Author: J. Klause
Edition: Model Aviation - 1985/10
Page Numbers: 38, 39, 40, 41, 120, 121, 124
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SAM Championships

Reasonable weather, an excellent flying site, and outstanding administration combined to make this edition a truly outstanding one. Relaxed, laid-back (well, mostly) competition prevailed for the entire period. — Joe Klause

Background

Madera, CA — Often thought of as wine and orchard country in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, during the last week of June it was the site of the 19th Annual Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) Championships. The yearly event has grown rapidly and is thought by many to be second only to the AMA Nats.

SAM was formed by a group of nostalgic free flighters in the early 1960s. Its goals are expressed in the preamble of the SAM Official Rule Book: the competition flying of free-flight model aircraft of vintage design is intended to be casual, enjoyable and interesting for both competitor and spectator. The intent of the rules is to categorize basic types of vintage models and establish an equitable, simple framework of regulations for competition purposes.

Events fall into Old-Timer and Antique categories. Models must have been designed, kitted, or have plans published prior to December 31, 1942 (Old-Timers) or December 31, 1938 (Antiques). Originally only spark ignition or diesel engines produced prior to 1950 were authorized; today there are provisions for special events and glow engines. Radio Control Assist events, added in the early 1970s, helped increase SAM membership significantly. At the time of the contest there were about 2,560 SAM members in 62 chapters across the U.S., Australia, Canada and England.

The annual U.S. SAM Championships rotates on a four-year cycle (West Coast, East Coast, Rocky Mountain, Midwest) so most U.S. fliers can attend without traveling more than about 1,000 miles in non-rotating years.

This year the Fresno Gas Model Club hosted the contest with assistance from local SAM chapters. Jack Jella (Salinas, CA) was contest manager; Jim Persson was Free Flight director; Bob Angel directed RC‑Assist events.

With that background in mind, the 1985 SAM Championships featured clear weather overall. Monday was a bit windy and around 90°F; Tuesday hotter with less wind; Thursday nearly calm but reached 104°F in the afternoon. The flying site was outstanding. Contestants: 174 individuals entered 950 events.

Free Flight

Free Flight was spread over three days with 20 events — enough to satisfy the ardent free flighter. As almost everyone knows, there are usually a few unplanned happenings associated with flying models: models are sometimes lost to strong thermals, and there are the inevitable crashes — the latter often accompanied by pained expressions from the competitors.

Two models were not retrieved — not bad given the conditions. There were also a fair number of abrupt crashes.

Highlights included Jerry Rocha’s beautiful final flight to win the 30-Second Antique event, and the colorful mass simultaneous launch for the Twin Pusher rubber-powered event — a crowd-pleasing moment with excellent flights.

Free Flight Results

Tuesday, June 25

  • Rubber Cabin
  1. Jim O'Reilly — Altimeter — 9:00
  2. John Bortnak — Dynamo — 8:37
  3. Bill Baker — Korda B Thermialer — 8:12
  • Class A Cabin
  1. Jim Watson — Cab Ruler / Adler .19 — 8:01
  2. Bruce Chandler — Bombshell / Black Knight .15 — 7:56
  3. John Bortnak — So Long / O.S. .15 (converted) — 7:28
  • Class C Pylon
  1. Leon Nadolski — Sailplane / Orwick .64 (replica) — 12:00
  • Gas Scale
  1. Bruce Chandler — Taube / Taipan .15 — 11:20
  2. Sal Taibi — Corben Ace / Vivell .35 — 10:34
  3. John Gomez — Puss Moth / Cox .049 — 9:40
  • Hand‑Launched Glider
  1. John Bartlett — 5:48
  2. Brad Levine — Thermic 20 — 5:36
  3. Dan Heinrich — 5:27

Thursday, June 27

  • 30‑Second Antique
  1. Jerry Rocha — Gas Bird / .023 — 11:51
  2. Tom Alden — Flying Midget / .029 — 8:36
  3. Walt Johnson — Clipper / OS .60 — 8:19
  • Rubber Stick
  1. Ed Wallenhorst — 1940 Record Holder — 8:54
  2. Phil McCay — Lamb Climber — 8:35
  3. Bob Dodds — (model not listed) — 8:35
  • Class C Cabin
  1. Sal Taibi — Playboy Cabin / OSR .60 — 13:44
  2. Clarence Bullcomb — Bombshell / Contest .60 — 8:00
  3. Jim Adams — Playboy Cabin / OSR .60 — 8:17
  • Class B Pylon
  1. Bob Oslan — Ranger / OS .25 (converted) — 17:12
  2. C. Myerscough — Zipper / OS .25 (converted) — 9:00
  3. Bruce Chandler — Wasp / Black Knight .25 — 8:23
  • Rubber Scale
  1. Jon Kell — Stimson Jr. — 4:42
  2. Jon Kell — Puss Moth — 4:32
  3. Eddie Johnson — Curtiss Robin — 2:38
  • Class B Cabin
  1. Cliff Betz — Brooklyn Dodger / McCoy .29 — 10:27
  2. Jim O'Reilly — Brooklyn Dodger / Torpedo .29 — 8:19
  3. Les Payne — Spearhead Sr. / Forster .29 — 8:01

The Free Flight Grand Champion was John Bortnak of Ontario, Canada. Congratulations to John.

RC‑Assist Free Flight

RC‑Assist Free Flight events are deceptively challenging. Accidents happen (often when a switch wasn’t turned on before launch), and maxing is not easy: Texaco had 30‑minute maxes, 1/2A Texaco 15 minutes, Antique 10 minutes, and all limited‑engine‑run events 7 minutes. High‑performance glow-engine vertical climbs can cause pilot disorientation and structural failures. Spot landings add a further test.

These events were heavily contested — for example, 58 entries in Texaco (the first five places were taken with four-cycle engines) and 44 entries in Class C Ignition, which required an eight-man flyoff.

Don Bekins and his son Laurence (Belvedere, CA) put together fine flights. Laurence flew a Playboy powered by an Anderson Spitfire engine his dad had bought when he was 19; Laurence had previously won Class C with the same model at age 11 — possibly the youngest-ever SAM Champs winner. It was also notable to see several 15- and 16-year-old competitors at the Champs.

RC‑Assist Results

Monday, June 24

  • Texaco
  1. Jim Reynolds — Lanzo Bomber / O.S. 60FS ignition — 56:15
  2. Paul Forte — Lanzo Bomber / O.S. 60FS ignition — 54:53
  3. Tom Williams — Dallaire / O.S. .90FS (glow) — 52:41
  • 1/2A Texaco
  1. Jim Kincy — Anderson Pylon / Cox red — 29:33
  2. Ed Sodenberger — Anderson Pylon / Cox red — 26:35
  3. Bill Schmidt — Playboy Sr. / Cox red — 24:47

Tuesday, June 25

  • Class A Ignition
  1. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber / .19 — 21:00
  2. Earl Tileston — (model not listed) — 20:25
  3. Jack Albrecht — Kerswap / McCoy .19 — 17:33
  • Class B Glow
  1. Burt Tileston — Lanzo Bomber / Enya .46FS — 21:00
  2. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber / Super Tigre .29 — 19:13
  3. Jim Kincy — Kerswap / K&B .49 — 18:57
  • Class C Ignition
  1. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber / O.S. 60 — 30:20
  2. Bill Schmidt — Playboy / McCoy .36 — 29:23
  3. Jack Albrecht — Banks Bomber / Spitfire — 27:48

Wednesday, June 26

  • Class A Glow
  1. Joe Percy — Lanzo Bomber / Sunrise .19 — 21:00
  2. Jim Kincy — Kerswap / K&B .25 — 20:18
  3. Bruce Norman — Kerswap / Super Tigre .19 — 18:23
  • Class C Glow
  1. Jim Reynolds — Playboy / ST .35 (cross‑scavenged) — 28:16
  2. Curt Tileston — Lancer / O.S. .90FS — 27:46
  3. Bruce Norman — Lanzo Bomber / ST .35 — 20:13
  • Class B Ignition
  1. Bill Schmidt — Playboy / McCoy .29 — 28:09
  2. Bruce Norman — Kerswap / Torp .29 — 25:27
  3. Don Bekins — Playboy Sr. / Torp .29 — 24:25

Thursday, June 27

  • Antique Glow
  1. Bruce Norman — Dallaire / O.S. .60 (Sch) — 33:52
  2. Jim Kincy — Anderson Pylon / Rossi .61 (Sch) — 33:14
  3. Burt Tileston — Lancer / O.S. .90FS — 29:31
  • Antique Ignition
  1. Jack Albrecht — Lanzo Bomber / Spitfire — 37:34
  2. Jim Reynolds — Culver / Orwick — 37:10
  3. Art White — Lanzo Bomber / Hornet .60 — 25:11
  • Electric RC
  1. Ted Kafer — Playboy / (motor not listed) — 19:22
  2. John Pond — Playboy / (motor not listed) — 18:07
  3. Tom Williams — Viking / Astro .05 — 16:07

The overall RC‑Assist champion was Bruce Norman of Fort Worth, TX. Congratulations to Bruce.

Champions

  • Free Flight Grand Champion: John Bortnak (Ontario, Canada)
  • RC‑Assist Champion: Bruce Norman (Fort Worth, TX)

Membership and Related Organizations

If you're not a SAM flier and would like more information on joining, write:

  • Richard Williams, SAM Secretary/Treasurer, 2005 West Pine, Lodi, CA 95240.

A related organization is the Model Engine Collectors Association (MECA), which admires and collects old‑timer model engines. MECA holds local meetings and an annual gathering, the Grand Old Collector, on the Sunday before the SAM Champs. For information write:

  • Joe Gualtieri, Old Pennell Road, Media, PA 19063.

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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.