Indoor Champs
This year's Indoor team was outstanding in every way imaginable. Not only did this team win the gold, silver, and bronze medals, but they brought this intimidating Romanian salt mine to its knees with our two great weapons: Tan II rubber and super models. All of the team members were from Southern California, and were able to test-fly together at Santa Ana on the first Sunday of each month. Believe me, this paid off; they were in sync with each other, which made it easy for me to be team manager.
Salt Mine Saga
It all starts when you enter the elevator that sends you 500 feet below the surface of the earth. Ding! ding! ding! and away you go. The doors open, and here you are in the eighth wonder of the world-cool, gray, and quiet. The salt looks as if you had taken a panel of Styrofoam(r) and cut it with a dirty heavy saw blade: 80-grit and sort of gray-white. The US team had been there before, except for Larry Coslick. Prior to leaving the US, we talked with Larry many times about the hazards and difficulties of flying in the mine, but he really enjoyed every moment he was there. After being selected Team Manager, I insisted that we use Lufthansa Air Lines for our air travel to Romania. In the past, they have given us super service and special handling of our model boxes. There is always the exception to the rule! On this occasion, the handling of our model boxes was close to a disaster for our team:
