NMPRA Championships
Overview
The NMPRA Championship Race is to Formula I Pylon Racing what the Indianapolis 500 is to auto racing. Pylon fliers work all year to qualify for this invitation-only race. To qualify one must finish in the top 20% of his NMPRA district, finish in the top 10 at the AMA Nationals, be a past champion, or serve as an officer of the NMPRA.
Venue and Entries
Each year the race is held on the East Coast, the Southwest, or the West Coast—usually in Florida, Texas, or California—to even out travel distances and offer a home-field advantage to different competitors.
On October 22–23, 1983, the Championship was held in San Luis Obispo, California, hosted by the SLO Flyers. Contest Director Jim Sneed reported 47 entries from across the United States and the Canadian district. Some bad weather several days before the contest threatened the race, but race-day weather was perfect.
Saturday: Early Heats and Round 1–4
For the first several heats fliers were sorting things out. About Heat 5 Phil Bussell turned 10 laps in 1:16. Phil, who claims to be a specialist, is with State Farm Insurance in Dallas, TX. Heat 9 saw Dave Shadel post 1:13.76. As competitors shed first-round jitters and the weather warmed, times improved in Round 2.
Heat 11 featured a close finish: Jeff Bertken nosed out Gail Jacobson, Jeff with 1:14.92 and Gail with 1:15.22. It became apparent that place-high turn times were in the mid–low teens.
Mid-morning the wind shifted. The host club turned the course around during a half-hour break, and racing continued without slowdown.
Round 3 produced faster times. Kent Nogy posted 1:11.73, followed by teammate Dave Shadel improving to 1:11.30 in Heat 9. Mike Atzei Jr. also recorded a fast run at about 1:11.8. At the end of Round 3 five pilots were tied for first with 12 points: Dave Shadel, Dub Jett, Gary Hover, Tom Christopher, and Jeff Bertken.
In Round 4 Tom Christopher turned too quick and cut a pylon, losing two points. Jeff Bertken also cut a pylon and lost a point. Dub Jett crashed and had to switch to a backup plane, which effectively put him out for the rest of the race. After Round 4, two fliers remained tied for first: Dave Shadel and Gary Hover.
Banquet and Awards
After the completion of Round 4, the customary Saturday-night banquet presented awards to the top 20 finishers and national points. Dave Shadel, a top competitor in pylon racing for eight years and employed as a sales manager for Airtronics, was a repeat winner and also the 1982 points champion. The banquet was a great success.
Sunday: Final Rounds and Tie for First
Sunday morning a heavy fog delayed flying for about a half-hour; after the delay, weather returned to perfect. While much attention focused on Dave Shadel and Gary Hover, a close battle developed for third place between Jeff Bertken and Kent Nogy. Both remained a couple points behind the leaders, waiting for a slip-up that never came; Dave and Gary continued to post fast times (Dave with 1:12 and 1:14s).
Gary Hover, who had finished third in the previous year and had won first place in Formula 1 at that year's AMA Nationals, worked for San Luis Obispo County as buildings facilities manager and had been racing about seven years. He had won the 1981 NMPRA Points Championship and placed third in several prior Championship Races.
In the eighth round Kent Nogy's engine cut out. Despite that, Jeff Bertken and Kent Nogy had amassed enough points to hold third and fourth, respectively. Race officials decided to stop flying at eight rounds. Dave Shadel and Gary Hover finished tied for first.
Flyoffs
Several ties were resolved by flyoffs. Eighth, ninth, and tenth were decided in a flyoff among Mike Atzei Jr., Tom Christopher, and George Parks, all tied at 23 points. The flyoff was a racehorse start and very close for all 10 laps.
- Mike Atzei Jr. crossed first with 1:12.09 (8th place).
- Tom Christopher was second with 1:15.00 (9th place).
- George Parks was third with 1:16.00 (10th place).
The championship flyoff for first place pitted Dave Shadel against Gary Hover. Dave appeared to have more horsepower; while chasing, Gary over-turned the No. 1 pylon and made a high-speed belly-smack landing. His plane bounced and he was able to land, but the pylon cut handed the win to Dave Shadel. Thus Dave Shadel again claimed the Championship.
There was only one re-fly during the meet, required because two planes were nearly identical and caused a protested finish.
Acknowledgements
The SLO Flyers put on an excellent event. For those invited but unable to attend this year's Championship Race, it was a contest not to miss. Try to attend next year's event if you can.
Results
- 1. Dave Shadel — Champion (won flyoff)
- 2. Gary Hover — runner-up (lost flyoff)
- 3. Jeff Bertken
- 4. Kent Nogy
- 5. Dub Jett
- 8. Mike Atzei Jr. — 1:12.09 (flyoff)
- 9. Tom Christopher — 1:15.00 (flyoff)
- 10. George Parks — 1:16.00 (flyoff)
All other ties were resolved by times.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
