Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
4 Holly Springs Dr. Conroe, TX 77302
DEEP FREEZE
As I write, most of the country is locked in an icebox — it's building time. We'll spend the winter getting our Pylon Racers ready for the 1990 season. Come the first warm weather we'll go out to see how they'll fly, and many of us will bang up or lose a plane or two on its maiden flight. What can prevent — or at least help — with problems trimming new Racers?
I'll assume over the winter you have maintained the radio correctly and kept your batteries charged. OK, let's go fly.
Most of us get a little nervous the first few times we fly new airplanes. Frankly, many of us are nervous flying the same planes we used last year after not flying all winter. Start by puttering around the pattern with an old sport plane just to clear out the cobwebs; don't worry if you don't fly smooth — reflexes will be slow. A smooth flier seldom gets himself into a tight spot. If you do a lot of sport flying you'll be better off. So, sport fly a little — it's fun.
About the new plane: the faster you go, the less control-surface movement is needed to control the airplane. Slow down! That gives you an edge if the plane is badly out of trim.
In Q500 (Quarter Midget) and Quarter Midget classes you can control speed with a throttle, but in Formula One there is no throttle. The best thing to change is the fuel. Try running 5% nitro (or even 15%). Use a special racing prop or a full-size racing prop that has not been heavily reworked. You'll be pleasantly surprised — the engine will often run better and be easier to set. If the plane is out of trim, your chances of getting it trimmed improve. It's also cheaper: you can fly longer without burning up a plug. I'm not giving a pitch for low-nitro fuel — I just don't think you have to be going 200 mph to practice for a race. It works for me.
I also received a report from Art Arro with the race results from the Toledo Weak Signals' Animal 500.
Animal 500 — Toledo Weak Signals
Toledo, Ohio — October 8, 1989 Rex Knepper — Contest Director
The sixth annual Animal 500, hosted by the Toledo Weak Signals, was well attended with 19 entrants. There would have been more, but the club's open pylon race the week before took its toll — a few pilots crashed. The weather forecast was sleet and snow, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.
The first heat started at 9:45 a.m. Dave Howard, our starter, moved the heats very fast — by 12:45 we had four rounds in, so I decided to fly extra rounds. A total of six rounds was flown.
At the beginning of the year, times in the high teens were considered pretty fast. This weekend there were about seven pilots in the low teens. Billy Johanson turned 1:12.80. Rick Cromer was in the low- and high-teens every heat — very impressive for a guy who has only raced for about two years.
All the heat racing was very competitive — no freebies, well, maybe a couple. The Tennessee contingent caused some excitement: Greg Doe, Jon Lemmons and Doug Whiteaker confined their debris to the area around Pylon #3 for three consecutive heats. Greg started it when he came around #3 and landed full bore at the wrong angle — hard top — that really stresses glue joints. Jon Lemmons did the same and had a long story about hitting the hard top. Finally Doug Whiteaker said, "It's our turn," and about the fourth lap he hit Pylon #3 and the pole bent short, which slowed things.
Time did allow us to have a trophy dash for the top 12 pilots — that would have been some very good racing. Bob Hisey went 1:18.80 without his usual caller; I got Jim Warner. Kevin Matney had flown 1:16.80 the week before to set a club record; it lasted a week. The sleeper of the contest was Dave Carpenter — Dave turned a 1:14.90, then his firewall came loose and he was out of the race.
Craig Grunkemeyer had trouble each round — never finished. Bill Johanson had one good run; after Bill and his dad Fred got the plumbing working they really went well — unfortunately, it was too late.
Thanks to Art Arro for that report.
Results (All times recorded on a two-mile Quarter Midget course)
- Rex Knepper — 1:13.4
- Rick Cromer — 1:14.9
- Bob Hisey — 1:18.8
- Doug Whiteaker — 1:18.4
- Kevin Matney — 1:20.27
- Dave Gohn — 1:25.8
- Ken Hattel — 1:36.46
- Jim Widman — 1:25.9
- Gerald Price — 1:22.4
- Joe Dodd — 1:27.4
Fast time: Bill Johanson — 1:12.80
Pylon Race Procedure Guide
Revised by the NMPRA, 1989
(This guide was compiled by the NMPRA and revised in 1989 to reflect current race procedures. The Contest Procedure Guide is to be used in conjunction with the current AMA rule book — and above all, safety is the first priority. Use common sense when applying the safety features of this guide.)
Contest Procedure Guide for RC Pylon Racing
The operation of an RC pylon contest requires organization and dedicated manpower to be successful. The RC Pylon Contest Director must assume significant responsibility to assure a successful meet. The intent of this handbook is to help define operating procedures and standardize contest practices used nationally. It should be used as a supplement to the AMA Competition Regulations.
Except for mandatory safety requirements, procedures in this book are written as guidelines. Though strongly recommended, it is realized that local conditions may require deviation.
Safety
Safety is the number one concern for all RC pylon contest directors. Violation of required procedures may result in cancellation of all NMPRA Championship points that contestants would have earned in such a contest.
Required safety items and procedures include:
- The pit and spectator areas must be outside the minimum distances stated in the current AMA rule book.
- A protective barrier must be at Pylons #1, #2, and #3, together with the lap counter's table, for the flagmen to stand behind. The barrier should be at least 7 ft. high and made of chain-link fence fabric or its equivalent.
- No workers (except the #3 Pylon judge) or contestants may be in the Danger Area near Pylon #3 when the meet is racing.
- The Ready Area for the heat after the one already flying should not be on the course between Pylons #2 and #3.
The following safety procedures are required for officials:
- Hard hats for the starter, flight recorder, all lap counters, and the #2 and #3 Pylon judges.
- Protective barriers for the #1, #2, and #3 Pylons, judges, timers, and lap counters. Barriers should protect at least two sides of these officials.
- A minimum number of people should be out on the course. The Contest Director (CD) or the Starter should chase anyone out of the flying area who they feel does not belong.
Safety can't wait for rules or paperwork. During a racing event an unforeseen situation may arise that requires immediate controls. The Contest Director therefore has the authority to initiate any procedure he feels necessary to eliminate a dangerous situation.
Race Preparation
All announcements and pre-entry forms for RC pylon events should define any local deviations from normal race procedure. Preentry is recommended because it simplifies registration procedures; however, preentry need not be required.
The course should be laid out in accordance with the AMA rule book. All mandatory safety procedures must be incorporated into the layout. The pylons should be highly visible and approximately 20 ft. high, but not under 15 ft. high.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
