Author: B. Hager
Edition: Model Aviation - 1993/06
Page Numbers: 93, 121
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RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING

Bill Hager, 4 Holly Springs Dr., Conroe, TX 77302

New RC .40 Engine from Jett Engineering

A new RC .40 engine hit the market March 1, promising to add more spice to the increasingly crowded AMA Quickie engine market. Features of the ABC engine include an alloy piston material developed especially for high-performance engines, a unique Ram-Jett carburetor, and a tuned muffler optimized for Quickie racing RPM. Early tests indicate competitive horsepower at a moderate price.

The engine is the creation of Jett Engineering, Houston, Texas, founded last year by RC pylon world champion and world record holder Dub Jett. Dub holds degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering and has spent most of his career in manufacturing. He built his first engine at age 14 and, with partner John Shannon in the mid-1970s, manufactured and sold the DJS racing engine, which at one time held six simultaneous Class B control-line speed records. Many of Dub's innovations have since appeared in other manufacturers' engines.

Dub is also working on a modified version of the Super Tigre X-40, called the Tigre-Jett, which will be available May 1. Expect a SportJett .40 and .46 by midsummer. For more information write to Dub Jett, 6110 Milwee, Suite J, Houston, TX 77092, or call (713) 680-8113.

New Videotape from Lyle Larson

Lyle Larson has released a videotape that shows step-by-step how to build a Formula I model. It covers everything through the final coat of paint, including the fuel system, rebuilding racing engines, choosing props, test-flying, and trimming out the racer. Write to Lyle at 26612 Las Tunas Dr., Mission Viejo, CA 92692, or call (714) 365-1155.

NMPRA 20th Annual Quarter Midget Championships — Rough River, KY (Oct 10–11, 1992)

The National Miniature Pylon Racing Association's 20th annual Quarter Midget (QM) race proved better than everyone expected. Mother Nature cooperated and the contest ran smoothly: seven rounds on Saturday and three on Sunday — all 10 rounds flown without a single refly.

The smooth running was due to an experienced crew. Cathi Waters did a superb job with starting; she has been starting races regularly for the past couple of years and has assisted Karen Yeager at the Nats since 1987. The Louisville RC Club, host for the event, worked hard to eliminate past problems and delivered one of the best contests ever. Special thanks to contest director Joe Codispoti; Evans Hunt, the computer whiz; and Bob Leason, who kept things moving when Joe was absent. The pylon one crew performed especially well — that had been trouble in previous years. Thanks also to Dan Kane Sr., Kevin Kane, and Chuck Harrison who came from Chicago to help.

There were 24 pilots this year, with participants from as far as Texas and Florida. New racer Tom Doe cut 30 seconds off his time over the two days — great improvement. Ken Fidler came from Florida with a borrowed airplane to race his first QM and did quite well.

Round-by-round Highlights

  1. Round One
  • Jim Katz cruised to a 1:19, posting the fastest time for the round.
  • Jerry Salisbury dropped two points; Craig "Grunk" Grunkemeyer dropped one.
  • Some Texans earned zeros for not completing the course.
  1. Round Two
  • Jerry Salisbury turned 1:17.74 for a new fast time.
  • J.P. Hanway ran even faster with a 1:17.09.
  • Joe Dodd turned 1:18, good enough to win his heat.
  • Grunk received a zero in this round.
  1. Round Three
  • The best race of the contest: Grunk and J.P. battled up front, swapping the lead several times while Dan Kane Jr. closed in.
  • On lap nine three planes turned at the same time; finishing times were Kane Jr. 1:15.85, Grunk 1:15.95, J.P. 1:16.20.
  1. Round Four
  • Rex Knepper crashed his P-51 across the asphalt between pylons two and three while battling Jim Gager. Knepper was flying low and tried to squeeze, with no place to go but the ground.
  • Katz remained out front with a perfect score. Salisbury and Kane Jr. were tied for second, two points back; Doe and Dodd were fourth, four points back.
  1. Round Five
  • Katz's Tiger Moth was forced down by a faulty switch-harness wire, giving him a zero and ending his shot at a perfect score.
  1. Round Six
  • Kane Jr. received a zero after a blown plug, leaving Salisbury alone in the lead.
  • Greg Doe posted a 1:08, but it was for only nine laps and therefore invalid — it would have been roughly in the 1:14 range for a full race.
  • Grunk posted the best time of the day and possibly the contest: 1:13.25.
  1. Round Seven
  • Joe Dodd experienced aileron problems and ultimately quit, resulting in a zero.

On Sunday the club planned to fly four more rounds, but the pilots voted to stop after three. Final standings were determined after those rounds.

Final Standings (Top 24)

  1. Jerry Salisbury — 37 points
  2. Jim Katz — 36 points
  3. Greg Doe — 34 points
  4. Dan Kane Jr. — 33 points
  5. Craig "Grunk" Grunkemeyer — 30 points
  6. David Gohn
  7. Don Martinson
  8. Joe Dodd
  9. Bob Petrinec
  10. Ed Spiker
  11. J.P. Hanway
  12. Steve Kovach
  13. Dave Carpenter
  14. Ben Martin
  15. Joe Cohen
  16. Jim Gager
  17. Gail Jacobson
  18. Allen Booth
  19. Tom Doe
  20. Peter Rourk
  21. Ray Blake
  22. Ken Fidler
  23. Rex Knepper
  24. Carl Simms

The Doolittle Trophy Dash

The Doolittle Trophy Dash put the 12 fastest pilots into a final race. After lunch the pilots fueled up. The cut-off time this year was 1:22. The pilots who made the cut:

  • Jim Katz — 1:13.17 (fast time for the contest)
  • Craig Grunkemeyer — 1:13.25
  • Dan Kane Jr. — 1:15.02
  • Jerry Salisbury — 1:15.27
  • J.P. Hanway — 1:16.24
  • Don Martinson — 1:17.74
  • Greg Doe — 1:18.00
  • Joe Dodd — 1:18.97
  • Bob Petrinec — 1:20.04
  • Jim Gager — 1:20.44
  • Rex Knepper — 1:22.21
  • Ben Martin — 1:22.65

The first heat of the Doolittle was exciting: Kane Jr. ran 1:13.10 but lost to Jim Katz's 1:12.89. Grunkemeyer and Knepper won their heats, and Joe Dodd won his — creating a frequency conflict for the final. Knepper and Dodd elected not to fly the final, so Grunkemeyer and Katz flew for the title. Grunkemeyer pulled ahead early and never looked back; Katz tried hard but cut a lap and ruined his chances.

The trophies were beautiful and the NMPRA awarded cash prizes. Thanks to the Louisville RC Club and all the workers for making the event a success.

For Quarter Midget fliers, this is the premier event of the year. If you missed it, you missed a good one. You owe it to yourself to attend the '93 race.

See you next month.

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