RADIO CONTROL PYLON RACING
Bill Hager 4 Holly Springs Dr., Conroe TX 77302
The FAI pylon team selection for the 1995 World Championships was hosted by the Pro-Flyers November 11–12, 1994 at Phoenix, Arizona.
Eleven contestants flew in the FAI team trials. Only the top three qualify for positions on the prestigious United States FAI team. The World Championships are to be held at the new AMA site in Muncie, Indiana next August.
Dave Shadel and Jim Shinohara led all qualifiers and quickly distanced themselves from the field. Their average time for ten rounds was 1:07.9. They will represent the USA at their sixth World Championships.
Second through sixth places were very tight and went down to the twelfth and final round. Chip Hyde edged out Lou Rodriguez for second place. Gary Hover became first alternate, finishing fourth, with Lloyd Burnham in fifth place.
Also representing the USA will be the team of Chip Hyde and Gary Hover, with the team of Lou Rodriguez and Dave Shadel rounding out the top three. Gary Hover and Jim Shinohara will be first alternates.
Of special note were the number of record-breaking flights during the selection. The existing world record was broken seven times: by Shadel (twice), Rodriguez (once), and current world champion Richard Verano (four times). Verano flew only the first day of the competition, with the express purpose of record setting, since he automatically returns to the next World Championships as defending champion. The final result was an unbelievable 1:03.31 — more than three seconds quicker than the old record. Richard also flew two 1:04s and a 1:05 to back up his record.
Unlike Formula One racing, FAI is a timed event with the fastest combined ten-lap time victorious. Speed and consistency are the keys. A cut gains you a 10% increase of your time, and two cuts automatically add 200 seconds. You are constantly racing the clock. The pressure is intense to fly each lap perfectly and not just beat your opponent to the line.
Unquestionably, the US FAI team will be the one to beat at the World Championships. The technology and flying skills that the team members have are second to none, and the rest of the world will have to step it up three or four notches to compete with us.
Thanks again to CD Jim Allen and his Pro-Flyers organization for hosting the 1994 FAI team trials.
The current standings for FAI and their fast times:
- Dave Shadel — 1:06.26
- Chip Hyde — 1:07.23
- Lou Rodriguez — 1:06.56
- Gary Hover — 1:08.31
- Lloyd Burnham — 1:09.16
- Rusty VanBaren — 1:10.33
- Duane Gail — 1:22.10
- Jim Katz — 1:07.69
- Richard Verano — 1:03.31
- Ralph Rinaldi — 1:11.78
- Mike DelPonte — 1:25.42
The Quarter-Scale Racers
The quarter-scale racers are trying to get a Formula One event going. Looks like they are on the right track. Here is a report sent to me by Ed Rankin about the Fort Worth Thunderbirds' 42% F1 pylon race, November 5–6, 1994.
The purpose of this race was to promote the new 42% scale F1 event and to serve as a warmup for the Galveston, Texas race (July 10–16, 1995). The Thunderbird Club is one of the top racing clubs in the US and has been sponsoring Formula I (40) and Q-500 pylon races since 1968. However, this type of racing is 100% different.
Hi-G Promotions and the new USRA (United Scale Racing Association) pitched in to help us organize and run the race. A special thanks to Wiley Brown and all of the Houston gang for towing a trailer with their equipment to our race and setting it up for two days. These guys are really generous people, with a purpose to promote unlimited air racing.
The new Unlimited Scale Racing Association (USRA) got a good start with our race, using the USRA rules. Twenty-two people signed up for membership this weekend at our race. Membership forms are available; write or call USRA, Box 1801, Sugarland TX 77487-1801. Tel/Fax (800) 741-7058. This organization will be run by race pilots in a democratic manner and structured similar to the NMPRA and other AMA Special Interest Groups.
The weather was beautiful: about 70° on Saturday and Sunday, with sunny, clear skies and no wind. Sixteen pilots had said they would come, and eight showed up for some good old-fashioned heat racing.
Don Moden (Don's Hobby Shop, Salina KS) came to race with us, and the rest of the pilots were from Texas. Several pilots out of state called and said their models were not ready. However, Ron Hesscamp, Charlie Brunner, and four others from St. Louis flew in for the weekend to watch and support our race. Several pilots from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas also came to see the race. We all had a good time exchanging ideas and airplane/engine technology.
On Saturday night about 30 workers and pilots met at my house for snacks and drinks. Several guys used my shop for airplane repairs. Lots of fun!
Saturday morning was designated for testing and radar runs, and we ran four rounds of heat racing starting at about noon. The radar runs and heat times were much better than the Galveston race, which indicates we are improving.
Best heat times Saturday were Richard Oliver with a 1:46.5 and Rankin with a 1:52.93. At the end of Round Four there was a tie with a perfect score of 12 points each. It was evident that Oliver was the one to beat, with a great-running engine and fastest heat time. Oliver posted a 154 mph radar run and Rankin a 156.
Wiley Brown was in third with nine points and a fast heat time of 2:07.72. Ray Thompson was fourth with eight points and a fast time of 2:08.12. Ray did an excellent job of flying with his RB Racing Shoestring and a Husky 5.4 on gas and ignition. This was his first pylon race of any kind.
Sunday started at 10 a.m. with four more rounds of heat racing.
Oliver and Rankin flew in Round Five. Rankin won the heat with a 1:53.91. These two guys came up again in Round Seven, with Rankin winning 1:53.85 to 2:04.0.
Ray Thompson won Rounds Five and Eight, giving him 18 points for a third-place finish. Oliver won Round Six, placed second in Rounds Five and Seven, and zeroed in Round Eight, giving him 19 points for second place. Rankin won Rounds Five through Eight with very fast times, giving him 24 points and the contest win. Wiley Brown won Round Five and got thirds in Rounds Seven and Eight, giving him a total of 16 points and fourth place in this contest.
Several radar runs were taken Sunday: Rankin 164 and 171; Fred French 151; Ray Thompson 141. The radar speed taken on the course was Rankin coming out of Turn 2 and about 400 feet away at 148.50 mph.
Awards:
- First: $100 cash and $100 gift certificate
- Second: $75 cash and $50 gift certificate
- Third: $50 cash and $25 gift certificate
- Fast Heat Time Trophy: Richard Oliver (1:46.5)
The winners gave the cash and gift certificates back to the club and the workers to show appreciation for holding this race for us. The 20 workers were each given $10 gift certificates and $20 worth of merchandise.
We want to thank the Fort Worth Thunderbirds, Hi-G Promotions, and the USRA for all of the help in conducting this race. We think we fulfilled our objective and hope to have another race in April or May 1995 to help get ready for the big Galveston race in July.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
