Radio Control: Pylon Racing
READERS of this column are either competitors or are very interested in Racing. The AMA is now in the midst of its biennial competition rules-change cycle. Let's not let non-Racing types govern our events. Let your RC Racing Contest Board members know what you think about the new rules proposals. For a full list of the proposed rule changes, see pages 136 and 137 in the December '88 edition of the "Competition Newsletter," a regular section of Model Aviation. Let's discuss some of the proposals: RCR-90-1 provides for establishing National Record categories for F-1 and FAI. Comment: Yes. It sure wouldn't hurt to be able to establish a record.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WELL, here we are at the end of another great season of Pylon Racing. As I am writing this they are having the year-end NMPRA (National Miniature Pylon Racing Association) Q500 Championships in Dallas, TX. I should be able to publish the results in a later issue. Next up will be the NMPRA Formula One Championships. This year they will be held at Gainsville, TX on October 22-23. For most Formula One fliers this is the premier event for the year. You must qualify for this race: First, of course, you must be an NMPRA member; you must finish in the top 20% or the top 10 in your NMPRA district (this is computed using your six best contests); you can make it by finishing in the top 10 at the current-year AMA Nats; or be an NMPRA officer or a previous Championship Race winner.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
SUMMER'S END usually means Championship Race time for most Pylon Racers. Our latest event-Q500-has really taken off. And so of course we have a Championship Race for that event. The following report was supplied by Bob Greer, who also was the Contest Director for the '88 races. "This year's National NMPRA Q500 Championship was held at North Lake/Dallas on October 8-9. We had a good turnout, with fliers coming from Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, California, and Texas. Donna Bartle came all the way from California to be the starter. She did her usual great job. The week before the race she hurt her arm, so she had Marc Greer do the actual flagging. He did a great job for his first race as starter.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
AVAILABILITY: I've received quite a few letters this summer wanting to know where to get a certain kit or engine rework, etc. You will find an updated list at the end of the article. Are you having trouble with your needle valve? You need to break in your new needle valve! Read on. Here are a couple of things that you should consider. It helps matters if the needle is supported where it exits from the fuselage. A rubber grommet works well here. It must be a tight fit. Most racing engines will have a needle valve assembly utilizing a jam nut on the spray bar to adjust for the desired grip on the needle. This is where we must be very careful. As we run in a new engine and carb, we will have to readjust the jam nut to maintain a solid grip on the needle. What has happened is that the needle threads wear (due to adjusting and engine vibration) where it is generally set for running. It should never have to be moved more than a turn or so for the proper engine setting.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WE are always looking for new and better ways to finish our Pylon Racers. Here is an update on glass cloth application sent to me by Art Arro: "This article is a sequel to one written several years ago on applying lightweight (1/2-3/4 oz.) fiberglas cloth over balsa-sheeted surfaces. The original article recommended K&B Superpoxy clear paint to adhere the cloth to the sheeted surface. At that time I felt that this method was better than the near-universal procedure of polyester resin and toilet paper. Although the clear epoxy paint excelled in application, it required many coats to fill the weave, and the adhesion wasn't up to par.
