Radio Control: Pylon Racing
EACH spring, the middle Tennessee RC Society holds a Pylon race. This year's race was held April 28 and 29 at the Smyrna Airport with Greg Doe as CD. Here is the contest report sent in by Greg. The headline could have read "Smyrna Air Races Rained Out." At least five potential contestants drove to Smyrna, TN and went home without flying once. They were the ones who knew for sure that the race would be cancelled. Others waited around to hear the inevitable "Cancelled due to rain." But wait, by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, after only 1.2 inches of rain in three hours, the sun came out and so did 36 Quickie 500s. Five rounds were completed by 6:30 p.m., and trophies were presented in the dark.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
I'VE been getting a lot of letters from new people who are getting interest in Pylon Racing. This seems to be the most activity that I have seen in five or six years. This is good. Questions range from wanting to know if I know of anyone in their area that could help them to just about all of the technical questions about props, engines, fuel-or what is the best plane. Many articles have been written in the past on these subjects. A little research through some old model magazines will help a lot. And I will be writing more in the future. For you old-timers out there, how about some help from you? Take one of these newcomers under your wing and help him or her get started. We all had some help getting started. How about returning the favor?
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
A SHORT WHILE AGO, I received a paper on FAI RC Pylon Racing written by Paul Bowman of England. He was the Joint League winner for 1983 and goves over some very basic and important points about the FAI event. I think this will be of some help for those just getting started, and there might even be something in it for you experts. So, here we go: Weak Links The power plant of a miniature Pylon Racer consists of numerous components. These may be considered to form a progressive chain. As we know, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and so it is with the powerplants of our models. For example, a first-class engine will appear to perform below average if fitted with an inappropriate or inefficient propeller, the propeller being the weak link in the chain.
NMPRA Championships
EVERY YEAR about the middle or end of October the nation's top Formula One fliers get together for the last and most prestigious, most competitive race of the year. There would be only one winner, one champion. But in a way, all those who attended this race are champions. It is by invitation only, and you don't get invited just by knowing someone or by just being a nice guy. One must qualify to be eligible to participate. It begins in the early spring, sometimes as early as April, depending on where you live. It starts with the first Formula One race of the year, and it goes full tilt until the first of October.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
FAI may be back. I think that 1985 will tell the tale, with the U.S.A. sending a team to the FAI RC Pylon World Championships in Canada. As promised, this month we are going to finish the article by Paul Bowman on the basics of FAI. But, first, here is a report sent to me by Z. Malina about the International Grand Prix of Modela for 1984, held in Czechoslovakia. First of all, I would like to thank you for having my article about the races last year printed. It was not useless, as some modelers did write to me.
