Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
WINTER is finally over, and everyone is getting ready to start racing again. You are either dusting off last year's favorite plane or building a shiny new one. In fact, in some parts of the South and West, several contests have already been run.
This year should be even better than last year for racing. Let's all try to help get one new flier involved in 1979. Take a guy who seems a little interested with you to your next contest. Show him how everything works, how the contest is scored; tell him why you like to compete. Sure, this takes time, but all of this good info can be explained in the car or on the way to the contest. If you are holding a contest, invite a friend to come help flag, time, or score. This is another good way to help guys get involved.
Pylon racing is never dull; there is always excitement. One only has to get mildly involved to get bitten by the bug. And there is a racing event for almost everyone that is interested:
- 1/2A
- Club 500
- Sport
- Quarter Midget
- Formula I
To find out where all the action is this summer, turn to the competition schedule section of this magazine. It will tell you when and where the contests in your area are, as well as what events will be run.
Formula I — Standard and Expert
For those of you who want to start out in Formula I, there are two classes in most areas of the country: Standard and Expert. The two classes are generally flown together.
The Standard class is set up for the beginner. In my area, there are winners in both classes. At the end of the race, we separate the Standard class from the Expert. The highest finishing Standard-class pilot could even finish ahead of the Experts, but he would only win in Standard. A flier advances to Expert when he consistently turns times in the mid-twenties, or he may declare himself an Expert at any time. Once an Expert, you are in this class for the rest of the year.
In this area, we have formed the Ohio Pylon Racing Association. Almost all of the fliers belong to this group. We do our best to help the new flier and to promote racing. You may have a group or club in your area that was set up for the same reasons.
NMPRA Championships
At the end of the season, there is a Championship Race held for the top fliers in the country for Formula I. That race is only open to members of the NMPRA, and you have to qualify. You must finish in the top 20% of your NMPRA district, finish in the top 10 at the AMA Nationals, or be an officer in the NMPRA in order to qualify for the Formula I Championship Race.
The NMPRA Championship is the big one for all the Formula I fliers. You compete all year to qualify, and it is held at the end of October—usually in the South or West so that we have a good chance for decent weather. Everyone looks forward to the race every year.
The NMPRA also holds a Quarter Midget Championship in September every year at Rough River, KY. It is a beautiful area, and the event is open to all NMPRA members who compete in Quarter Midget. NMPRA Championship trophies are awarded at both the Quarter Midget and Formula I Championships.
There is also a big contest in May held in Bakersfield, CA every year. This race has become very popular, attracting guys from all over the world to compete.
There is great racing all over the country, but we can always use more contests and more competitors. The larger the race, the better the competition.
Early Season Contests and Results
One of the first contests of the season was held on March 17–18, 1979 for the Western District. It rained off and on for the entire weekend, but they still had a good Formula I contest. Gary Hover won the Expert class, with his best time being 1:18.7; Dave Shadel, who was third in Expert, had the fastest time of the meet at 1:16.3. Leonard Walker was tops in the Standard division, and he also had the fastest Standard time—1:29.1. Standard and Expert classes were flown together for this race. Gary McPike was C.D.
Quarter Midget Racing
Quarter Midget racing began in January. On the West Coast, the race was held at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, CA. It was hosted by the QMRC; Vince Stagnaro was C.D.
There were 17 fliers who braved the cold winds, rain, hail, and snow (yes, snow in southern California). It sounds like Ohio!
Due to the weather there were only four rounds flown. Tom Christopher and Bob Novak were tied for the lead, but Tom took the prize since he had the fast time with 1:39.5.
Keep Us Informed
We want to keep the readers informed as to what is going on in racing throughout the country. Send us your contest reports and anything else you would like to share with the readers.
Bill Hager 5200 Rye Dr. Dayton, OH 45424
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
