RECORDS SHOWER AT WEST BADEN
I SUPPOSE it is fair to assume that a Record Trial is a time and place to set records. Such being the case, it should come as no surprise that a grand total of nine new Indoor Category II records were set during the June 2nd through 5th bash in the Northwood Institute's 96-foot Atrium in West Baden, Indiana.
The scene was the Second Annual National Indoor Model Airplane Society's Record Trials combined with an FAI Indoor Team Qualification Contest for the North- and South Central Regions. A great time was had by all; you should have been there. The living was easy, the meals good, the accommodation rates inexpensive, and the flying of high quality.
Nine new marks were set during a four-day session at the fabulous Northwood Institute Atrium. The occasion: 2nd Annual NIMAS Record Trials combined with FAI Team Qualification. Ed Whitten
West Baden is fast becoming the Mecca for Category II flying, and, at the rate it is going, the entire list of Category II records will some day have been set there—plus, maybe, even a Category I helicopter record set in the dining room.
For the second year the M.I.A.M.A. club of Florida sponsored the event with pewter mugs awarded to those who broke or approached existing records by the highest percentage. Doc Martin was on hand to see that everything moved smoothly during the first two days, then Ed Whitten took over as CD for the FAI flying.
Top man was Mike Van Gorder, who established a new Junior Pennyplane record of 9:31.4, which gave him a percentage index of 2.0930. Novice Pennyplane was not included as an eligible event for the
The following are the top eight places, all 90% or better of the existing records, in the NIMAS Index flying of the first two days:
1) Mike Van Gorder (Jr) — Pennyplane — 2.0930% — 9:31.4 2) Richard Whitten (Sr) — Pennyplane — 1.1869% — 10:03.9 3) Richard Whitten (Sr) — 'A' Stick ROG — 1.0565% — 11:09.0 4) Bucky Servaites (Op) — HL Stick — 1.0469% — 35:08.5 5) Richard Doig (Op) — 'A' Stick ROG — .9970% — 15:49.4 6) Stan Chilton (Op) — Paper Stick — .9600% — 23:14.0 7) Ron Ganser (Op) — Cabin ROG — .9556% — 22:16.6 8) Robert Larsh (Op) — HL Glider — .9075% — 2:09.6
Manhattan results:
1) Jim Miller — 8:15.5 — Miller Special — 4.2 grams 2) Dick Obarski — 7:09.0 — Not Really — 4.0 " 3) Robert Larsh — 6:15.0 — Trivaites Special — 5.2 " 4) Ron Williams * — 5:50.1 — Yelloise — 4.3 " 5) Walt Van Gorder — 5:17.4 — Jezebel — 5.1 " 6) Dick Hardcastle — 4:30.2 — Uptown Manhattan — 4.0 "
* proxied by Richard Whitten contest, but, since Mike's Pennyplane was the Novice version of Bob Meuser's excellent "No Nonsense" design, it also set a new Junior Novice Pennyplane record as well. Two records!
Richard Whitten repeated his double win of last year, this time setting new Senior "A" Stick ROG and Pennyplane times. That made four new records!
The most outstanding record established was, of course, Bucky Servaites' superb 35:08.5 flight that established a new AMA HL Stick time. What's more, the same flight broke the old FAI World Unlimited record for FAI Category III sites. Bucky was really gunning for this one, and he came fully prepared with all the necessary sanction papers for such a world record attempt. His model was an FAI design that weighed less than the minimum one-gram FAI competition class requirement. Nice going, Bucky, and congratulations! We like to see those world records on this side of the pond. Six records!
There were contests for other types, too. Easy "B" was, perhaps, most hotly contested, and Stan Chilton's time must surely be about tops for Category II. Take a look at the best four:
- Stan Chilton 16:42.6
- Bob Mullins 15:34.0
- Dick Obarski 14:58.0
- Al Rohrbaugh 14:15.0
Manhattan Formula was very popular, and times were much improved over last year. Flying to the same M.I.A.M.A. rules, the first five places were all higher than Servaites' last year's winning West Baden time of 4:52.8. Cincinnati's Jim Miller took top honors with 8:14.5, establishing a new Category II contest high time for this unofficial cabin event.
All models had been built close to the minimum 4.0 airframe weight allowance, except two at 5 grams which had been the requirement at a recent Indianapolis contest. It should be noted that the Manhattan fans all wanted to keep the rules as they are, with the possible exception of some preferring the 5 gram minimum and the allowance of wood wing and stab bracing.
After the second day's flying came the banquet. Disheveled modelers showed up strangely washed and wearing crisp, clean clothes. It was a nice change. It was also nice to see so many lovely wives and lady friends present. As last year, the banquet food was excellent, and time was given to thank our lucky stars we have such a good place to fly and relax in, plus the announcement of winners, and other little speeches.
On the third day, flying was turned over to the first three FAI qualifying rounds. But that didn't mean records attempts were at an end. Ron Ganser, who had come within a whisker of making a new Cabin ROG record, and had hung up two ships trying, finally put it all together and posted a magnificent 25:19.9. He's been after that Cabin record for a long time. Seven records!
Then came flying scale time, which lasted up until midnight. Jim Miller put up the top Peanut ROG times of 1:17.6 with a Piper J-3 and 1:16.4 with an Itoh N-62 Eaglet. Jim Pulley was next with 1:02.8, flying a Lacey M-10. In AMA Flying Scale ROG it was again Jim Miller, this time flying a 26 1/2" version of the Itoh Eaglet for 33.4 seconds. At the same time, Jim Richmond was taking his chances flying his FAI "Cat Walker" for record. He managed 31:47 and 31:05, but worsening air conditions near the floor kept him from breaking the record. Jim wasn't to be denied, however, and his third official the following day during the FAI Qualifications was a new time of 32:40. It also gave him top points for the Qualifications among the 13 FAI fliers. Actually, the flight set two AMA records, one being for FAI one gram models in AMA Category II sites and the other in FAI Category III sites.
So, count 'em... nine new records in all! West Baden really is a great place in which to fly. We enjoyed every minute of it from the raising of the Jolly Green Giant's, our banner, at the beginning, to its lowering at the end.
Ray Semmens, the Director of Outside Activities for the Northwood Institute, had been our genial host. His tour of duty coincidentally came to an end right in the middle of our stay. Much as we will miss him, we think the new Director, Paul Stroud, will be our good friend, too. In fact, it was Paul's effort that brought in the TV cameraman from Louisville's Channel 13. They took some beautiful flying shots with Stan Chilton giving the commentary. The film has been shown both locally and on National hook-up.
What more can I say? It was an exceptionally good four days of flying and a wonderful vacation, well worth the two days of driving each way from New York City. Thanks Northwood...thanks M.I.A.M.A....thanks NIMAS. See you all there again next year!
Ed Whitten, Box 176, Wall Street Station, N.Y.C., N.Y. 10005.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
