Radio Control: Pylon Racing
PYLON Racing is one of the most exciting and competitive events in model aviation, both to the competitor and the spectator. There is nothing more exciting than a good race. Pylon racing in any form can be a lot of fun. As your new pylon racing editor, I hope to share with you some of my past experiences and racing tips. We will try to keep you up-to-date on the contest scene, who is going fast, and where. A lot of you readers have some neat ideas or helpful hints that you have run across or have come up with. Why not share them? Send your ideas, hints, and suggestions to me and I will pass them along. Pylon racing has come a long way in the last 14 years. The pylon racers owe most of this to an organization called the N.M.P.R.A. (National Miniature Pylon Racing Assoc.). This organization works directly with the AMA in making rules and safety requirements for pylon racing. This organization was started in 1965 and is still going strong. For the pylon racer, no matter how serious he is; even if he is a beginner or someone who is just thinking about racing, this is a good organization to belong to. The dues are only $13.00 per year. Send your dues to me, as I am the 1979 President of the N.M.P.R.A.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
CLUB 500 Racing is quite popular in all parts of the country. I think that one of the reasons is the simplicity of the event. The planes are inexpensive, easy to build, and make fine sport planes. Club 500 Racing has done best when it has been kept simple. Such as one type of plane, one type of engine, and an easy to follow set of rules. As in most all types of racing, the thing to do is to go faster than the next guy. In some areas where you can use any type engine, fuel, or prop, these planes are going as fast as some of the Formula Ones were going just a few years ago. I think these areas will start a decline in participants. The intent of this type of racing was to have a plane for the new racer to get started. As the event progresses and the speeds increase, it grows even harder for the potential new racer to get a start.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WINTER is finally over, and everyone is getting ready to start racing again. You are either dusting off last year's favorite plane or building a shiny new one. In fact, in some parts of the South and West, several contests have already been run. This year should be even better than last year for racing. Let's all try to help get one new flier involved in 1979. Take a guy that seems a little interested with you to your next contest. Show him how everything works, how the contest is scored; tell him why you like to compete. Sure, this takes time, but all of this good info can be explained in the car or van on the way to the contest. If you are holding a contest, invite a friend to come help flag, time, or score. This is another good way to help guys get involved. Pylon Racing is never dull; there is always excitement. One only has to get mildly involved to get bitten by the bug. And there is a racing event for almost everyone that is interested: 1/2A, Club 500, Sport, Quarter Midget, and Formula I.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THIS is being written right in the middle of a move, so please note the new address at the end of the column. The contest reports have been coming in fairly heavy. Let's look at what's been going on in various parts of the country. Nashville, Tennessee, started off April 21, 22 with 17 entries in Quarter Midget. Here are the top five: 1) Gail Jacobson, 2) Dick Arthur, 3) Stu Richmond, 4) Tobi Grether, and 5) Wayne Yeager. Jimmy Bartels had the fast time with a 1:35.2. Moving on to Birmingham, Alabama, on May 5 and 6. This race saw the top five as: 1) Gail Jacobson, 2) Bob Reuther, 3) Greg Doe, 4) Stu Richmond, and 5) Bill Adams. This was a Quarter Midget race.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WELL, we made it to Texas. We haven't found any oil wells yet. But we find the people here very friendly. It must run in the hobby. I find that there isn't very much Quarter Midget racing in this area. I'm not sure why. Quarter Midget racing was intended for the beginner. It was something for them to get started in that wasn't super fast and competitive. Quarter Midgets are smaller than Formula Ones and they only use a 15-size engine. The fuel is restricted to 15% nitro and is usually supplied by the contest management. When the event first started, there were several kits available. These were simple kits that were inexpensive and quickly put together. You could use almost any of the several 15-size engines on the market. They were also very inexpensive. Your engine would last all season and some would last a couple of seasons. You also had to use stock props which could have one blade modified for balancing purposes only.
