Author: B. Hager
Edition: Model Aviation - 1995/03
Page Numbers: 7, 8, 9, 10, 15
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NMPRA Championship Race

Pylon racing's best gathered at Caddo Mills, Texas, last October to decide "King of the Hill" for 1994.

By Bill Hager

Event summary

Each October the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) holds its premier Formula One Championship Race. Entry is limited to the top 20% finishers in each district, top-ten finishers at the AMA Nationals, officers, and past Championship Race winners. In 1994 the race was held at Caddo Mills Municipal Airport, with the Holiday Inn serving as headquarters. Race dates: October 15–16. There were 35 entries.

Organization and crew

The contest was organized by Drew Jerina (District VIII NMPRA Vice President and Contest Board member). The Dallas R/C Club provided crucial support. Key officials and workers included:

  • Scott Kalmus — Contest Director
  • Bill Gallagher — Starter
  • Dan Tips — Assistant Starter
  • Jody McDaniel — #1 Pylon Judge
  • Julie Tips and Paul Page — Scoring
  • Other supporters: Jack Albrecht, Michael Stokes, Richard Verano

Thanks to Bill Hager for donating trophies.

Weather and practice

Practice was held the day before the race. Race morning brought rain and damp conditions, which slowed but did not stop competition. Occasional short showers caused brief holds, but the contest proceeded smoothly.

Race highlights

  • First heat (about 9:30 a.m.): Paul Benezra won over Pete Reed; Sam Womack did not finish.
  • Heat four: Ralph Rinaldi edged Ben Johnson by a few feet; Ben showed strong form.
  • Early round fast times:
  • Gary Hover turned 1:09.08 (first-round fast time), narrowly ahead of Henry Bartle's 1:09.48.
  • Round two: Dave Layman beat Gary Hover in a tight race; Layman was flying the Kaze Killer.
  • Round three: Dave Shadel lowered the contest fast time to 1:08.49 against Darrol Cady.
  • Several competitors consistently turned 1:08–1:09 times as the contest heated up (Rich Tocci, Lou Rodriguez, Dub Jett, etc.).
  • Bill Hager (author) recovered from a mid-contest engine/needle problem by flying a backup Kaze. He later set a contest fast time of 1:05.41 and finished in the top positions.
  • Dave Layman and Dave Shadel were running near the top throughout; final placings were decided in flyoffs.
  • Flyoffs and final moments:
  • Lou Rodriguez beat Henry Bartle for seventh place in a flyoff.
  • Dave Shadel defeated Gary Hover for King of the Hill. Officials recorded unusually long flyoff times (reported as 1:32.16 vs. 1:39.44), possibly due to an extra-long course; times were double-checked and accepted.

Records and special achievements

  • Contest Fast Time: Bill Hager — 1:05.41 (marked as contest fast time)
  • New Senior World Record: Ben Johnson — 1:10.46
  • Best Show: Drew Jerina — freshly painted Larson Cosmic Wind

Raffle winners (radios donated)

  • Airtronics — Duane Schoelerman
  • JR — Willie Ross Jr.
  • Futaba — George Wilson

Results — Top 20 (35 entries)

  1. Dave Shadel — Kaze — Nelson — 39 pts — 1:06.55
  2. Gary Hover — Kaze — Nelson — 39 pts — 1:07.85
  3. Bill Hager — Kaze — Nelson — 38 pts — 1:05.41*
  4. Dave Layman — Kaze Killer — Jett — 35 pts — 1:06.57
  5. Paul Benezra — Shark — Nelson — 34 pts — 1:10.63
  6. Travis Flynn — Kaze — Nelson — 32 pts — 1:09.69
  7. Lou Rodriguez — Kaze — Nelson — 30 pts — 1:08.24
  8. Henry Bartle — Toni — Nelson — 30 pts — 1:08.75
  9. Darrol Cady — Shark — Nelson — 29 pts — 1:09.65
  10. R. Brogdon Jr. — Kaze Killer — Jett — 28 pts — 1:08.82
  11. Dave Doyle — Shark — Nelson — 27 pts — 1:07.49
  12. M. W. Cranfill — De Night — Nelson — 27 pts — 1:10.16
  13. Ralph Rinaldi — Shark — Nelson — 27 pts — 1:10.35
  14. Drew Jerina — Toni — Tiger Jett — 24 pts — 1:10.74
  15. Richard Tocci — Shark — Nelson — 24 pts — 1:08.85
  16. Ben Johnson — Shark — Nelson — 24 pts — 1:10.46
  17. Lloyd Burnham — Shark — Nelson — 23 pts — 1:08.39
  18. Norm Johnson — Kaze Killer — Nelson — 22 pts — 1:09.95
  19. John Landers — Kaze Killer — Nelson — 22 pts — 1:15.10
  20. Dub Jett — Kaze Killer — Jett — 19 pts — 1:07.63

*Contest fast time

Banquet and awards

A banquet at the Holiday Inn concluded the event. Pete Reed was announced as NMPRA president for 1995. National points awards were given out; Richard Verano won the national points title but was unable to attend due to a show in Chicago. The banquet featured a comedy routine by Dave Doyle.

Thanks and closing

Thanks to Drew Jerina and the Dallas R/C Club crew for organizing and running the event. Special appreciation to Jack Albrecht, Michael Stokes, Richard Verano, Ralph Rinaldi, Mike Masi, Rich Pauls, and all who supported and attended. If you missed the race, you missed a great one. Next year's Championship Race will be in California.

P.S.

The drive home featured heavy rain and flooding threats. Many neighbors were flooded; the author missed serious flooding at his house by about six inches. Several hundred homes in the broader area experienced water up to 14 feet.

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