Radio Control: Pylon Racing
PYLON racing has done very well in this country. The veteran pylon racer can take some of the credit for advancements in engines and radio gear that the industry has come up with in the past few years. In pylon racing, the engines are run to their very limits (and beyond!). There are a number of different types of fuel used, as most fliers mix their own. Some fliers even design new airfoils and develop new building techniques. Radio gear must be perfect or as near so as we can get it in order to withstand intense vibrations-probably the worst conditions of all radio modeling-and then they have to operate alongside of other frequencies. What a test for these radios! The hinges, the different types of glue, push-rods, fuel tanks, paint, they all get a workout and the list goes on and on. All of the products that we use are improved through competition.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WELL, here we are at the end of another summer with only a few races left. Most of the top Formula I fliers are preparing for one of the biggest races of the year-The NMPRA Championship Race. Back in 1973, the members of the NMPRA decided to hold a race of champions. This race was to be by invitation only. In order to qualify, a racer had to finish in the top 20% of his district. A point system is used for this. Several different types were looked at until, finally, someone who had the use of a computer worked out a point system that would be fair to everyone, as a flier in a small district with only a few fliers would get almost as many points as someone in a larger district.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
BY THE time you read this, most of you will probably be getting ready for the 1980 racing season. You will probably also be trying to put together your schedule for the spring and summer. At this point, if you were to check with the people who have put on the races in the past, you may find that some of the regular annual contests have not been rescheduled for this season. "Wow," you think. "What now?" Most of us like to attend six to eight contests a year, some even more. The Formula I flier needs six contests to be able to compete for national points championship that the N.M.P.R.A. awards each year. This point system is used to qualify the individual for the Championship race at the season's end.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
SAFETY is very important in all aspects of model aviation. In any form, be it cars, boats, or airplanes, there needs to be added safety measures to protect the people running the race, the fliers, and the spectators. In 1979 the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association made recommendations to the AMA for improved safety. These recommendations were approved by emergency action and were effective January 1, 1980. These safety rules were printed in the February 1980 issue of Model Aviation on page 86. The most important changes were for the worker and spectator safety. The spectators are generally kept at a safe enough distance and most of them are watching the race, so they are aware of what is going on and if there is a problem, they see it right away. The flier has his caller, whose job it is to be aware of everything that is going on during and right after a race. It is the caller who is to make sure that his pilot stays on the course and does not fly over spectators. The caller should also know where the other planes are during the race.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
A LOT of you readers have written me asking about the rules for Club 500-type racing. In most areas, the fellows kind of make up their own rules. Let's look at a couple of areas that I think are from the extremes. In the Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio area, one type of airplane and one engine make are all that are allowed. A kit of one manufacturer was decided on, and that was it. You could scratch build this plane but it had to have exactly the same outside dimensions. Minimum weight 3 1/2 lbs., no sharp leading edges, and two wheels at least 4 inches apart. Wheel size-2 1/4 in., any type wheel used. The plane must also have a workable rudder.
