Radio Control: Pylon Racing
HOW NOT TO BEAT Yourself, Vol. 1.: At last, Spring is here. The birds are singing, the bunnies are hopping, the sky is filled with fluffy white clouds. It's time to get out there and fly. Since last flying season, you've done everything right. You took the engines out of all your airplanes and carefully cleaned and oiled them. Replaced everything made from rubber. Disassembled your fuel tanks, washed and dried all the parts. Discharged and recharged your radio batteries at least once a month. Checked for frayed wires, oil soaking, stress cracks, loose hinges, worn servo gears.
Radio Control Pylon Racing
BLASTS FROM THE PAST: The numbers I gave you in the May column for Quarter 40 propeller diameter and peak static rpm have been superseded. I recommended a 7.2-inch diameter and a peak static rpm of 24,500; the new numbers are a 7.4- to 7.5-inch diameter and a peak of 22,500-23,500 rpm. It won't hurt your engine to run the smaller propeller at the faster rpm, but there's a slight loss in efficiency from all of that thrashing. For the electric signaling system outlined in the March issue, Randy Ling (Kent WA) suggests replacing the 110V (volt) AC portion of the circuit with 24V DC to run the Pylon #1 signal lights. Two car batteries in series will do it. This eliminates the need for a generator on the racecourse, and makes for a safer setup overall.
Radio Control Pylon Racing
NEWS ON THE Rule Front: In the January column, I expressed a hope that in the competition rule cycle that begins this year, the AMA and the NMPRA (National Miniature Pylon Racing Association) could cooperate better than they have in the past. The philosophy underlying AMA's recognition of SIGs (Special Interest Groups) is that they can more accurately gauge their members' reactions to rules change proposals, and more effectively communicate their members' needs to the contest boards, which vote on the changes.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
A PICTURE IS WORTH waiting for, I hope. Here is Matt Mikko's Q40 Dago Red (from the Lyle Larson kit), as seen at the JR Gold Cup race in Phoenix. Matt also built the beautiful Miss Ashley featured here in the July issue. The Ashley is Matt's #1 racer; he brought the Dago along as a DOBUS (Dirty Old Backup Ship). Mere photos don't do it justice. It's two-tone red with white trim, panel lines, and rivet detail. Matt doesn't like it as well as the Ashley because the little American flag (visible just behind the canopy) is a decal. Everything else is hand-masked and -painted. And they don't even do static judging in the Q40 class as they do in Formula I! Matt just decided to put in the extra effort because well, "just because." And yes, it even goes fast.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
AS YOU READ this, the Racing season is nearing its end in the northern climes. And the deadline for rule proposals for the 2002-2005 rule book is almost upon us. Get them signed and sent to AMA HQ by September 30, 1999, or forever hold your peace. Now let's sit back and enjoy a couple of race reports from earlier this year. The first is from Orv Steinmetz: Rockford IL, May 16: What a great day of racing! Thanks to the excellent help of our workers and the forbearance of the rain clouds, we got in five rounds of racing for 17 pilots and a real good lunch by 1:50 p.m.
