Radio Control: Pylon Racing
FOR MANY YEARS, the U.S.A. dominated RC FAI Pylon Racing. Whenever our people attended an international competition, they were the ones to beat-and most of the time they came back home with top honors. As time went on the rules got out of hand-or let's say that the way they were interpreted left something to be desired. This, coupled with a few other things kind of led to the demise of FAI Pylon for U.S. fliers, as it got to be too much of a hassle. The event all but died, and up until a few years ago, it seemed that there would be no more FAI Pylon.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THERE HAS BEEN no FAI Pylon Racing in this country for many years. We have for some time now had a new set of rules that were aimed at getting us interested again. It seemed as though no one was going to take the first step. That is, to hold a race and say "Let's see what happens." We have to start somewhere. Well, it looks as though someone has taken that first step. Here is a report sent to me by Art Arro:
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
ANOTHER Pylon Racing season has come to an end. Even with the economy the way it is, we have had a very good year. But wait-there is still one more race, and it will be the best one of the year for some 50 to 80 Formula I fliers. This year's NMPRA Championship race will be held December 30-31 in Seguin, TX, the same site as the 1981 Nats, with yours truly as CD. For those who are new to Pylon Racing, the NMPRA Championship Race is held every year, either in Florida, Texas, California, or Las Vegas, NV. Only the top Formula I fliers compete in this race, as it is by invitation only.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
I JUST RETURNED from Seguin, TX where this year's NMPRA Championships for Formula One were held. Our turnout was a little low, but the competition more than made up for it. Read about the race on page 88 in this issue. In reading the newsletters that clubs from all over the country are sending me, it seems as though all racing events were very competitive, but turnout for most of the regular contests was a little low. I think we can blame this on the economy, and as the economy picks up again, our contest attendance should also improve. While race participation at a regional or national level was down a bit, competition at the local or club level was at an all-time high. If we look a little farther, we will find that most clubs have some type of racing, including rubber-powered Indoor aircraft, 1/2As, trainer-type aircraft, Sailplanes, sport biplanes, RC conversions of CL Combat planes, Ugly Stiks, Q-500s, Quarter Midget, and Formula One racing. Yes, racing comes naturally to most people.
NMPRA Championships
THE NMPRA Championship Race for 1982 was held on October 30 and 31 at Seguin, TX. We managed to talk the U.S. Air Force into letting us use the same auxiliary airfield that was used for the 1981 Nationals. One must qualify to participate in this race. In addition to belonging to the NMPRA, you must either finish in the top 20 percent of your NMPRA district, finish in the top 10 at the Nationals, be an officer of the NMPRA, or be a past NMPRA champion. So only the top fliers attend this race, and this year was no exception.
