1985 NATS: RC Pylon Racing
Art Arno
Overview
We witnessed a good turnout: a total of 89 flying entries were recorded for the three Pylon events at this Nats. Entry breakdown:
- FAI Pylon (F3D): 26 pilots (a large increase from only four at the 1983 Nats)
- Quarter Midget: 26 entries
- Formula I: 37 entries
International participation included several Australians and Canadians, plus single entries from Mexico and Venezuela. Note: 11 FAI entries were foreign; several pilots used the Nats as a prelude to the First FAI Pylon Racing World Championships the following week.
All three Pylon Racing events were scheduled during six morning time slots, beginning on Sunday with FAI Pylon. An extra day was included to allow additional time for RC Scale's expected large number of entries.
Organization and Processing
Processing began officially on Saturday afternoon with check-in and inspection of all FAI-class entries. Inspections and frequency checks were conducted in the bowling alley adjacent to the Quality Inn, which served as Nats HQ early in the event.
Wayne Yeager served as Pylon Event Director. His experienced crew measured, weighed, and safety-checked models. A frequency check was conducted on all transmitters, and a detailed spectrum analysis of the output signal was offered as an optional test, headed by George Myers to collect data for the AMA Frequency Committee. Inspections went smoothly; only minor discrepancies were found, and underweight aircraft were noted to pilots for correction before racing began.
FAI Pylon Racing
Site and conditions
FAI Pylon Racing officially commenced with a pilots' meeting at 6:30 a.m. at the Westover AFB flying site. The pylon area was situated at the north end of the base on a long concrete runway. A taxiway crossed the race course at midpoint, providing additional landing area. The site allowed easy vehicle access and pitting on paved or grassy areas. The pilots' meeting was held on the start-finish line, where Wayne Yeager described race procedures and the electrical flagging/cut indication system.
Weather was sunny and warm with a pleasant breeze directly down the course — excellent conditions for racing. The first heat was flagged off at about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Racing highlights and results
- Milos Malina (Czechoslovakia) set the early pace with a time of 1:30.79 and later improved to a fast time of 1:21.73 in the fourth round to clinch the win.
- Other top contenders included Ranjit Phelan, Glen Matthews, and Bruce DeChastel (all from Australia).
- Less than five seconds separated Malina from Phelan; margins were even closer for the lower placings.
- Irv Thurott (South Windsor, CT) was the highest-placing U.S. competitor.
Award presentations were made immediately after final results were posted. There was considerable speculation about the upcoming FAI F3D World Championships the following week.
Quarter Midget Racing
Processing and start
Quarter Midget processing was held early Sunday afternoon at the Quality Inn and proceeded without hitches. Racing began after a pilots' meeting at Westover AFB on Monday morning. The first heat was flagged off at 7:15 a.m.; the entire first round was completed just after 8:00 a.m. Average time between heats was about six minutes, and a full round took roughly 45 minutes.
Paul Page produced a computer printout showing each pilot's scheduled heats, which, combined with efficient pit bosses, maximized the number of races within the allotted time.
Format and competition
Racehorse starts were used in all Quarter Midget heats, and there were relatively few mid-air collisions as a result. Pilots were competitive — each trying to achieve perfect four-point heats — and there were few give-away races.
After two rounds, only Rex Knepper and Ken Heatlie had perfect scores. In Round 3, Ken Hulik set a low time of 1:19.56, which was beaten in Round 4 by Dave Latsha with a 1:19.40 — the fastest time in the Quarter Midget event.
A total of six rounds were flown on Monday. Rex Knepper held a narrow one-point lead after six rounds, followed by Dave Latsha and Dub Jett. Ken Heatlie, who led after five rounds, struck a pylon and crashed during the last lap of the sixth round. There were several mid-airs and crashes during the first day.
Tuesday and final rounds
Tuesday dawned sunny and mild. Due to crashes and dropouts, Wayne Yeager called a short pilots' meeting to re-matrix the field after Round 8 to reduce single-plane heats and re-flies; the pilots voted to re-matrix and racing resumed at 7:07 a.m.
- In Round 7, Rex Knepper had a midair with Gail (Jake) Jacobson, dropping Rex to 8th and Jake to 13th.
- In Round 8, Rex tangled with Dave Latsha, causing superficial damage to both models. Rex won that heat to move back up; Dave dropped to No. 2.
- Dub Jett continued to amass winning scores and ultimately took the victory in Quarter Midget.
- After 11 rounds, Rex Knepper and Dennis Sumner contested an exciting flyoff for 3rd place. The lead exchanged with every lap; Rex took the win at the wire to secure 3rd place.
(Complete final results were listed in the "Competition News" section of the issue.)
Formula I Racing
Processing and static judging
Formula I processing took place Tuesday afternoon at the bowling alley. Static judging was performed outdoors to determine takeoff positions. Models were placed into four rows based on beauty, craftsmanship, and scale fidelity. A Best of Show model was selected; that pilot receives the privilege of taking off first in every heat. Best of Show went to Dave Shadel’s Little Toni. Static judging emphasized underside and surface texture and was completed quickly and fairly.
Racing timeline and incidents
Racing began Wednesday morning under heavy overcast skies. The first heat was flagged at 7:12 a.m. Everything proceeded until the eighth heat, when three adjacent-frequency channels experienced severe intermodulation distortion and interference that prevented engines from starting. Wayne Yeager decided to re-matrix the entire field; the re-matrix was quickly performed by computer, and racing resumed at 9:30 a.m.
Light rain began at 10:00 a.m. and increased until the end of Round 2, at which point there was a seven-way tie for first. Mike Atzei led with a fast time of 1:18.94 at that stoppage. Racing was suspended due to rain.
Thursday opened overcast with a strong north breeze and chilly temperatures (air in the low 60s with gusts to 20–30 knots). Four additional rounds were flown. Only Dave Shadel maintained a perfect score, and he set a new fast time of 1:13.81. In Round 6 Dave had a strong heat with Mike Atzei and Dub Jett, winning in 1:14.79; Dub turned a 1:16.42 from the third takeoff position. Mike experienced an engine cut in that close race.
Friday, the final day of Formula I racing, saw sunny skies and light northerly winds. Racing was delayed to improve sight lines for rounding Pylon No. 3. Three additional rounds and the flyoffs were completed, with many close and exciting races recorded.
Results and presentation
- Dave Shadel finished with a perfect 36-point score after nine rounds and held the fast time of 1:13.81.
- A flyoff for 2nd and 3rd place was won by Dub Jett after Mike Atzei suffered a cut.
- Places 6th through 9th were determined by a flyoff and were won in order by Paul Benezra, Tom Christopher, Chuck Wahl, and Neil Watson.
All racing concluded by 11:30 a.m., and awards were presented promptly. Scorecards were given to contestants with individual scores, heat times, placing, and average speeds in mph, knots, and km/hr — compliments of the computer system operated by Loren Holm and Paul Page.
Conclusion
The 59th AMA Nationals was a success in the organization and execution of three Pylon Racing events. Knowledgeable and dedicated officials made the event run smoothly, and competition was keen with many of the top pilots in the country and the world competing. The Nats provided a wealth of experience for all participants.
Many of us look forward to the 1986 Nationals at Lake Charles, LA, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the AMA. Hope to see you there.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
