Radio Control: Pylon Racing
Bill Hager
Want to start racing? If so, where do you start? Quarter Midget and Formula One are the racing events that you hear the most about, but you may want to start out in something that is not quite so competitive and work your way up.
What about Q500? You have heard a lot about this kind of racing. Maybe this is the place for you to get started. After all, the Q500 event was designed for the novice.
As you look into the situation in various areas of the country, you may be in for some surprises. If you live on the West Coast, you find that they are using tuned pipes and racing engines. These planes are going almost as fast as Formula Ones were going just a few years ago.
If you live in the Southwest (let's say Texas), you find that things are a little slower. But what's this? Most of those flying events are seasoned Formula One fliers!
It seems that the Q500 racing event has become very competitive just about anywhere you go.
One thing that is also very obvious—every area uses different rules! While this is not all bad, it doesn't seem to be helping the event. Also, in most cases, we find that the seasoned racer controls the event and the rules. The end result of all this is our novice event has been put almost entirely out of the reach of the beginner. We ought to remember that the novice or beginner is the person this event was started for!
What can we do to put Q500 racing back on the track?
National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA)
Well, let's look to the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association. This organization is the backbone of pylon racing. The NMPRA is made up of pylon fliers from all over the country. These people are responsible for most of the rules we have in Quarter Midget and Formula One. They are also responsible for most of the safety rules we have today. In other words, they are racing.
So, why not call on the NMPRA? I can think of no better choice. In the past, I have been against going national with Q500 rules. But, as we look at the event, this may be the only way to get it more uniform—and maybe even tone it down in some areas.
The NMPRA officers this year want to bring the Q500 racers into their organization. WOW! What a shot in the arm for Q500 racing!
With the Q500 racers having a unified voice concerning their event through the NMPRA, the sky will be the limit.
Before you start saying this is just a sales pitch for the NMPRA, let's look at other types of competition. Pattern fliers, sailplane fliers, and scale fliers all have an organization working for them. The AMA looks to these special interest groups for almost all of the rules in their events.
Your support and input are needed. Membership for 1984 in the NMPRA is:
- $18 for flying members
- $13 for non-fliers
Send dues to: Gary McPike 28925 Parkheath Dr. Agoura, CA 91301
Also, as with Quarter Midget and Formula One, there will be national points and a National Point Champion in Q500.
Come on, guys — I think this is the way to go.
Northeast report: United Pylon Racing Circuit (UPRC)
I just received a report from Ernie Nikodem on racing in the Northeast.
The United Pylon Racing Circuit, which is composed of four clubs from New York State and two clubs from Ontario, Canada, completed their 14th year of racing with a meet at Brantford, Ontario on September 24–25.
The 1983 season Sport Pylon champion was Jerry Muscato, who beat out Gary Gau by one point and second runner-up Ralph Perillo by three points. A very close finish, considering there were six weekends of racing totaled for the season point standings.
Formula One was taken by Bill Brandow, with a four-point lead over Ernie Nikodem and nine points over Gary Gau.
The UPRC champion is determined by adding Sport Pylon and Formula One season points, and the winner for 1983 was Gary Gau—seven points ahead of Jerry Muscato and 11 points ahead of Ralph Perillo.
During 1983 there were:
- 41 racers entered in Sport Pylon
- 15 entered in Formula One
The UPRC doesn't have the fastest times in the country, but that doesn't stop us from having a lot of fun—which is what flying should be: fun.
Next month, we get back to props. See you then.
Bill Hager 706 Glen Haven Dr. Conroe, TX 77302
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
