Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
In my September 1981 article, I wrote about a new race that was taking the place of the old Bakersfield races that at one time drew over 100 entries. Well, to everyone's surprise, it looks as though Bakersfield was just taking a couple of years for a break. Here is a report sent to me by Gary Hover on what may be the start of more great racing at Bakersfield.
Bakersfield report
The "new" Bakersfield Barks Organization ended the Western District's season by hosting its first Formula race in three years. CD (Contest Director) Chuck Wahner and the Barks put on a well-run, professional race. The 30 entrants assembled for Friday night's judging. Since only one racer received a number one, the Best Finish Award was easily determined. The familiar name of Gary McPike once again surfaced as winner with another newly finished Denight Special. Oh well, between Gary and Ron Schorr, not much room is left when it comes to best-of-show.
A total of 12 rounds were flown, with seven on Saturday and five on Sunday. Saturday afternoon also included a beef barbecue, which I understand 86 people attended. The contest was led the entire way by Ron Schorr, who didn't have to fly Round 12, but he did anyway and then flamed out.
The contest can best be summed up by the following "honorable mention" awards:
- Most Frustrated: Ron Gilman. "When everything goes so well and so fast, why do they not start, and why did they give me so many zeros?"
- Fastest: Ron Gilman. It only takes one heat. A1: 12.13 in Round 11 sure felt good, and it was good enough for fast time.
- Bad Luck: Dave Shadel. For losing two Pole Cats, one in Round 2 and one in Round 3. That's got to be some kind of record!
- Most Costly: Eric Ristrim. Bakersfield saw Eric tying teammates Dave Shadel and Gary Hover by losing five racers in one year.
- Most Agonizing: Gary McPike. For spending the last three weeks preparing his new Denight (with a very sore back). He center-punched #3 pylon while racing for first in the heat — a half lap back.
- Most Nervous: Ron Schorr. For leading the entire race knowing that the wolves were at his heels. We tried to convince Ron that we should fly 14 rounds, but for some reason he just wouldn't have it.
Well, that's our season. We are looking forward to next year.
One area I haven't heard much from is the Wichita, KS area. Here is a short write-up from Jim Cox.
Wichita, KS — Q-500 race (May 31)
On May 31, the Wichita Radio Control Club sponsored one of its two sanctioned Q-500 races.
It was a beautiful day, with light winds out of the east-southeast. We elected to set the #1 pylon up at the south end of our 400-ft. runway. Registration started at 9:00 a.m. The race started at 10:00 a.m. At the day's end, we had 14 entries (seven from out of town and seven from Wichita). Five of the out-of-towners were from the Kansas City area, one from Salina, KS and one from Emporia, KS. We all truly enjoyed our day. There were lots of good comments on how well the complete race was run, thanks to the expertise of our CD, Loren Tregellas.
The day was destined to be pro-Wichita, with three of the four trophies staying there. The placements and awards ended up like this:
- 1st: C. P. Comegys — Wichita
- 2nd: Jim Cox — Wichita
- 3rd: Don Moden — Salina
- 4th: Jerry Carley — Wichita
Looking ahead
It looks as though the 1982 season is going to be every bit as good if not better than 1981. The 1982 Nats will be in Lincoln, NE. You should have more-or-less the same crew at Lincoln that you had at Seguin in 1981.
The 1982 NMPRA Championship Race will be somewhere in Texas, probably at the end of October. It also looks like some of the clubs that quit sponsoring some of the great races of the past are getting back into it again.
If you have been thinking of getting into racing, now is the time to get started. As you are reading this it is probably snowing outside, and there is nothing to do but build up your fleet of racers for 1982. If you need some help, just look up one of the local pylon fliers.
Please keep those contest reports and pictures, hints and ideas coming. I will print them when I can.
Bill Hager 706 Glen Haven Dr. Conroe, TX 77302
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
