George M. Aldrich
Up and Around
As I sit down to write about the fifth edition of the Vintage Stunt Championships, held April 3–4 in Tucson, Arizona, the first thing that comes to mind is the city of Tucson itself. No other city in the world is as farsighted in providing such an extensive recreation area for young and old alike as this beautiful metropolis. Tucson is also the home of the Cholla Choppers MAC (pronounced CHOY-YA), who host this grand event and are certainly one of the leading clubs anywhere.
Entries this year indicate a saturation level is close at hand. The Classic (Nostalgia) event drew 70 entries, and I believe 68 flew; Old-Time Stunt had 58, and OTS Ignition, 11. On Sunday, the Classic event started promptly at 8 a.m. A minimum of time was wasted because the circle directors were excellent and contestants were ready to fly when called. Yet the event ran until almost 7:30 p.m., with only a very brief lunch break. Thank you, judges, for handling this heavy load so well.
This year, event instigator Mike Keville — who last year only communicated by phone from Kuwait — managed to get his vacation timed to coincide with his brainchild. Mike's wife Joanne (CD), daughter Michelle, and running mate Angel Tuffing were very much involved. These ladies — with coworkers Mary Gebhart, Shareen Fancher, and others — are the main reason everything ran so smoothly.
While this has to be the largest turnout for a CL special-interest event in many years, it also brings out some of modeling's most interesting people. Meeting Jim Hunt, now some 80 years young, has to rate as a high point for your scribe. I had been hearing about this fine gentleman for many years, but to sit with him and hear, firsthand, some of his many experiences is nothing less than a pleasure trip. The stories and reminiscing at such an event are certainly among the biggest reasons for its increasing attendance.
While I never got to know the late Red Reinhart really well, I did happen to be with him and Larry Scarinzi when he test-flew his Galloping Comedian at the 1951 Plymouth Internats in Detroit. I told this to Mr. Hunt, who proceeded to tell me about how he spun the aluminum cowling for Red, who worked for him at the time. Not unlike the Adamisin family, I suspect that with the Hunts there is a pretty neat mother involved, too.
It was really a pleasure to see the Old-Time Stunt Ignition event double in entries. First-time attendee Don Butman, fresh from the RC circuit, went home after Friday's practice day. We're still not sure why he left; he certainly would have placed in the top five.
How it was is the name of the game; perhaps we have failed to get the message across. While Don Hutchinson, Lew Woolard, and Jim Lee got their flights into place, your writer failed to heed the advice dispensed previously. My Super Cyke had not been run in two years, yet it fired right up for our first official flight. Unfortunately, I forgot to turn off the ignition flight switch and the points were closed—instant melted coil!
First-time entrant Charlie Bruce made one official flight with his Super Cyke–powered Go-Devil, or he might have pushed Jerry Silver and me for the fourth and fifth positions.
This was a year when some very special people were recognized for their unique contributions to the stunt event. Thanks to a lot of sneaky tricks by several people, John Miske was prevailed upon to attend. Little did John know that a special plaque acknowledging him as the "Father of Old-Time Stunt" was waiting for him. De Hill prepared this beautiful award, complete with a Rocket .46, all wired to run. Since the Rocket was John's first since September 1967, it was quite a treat.
Bill Fierce (Arrow) Netzeband also received a special award to commemorate his contributions. We were also fortunate to have Larry Scarinzi attend to receive no less important a keynote award after a long hiatus. Ask Larry about the perfect pattern he flew in the dark.
Such a large entry in the Classic event certainly indicates its popularity; it surely creates true marathon conditions for those involved—but especially the judges. Are we overemphasizing the importance of competing versus re-creating the era? Must-go eliminations to qualify the top 10 or 20 be considered against keeping the activity enjoyable?
Last year Shareen Fancher, Jim Hunt, and Frank McMillan, among the top fliers, were taken out by engine-run problems. This time Ted nosed out Bob by 13 points; Frank placed fourth. Interestingly, both Bob Hunt and Frank McMillan flew Tucker Specials. Bob used a Webra .32 ABC in lieu of a .28 Dykes-ring version; Frank used a GMA .05/.35 on both flights. Ted replaced a Johnson Chief Special McGas .40 and didn't miss a beat. A number of top fliers observed de-pitching props quite a bit during the previous day's practice. Higher-pitched props have a tendency to build up speed in maneuvers, particularly on the downwind side during windy conditions.
In Old-Time Stunt, Jim Lee topped them all with a nondescript design called Hotter 'N That. Most noteworthy was the placing of the classic Big deBolt Stuntwagon by Alan Brickhouse (second), Ted Fancher (seventh), and Charles Reeves (eighth).
What made this feat even more unusual was the manner in which these models were flown. I well remember the wing of Pappy deBolt's Stuntwagon bowing during loops at over 100 mph at the '49 NATS! In sharp contrast, these models were flown in the new conventional 4-2 break manner—at least 35 mph slower.
The late closing time on Sunday precluded the traditional group photo and photos of some of the final awards, since my flash unit was back in the car. I truly regret this, for the most prestigious award of all, "The Keeper of the Flame," went to none other than Jim Hunt. A finer tribute could not go to a nicer man. Last year's recipient, Rusty Brown, made a generous—and, as it turned out, farsighted—gift of commemorative plaques to all past winners. Rusty had included enough awards to extend through 1999!
You simply must attend one of these visits back in time to understand the blur of color, action, and activities that bends your mind into another arena of action.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
