Control Line: Racing
Bill Lee
Correction
In my last column (September issue of Model Aviation) I spent a great deal of time talking about propellers and offered some formulas that might be helpful in understanding propeller pitch distributions. Unfortunately, errors crept into the carefully prepared information. The last equation in the center column on page 135 of the September issue was printed incorrectly. The correct equation is:
P = 27TQ tan(A + AT/180)
The error occurred in transcribing the computer program to the column. Thanks go to the sharp eyes of Jack Voiles, Sterling Heights, MI, for spotting the mistake. Sorry about that.
Nats — Unofficial Events
At the recent Nats in Seguin there were two unofficial racing events that bear comment.
#### Super Slow Rat Race
- Sponsored by Chuck Woods, Zia Models, Clovis, NM.
- Fuel supplied by Dick Ritch of Houston ("Ritch's Brew").
- Turnout: 11 competitors.
Most entrants were local fliers from Texas and Louisiana, but entrants also included Larry Dziak and son Larry Jr. (Stevens Point, WI), Russ Brown, and Mike Gale (Colorado). A significant number of entries were junior fliers; the Super Slows were well within their skill range.
Racing was mostly two-up because of pilot and pit-crew scheduling conflicts. We did get one three-up "race" with two skilled pilots — and I actually flew an airplane! The flight was punctuated by laughter and howls of derision from the sidelines. Those responsible will get their just due someday (maybe Ballard will pit an airplane, or Gillott will pick up a handle).
Results:
- 1st: Tim Ong, Pineville, LA (assisted by his dad Jim)
- 2nd: Russ Brown
- 3rd: Jim Ong
Tim and Jim used the same airplane in both Super Slow and the AMA Slow Rat later in the week — a good example of competitive, well‑prepared equipment.
#### Big Goodyear
- Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers of Denver (represented by Russ Brown and Mike Gale).
- Turnout: 5 entries (all in Class I — unlimited).
Turnout was disappointing; Mike and Russ had hoped more Big Goodyear competitors would bring equipment and enter. Nevertheless, for those who were prepared the racing was good. Lenard Ascher (Riverside, CA) and the Rocky Mountain reps turned in respectable times. I, on the other hand, was anything but prepared — 14 pit stops and a miserable stretch from lap 58 through 70.
Results:
- 1st: Mike Gale — time 6:46.47
- 2nd: Lenard Ascher
- 3rd: Russ Brown
All entry fees from the unofficial events were donated to the FAI Team Race Team Fund to help racing fliers with expenses for the 1982 World Championships in Sweden. It's not a lot of money, but every little bit helps. Thanks to Chuck Woods, the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers, and Dick Ritch.
Soapbox
I've been writing this column in Model Aviation for a long time and have, on occasion, cried "wolf" about the apparent demise of one event or another — only to be proven wrong by time. Still, I often wonder what the future of Control Line Racing holds.
This past year has seen the level of competition in many AMA events drop significantly. The popularity of local Sport Racing events seems stable and possibly increasing. Where is racing headed? Here's my take.
Two useful terms (coined by Jim Thomerson) are True Sport (TS) and Just Another Racing (JAR). A TS event is very specific in its rules so a sport flier can use hobby-shop-available equipment and be competitive. TS events typically specify engine brand/model, plane configuration, etc., and allow little room for equipment-driven improvement.
A JAR event is usually a limited version of a normal AMA racing class. Rules are added to keep performance down but still leave room for "progress." JAR events allow experimentation and incremental improvements in design and setup, which appeals to competitive tinkerers. The downside is that JAR events can get out of hand as competitors stretch the rules and performance rises to a plateau with fewer entrants remaining.
Both TS and JAR events serve valid purposes. TS events provide accessible competition for non‑serious sport fliers; JAR events provide room for those who want to get serious and experiment. If you want to keep sport fliers from being driven away by the hardcore racers, legislate JAR events to keep complexity and performance within reason while still allowing experimentation. And please, don't turn local JAR events into national AMA events — doing so tends to doom them to the same fate as other declining classes.
In every model built, every prop carved, and every adjustment tried, there's hope for a small improvement. That mindset isn't unique to racers — stunt and combat fliers do it too. Neither TS nor JAR is inherently better; both are valid expressions of racing needs and both should coexist.
Bill Lee 3522 Tamarisk Ln. Missouri City, TX 77459
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
