Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager 4 Holly Springs Dr. Conroe, TX 77302
It's 1988 already. This year's Nats will be held at Tidewater, VA, July 23–28. Q500 will start it off on Sunday (July 24) and continue on Monday. QM will be on Tuesday, FAI on Wednesday, and Formula I will cap it off on Thursday and Friday.
Guess what's new this year? Assigned RC frequencies. This is just a start, and by my observation it may be a few years before we can really see a benefit from this system.
Anyway, this year's Nats should be well-attended. There'll be plenty of competition. Don't miss it. Start getting ready now.
Please note that I've got a new address! It's listed up there in the logo at the head of my column. Also, at the end of the column, I've got a list of sources where you can buy all those good Pylon kits and engines.
For those who race in the Midwest, here is something of interest on radio frequencies for '88 from the UPRC (United Pylon Racing Circuit) ed. newsletter.
- Only the new channel (1988) frequencies designated by the AMA can be flown in the U.S. from now on.
- The old RED/WHITE, BLUE/WHITE, GREEN/WHITE, BROWN/WHITE, PURPLE/WHITE, ORANGE/WHITE, and YELLOW/WHITE frequencies can no longer be used in the U.S. Anyone showing up at a race in the U.S. on an illegal frequency will be denied entry to the race.
- To help reduce 31M problems, the AMA and the NMPRA have recommended that only certain frequencies be allowed for Pylon Racing. The CAPS racing circuit in the Detroit area will be following these recommendations for 1988. So anyone planning to go to the Midwest next year will want to plan accordingly; don't show up on the wrong channels. Another item: anyone going to the Midwest next year will need the gold/silver sticker requirement for transmitters (note: not an AMA requirement—Ed.).
- For those Canadians: in order to have insurance coverage required for AMA-sanctioned races and racing/flying competition in the U.S., there will be a $10 once-a-year annual charge to cover insurance. This will probably be payable at the first U.S. race you attend, and there should be forms at that race for you to fill out to obtain the coverage. (This is the AMA's "Affiliate Member" program. Foreign modelers can take advantage of this, but they must have proof of their current affiliation with their own national aero club—MAAC in the case of Canadians. —RMcM)
- If you have any questions on Canadian frequencies, you may want to contact Ed Smith in Brantford, who has a lot of information on the subject.
"Here is what will be used in the Midwest this year. All 72 MHz frequencies will be required to have either a gold (1991) or silver (1988) sticker on the transmitter. This was from a proposal by John Kilsdonk. This should eliminate most of the radio problems caused by the other guy."
Rationale: AMA has instituted a new procedure for certifying transmitters by issuing special gold or silver stickers certifying that individual transmitters meet or exceed the specifications for the particular year. As far as I know, this is only being done for the 72 MHz frequencies. These stickers can be affixed by approved manufacturers and some service outlets. They are also available from AMA at some trade shows. I understand certain clubs offer the test for a nominal $3 fee.
One other point is that because the new frequencies will be in effect in 1988, AMA has recommended that only the following frequencies be used in Pylon Racing in order to alleviate 31M and other problems:
Channels:
- RC14, RC16, RC20, RC22, RC26, RC28, RC32, RC34, RC38, RC40, RC44, RC46, RC50, RC52, RC56.
Six-meter frequencies:
- 50.80, 50.86, 50.92, 50.98, 53.20, 53.30, 53.40, 53.50, 53.60, 53.70, 53.80.
Racing in Helena, MT.
I don't think I've ever reported racing activity in the Helena area slowing down; it's great to see racing continuing in other areas of the U.S.A.
Over the Labor Day weekend, 10 of us from Montana and Mike Sperry from Wyoming traveled to the north to race with our friends from Calgary, Canada.
As expected, it was a well-organized, well-run race and the competition was very high in both Q500 and Formula I.
Henry and Donna Bartle came all the way from Southern California to race and do a little sightseeing on Friday before the race. Henry did turn a fast time, but there were several who were only a few seconds off. When Henry received his trophy for fast time, he gave us words of encouragement. Thank you, Henry—we liked it and hope Donna will travel north to race with us again.
Though the weather was great until a drop of rain, four racers still had water problems. Yes, the lake is close to the field. Brian Patterson overshot the field on his last landing Saturday and ended up about 150 ft from shore in some willows; his plane wasn't found until Sunday and he was unhurt.
Hans Algard and Dan Hughes had a midair at pylon number two Saturday; both ended up in the lake. Late Sunday afternoon the plane was found except for the battery pack, which was about three or four feet under water.
Mel Reed's weekend—anything that could go wrong did. Through Saturday and Sunday things were worse. Mel's first race, Formula I, was also his last. Yes, another plane in the lake—definitely a radio failure and the plane went about 25 ft under. Still, Mel, being an easygoing person, came back smiling and said he wanted a new plane and radio anyway. Mel already has another Denight ready and is planning on going to Mesa, AZ, to race in February.
We had a new starter at this year's race who did a really good job his first time out. I twisted his arm a little and I think he will come back.
RC Pylon Racing / Hager
Here are the results:
Standard Q500
- Duane Felstet
- Dan Powell
- Darrol Cady
- Wayne Venetz
- Ken Helgeson
Modified Q500
- Greg Corliss
- Duane Felstet
- Earl Seholm
- Wayne Venetz
- A. J. Seholm
Formula I
- Murray Hamula (1:24.0)
- Leon Elbert (1:30)
- Hans Algard (1:40)
- Duane Felstet (1:39.5)
- Wayne Venetz (1:57)
Here's where to get those kits and engines:
- Kits
- Li'l Toni — Prather Products, (213) 835-1660, 1660 Ravenna, Wilmington, CA 90744
- Denight — Paul's Fly, (619) 743-5458, P.O. Box 121, Escondido, CA 92025
- Cosmic — Sternberg
- Ritch's — (713) 661-4104, Lakehurs, TX
- Don Rice — (206) 228-4170, Seattle, WA
- Engines / Stock
- Super Tigre — Ritch's (see above)
- X-40 — John Hahn, (915) 672-8568, P.O. Box 2694, Abilene, TX 79604
- Other engines and modified-ready-to-race suppliers listed above
(Note: Supplier names and addresses are transcribed as shown on the page.)
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
