Author: B. Darbow
Edition: Model Aviation - 1990/02
Page Numbers: 87, 88, 89, 90, 92, 183, 184
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1989 SAM Champs

By Bill Darkow

Jean, NV hosted the 23rd annual meeting of lovers of classic aeromodeling October 8–13, 1989. Over 300 enthusiasts attended—about a third more than the previous year—marking record growth for the Society of Antique Modelers (SAM).

A boy once looked up as a distant rhythmic rumble swelled to a roar. A squadron of U.S. Army Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses cruised the sky. He shaded his eyes, watched them until they vanished beyond the horizon, then built an Ohlsson .23–powered Megow Ranger while listening to Sky King. That boy, now a grown man, reunited with nearly 300 kindred spirits at the SAM 23rd Championships in Jean to celebrate the timeless thrill of classic aeromodeling. The roar of spark-ignition engines and the sight of old designs in flight brought those golden days back to life—Bob Olsan flew a Megow Ranger to second place in FF Class B Pylon.

Events and participation

New and returning events

  • Free Flight remained the largest category: 148 entrants.
  • Radio Control (RC) events totaled 109 entrants. New RC events included Ohlsson-powered classes (honoring Irwin Ohlsson). Electric-powered models were introduced in Texaco RC Duration, and Old-Timer towline gliders were flown as RC models.
  • The popular Texaco RC Assist attracted over 70 entrants. In all, more than a dozen RC events were offered.

Camaraderie and hospitality

The first two days emphasized participation and camaraderie at contest headquarters in the banquet room of the Gold Strike Hotel-Casino. Record attendance quickly filled the 200 rooms reserved; contest manager Larry Jenno and assistant Phil McCary scrambled to accommodate overflow at the Nevada Landing Inn across I-15.

Sunday noon kicked off activities with the MECA Collector annual rite and a demonstration of Vic Cunningham’s 1934 A-frame twin. The Monday evening Bean Feed was well attended and noisy; Buck Page, an original Rider of the Purple Sage, entertained with classic western songs.

Spirit of SAM

A new event, Spirit of SAM, honored models (RC and Free Flight) that best represented imagination, creativity and craftsmanship. Sponsored by SAM President Jim Adams, it began as a static display with 35 entries and drew over 200 spectators. Attending contestants helped select the top five models (identified by number), and models had to fly during the meet to validate votes. Clarence Bull of Eugene, OR, took top honors with a magnificent New Ruler (a Henry Struck Free Flight design).

Competition highlights

Test flying and classics

Many entrants used Sunday and Monday for test flights. Typical Old-Timer models were SAM-legal designs (often scaled); typical wing area is about two square feet and weight around one pound or less for certain events. The challenge in several classes was to maximize total flight time using both powered climb and glide characteristics. Tom Smith won a hotly contested event with his Anderson Pylon in a three-way flyoff.

Ohlsson .23 “Model T” RC event

Ohlsson .23 entrants flew SAM-legal designs scaled to a minimum wing area of 45 sq. in. (the Ohlsson .23 was produced in huge numbers between 1939–1949). Jim Kinycy won among 25 entrants with an Anderson Pylon, three-flight total 12:51.

30-Second Antique

SAM’s premier showcase, 30-Second Antique, had 45 entrants. Planes had to be faithful pre-1939 replicas and were limited to a 30-second engine run. The spark-ignition roar was a crowd favorite. Walt Johnson of Tacoma, WA won with an Ohlsson .60–powered Clipper.

Wakefield events

Wakefield (rubber-powered Free Flight) attracted a combined total of 55 entrants across pre-1937 and 1938–1939 classes. These dignified designs spiraled quietly upward and remain a classic part of SAM Champs.

RC Ignition and Glow

Wednesday saw RC-Assist and Class C Ignition and Glow take to the air in near-ideal weather. Jim Reynolds, 1989 RC Grand Champion, dominated the RC Ignition events with his Orwick .64–powered Lanzo Bomber, including an unprecedented 10-way flyoff win. Eut Tileston (1988 RC Grand Champion) narrowly defeated Jim’s Super Tigre .35–powered Playboy Sr. with his O.S. .40–powered Lancer by 39 seconds in a dramatic five-way glow-class flyoff.

SAM Hall of Fame and organization news

Wednesday evening Bob Angel, West Coast SAM vice-president, initiated the SAM Hall of Fame and presented VIP awards to Maxwell Bassett and Walter Good; Mike Granieri accepted awards for those not present. Irwin Ohlsson commented on the lasting pleasure the old engines still give modelers.

Bob Dodds, SAM secretary/treasurer, reported membership growth of 20% to over 2,400 U.S. and overseas members in the past year. “Woody” Woodman, chapter coordinator, reported formation of 10 new chapters (including SAM Alaska) and affiliates in Australia and Sweden. Worldwide membership was approaching 3,600 with affiliates in Canada, Mexico, England, New Zealand, France, Germany and Italy.

Texaco events and raffle

Thursday’s Texaco events (RC-Assist and 1/4A Free Flight) featured fuel-allotment rules (40-minute max for RC, 15-minute max for Free Flight). Jim Reynolds led the RC Texaco field (over 60 entrants) with a single max on his Lanzo Bomber (O.S. .61 four-stroke converted to spark). Mik Mikkelson won 1/4A Free Flight with a three-flight total of 47:31.

Thursday evening’s raffle—highlighted by a Honda 90 chase bike plus 25 Old-Timer engines and kits—featured donations from the estate of Paul Surber.

Friday and sportsmanship

Friday offered the widest variety of events: RC Antique, Old-Timer Towline Glider, and Gas and Rubber Free Flight Scale among them. Though there is not yet a national SAM RC Scale event, SAM 48 (western NY) and SAM 41 (San Diego) have run 1/2A Texaco Scale RC-Assist as specials.

Gerald Martin of Texas disqualified himself in the RC Ohlsson Sideport event when he discovered lost ballast that was needed to meet minimum weight—a laudable example of the Spirit of SAM and classic sportsmanship.

A memorable finale to the flying was a mass launch of 16 rubber-powered twin-pusher A-frame designs (late 1920s/early 1930s) launched simultaneously.

Victory Banquet and follow-up The Victory Banquet celebrated what many agreed was the most successful SAM Champs to date. To join SAM for 1990, send $10 to Bob Dodds, 209 Summerside Place, Encinitas, CA 92024; new members receive a SAM rule book, decal and six copies of SAM Speaks. Plans called for the 1990 SAM Champs to be hosted by SAM 7 at Westover Air Force Base near Chicopee, MA—likely over either the Fourth of July or Labor Day weekend. Watch SAM Speaks for announcements.

A 90-minute amateur videotape (near-professional quality) of the 1989 SAM Champs was produced by Art Groshieder and Art Hillis (Denver SAM 1); tapes were $25 plus $2 postage. For copies write Art Groshieder, 2045 S. St. Paul, Denver, CO 80210 or call 1-303-756-1331.

Results (Note: some model names, engine designations and a few competitor names were unclear in the scanned source; the listings below reflect corrections where certain.)

Free Flight — 1/2A Texaco (23 entrants)

  1. Mik Mikkelson — Miss Fortune X
  2. Sal Taibi — Taibi Powerhouse
  3. Dick Lyons — Red Zephyr
  4. Don Nordlund — Ehling
  5. Clarence Bull — Lanco Bomber

Free Flight — Pre-1937 Wakefield (25 entrants)

  1. Tom Alden — Verde 36
  2. Ed Wallenhorst — Lanco Duplex
  3. Mik Mikkelson — Copeland
  4. Jack Jella
  5. Bill Gibbons — Niddler Moffet

Free Flight — 1938–1939 Wakefield (30 entrants)

  1. Bud Romak
  2. Bill Cushenberry — Kansas Wakefield
  3. Don Reid — Korda
  4. Jack Phelps — Korda
  5. Ed Wallenhorst — Korda

Free Flight — A-Frame Twin Pusher (16 entrants)

  1. Ed Wallenhorst — Simmers
  2. Mik Mikkelson — Burnham
  3. Tom Boyle — Schmiedag
  4. Fred Emmert — Manulkin
  5. Bob Dittmer — Burnham

Free Flight — Gas Scale (16 entrants)

  1. Bob Dittmer — Curtiss Robin
  2. Sal Taibi — Corben Super Ace
  3. Phil McCrary — Curtiss Robin
  4. Charles Atkinson — Aeronca C-3
  5. Bob Chambers — Taylorcraft O-57

Free Flight — Rubber Scale (19 entrants)

  1. Ed Wallenhorst — Alco Sport
  2. Jon Bornhak — Henard H-31
  3. Mik Mikkelson — Curtiss Robin
  4. Bud Romak
  5. Jerry Romak — Curtiss Robin

Free Flight — Class A Pylon (62 entrants)

  1. Charles Atkinson — Interceptor (Elfin .049)
  2. Bruce Augustus — Streak (Elfin .049)
  3. John Bortnak — Strato-Streak (O.S. .15 converted)
  4. Sonny Soto — Playboy (Elfin .249)
  5. Bob Olsan — Strato-Streak (O.S. .15 converted)

Free Flight — Class B Pylon (56 entrants)

  1. Don Viets — Swoose (O.S. .25 converted)
  2. Bob Olsan — Megow Ranger (O.S. .25 converted)
  3. Jerry Rocha — Gas Bird (Elfin .25)
  4. Larry Clarke — Fox 2-U
  5. John Bortnak — Wasp (O.S. .30 converted)

Free Flight — Class C Pylon (52 entrants)

  1. Don Viets — Playboy (O.S. .25 converted)
  2. George Niebaur — Sailplane (McCoy .60)
  3. Bob Olsan — Salp/Aire (Atwood .60)
  4. Sal Taibi — Foo 2-U (engine unclear)
  5. John Bornhak — Wasp (O.S. .30 converted)

Free Flight — Class A Fuselage (39 entrants)

  1. John Bortnak — Son Long (O.S. .15 converted)
  2. Mike Poorman — Westerner (Hornet .19)
  3. Sal Taibi — Brooklyn (model designation unclear)
  4. John Eldin — (Elfin .249?)
  5. Charles Atkinson — Bay Ridge Mike (Elfin .249)

Free Flight — Class B Fuselage (33 entrants)

  1. John Bortnak — Son Long (O.S. .25 converted)
  2. Mitch Post — Brooklyn Dodger (Forster .29)
  3. Jim Belson — Brooklyn Dodger (Forster .29)
  4. Ray Chalker — Brooklyn Dodger (Forster .29)
  5. Mitch Post — Bowler

Free Flight — Class C Fuselage (49 entrants)

  1. Don Wietz — Playboy Cabin (details unclear)
  2. (placement and details for 2–5 partly unclear; recorded entries included Sal Taibi — Playboy Cabin (Olsson .60), Richard Seifried, Bob Rotchette — Playboy Cabin (Super Cyclone .60), John Bortnak — Brooklyn Dodger (O.S. .30 converted))

Free Flight — Cox .020 Replica (47 entrants)

  1. Charles Atkinson — Interceptor
  2. Jerry Rocha — Strato-Streak
  3. Bruce Augustus — Strato-Streak
  4. Dick Lyons — Kerowax
  5. John Bortnak — Foo 2-U-2

Free Flight — Fuel Allotment (22 entrants)

  1. Jim Kelly — Shershaw Champion (Olsson .60)
  2. Mitch Post — Anderson Pylon (Anderson Spitfire .65)
  3. Bud Warren — Super Buccaneer (Super Cyclone .60)
  4. Leon Nadolski — Anderson Pylon (Orwick .64)
  5. Jim Robinson — Flamingo (Olsson .60)

Free Flight — Rubber Small Fuselage (32 entrants)

  1. Bob Dodds — Double Feature
  2. Mik Mikkelson — (Earl Stahl design)
  3. Jim Quinn
  4. Bill Cushenberry — Dynomax
  5. Ed Honeus — Crusader

Free Flight — Rubber Large Fuselage (45 entrants)

  1. Bill Cushenberry — Lanco Cabin
  2. Bob Dodds — Korda
  3. Ed Wallenhorst — Lanco Duplex
  4. Tom Alden — Verde 36
  5. Bill Gibbons — Niddler Moffet

Free Flight — Rubber Small Stick (40 entrants)

(Place listings partially unclear in scan; recorded competitors included John Rogersbury — Gollywock, Bill Cushenberry, Ed Wallenhorst and others.)

Free Flight — Rubber Large Stick (39 entrants)

(Place listings partially unclear; recorded competitors included Richard Heiser — Lambo Climber, Bob Dodds, Bob Holder, Ed Wallenhorst, Bill Gibbons.)

Free Flight — Commercial Rubber (33 entrants)

  1. Ed Wallenhorst — 1933 Gordon Light
  2. Don Reid — Miss Canada Sr.
  3. Bob Langdon
  4. (placements 4–5 recorded but names unclear in scan)

Final note The 1989 SAM Champs combined nostalgia and innovation—honoring classic designs while introducing new event formats and powerplants. The meet showcased craftsmanship, sportsmanship and the continuing growth of SAM and the antique-modeling community.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.