Radio Control: Pylon Racing
DEEP FREEZE-As I write this, most of the country is locked in an icebox, and it's not even winter yet. It's building time for most of us. We'll spend the winter getting our Pylon Racers ready for the 1990 season. Come the first warm weather, we'll go out to see how they'll fly, and a lot of us will bang up or lose a plane or two on its maiden flight. What can we do to prevent-or at least help-with the problems of trimming our new Racers? I'll assume that over the winter you have maintained your radio correctly and have kept your batteries charged. OK, let's go fly.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
BUILDING TIME is upon us-unless, of course, you like to fly in the snow. Here are some hints for storing your radio till spring. First of all, if you have had any problems with your radio, now is the time to send it in for repair. The technicians are under immense pressure during the regular season. They have more time during the winter season, and will probably do a better job. At the very least, check out the radio yourself. You don't have to be an expert, just use a little common sense. Open the servos. Check the gear train for any chipped or missing teeth. Check for damaged wires or bad connections. You'd be surprised at the damage that can be done in a short summer of flying. Silverware cleaner works well for cleaning connections.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
RACING is over for the summer. The Formula One flier sets his sights on the NMPRA (National Miniature Pylon Racing Association-Ed.) Championship Race. This year, we will go to Phoenix, AZ for our Race on October 28-29, 1989. Only those who qualify are invited to attend. "How do you qualify?" you say. Well, you must finish in the top 20% of your district, or finish in the top 10 at the AMA Nats, or be a past Championship Race winner, or be an officer in the NMPRA. (It seems as though I've said this before. Yes, every year about this time.) I'm putting the finishing touches on my two Midget Mustangs for this race. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
RECORD BROKEN in Formula I. But first, let's catch up on some Pylon Racing around the country. Here is a report sent in by G. E. Jacobson: " `I survived Atlanta' will be remembered for a long time. I'm sure that someone will come up with a button to this effect. In all my years of racing, I do not believe that I have experienced such adverse wind conditions; however, flying in the rain in Florida does sound bad. "Saturday a calm wind was defined as a low speed of 10 mph with gusts to 24 (with a hand-held wind meter); however, it felt higher than that. Generally the wind was down the runway, but the gusts made good landings a grease job and caused the guys at the timing stand to clap.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
YOU MISSED last year's Tangerine Internationals? You missed a good one! Try to work it in your schedule this year, and I don't think you will be sorry. I've received a number of calls and letters about the RC channels we will be using, so here is a rerun (by Russ Kime): "This is an update on the NMPRA frequency control system for the benefit of Racing Contest Directors who must implement the phasing in of the new narrow-band frequencies into the matrices this year for the 1988-91 period.
