Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Byline
Bill Hager 4 Holly Springs Dr., Conroe, TX 77302
The Tangerine (report by Jerry Salisbury)
The last race of 1995 was probably the Tangerine. The Tangerine was two weeks earlier this year than in the past. Judging by the entry numbers it will remain in the middle of December in the future. Quarter Midget had 26 entries, and would have had four or five more had it not been for several test crashes the day before.
The first heat went off on time despite Carl Simms forgetting to register, and the crew having to re-matrix. The weather could not have been better — mid 80s, no wind, and not a cloud in the sky.
Vern Smith set the first-round pace with a 1:09.23. This time was challenged heat after heat but wound up as fast time for the event.
Five rounds were completed by early afternoon and it was a complete race. There was memorable action when Steve Kovack and Chip Hyde collided mid-air halfway to Pylon One, sending Steve to the ground and Chip into the trees; this ended both pilots' day. Mike Stokes landed in a tree after Heat Three and did considerable damage to his pretty Kaze Killer.
Round Five had a two-plane heat with Jerry Small and Rex "Wrecks" Knepper; I was calling for Rex. On the first lap, the Number Three pylon got center-punched. Jerry's and Rex's airplanes were similar in color, so I assumed it was "Wrecks" who hit the pylon. I was walking away when Rex asked where I was going. Jerry had hit the pole. Oh well — I have been fired as a caller before.
When the five rounds were complete, there was a three-way tie for first among Norm Johnson, Rick Landers, and Kevin Clark. What a great way to end a race — a flyoff for all the trophy spots. It was a great race, but Norm and Kevin had cuts in the flyoff; Rick was clean, taking first, with Norm second followed by Kevin. Vern Smith held on to fast time, so it made it a JR Radio and Nelson sweep of all trophy spots.
It was another highly competitive Quarter Midget race, which had some first-time QM pilots hooked on the new event. A couple of young pilots who deserve a note: Gary Freeman Jr. and Jason Shulman, both from the Orlando area. They are excellent pilots and have plenty of smoke to put a hurtin' on ya.
It was good to see Dennis O'Brien back. He just graduated from college; somebody has to finish last, and Dennis filled the spot.
Toni kit (for QM newcomers)
I heard from several Q-500 guys that they would like to try QM but don't know anything about building a fiberglass fuselage, and don't want to learn to paint. Jerry (Mr. Innovator) Small has come to the rescue. He has developed a Toni kit that builds like a Quickie. It has a box fuselage with a fiberglass turtledeck, nose piece, and cheek cowls that glue right in place. A quick aerosol paint job to match your MonoKote on the formed parts and you're off to the race.
This thing really looks neat. Ken Howell flew one at the Tangerine and turned a 1:15 and a 1:17. He was just getting dialed in when the ground bit him rounding Pylon Three. I'll have more to report about this in a future newsletter. Jerry is sending me one of their "woodies" to build and fly. If interested, give Jerry a call at Small Creations — I am looking forward to playing with this.
- Toni kit features:
- Box fuselage for easy assembly
- Fiberglass turtledeck, nose piece, and cheek cowls that glue in place
- Quick aerosol paint matchable to MonoKote
Late-Breaking News
The QM Championship Race will be hosted by the Weak Signals Club in Toledo, Ohio. Wayne Yeager has agreed to be the Contest Director for the September 14–15 event. Trophies, prize money, freebies, a cookout, and fun — be there.
A note from Karen Yeager
Those of you who go to the Nats know that for the past many years Karen has been helping her husband Wayne run Pylon. Karen usually is out in the sun all day starting the races and listening to us complain.
When I was a kid growing up and flying airplanes with my dad, I always said that I would have to marry someone in this hobby because I very well shouldn't go flying on Sunday and leave my husband home with the kids. I did manage to marry a modeler — not just a modeler, but a pylon racer! Our honeymoon was a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Nats.
For a while my flying was put on hold as hubby and I spent every weekend at a race somewhere. I kept my hand in building by helping him sand and glass wings.
After several years of watching everyone else having fun, I decided to try it. It took some time for me to get the hang of it, and after two years of racing Rossis I decided to try and fly with the big boys! Notice I said fly — not race. Holding onto a Nelson Q500 and making it go where you want are two completely different things.
I have been blessed by receiving help from many great people. Guess this is one time being a woman is a blessing. You'd be surprised just what being one of the only females in a sport allows you to get away with!
The Nats was my first major contest — I learned a lot but felt like I was just taking up space. Then this January I went to Phoenix to fly in the annual Q500 race. I now know what the Jamaican bobsled team felt like. The competition was awesome. It wasn't — unless you count the great splatter around Pylon Three, which I rated a 10! I had up in the transmitter and was only about five feet behind the plane!
On Sunday I was bound and determined to have a good low takeoff. I did; problem is, so did the guy next to me, and we met halfway to Pylon One. If I had taken off like I usually do, we (elevator) would have never met! I guess this is what they call paying your dues.
I now know how you guys feel when you have to call home and tell your better half you'll be living in the shop this winter. It took well though. I guess he remembers doing the same thing. So now I am home preparing to get building, but first I have to clean my engines. I was so proud of myself that I was able to completely take them apart, but putting them back together was a different story. Try as I could, I couldn't get the liner in one and the crank in the other. The hubby comes out, and in no time at all they are back together. I spent 30 minutes trying, but I guess I need more muscle.
The worst part was the WD-40 ruined my nail polish! If you ever wonder why there aren't more females in this sport, consider this: fuel eats nail polish, and it's very hard to needle an engine with long nails. I spend 30 minutes in the morning doing my hair and makeup just to put on a hat and get burnt fuel sprayed on me. Hat-hair ain't pretty! And most guys prefer their women to smell like something other than castor oil! So I keep my nails short, and don't take my hat off until I am safely home. I think Estee and burnt fuel make a unique combination.
I'll stick around for a while longer and hubby will get used to me crashing, and if I'm lucky someday you will walk to the line and wish you didn't have to race me. Until then I'll try to learn all I can so I can pass it on to my daughter!
Membership and closing notes
Most of what you have read in this column came from the NMPRA newsletter. Why don't you join? For more information write to Dave Doyle, 133 Shannon Dr., Warwick, RI 02889.
Next month we will have a report on the first Formula One race of the season, which was held in Phoenix, Arizona.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
