Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager 4 Holly Springs Dr. Conroe, TX 77302
I've just returned from the NMPRA Formula One Championships. Wow — what a contest. More in a later issue.
New Q-500 engine
At the race I was told of a new Q-500 engine to be produced by Henry Nelson — yes, the same person who does the .15 and our new FAI and Formula One engines. The new engine should be available about the first of 1991.
For more information write:
- Nelson Competition Engines, RD 2 Box 233, Ramsey Rd., Zelienople, PA 16063. Tel: 1-412-538-5282
- Dave Shadel, Performance Specialties, P.O. Box 4003, Carlsbad, CA 92008. Tel: 1-619-729-1658
Henry will produce and sell the engine; Dave Shadel will be the only other dealer carrying it. I don't have many details yet, but anything Dave and Henry collaborate on is bound to be good. I'll pass on more information as I get it.
Texas Slow 500 — Laredo RC Club Air Races
I've recently received inquiries about racing conducted under the Texas Slow 500 rules. I hadn't heard anything for a while, then I received a letter from Gil Horstman about a race held in Laredo, Texas. Over to Gil:
Hi Bill —
Following are the results of the Laredo RC Club Air Races. We raced under the Texas Slow 500 rules that originated in the Dallas area. The race is for Sig Four-Star .40 aircraft powered by stock K&B .40 FR engines. The club provides fuel and props.
The races were often very close, with only a plane length or so separating finishing positions. The closeness contributed to two midairs.
Ed Vals was our chief starter, John Vals was chief flagger, and Lynwood Jackson was the Chief Everything Else. Lynwood is the club president, so he had a lot to do. The meet went off well, with lots of help and the support of the local club members.
This event had a very generous sponsor in the International Bank of Commerce. In addition to Airtronics radios, Sig Four-Star .40 kits and K&B engines, the bank awarded a specially minted commemorative gold coin to the first-place winner. Clayton Hobbies of San Antonio provided props, and Ritch's Brew fuel was raced and awarded to all entries. The club wishes to thank all who contributed to the race, and especially the International Bank of Commerce at Laredo.
To top off a big day of racing, everyone was invited to the home of Tommy Sandoval for a super dinner prepared by his mom and dad, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sandoval. Wonderful Laredo hospitality! (Olivia helped also.)
No date has been set for a 1991 race. I'll bet Laredo would do it again if they heard from interested parties. Thanks, Bill, for listening. I hope you can use some of this in your racing column.
Laredo air race results
- 1st: Gil Horstman
- 2nd: Dr. Ernesto Sanchez
- 3rd: Richard Hagy
- 4th: Joe Alanis
- 5th: Jose Ortiz
- 6th: Craig Jackson
- 7th: Ignacio M. Polido
- 8th: Juan Carlos Civera
- 9th: Richard Hale
Texas Slow 500 rules
A. Airplane
- Kit: Sig Four-Star .40 (Sig Manufacturing Co.)
- Wing area: 604 sq. in., including wing tips
- Controls: Throttle, elevator, ailerons and rudder (mandatory)
- Chord and airfoil: To conform with plans; leading edge shall conform to plans
- Maximum radius on fuselage corners: 1/4 in.
- Nose: No additional streamlining beyond plans
- Landing gear: Tail-dragger or tricycle; shall not be jettisoned
- Wheels: 2-1/4 in. diameter minimum; must remain on aircraft during flight
- Wheel pants: Optional
- Retracts: Not allowed
- Profile modifications: No changes from any view, including canopy
- Minimum weight, dry: 4-1/2 lb.
B. Engine
- Type: Modern standard K&B Model 4011 (.40 cu. in.)
- Maximum displacement: .40 cu. in.
- Modifications allowed: None
- Carburetor: Standard metal K&B carb for the 4011 engine
- Tank pressure: Muffler pressure; no crankcase pressure
- Fuel furnished: By sponsoring club
- Propeller: 10 x 6 furnished by sponsoring club
C. Race Rules
- Engine idle: Airplane shall roll with engine idling
- Takeoff: Held assist
- Landing: No penalty for dead-stick after race finished
- Laps: 10
- Course length: Approximately 500 ft between pylons (same as Q-500)
- Number of pylons: Two
- Restarts permitted
- Cuts: One cut requires an extra lap; two cuts will disqualify (zero score)
- Engine protests: Any engine can be purchased by protester for $75
- Propellers and fuel: 10 x 6 props and fuel furnished by race sponsor
- Weighing: Airplanes will be weighed
- Final authority on disputes: Contest Director
NEPRO Quickie 500 Championships
Irv Thurrott sent the following report on the Northeast Pylon Racing Organization (NEPRO) Q-500 Championships held August 18–19 at Ellington, CT. The Northern Connecticut RC Club (NCRCC) sponsored the race.
NEPRO rules:
- K&B .40 (4011 or 8011) stock
- Master Airscrew 9 x 6 stock
- Quarter-Midget course
- All other specs standard
- Two classes: Standard and Expert
The NEPRO Quickie 500 Championships, which took place in Ellington, CT on August 18–19, 1990, had the largest attendance of any meet in the Northeast in the last five years (40 on Saturday, 44 on Sunday). Separate meets were held on Saturday and Sunday, with Overall Champions for each day. The Top Gun prize required no zeros, the fastest average time, and consistent top performance.
We flew Experts only against Experts and Standards against Standards (normally the matrix is mixed at our meets). A great amount of effort was put into checking conformance to our rules, mostly as a reminder that Q-500 should be a stock event. Discrepancies disappeared by the second round of flying, and fast time was set by a provided prop — highlighting that stock equipment is not necessarily slower. We kept no one from flying but pointed out variations from the rules and passed judgment on the start line.
The workers performed in exemplary fashion on a day when the temperature reached 94°F and the humidity was high. The host club, NCRCC, also had 19 (a record?) of its members flying, many of whom had gotten involved in racing by working at the races.
The Expert heats were all like our usual fly-offs; the flying was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants. In Standards class it was easy to see who was ready to move up to Experts, and there was much formation flying, which isn't usually the case in a mixed matrix.
Sunday saw wind, rain, a temperature drop of 35°, and a lot of people ill-prepared for the cold weather. Forty-four contestants signed up and flew four rounds before we had to stop flying due to the wind/chill factor. Even under these conditions the workers performed flawlessly, and a good time was had by all.
Results
- Overall Champion, Standard Class: Mark Seiler
- Overall Champion, Expert Class: Dave Chapdelane
- Top Gun: Dave Chapdelane (average time, nine rounds: 1:42.25)
Saturday
- Standard: 1) Mark Seiler — 1:40.6; 2) Craig Korsen — 1:43.1; 3) Kirk Hlavaty — 1:54.0; 4) Mike Balkum — 1:46.4; 5) Al Zayas — 1:58.8
- Expert: 1) Don McStay — 1:33.8; 2) Dave Chapdelane — 1:35.0; 3) Steve Pastula — 1:31.9; 4) Bob Wallace — 1:36.9; 5) Jerry Stephens — 1:44.9
Sunday
- Standard: 1) Craig Korsen — 1:44.9; 2) Mark Seiler — 1:48.2; 3) Tony Giovanetti — 1:48.3; 4) Mike Bumbaca — 1:48.7; 5) Andy Finley — 1:48.8
- Expert: 1) David Boyle — 1:37.8; 2) Dave Chapdelane — 1:40.9; 3) Mike Mungavin — 1:37.2; 4) Pete Reed — 1:39.0; 5) Steve Pastula — 1:35.5
A side note from Irv: It's important that contest reports highlight any differences from the AMA national rules in order for reported times to be meaningful.
Well put, Irv. Thanks.
See you next month.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
