Author: B. Baker
Edition: Model Aviation - 1986/10
Page Numbers: 81, 82, 83, 84, 167, 168
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20th SAM Championships

"A milestone for this event, held July 3–6 this year; we can only wish it as much success in the next 20 years, when—who knows—the modern-day model you're now flying, might be eligible for SAM competitions." — Bill Baker, AKA The Okie Flyer

Overview

The 20th Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) national event was held at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA, July 3–6. Contest Manager George Armstead, assisted by Contest Directors Jack Whittles (Free Flight) and Joe Beshar (Radio Control), guided 168 contestants through 41 diverse events. It was a four-day celebration of model flying, competition, history, and camaraderie.

A tragic note intruded Sunday night at the Victory Banquet when SAM President Sal Taibi announced the death of Free Flight contestant Bruno Markiewicz. He was found by his bike and model after making a flyoff flight to win B Pylon. Flyoff flights were made after contest closing time, so most contestants had left the field. Many recalled talking to him shortly before his final flight. It is believed Bruno went knowing he had won the Grand Championship at the SAM Champs one more time.

There is a time distortion in multi-day contests: contestants often refer to days by the events flown ("Texaco day," "C Pylon day") rather than weekday names. The meet included photography, flying, and plenty of socializing—some flew competitively, some flew for nostalgia, and some simply enjoyed the atmosphere.

Perspectives and highlights

  • Dave Ritchie (Pennsylvania) builds RC models as faithful reproductions of classic historical designs. Examples included an 8-ft span KG-1 powered by a Hurleman .60 (with wing endorsements from original designers Joe Kovel and Charles Grant) and a copy of Maxwell Bassett's Miss Philadelphia with a Brown Junior. Ritchie produced accurate plans from historical photographs; Bassett autographed the wing when he saw the model.
  • Competitive RC fliers such as Bill Schmidt (Wichita, KS) and Jim Reynolds (Universal City, TX) focus on absolute performance within the rules: minimum weight construction, design selection for performance rather than nostalgia, careful engine and propeller work, and extensive practice. In RC (but not Free Flight) scaling is permitted with a wing area/engine displacement rule; experts select an engine, scale wing area to displacement, and build to minimum weight for that area.
  • James Austin (Wisconsin), age eight, represents a different approach: he flies one Buzzard Bombshell and changes engines to compete in A, B, and C classes. He enjoys the meet and wins the game he plays.
  • In Free Flight, popular engine-displacement classes have favored designs: Class A (Rangers, So Longs, Thermal Thumbers, Kenswaps), B (Zippers, Alerts, Brooklyn Dodgers), C (Playboys, Sailplanes, Buzzard Bombshells), and Antique (Comet Clippers, Gas Birds, Anderson Pylons, Powerhouses). These are often built to original sizes and powered by the engines shown on the plans.
  • In RC, fewer designs dominate due to scaling. The Lanzo Bomber is rapidly becoming popular because, with engine changes, it can compete effectively across Texaco, Antique, and limited engine-run events (.60 size). Its low drag makes it favorable for thermal soaring.

Flyoffs and competition format

Most RC events were decided by flyoffs to settle ties when several entrants recorded three max flights. Flyoff flights required launches within a time window, often resulting in near-simultaneous launches and exciting finales. Free Flight also had many ties; 15-minute windows were set for unlimited-max flyoffs to determine winners.

Wakefield celebration

The 50th anniversary of the 1936 Wakefield contest was celebrated with a notable contingent of English fliers led by David Baker, joined by many Americans. Models were restricted to 1936 or earlier Wakefield designs, a refreshing contrast to contemporary Rubber Cabin events. The 1936 Wakefields performed well; the same models later competed competitively in Rubber Cabin events, all featuring freewheeling propellers. Sal Taibi placed third after a flyoff with three Kordas.

A noon-time mass launch of Old-Timer Wakefields on the third day was a highlight. Tom McCoy, an all-around modeler, won by using an oversized motor in his Korda and out-climbed the group; the cluster of climbing models resembled a time-lapse photo of a blooming flower.

Anecdotes and awards

  • Best Loss (author’s pick): Ed Konefes’s lovely 1936 Wakefield. After two maxes, he wound to the third and set the model gently on the runway. The freewheeling device failed under load; a short run and the whipping action of the long rubber motor removed cross sticks and paper from the fuselage, leaving the model looking like it was having a tantrum.
  • Sportsmanship Award (informal): Joe Macay, who prevented the author from flying too early and disqualifying himself in the Rubber Stick flyoff. He could have allowed it and improved his own winning chances.
  • Henry Struck enjoyed interacting with attendees while displaying his 1937 Wakefield replica. He recalled being on the 1937 Wakefield team after a rules change made many models ineligible; his model was sent to England and flown by proxy.
  • Reg Parnum, part of the British contingent, was pleased to attend the meet. He was a member of the 1939 Wakefield team and remembered seeing Korda's famous winning flight.

Organization and bylaws

The SAM organization held its annual business meeting on the evening of the second day. There had been dissension over proposed RC rules changes. At the meeting, a bylaws amendment was approved to freeze RC rules as they stand for five years to provide stability and time to determine needed changes.

A problem developed in determining the RC Grand Champion. Contest Manager George Armstead ruled that, because the contest rules regarding RC Grand Championship selection were ambiguous, no RC Grand Championship award would be given at the 20th SAM Champs.

Next year’s SAM Champs will be in Seguin, TX (near San Antonio).

Thursday Events

RC Texaco

  1. Tom McCoy
  2. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber, OS .60 FS
  3. Jim Reynolds — Lanzo Bomber, OS .60 FS
  4. Steve Boucher
  5. Robert Walter

RC/A Texaco

  1. Jim Reynolds — Comet Interceptor, Cox .049 W
  2. Robert Walter — Lanzo Bomber, Cox .049 W
  3. Art Peserse — Swoose, Cox .049 W
  4. Joe Percy
  5. R. Langelius

F ’36 Wakefield

  1. P. Michel — Copeland
  2. Reg Parnum
  3. R. Thompson
  4. J. Stott
  5. Bob Moulton

Nostalgia .01–.08

  1. J. Bortnak — V-Bar
  2. R. Lipori — Zeek
  3. J. Walton — Hewitt's Record Holder
  4. O. McLeod — V-Bar
  5. J. Barker — Zeek

FF Nostalgia .08–.15

  1. Bob Edelstein — Spacer
  2. D. McLeod — V-Bar
  3. J. Bortnak — V-Bar
  4. Steve Landy — American
  5. Paul Nelson — Kiwi

FF Cabin (C Minor .01)

  1. Ed Konefes — Convertible
  2. Dick Sherman — Convertible
  3. Stan Colson — Korda Open Road Boys
  4. Ted Langley — Pacific Ace
  5. J. Stott — FA Schnozzle

FF Jimmie Allen-type

  1. M. Moskow — Blue Bird
  2. O. McLeod — Blue Bird
  3. J. Bortnak — Blue Bird
  4. B. Bell — Blue Bird

FF Slag Engine

  1. Bob Edelstein — Ranger
  2. Hans Ochsner — Out of Sight
  3. Jim Walston — Thermal Thumber

O.&R.

  1. Herb Wahl — Out of Sight
  2. Bob Bissett — Miss Valiant
  3. Elmer Jordan — Coronet

SAM Champs Results (selected)

RC Texaco

  1. Tom McCoy
  2. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber, OS .60 FS
  3. Jim Reynolds — Lanzo Bomber, OS .60 FS
  4. Steve Boucher
  5. Robert Walter

RC/A Texaco

  1. Jim Reynolds — Comet Interceptor, Cox .049 W
  2. Robert Walter — Lanzo Bomber, Cox .049 W
  3. Art Peserse — Swoose, Cox .049 W
  4. Joe Percy
  5. R. Langelius

F ’36 Wakefield

  1. P. Michel — Copeland
  2. Reg Parnum
  3. R. Thompson
  4. J. Stott
  5. Bob Moulton

FF Nostalgia .01–.08

  1. Bob Edelstein — Spacer
  2. D. McLeod — V-Bar
  3. J. Bortnak — V-Bar
  4. Steve Landy — American
  5. Paul Nelson — Kiwi

FF Cabin / C Minor .01

  1. Ed Konefes — Convertible
  2. Dick Sherman — Convertible
  3. Stan Colson — Korda Open Road Boys
  4. Ted Langley — Pacific Ace
  5. J. Stott — FA Schnozzle

FF Jimmie Allen

  1. M. Moskow — Blue Bird
  2. O. McLeod — Blue Bird
  3. J. Bortnak — Blue Bird
  4. B. Bell — Blue Bird

FF Slag Engine

  1. Bob Edelstein — Ranger
  2. Hans Ochsner — Out of Sight
  3. Jim Walston — Thermal Thumber

F.O.&R.

  1. Herb Wahl — Out of Sight
  2. Bob Bissett — Miss Valiant
  3. Elmer Jordan — Coronet

(Results continued in full in the official meet report.)

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