, and a servo tray. CMAD Racing and Darrol Cady typically have a wide range of kits in stock and they ship quickly. Paint customization includes up to three colors, numbers, and graphics. The paint customization from a simple two-color, no-graphic scheme to a three-color, full-graphics scheme will cost you $700 to $750. These figures include shipping.
The Vortex arrives fully built and painted, including customized fuselage and wing servo trays built to accept your predefined servos. It’s a nice feature. A one-piece wing, non-removable tail, installed pushrods, polished aluminum landing gear, hardware package, and wheels are included.
Because of the build-to-order nature of this level of customization, wait times can be several months. The Vortex pictured in this column was ordered in July after the Nats and received in late October.
Although there may be some bias in this comparison, I hope the facts will help you decide if a Ninja or Vortex is right for you. Both are proven winners, assemble quickly, and fly great.
Farewell, Mike Atzei
The following was sent to me by Dave Shadel, in remembrance of a fallen racer. If you have racer history or information to share via this column, please pass it along.
“It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of Mike Atzei Jr. in 2012, at the age of 55.
“Those of you who have been involved in Pylon Racing for a long time will remember Mike Atzei Jr., who along with his dad, Mike Sr., was a Formula 1 force to be reckoned with in the 1970s.
“Mike Jr. was one of the first members of the Samurai Racing Team, long before the team even had the name. Mike Jr., along with Steve Sica and Keith Davidson (all teenagers at the time), were mentored to success by Jim Shinohara.
“Mike Jr. was a great craftsman. He had the nicest airplanes, which were always painted in his signature two-tone purple paint. His dad, along with Jim Jensen, built the X-40 Super Tigres that they raced with, and provided great horsepower. Mike set the F1 record at the California State Championships in San Luis Obispo in May 1982, with a very quick 1:07.06. This record held until the advent of the Nelson F1 engine in the late 1980s.
"In the mid-1980s, Mike started a new business, Classic Cabinets, in Huntington Beach [California]. The business did well and the proximity to the beach allowed Mike to pursue his other passion, surfing. He excelled at that as well. About this same time, he met Megan, a great girl who could put up with both surfing and F1. They were married soon after. Mike apparently realized his luck and good fortune to find such an understanding companion.
"Around 1990, Mike made a major career change—flying full-size airplanes and becoming an instructor and aerobatic pilot. Eventually, he became an airline pilot, flying for America West.
"Sadly, Mike was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and despite having the best doctors and undergoing experimental therapy when the traditional treatments failed, we lost him on his birthday in 2012.
"I was proud to have had both Mike and his dad (who passed away in 2002) as friends. Mike was the handsome surfer guy with a great personality and winning smile who brought a lot to the party. He was a tremendous competitor as well. Few are fortunate enough to have it all, and Mike did.
"Mike leaves behind a wonderful wife, Megan, and their pet dogs and cats."
SOURCES:
National Miniature Pylon Racing Association www.nmpra.org
CMAD Racing [email protected] www.cmadracing.com
Darrol Cady RC (360) 903-3520 www.darrolcady.com
Vortex Chuck Bridge (541) 956-6907
We remember Mike Atzei Jr. this month, shown here accepting the Bob Downey Trophy at the Whittier Narrows CA field in the mid-1980s.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
