Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Dave Lane
BY THE time you read this it will be the start of the 1979 racing season. I think we all should take a good long look at the safety aspect of our various racing events.
I had a long conversation with a fellow magazine writer about this subject and he voiced concern about the lack of safety at some of the racing events during the 1978 season.
A look at the AMA rule book establishes the minimum space required for the 1/4‑Midget and Formula One classes. Any other form of pylon racing using the Q.M. or F‑1 courses obviously would require the same amount of space.
The Flying Forks of Lancaster, Ohio put it very neatly in their newsletter: "If something bad happens at our field, insurance or not, the pilot is going to feel terrible! The pound of cure won't help that much. The ounce of prevention is the only proper solution. And you owe it to the rest of the club to assume the responsibility to exercise safe flying. Safe flying means never having to say you're sorry."
One of the key areas in pylon safety is protection for the pylon workers. Some races have been held without any protection for the flagman at turn one or the lap counters. A barrier of at least five feet high and 15 feet long should be provided for the turn one flagmen. This barrier can either be 3/4‑inch plywood, or chain link fencing backed with a loose canvas sheet as a secondary retainer. The theory is the canvas will stop any parts that come through the chain link. A similar barrier should be provided for the lap counters, particularly at their backs.
The BARKS of Bakersfield use a chain link cage for the lap counters with a plywood liner at the counters' backs. Pylons two and three need to be made of 3/4‑inch plywood at least up to six feet. The only place the pylon judge has to hide is down course behind the pylon.
We found out a couple of years ago that 1/4‑inch and 3/8‑inch plywood is not thick enough. The interior of the pylon should also be lined with canvas.
Obviously, all the pylon workers should wear protective headgear. The typical baseball hard hat really isn't adequate. It might even be reasonable for the workers to wear catcher-type chest protectors or maybe war-surplus shrapnel protectors. I know it sounds extreme, but if we should have one of the pylon workers fatally injured because of the lack of protection, we can probably kiss pylon racing goodbye! (Editor's note: What that would do to AMA insurance rates can only be imagined.)
A major problem with all of this safety business is who pays for the equipment and where you store it. I can only suggest that all clubs that are interested in serious pylon racing join forces and create a common equipment pool that is maintained by the using clubs.
Unfortunately, if you are going to race, it takes a certain amount of money and equipment to do it safely. We are fortunate in the modeling world that it does not cost as much for safety as full‑scale racing.
One of the items used at full‑scale racing events that transfers some of the liability from the promoter to the contestant and worker is a "release form." This piece of paper requires the entrant's signature and releases the race management from any monetary responsibility for injuries.
We may have to do something like that at our miniature races. It doesn't mean we can ignore safety; it just says the hosting club would not necessarily be held responsible in case of an injury.
The Chicago area indicates that they had a very successful 1978 racing season and are looking forward to a better season in 1979. That seems to belie the belief that pylon racing is "dying on the vine," so to speak. I don't doubt that some areas are in a downtrend, but I think pylon racing as a whole is still alive and healthy.
If we are going to keep it that way, let's all think "safety" first and "race" second.
The Grassfield Radio Control Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota has a pretty good set of club rules for their KWIKI KLUB 300 KLASS for R/C pylon racing. See the following:
Entry and Awards
- Entrant must be current AMA members with valid FCC license.
- Entry fee will be $3.00 per race. This will cover cost of fuel, awards and prizes for entrants and helpers to be drawn for at the end of each race.
Race Rules
- 15% nitro fuel will be furnished.
- Course will be N.C.P.L. short 1/4 Midget Course. Ten laps equal 1.7 miles.
- Six rounds will normally be flown. No round to be started after 3:00 p.m.
- One and one‑half minutes starting time will be allowed.
- Start shall be "race horse" hand launch.
- Scoring for each heat is as follows:
- 1st place — 4 points
- 2nd place — 3 points
- 3rd place — 2 points
- 4th place — 1 point
- Ten laps not completed — 0 points
- Penalty for one cut shall be loss of one position. All fliers finishing behind those who cut move up one position.
- Two cuts disqualify flier from the heat — 0 points. Scoring shall be the same whether timing equipment is used or not.
- "Lone fliers" will be required to complete ten laps unless the contest director exercises the option to order a landing and deem "ten laps completed."
- In event of mid‑air contact, the starter will direct the involved ships to land immediately for safety inspection.
- The contest director will disqualify any aircraft he deems unsafe or is flown in an unsafe manner.
- Contestants will be allowed backup aircraft which may be used if the original entry becomes unserviceable. It is urged that the backup be on the same frequency as the original.
Aircraft Specifications
- Engine shall be .15 cu. in., stock, front rotary, non‑Schnuerle, plain bearing with carburetor and throttle as furnished by the manufacturer.
- The following kitted aircraft are eligible for entry:
- A. Sig Doubler II
- B. Sig Super Sport
- C. Sig Klipper
- D. Sig Colt
- E. Michigan Hobby Hangar Quickie
- F. Midwest Foam Cardinal
- Original design or modified kit are eligible if they meet the following minimum specifications:
- A. Design to be "conventional" tractor type with fuselage, wing, horizontal and vertical stabilizers (no "vee" tail).
- B. Wing shall be constant chord, constant thickness with minimum dimensions of 3/8‑inch thickness and 300 sq. in. area.
- C. Minimum fuselage dimensions, when measured within the wing root, shall be 1 3/4‑inch width x 4‑inch height, or 4‑inch width x 1 3/4‑inch height. Minimum height excludes canopy, if used.
- Minimum control shall be three‑channel: aileron, elevator and throttle; or rudder, elevator and throttle.
- Landing gear is optional.
That's it for this month — go fast and turn left!
Dave Lane 4477 W. 136th St., Hawthorne, CA 90250.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
