Author: G. Lee
Edition: Model Aviation - 1999/12
Page Numbers: 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
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CONTROL LINE: Speed

Glenn Lee, 819 Mandrake Drive, Batavia IL 60510

Overview

The order of Control Line (CL) Speed flying categories at the Nationals (Nats) was changed slightly from last year so that well-attended events were interspersed with those that had fewer entrants. Flying began early each day; weather was generally warm and sunny with little wind, though air density was low early in the week, which affected engine performance and prop selection.

Monday, July 12

F2A (FAI) Speed and 1/2A Profile Proto were flown. F2A rounds were scheduled at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m.; Profile Proto flights were allowed anytime in between.

  • 1/2A Profile Proto (22 entrants, Open)
  • 1st: Greg Settle — 112.78 mph
  • 2nd: Jerry Rocha — 112.17 mph
  • 3rd: Bill Naemura — 104.88 mph
  • 4th: Warren Kurth — 104.19 mph
  • Notes: Greg and Jerry ran CS .049 engines with Hazel props. Head clearance and prop choice were important because of the lower air density.
  • 1/2A Profile Proto (Junior-Senior, 8 contestants)
  • 1st: Dave Rolley (Bennett, CO) — 84.99 mph
  • 2nd: Scott Matson (Muncie, IN) — 84.63 mph
  • Others: Krystal King, Kevin Peters, Wade Schoonover, Philip Peters, Douglas Short
  • F2A (10 contestants)
  • 1st: Ron Peters (Niagara Falls, Canada) — 287.17 kph (almost 179 mph)
  • 2nd: Team Brown
  • 3rd: Bill Naemura
  • 4th: Billy Hughes
  • Notes: Most competitors flew Mejzlik airplanes.

Team Brown: George Brown Sr., George III "Slugger," and Tommy.

Tuesday

Events included 1/2A Speed (11 contestants) and .21 Sport Speed (20 contestants).

  • 1/2A Open
  • 1st: Team Brown — 144.63 mph (FABS sidewinder, ACE engine)
  • 2nd: Charlie Legg — 142.81 mph (home-built engine)
  • 3rd: Jerry Rocha — 140.82 mph (CS-powered)
  • 1/2A Junior-Senior (3 contestants)
  • 1st: Scott Matson — 90.06 mph
  • 2nd: Krystal King — 86.09 mph
  • .21 Sport Speed (fast flying; speeds >150 mph)
  • 1st: Team Brown — 153.52 mph (Aloise-engine-powered, record-holding model)
  • 2nd: Frank Puleo — 153.00 mph (previous record-holder; tuning Tim Gillott engine)
  • 3rd: Barry Tippett — 149.57 mph
  • 4th: Bob Whitney — 148.70 mph
  • 5th: Glenn Lee — 148.58 mph (backup flight)
  • Also: Frank Garzon posted 148.58 but ended behind on backup attempts.
  • Notes: Warm, sunny conditions with little wind.

Wednesday — Classes A and B

Junior-Senior and Open flights for Classes A and B continued.

  • Junior-Senior Class A
  • 1st: Krystal King (Arkadelphia, AR) — 90.46 mph
  • 2nd: Dave Rolley — 87.47 mph
  • Open Class A
  • 1st: Team Brown — 181.38 mph (same model Tommy set a record with weeks prior)
  • 2nd: Frank Garzon — 176.40 mph
  • 3rd: Bill Naemura — 176.05 mph
  • Others: Jerry Rocha, John Newton, Phil McGee had good flights.
  • Open Class B (turnout very good)
  • 1st: Glen Vansant — 181.93 mph
  • 2nd: Billy Hughes — 173.68 mph
  • 3rd: Joe Morris — 171.89 mph (newcomer)
  • 4th: Phil McGee — 171.03 mph
  • 5th: A.T. Wright (Orange Park, FL) — 165.07 mph
  • Notes: 14 entrants noted as a good turnout.

Thursday — Formula .40 and .21 Proto

Formula .40 (F-40) was very competitive and popular, with many senior contestants in the circle. .21 Proto was flown as an unofficial event.

  • Formula .40 (25 Open contestants, 1 Senior)
  • 1st: Glenn Lee — 158.25 mph (Nelson .40-powered)
  • 2nd: Jim Rhoades — 157.69 mph (F-40 record-holder; Nelson .40)
  • 3rd: Billy Hughes — 157.23 mph (Nelson-powered; close)
  • Tom Blankman — 154.84 mph (Nelson; fastest he'd ever gone)
  • Others with >150 mph: Dave Mark, Frank Puleo, Barry Tippett
  • .21 Proto (unofficial, 10 entrants)
  • 1st: Glenn Lee — 137 mph (elliptical-shaped wing model)
  • 2nd: Bob Whitney — 130 mph (new airplane)
  • Notes: Wayne Trivin (Lake Worth, FL) had top appearance points for his semiscale clipped-wing Supermarine Spitfire but did not fly due to incomplete engine-tank installation.

Friday — Class D and Jet

Class D and Jet were run on Friday; both drew strong interest.

  • Class D
  • Ned Morris (O.S. .65-powered Indy 60) held the record at nearly 202 mph and was the one to beat.
  • Early: Ned (with Tommy Brown flying) — 197.72 mph
  • Team Brown (Tommy flying) — approx. 195 mph (early)
  • Glenn Lee (with Tommy piloting) improved to 193.26 mph — good enough for 3rd at that time
  • Final: Team Brown — 198.60 mph (final flight to take first)
  • 2nd: Ned Morris — edged out by Team Brown
  • 3rd: Glenn Lee — 193.26 mph
  • 4th: Santo Rizzotto — 186.07 mph
  • 5th: Frank Puleo — 182.67 mph
  • Four-stroke example
  • Fred and Bill Franklin flew a Class D model powered by a Magnum 90 four-stroke. Using a pen bladder tank and pilot Joey, they achieved a quiet 115 mph; engine was not tuned for high rpm but performed well.
  • Jet
  • 1st: Mike Fiske — 196.43 mph (record; required backup within 5 mph)
  • Backup: 195.36 mph (valid backup)
  • 2nd: Team Perkins (Hoyt-type sidewinder) — 191.01 mph
  • 3rd: Mike Coutts — 184.54 mph
  • 4th: Billy Hughes — ~180 mph
  • Notes: Texans (Mike Fiske, Dimmitt Perkins, Steve Perkins) flew Bailey-engine-powered models; they use a tire pump for starting and a step-wing design to prevent yaw and improve streamlining.

Fuel

Most Speed events used standard 10% nitromethane fuel donated by Steve O'Donnell of Pro Blend Inc., Santa Fe Springs, CA.

  • Fuel composition:
  • 70% methanol
  • 10% nitromethane
  • 15% synthetic oil
  • 5% castor oil
  • Events using this fuel: .21 Sport Speed, .21 Proto, Formula .40, Classes A, B, and D.
  • Note: The fuel worked very well and no one reported problems.

Awards

  • Open High Point: Team Brown — perfect score of 400 points (won 1/2A, .21 Sport Speed, Class A, and Class D).
  • Junior-Senior High Point Champion: Krystal King.
  • High Speed Award — Record Ratio: Mike Fiske (for the Jet record).
  • Awards were presented at the banquet Friday night.

Officials, Timing, and Volunteers

CL Speed was officiated by members of NASS (North American Speed Society). Bob Heywood was Event Director but could not attend; a group of NASS officers oversaw the event. Officiating and support were handled professionally with no protests.

Volunteers and workers who helped make the week run smoothly:

  • Ken Barthel
  • Frank Garzon
  • Barry Tippett
  • John Camp (tabulator)
  • Dave Marks
  • Frank and Frankie Garzon
  • Charlie "Doc" Davis and his son Ben
  • John Newton
  • Seabert Parsons
  • Dave Cotton
  • Al Kelly
  • Jerry Rocha
  • Jim Rhoades
  • Justin McGee
  • Greg Settle
  • Joey Mathison
  • Joe Morris
  • Many others who handled timing, pit test, and other tasks

Special thanks:

  • Control Line Manager Brenda Schuette — for her help and problem-solving.
  • The pilots — Billy, Joey, Tommy, and others — for flying models for those who can't.
  • Everyone who lent a helping hand throughout the week.

What a great bunch of people — and a fine Nats for CL Speed.

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