Author: G. Hempel
Edition: Model Aviation - 1980/12
Page Numbers: 49, 117, 118
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CL Speed

Gene Hempel

Acknowledgements

  • Thanks to all the Nats volunteers who helped execute and administer the Speed events. Without them there would be no Nats.
  • Speed event director: Bob Vojslavek; assistant: Bob Sargent.

Site conditions

  • This year's Nats site for Speed was poor because of the condition of the flying circles. Before flying could begin, tar strips had to be chipped away from expansion joints and large cracks filled and plastered to make the surface acceptable.
  • With everyone working to clear the flying circles there was joking and griping, but it was a good opportunity to assemble, swap ideas, and tell war stories.

Tuesday, August 12 — FAI, Formula 40, and A Speed

#### FAI Speed

  • 1st — Charles Lieber (Morristown, NJ, American FAI team): 162.21 mph (record)
  • 2nd — Sam Burke (Ontario, CN, Canadian FAI team): 147.46 mph
  • Team Randell–Dodge: 138.77 mph

Notes:

  • Senior FAI: Doug Hinckley (Pleasant Hills, CA) — 134.51 mph. This is Doug’s last year as a Senior; he worked hard to try to break the Senior FAI record.
  • The majority of FAI competitors used Rossi .15 engines. Carl Dodge used a homebuilt .15 with excellent workmanship.
  • Rossi .15s are currently scarce; future FAI fliers may need to use Cox .15s or homebuilts. Speed fliers hope engine manufacturers will supply suitable .15s.

#### Formula 40 (F-40)

  • Fuel restriction: 40% nitro, 40% alcohol, 20% oil.
  • 1st — Glenn Lee (Batavia, IL): 157.62 mph (unable to make verification flight for AMA record)
  • 2nd — Wisniewski team (Bellflower, CA): 153.39 mph
  • 3rd — Nick Sher (Langhorne, PA): 150.25 mph

Notes:

  • The K&B .65 engine dominated F-40.
  • Props: most fliers used glass props (Kelly 8x8 or 8x7); a few used home-made glass props.
  • Seniors in F-40: William Hughes (Bolingbrook, IL) — 146.58 mph; Dennis Ytuarte (Brentwood, NY) — 146.28 mph; Doug Hinckley — 121.57 mph.

#### A Speed

  • 1st — Les Baer (Allentown, PA) — 161.23 mph (Supertigre X-15)
  • 2nd — William Johanson — 149.81 mph
  • 3rd — Nick Sher — 149.44 mph

Notes:

  • Many A Speed fliers had trouble getting engines to come up to the pipe early in the day; performance improved as weather changed.
  • Seniors: William Hughes (Bolingbrook, IL) — 129.26 mph; Doug Hinckley (Pleasant Hills, CA) — 126.89 mph; Andrew Sargent (Rocky River, OH) — 73.89 mph (third).
  • Junior A Speed: David Hooke (Mountainhome, PA) — 132.40 mph (only Junior entry).

Wednesday — 1/4 A, 1/2 A, B Speed

#### 1/4 A Speed

  • 1st — Al Stegens (Cleveland, OH): 119.00 mph (open-faced Cox TD .049)
  • 2nd — Warren Kurth (Davenport, IA): 116.99 mph (open-faced TD .049)
  • 3rd — Nick Sher: 116.68 mph (piped TD .049)

Notes:

  • Tar expansion joints between concrete slabs were a hazard for 1/2 A and 1/4 A models; a few were destroyed.

#### 1/2 A Speed

  • Senior 1/2 A:
  • 1st — Dennis Ytuarte (Brentwood, NY): 93.61 mph
  • 2nd — David Hooke (Mountainhome, PA): 71.57 mph
  • Junior 1/2 A:
  • 1st — David Ytuarte: 93.42 mph
  • 2nd — David C. Barber: 71.12 mph

#### B Speed

  • 1st — Les Baer (Allentown, PA): 200.21 mph (Supertigre X-29; Rev-Up 7x10½ prop). Fuel: 75% nitro, 5% alcohol, 20% oil.
  • 2nd — Wisniewski team: 192.40 mph (K&B .29)
  • Tied 3rd — Brown team (Staten Island, NY) and Randell–Dodge team: 177.91 mph

Senior B Speed:

  • 1st — William Hughes: 157.53 mph
  • 2nd — Doug Hinckley: 146.53 mph

Junior B Speed:

  • David Hooke: 138.43 mph (only Junior entrant)

Notes:

  • Engines: Supertigre X-29, K&B .29, and TWA .29 were common.
  • Most B Speed models used a metal suction tank (see CL Speed columns, April and June issues).
  • Rev-Up 7x10½ speed props were primary. Choice of pipe (Rossi B vs OPS .40) was often engine-specific.

Thursday, August 14 — D Speed and Jet

#### D Speed

  • 1st — Frank Garzon (Central Islip, NY): 205.40 mph (unable to make verification flight for AMA record)
  • 2nd — Les Baer (Allentown, PA): 199.70 mph
  • 3rd — Don Benesch (Copiague, NY): 192.23 mph

Notes:

  • Most D Speed competitors used OPS engines; some bored OPS .60 units out to .65. OPS’s new .65 port is a reliable option.
  • The 6-inch minipipe rule has made things more fun and models are still reaching the same or greater speeds as with full pipes.

#### Jet

  • 1st — Charles Bergman (Watertown, WI): 189.80 mph
  • 2nd — Don Benesch (Copiague, NY): 188.41 mph
  • 3rd — Frank Garzon: 178.32 mph

Notes:

  • Jet speeds were the slowest seen in the last four years.
  • Don Benesch’s all-aluminum models were noted for beautiful construction.

Speed Advisory Committee

  • An informal meeting was held at the flightline on Wednesday, August 13.
  • Discussions covered proposals to make rules more uniform and the need to reword some existing rules.
  • The majority felt the rules were satisfactory; rewording proposals were tabled for later.
  • Because the proposal deadline passed by the time of writing, speed fliers will mostly be able to make cross-proposals to basic proposals; most fliers agreed with this plan.

Condolences

  • On returning home from the Nats, the author received word that Doug Hinckley’s father passed away on the way home. Condolences are extended to Doug on behalf of all the Speed fliers.

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