Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
In this column I have tried to cover all types of pylon racing. This month we will cover an event I have not said much about—1/4-Scale Pylon Racing.
Quarter-Scale Pylon got its start in the northeast part of Ohio. There seems to be a very industrious and eager group of fliers in that area. That same group has now gone to work on 1/4-Scale Pylon Racing. Here is a look at what they did last summer.
Quarter-Scale Pylon Racing Circuit
Five RC clubs in northeast Ohio formed a Quarter-Scale Pylon Racing Circuit. The clubs making up this circuit are:
- MARCS of Mentor
- RAMS of Ashtabula
- Goodyear Club of Akron
- Balsa Bees of Alliance
- CRCC of Cleveland
During the summer six races were scheduled. There was a point system: points were awarded at five of the contests and the sixth was to be the Championship Race.
For the first year it was decided to use only the Bridi Cosmic Wind—no others allowed. The rules used were as follows:
- Aircraft—standoff scale—based on minimum dimensions of Bridi 1/4-scale Cosmic Wind.
- Any paint scheme—necessary to differentiate aircraft while in flight.
- Weight—8 lb. minimum, 13 lb. maximum.
- Aircraft must have a pilot painted on or a bust behind the canopy.
- Engine—.61 cu. in. maximum, front-rotor only from the following list (Schnuerle-ported and Perry-ported allowed): Enya, Fox, HB, HP, K&B, Veco, Kraft, McCoy, Merco, OS Max, Profi, Supertigre, Webra.
- Engine must not be louder than 95 dB.
- No tuned pipes.
- No pumps; muffler pressure only.
- Carburetor must be made for the engine only.
- No engine modifications.
- Propeller—wooden, two-blade, fixed-pitch only. Only the blade may be altered for balancing.
- No prop drivers.
- The race shall be started from a standing, unassisted start. The aircraft must be taxied to the starting line.
- No brakes.
- A pilot will be awarded a 1/2 bonus point if, after landing and coming to a complete stop, his engine is running.
- Fuel—10% nitro maximum; fuel to be supplied by the contest sponsor.
- Ten laps on the standard Formula 1 course shall be flown.
- Racing numbers will be issued to each registered pilot (3-inch minimum size on left top wing tip) and the first two or three AMA numbers on the right top wing (example N-15-C). The last initial is the first letter of the last name.
- Racing No. 1 will be reserved for the year-end champion to use the following year.
For 1981 there were at least five new kits being made available for this event.
Ashtabula Contest Report
One of the contests was held at the Ashtabula Airport and put on by the RAMS Club. They put a lot of effort into promoting this race and found over 30 sponsors. The County of Ashtabula closed down its airport for the event and the county commissioners proclaimed June as Model Aviation Month. They had eight hours of prime time on cable TV and raised over $2,000 in cash donations to help with the race.
The end result was a super contest with approximately 1,200 spectators—the largest crowd for any event at the airport. The weekend had great weather, with sunny skies and temperatures near 80°.
Sixteen fliers showed up for this event. When all was over, here is how they finished:
- Gary Villard
- Phil Spehar
- Kraig Krumm
- Bernie Oldenburgh
- Ed Nobora
- Mike Ulizza
- Bill Jeric
- Budd Crane
There were prizes through 8th place, and everyone had a great time. The county commissioners and the airport people have already asked them back again.
Championship Race and the Hansen Trophy
The championship race was held as part of the National Air Races over Labor Day weekend at Cleveland, OH. The winner received the Hansen Trophy, cash prizes, a champion's jacket, and a VIP vacation to Las Vegas (Circus Circus).
Some background on the Hansen Trophy and how the Quarter-Scale event fit into the Cleveland Air Races: Before becoming General Eisenhower's personal pilot during World War II, Larry Hansen had a model airplane supply business in Lakewood, OH. Event sponsorship and support from individuals and companies such as Hansen Manufacturing Company helped create the Cleveland Air Races, a premiere event of its kind.
The history of one 1980 event, the Formula One Hansen Trophy Race, was being published in Wings Magazine beginning February 1980. Part of that history looks back at the 1947 Goodyear Trophy Race and features the Cosmic Wind airplane. The Cosmic Wind was scheduled to fly again in 1980 at the National Air Show. Close in, a quarter of a million spectators would witness the latest technology in quarter-scale, highly maneuverable model aircraft. With equal and affordable opportunity for the individual sport aviation pilot, the quarter-scale, one-design class of Formula 1 aircraft would race for the coveted Hansen Trophy. This approved and scheduled event, the Hansen Trophy Race for Formula 1 Quarter-Scale, was introduced to the nation as part of the 51st year of the National Air Races, conducted during the Cleveland Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport on Labor Day Weekend 1980.
As the Championship Race drew near, it was apparent that the man to beat was Gary Villard—Gary had won three out of the five races.
There were 16 fliers on the circuit at the end of the season. The group was split in half, with eight people to go to the Championship Race. The bottom eight racers flew in a consolation race held by the CRCC of Cleveland; the top two finishers there served as alternates for the Championship Race.
There were elimination races on Saturday and Sunday, with finals held on Sunday. The races were run like the full-size events and were treated as part of the air racing program.
After the smoke cleared, the champion was Gary Villard. Gary won the Hansen Trophy, approximately $250 cash, the championship jacket, and the VIP vacation to Las Vegas. Second place was Bernie Oldenburgh, third was Ed Nobora, and fourth was Phil Spehar.
It appears to me that this shows just what can be done if people put their minds to it. I have been to a lot of races while we have been the racers, their callers and/or wives. There aren't enough of us who are doing our part in promoting pylon racing. See you next month.
Bill Hager 4622 Bridgeport Dr. Garland, TX 75043
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
