RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING
Bill Hager
4 Holly Springs Drive, Conroe, TX 77302
SOAPBOX TIME
Formula One is the premier model airplane racing event. Formula One is to model airplanes what Indy racing is to automobiles. Just as there are car drivers who may not race at Indy, there are those modelers who may not race at Formula One, Q-500, Quarter Midget, or any other type of racing.
But for those who want to try racing, there are quite a few events in which to get started, with Formula One at the top of the racing ladder.
This event has enjoyed great prosperity over the years. But as with all racing events, people get better, and such equipment as models, engines, props, radios, etc., is pushed to the limit. The event gets more competitive; it becomes tougher to win. It seems as though the same people always win. The people who are not winning go to the easier, less expensive events to try to win.
If you take a good look around as an event progresses, it seems the same people always win. The only reason there might be more people in any given event is that it is a newer event and possibly is cheaper and easier to start.
But as in all types of racing, if you want to win, it takes a lot of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication, in addition to a lot of time and money.
A very good example of this is today's Q-500 racing. This event is in its prime. We had more than 100 entries at last year's Nats. Why? Because the event is fairly new and it is fairly inexpensive to get started.
In many areas, there is a Novice or Beginner class so that the new guy has a chance. But to win, it takes that extra amount of time and effort that only a few are going to put out. What can be done with our present racing situation to keep it going and to get new people interested and involved?
Having Standard and Expert classes in Q-500 works, and from these areas come most of the new fliers. I think this alone will help Q-500 last a long time. A flier has to have a chance to win, or he/she will lose interest (or maybe not even get started).
What we do not need are more new events. This will only dilute the event we now have.
Let's get back to Formula One racing and Q-500 racing. Back in the early days, we had more people flying these events. I remember a particular race in Bakersfield, California where we had more than 100 entries. There were people there to compete from as far away as Japan.
Formula One was in its prime. It was so popular that we never thought about needing anything to keep the competition going. A Novice class was tried on the west coast, but with 50 to 60 experts showing up at most contests, was it needed? The idea was dropped. The thought was not even given a chance.
Well, here we are in 1994. We did not cultivate any new fliers. No longer do we have 50 to 60 people competing in most contests. What we have left are what I call the cream of the crop — the best. While this makes for some great racing, we need to get a few more people involved.
As I said, racing is not for everyone, and certainly Formula One Pylon Racing is not for everyone. I do not think that drastic change to the event is the answer. I do think that we must have a Novice class for Formula One, and we must have one now. No more talk; just action!
I know that a lot of you would like to race, but for some reason or another have not taken that first step. Why? How about letting us know what it would take to get you to join in all the great fun and excitement?
While you are at it, why not join the organization that is responsible for all that we have in racing today: the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA). To join or to get information, write to David Dooley at 133 Shannon Drive, Warwick, RI 02889. Dues are only $30 a year.
I get a lot of mail asking about the latest news in racing, where to get a kit, or what is going on in a certain area. The NMPRA has all of this information and more.
Enough soapbox for now; on to northern Kentucky, and a race report sent to me by Joe Ruh.
Northern Kentucky — Q-500 Race Report
This Q-500 race was held October 23–24, 1993, by the Flying Cardinals of Northern Kentucky. It rained the weekend before the race and the weekend after the race it snowed. However, the weekend of the race we had blue skies and light winds that allowed us to run eight rounds.
Pit boss Charlie West pushed each heat from the pits and let Brenda flag 109 heats for the two days of racing. Both did a fantastic job. Heavy morning fog along the river banks held off racing for several hours both days; it was 10:30 before the first checkered flag dropped.
The racers would like to thank all of the workers and volunteers for helping with the largest competitor turnout in seven years of racing.
Kenny Points cooked up some homemade chili; some people found it just a little too hot. The contestants, workers, and everyone else ate very well with provisions from Tom Laney, Scherder, and the Faulkner family. This club is very family-oriented.
The dinner list had more than fifty, with plans to eat at Damon's in Florence. Saturday night we found the shortest racer in the group, Chago Panzardi of Dayton, Ohio, who was four inches shorter than Helen Faulkner. It was really nice to have club members, fliers, and families enjoying the night out.
- Standard class:
- Flyoff between Kenny Points (club president) and NMPRA District V VP Karen Yeager. Karen pushed out in front but buttonhooked at the number-one turn, which put Kenny in second place.
- First place: Ray Hendriksma (Michigan).
- Second place: Kenny Points.
- Third place: Karen Yeager — fast time of the day: 1:29.
- Jimmy Holbrook recorded his personal best time of 1:34 — great for his first year of competitive racing.
- Joe Bolte was not one of the top finishers, but after all the hard work on the racing shirts, he did finish with a good-looking shirt.
- Expert class:
- First place: "Grump" (Columbus) — best time: 1:03.
- Second place: Chago Panzardi — very fast time: 1:04.
- Third place: Mike Condon (Michigan). Third place was decided by a flyoff between Rex Knepper and Mike Condon; Rex received a cut on the eighth lap and was placed fourth.
- Fourth place: Rex Knepper.
- Anderson placed eighth with a time in the 1:10s.
- Joe Ruh placed sixteenth, with three zeros and a snowstorm of MonoKote covering over the #1 turn.
- Pete Rourk commented to Brenda after racing Rex: "I was trying to fly under Rex, and the only thing between Rex and the ground was dirt."
- Kenny Jr., the #3 pylon judge, saw a "full moon at noon."
Thirty expert fliers, with 50% flying under 1:10, made for some very heavy competition during this two-day event. Assistant starter Jeff Conrad won both RC radios.
In closing, thanks should go out to these supporters:
- Futaba
- JR
- DED
- Jett
- Du-Bro
- Carl’s Hobbies
- Hobby Hangar
- Northern Kentucky Hobbies
- T&T Aero
- Right Choice Hobbies
Keep the contest reports, comments, and questions coming! See ya next month.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
