Robert Dible

DO YOU WANT TO RACE? There are many types of competition to satisfy the urge, from club events to FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale). For the novice racer, networking with experienced competitors is important; find out what events are held in your area (or within travel distance) and attend a race. Keep in mind that as the event increases in difficulty and cost, the distance you must travel to a contest increases. Even if your goal is Giant Scale or Formula One, start with a Quickie-based event to learn the fundamentals at low cost. The learning curve in Pylon Racing is easy to start, but becomes more challenging as the speeds increase. Find your comfort level and learn new skills to achieve your goal. My objective for this column is to provide a wide variety of information, demystify "speed secrets," and develop a growing racing community. But speed is not enough (although it helps) without flying ability and someone to race with. Most successful racers did not get there alone; Pylon Racing is a team sport.