CL Vintage Stunt
Banquet and tribute
A thunderous "Hi, Mike!" echoed off the banquet-room walls on Saturday night during the celebration of the fourth Vintage Stunt Championships in Tucson, Arizona. Contest director Joanne Keville put her husband Mike on the speakerphone from far-off Kuwait; the familiar "Hi, guys" was the first thing we heard. There were a few teary eyes and lumps in throats — Mike was missed, and having his voice with us made the evening truly complete.
The event
Date: March 21–22, 1992 Location: Tucson City Park flying site Hosts: Cholla Choppers MAC
This reunion/flying session, the brainchild of Mike Keville (first conceived at 2:00 a.m. in 1988), brings together control-line fliers and classic models from the mid‑1960s and earlier. Each year the Vintage Stunt Championships attract more participants and a wider variety of designs from the 1940s–1960s era.
Notable fliers and models
- Walt Pyron — flew Thornton Hoffman–designed Conquistador; brought old flying buddy Curtis Conner (flew an original Sky Dancer).
- Randy Snow (Tucson) — flew his dad Ted Snow’s Humongus Old‑Timer design.
- Tony Lang — last year’s comic sensation, flew the deBolt Bipe with a creditable pattern.
- Dennis Moran — flew Don Still’s Stuka.
- Ron Pharis, Greg Zajack, Jim Kostecky — returning/up‑and‑coming fliers; Ron brought 1957 Senior champ Art Palowski (his brother Ray spectated); Greg flew a newly modified Patriot; Jim Kostecky promised to return next year.
- Don Hutchinson and Yates — flew Madman and Dragon designs (Dragon’s larger wing area was noted).
- Lou Woolard — Fox 40–powered entries attracted attention for craftsmanship and faithful restoration.
- Bill Hopkins (Custom Models) — active in kit/restoration conversations and volunteered as a judge.
Competition results and awards
- Old‑Time Stunt Ignition
- Jim Lee — OK Super 60–powered Zilch (also received the Spirit 46 award)
- Russ Brown — Madewell‑powered Go‑Devil
- Floyd Carter — Big Fry
- Bruce Konaschk — O&R 60 (noted curiosity: an ignition system fitted inside a Ringmaster fuselage)
- Special awards and recognitions
- Bill DeHill displayed a beautifully built Madewell 49 complete ignition system.
- Russ Brown received the perpetual "Keeper of the Flame" trophy — awarded to the best flier/top builder/participant exemplary of the movement.
- Jon Wright won the OTS Ringmaster class (the Ringmaster design celebrated its 40th year).
- Mike McCarthy received a special award for Most Authentic Ringmaster.
- Other top placings mentioned included Bob Hunt, Jim Lee, Bart Klapinski and Darrell Harvin — the fliers demonstrated consistent practice and excellent touch.
Anecdotes and atmosphere
- A box of old engines (Foxes, K&Bs, McCoys, etc.) at the flying circle stopped contest activity as competitors crowded to browse. Rusty Brown delayed a flight to inspect engines; someone else claimed an Enya .15 diesel before the scribe could get it.
- The scribe planted a replica of the original Nobler into the pavement about 10 feet from where Walt Pyron’s still‑beautiful model hit after Walt’s engine quit. The morning’s cool air and shifting winds contributed to a couple of off‑circle landings. Walt and the scribe both vowed to do better next year.
Philosophy and camaraderie
Vintage Stunt events blend low‑key competition, reminiscence, and fellowship. Many participants aim to reproduce classic designs exactly as built — honoring historical craftsmanship rather than modernizing with current technology. As one attendee put it, to "improve" the old designs would be like putting the arms back on the statue of Venus. The result is a relaxed, passionate gathering where bench talk, kit swapping, and the sight of beautifully restored models flying side by side create the "greatest CL flying/bull session ever held."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
