Author: Charlie Reich
Edition: Model Aviation - 2001/05
Page Numbers: 38,39,40,41,42,43,45
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SAM Champs 2000

by Charlie Reich

A week's worth of Old‑Timer modeling events

SAM, "play it again," and the 34th annual SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) Champs, a seven-day Old‑Timer modeling event filled with flying, fun, and camaraderie, was underway October 6–13, 2000.

SAM selected Pensacola, Florida for the event. The flying site was the U.S. Navy's Spencer Field, which offered one square mile of manicured grass with paved replica aircraft carrier decks crossing in several directions. The field is normally used as a practice area for helicopter and carrier landings and is kept in pristine condition. The perimeter is wooded with tall pine trees that make a beautiful windbreak but sometimes attract Free Flight (FF) models. Retired Navy Commander and active SAM member Jack Bolton volunteered as Contest Director and procured the area for SAM's exclusive use.

The antique modelers (most of them are; the average contestant is near 60!) came from around the world. This year's entries represented Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Italy was well represented, with 16 members from SAM Italia. Two hundred forty‑three contestants arrived with helpers, buddies, wives, and friends, making for a crowd that doubled the number of Old‑Time model airplane enthusiasts in attendance.

Attendees arrived in cars, vans, station wagons, and motor homes. Some vehicles were towing huge enclosed trailers filled with the week's model airplanes. In many cases two or more members shared the ride and space for their airplanes. There was an average of 20 models per conveyance and a backup or three per man, or enough airplanes for five days of different events. That amounted to more than 4,600 models in attendance!

Saturday the "SAMmers" made their pilgrimage to MECA: the Model Engine Collectors Association's annual SAM Collect‑O — a large room filled with a flea market of Old‑Time modeling goodies. Ignition engines, coils, miniature Champion spark plugs, Austin timers, wooden propellers, light balsa, tissue, silk, antique kits, plans, and more were the order of the day. It was truly an Old‑Time modeler's paradise. The specialized, sometimes hard‑to‑find Old‑Time modeling goodies we all seek were available and were piled on the tables and mostly picked clean by the end of the day. The Italian contingent took advantage of the offerings, since nothing like this is available in Europe; they bought scores of old ignition engines, especially originals still new in the box.

Sunday was unseasonably cold for Florida, with high winds. The day was set aside to commemorate the late Frank Garcher and Wally Simmers. Special events were offered for Frank's Fortstrop and for Wally's Super Sniffer gas model and his rubber‑powered Gollywock and Jabberwock. Many braved the cold to offer tributes; others watched and saved their works for rubber events later in the week.

Sunday night featured the traditional Bean Feed, allowing old friends to reacquaint, eat, talk, and tell tall tales of modeling conquests during the past year.

The official SAM contests started Monday (October 9) and ran through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. One might ask how you keep an event going for five days—and therein is the magic of SAM.

The models' criterion is that they were designed and flown in the period of the late 1920s through December 1942 (pre‑World War II). Within that time, hand‑launched and towline gliders were introduced and rubber‑powered models were perfected. In 1934 model gas engines powered a few entries at the Nationals, soon followed by diesels and a couple of electric motor‑powered airplanes. In 1937 the first Radio Control (RC) models showed up at the Nats. This 20‑year span of modeling progression offers SAM modelers a diverse choice of styles, designs, and power choices from that era.

The weather warmed considerably on Tuesday, and calm winds made for excellent flying for the remainder of the contest. Registered contestants came from 34 states and nine foreign countries. Fifty‑three percent were registered for Free Flight (FF) events versus 47% in Radio Control (RC).

The flying field was split into two sections: an FF area, aligned with the prevailing wind direction, and an RC area—usually upwind from the FFers. A directional wind shift can create a mad scramble to relocate turf for both groups.

All models flown were of pre‑1943 design, with the exception of special FF and RC Nostalgia events that allowed designs up through 1956. A total of 46 events were flown during the five days: 12 rubber power (with one Hand‑Launched Glider), 12 FF Gas, and 22 RC (with one RC Old‑Time Glider). Special commemorative events featured Don Garofalow’s Paratrooper rubber model, Henry Struck’s American Ace in FF Gas, and his Record Hound in RC.

Selecting a potential contest winner from more than 300 Old‑Time gas designs and an excess of 2,000 rubber model designs can be difficult. Add the building skills required to meet minimum weight requirements (usually an eight‑ to ten‑ounce wing loading), the skill of selecting and tuning the proper engine, and the skill needed to achieve perfect adjustments for hands‑off flight, and you can understand the pressures a SAM contest presents.

Almost every event offers six attempts to make two or three maxes. A max in RC is 15 minutes. In FF Gas competitors are allowed six attempts to obtain three official flights (40 seconds minimum or a two‑minute max) on an 18‑second motor run using a hand launch, or a 22‑second run in rise‑off‑ground. Those who achieve three two‑minute maxes make flyoffs to decide the winner. The skill required is substantial, and the pressure in flyoffs is intense.

A Texaco event is basically one flight on a fixed amount of fuel. The winning score in Class A RC Texaco was 4,048 seconds — one hour and 12 minutes of flying time in one flight. Ron Johnson accomplished this feat with a 1940 Playboy design powered by an MVVS .15 diesel and 1/2 ounce of fuel.

All FF and the majority of RC events utilize original ignition engines or exact replicas (Brown Jr.s, Ohlssons, Forsters, Super Cyclones, etc.). SAM RC also allows special events using modern glow engines. No glow engines are allowed in FF events, though some diesels are used in both FF and RC.

You had to be there to observe the constant bustling activity in the FF and RC areas — it was comparable to a sensational three‑ring circus. Old‑Time models seem to sniff out thermals and can stay aloft for hours, gliding on good air after the engine quits. FF contestants mount the chase and follow their creations as they soar; RC fliers pray that batteries remain fully charged during Texaco flights. To prevent heartbreaking fly‑aways, all FF models utilize some type of mechanical timer device called a dethermalizer (DT) to persuade the model to return to earth, hopefully within the confines of the flying field.

Many SAM Champs contestants started building and flying rubber‑powered models in the 1930s and are still building and flying these deceptively simple machines today. Building light covering, trimming, and adjusting for perfect flights requires the skill of a fine watchmaker. Selecting the proper rubber composition and winding the correct number of turns are critical to a winning flight. The launch is breathtaking: the model leaps into the air with the loud whir of the balsa prop, quickly gains altitude, then the prop stops and the model transitions into a slow, circling glide. Only the ticking of a stopwatch interrupts the contestant's silent prayer that the longest flight time will prevail.

SAM Champs 2000 is now recorded in the annals of time. There was a winner in each class, but all those in attendance were the real winners. They came, they flew, and they conquered—some conquered the weariness of aging and health, some the long distances traveled and seven days of contest activities; yet they came. Attendees enjoyed camaraderie, spent time among friends and peers, and were thrilled to rub elbows with modeling heroes and legends from the past. The SAM Champs is somewhat of a family reunion, and it's a happy family indeed.

Next year SAM will host the Champs in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the nearby expanse of the El Dorado Dry Lake. The theme will be "Four Aces," with special commemorative events for four Old‑Timers and their model designs: Carl Lanzo's rubber‑powered Duplex, Carl Goldberg's FF gas‑powered Zipper, Ben Shereshaw's Mercury in RC, and Frank Zaic's glider designs with events in FF and RC. Come on out and join the fun!

If you're interested in Old‑Time models, SAM dues are $18 a year, which includes an excellent bimonthly magazine. Drop me a note if you're interested in receiving an information package.

2000 SAM Champs Results

Free Flight

Place — Airplane — Engine — Score (seconds)

A Nos/A (20 flew)

  1. Dan Harshman — Alert — Shilen .19 — 1,320
  2. Bill Vanderbeek — Thermal Thumber — Shilen .19 — 1,260
  3. Larry Davidson — Stardust Special — Elfin .29 d — 799

B Nos (23 flew)

  1. Larry Davidson — Alert — Torpedo .29 — 1,299
  2. Woody Bartelt — Alert — O&R .29 — 1,080
  3. Cliff Betz — Alert — Forster .29 — 919

C Nos (12 flew)

  1. Larry Davidson — Foote Westerner — Super Cycle — 1,200
  2. Sal Taibi — Playboy Sr. — Ohlsson .60 — 900
  3. Mickey Waldner — Playboy Sr. — Super Cycle — 720

Class A Fuselage (20 flew)

  1. Bud Romaker — Go Getter — Elfin .15 d — 547
  2. Ted Dock — Ascender — Elfin .15 d — 438
  3. Larry Davidson — Ascender — ED Hunter d — 333

Class B Fuselage (21 flew)

  1. Larry Davidson — Brooklyn Dodger — Ohlsson .29 — 720
  2. Frank Harper — Porcupine — DeLong .20 — 689
  3. Sal Taibi — Brooklyn Dodger — Hunter .21 d — 672

Class C Fuselage (12 flew)

  1. Sal Taibi — Pacer — Madewell .49 — 337
  2. Cliff Betz — Brooklyn Dodger — Anderson Spit — 330
  3. Emmanuel Lenza — — — 320

30 Second Antique (10 flew)

  1. Larry Davidson — Rambler — Ohlsson .60 FRV — 840
  2. Bob Osman — Rambler — Super Cycle — 655
  3. Dan Harshman — Clipper MK I — Madewell .49 — 480

Old Rudder (14 flew)

  1. Bill Vanderbeek — Gravits — Ohlsson .23 — 600
  2. Dan Harshman — Zipper — Torpedo .29 — 578
  3. Jack Bolton — — — 480

Old Timer Stick (14 flew)

  1. Ward Delano — Playboy — Ohlsson .23 — 457
  2. Bill Vanderbeek — Baby Saliplane — Ohlsson .23 — 346
  3. Jim Kutkun — Playboy Jr. — Ohlsson .23 — 340

1930 Replica (20 flew)

  1. Ben Cleveland — Interceptor — Cox .020 TD — 662
  2. Jack Lillie — Stra Ts Streak — Cox .020 TD — 434
  3. Sid Jepson — Kenrgo — Cox .020 TD — 422

Henry Struck / Kinner American Ace (4 flew)

  1. Ted Dock — American Ace — Forster .29 — 230
  2. Bob Edelstein — American Ace — Forster .29 — 203
  3. Mickey Walker — American Ace — Forster .29 — 126

NFFS Nostalgia

1/4A Nostalgia (8 flew)

  1. Ben Cleveland — Jay's Bird — Cox .020 TDR — 309
  2. Dick Hall — T‑Bird — Cox .020 TD — 307
  3. Max Bilek — T‑Bird — Cox .020 TD — 253

1/2A Nostalgia (18 flew)

  1. Dick Hall — T‑Bird — Fox FAI .049 — 835
  2. Frank Parmenter — Jay's Bird — Cox Medallion — 656
  3. Frank Osborne — — — 656

A Nostalgia (12 flew)

  1. Ron Sharpton — T‑Bird — OS .19 — 351
  2. Dick Hall — T‑Bird — OS .15 — 335
  3. Ben Cleveland — Jay's Bird — Cox .020 — 335

B Nostalgia (11 flew)

  1. Dick Hall — Jay's Bird — Fox .29 X — 1,200
  2. Ron Sharpton — Jay's Bird — Fox .29 X — 1,168
  3. Ben Cleveland — Jay's Bird — Fox .201 — 820

C Nostalgia (10 flew)

  1. Ron Sharpton — — — 1,004
  2. Dick Hall — — — 473
  3. Bill Bell — — — 422

Small Ignition Nostalgia (7 flew)

  1. Jim Kutkun — Con. Yankee — 261
  2. William Jordan — Phoenix — 256
  3. Dan Harshman — Phoenix — 188

Large Ignition Nostalgia (4 flew)

  1. Otis Trindle — — — 435
  2. Max Bilek — Zipper — 295
  3. Jim Kutkun — Con. Yankee — 251

Rubber

Dan Giancarlo Paratrooper (11 flew)

  1. Ray Combs — — — 348
  2. Joe Macy — — — 312
  3. Jim Anderson — — — 288

R/C Glider (18 flew)

  1. John Kauffman — Blue Bird — 349
  2. Tim Kutkun — Blue Bird — 340
  3. Tom McCoy — Blue Bird — 316

Large Rubber Fuselage (31 flew)

  1. Herb Kothe — Detroiter — 1,800
  2. Carl Redlin — Detroiter — 1,402
  3. Jim O'Reilly — Eugene — 1,202

Small Rubber Fuselage (38 flew)

  1. Carl Redlin — Double Feature — 1,980
  2. Joseph Williams — Crusader — 1,198
  3. Bob DeCook — Pacific Ace — 1,085

A Coupe Wakefield (18 flew)

  1. Herb Kothe — Lanzo Duplex — 1,160
  2. Herb Kothe — Lanzo Duplex — 895
  3. Gene Wallock — Lanzo — 890

Large Rubber Stick (22 flew)

  1. Carl Redlin — Lanzo 300 — 1,412
  2. Ed Konefes — Lanzo — 1,082
  3. George Perryman — 1940 Lanzo — 1,022

K‑rocket Wakefield (26 flew)

  1. Herb Kothe — Korda Wakefield — 1,437
  2. Robot Goldie — Cleveland Gull — 1,232
  3. Bob Erpelding — Kansa Wakefield — 1,225

K‑rocket Rubber Stick (31 flew)

  1. Ed Konefes — Casano — 570
  2. Joseph Williams — Gollywock — 544
  3. Bob Erpelding — Gollywock — 480

Twin Pusher (7 flew)

  1. Tim Adams — Schmee — 255
  2. Al Koerner — Rimmer — 208
  3. George Perryman — Burnham — 169

Rubber Scale (9 flew)

  1. Gene Wallock — Lanzo Puss Moth — 635
  2. George Perryman — Lanzo Puss Moth — 533
  3. Herb Kothe — Lanzo Puss Moth — 531

Gliders

Old‑Time Hand‑Launched Glider (17 flew)

  1. Steve Roselle — Haverat — 330
  2. Bill Smeal — Hugulet — 307
  3. Al Siebert — Hugulet — 171

Radio Control

Henry Struck Record Hound (7 flew)

  1. Don Bekins — Record Hound — Ohlsson .60 — 963
  2. Mary Martin — Record Hound — Ohlsson .60 — 906
  3. Bob King — Record Hound — Ohlsson .60 — 594

A Ignition LER (22 flew)

  1. Fred Mulholland — Playboy — Shilen .19 — 1,715
  2. Jim Reynolds — Lanzo Bomber — Elfin 2.49 d — 1,674
  3. Sam Hulin — Playboy — Cox .15 — 1,690

B Ignition LER (18 flew)

  1. Paul Schmitz — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .29 — 1,261
  2. Ed Shilen — Lanzo Bomber — Shilen .29 — 1,260
  3. Tandy Walker — Playboy Sr. — — — 1,253

C Ignition LER (32 flew, 15 in flyoff)

  1. Bob King — Westerner — McCoy .60 — 2,579
  2. Paul Schmitz — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .60 — 2,522
  3. John LeTrent — Playboy Sr. — Anderson — 2,420

A Glow LER (20 flew)

  1. Fred Mulholland — Lanzo Bomber — ST .19 — 1,715
  2. Sam Hulin — Playboy — Cox .15 — 1,690

B Glow LER (22 flew)

  1. Fred Mulholland — Lanzo Bomber — ST .29 — 1,957
  2. Harold Sprague — Playboy — OS .25 — 1,855
  3. Ed Hamler — Westerner — ST .29 — 1,743

C Glow LER (27 flew)

  1. Ed Hamler — Playboy — K&B .35 — 2,402
  2. Andrew Limosani — Playboy — K&B .40 — 2,269
  3. Jim Reynolds — Playboy — ST .35 — 2,245

Antique (20 flew)

  1. Edward Simpson — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .49 — 1,800
  2. Fred Mulholland — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .49 — 1,726
  3. Paul Schintz — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .60 — 1,710

Pure Antique (27 flew)

  1. Chuck Hutton — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .60 — 3,285
  2. Fred Mulholland — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .60 — 3,198
  3. Don Bekins — Lanzo Bomber — McCoy .60 — 2,676

Texaco Ignition (18 flew)

  1. Lawrence Latowski — Dallas Sportster — Enya .60 — 2,082
  2. Ed Shilen — Lanzo Bomber — O.S. — 1,872
  3. Dale Harris — Lanzo RC‑1 — Ohlsson .60 — 2,609

Texaco Classic (24 flew)

  1. Ed Harris — Dallas Sportster — Ohlsson .60 — 3,527
  2. Don Bekins — Lanzo Bomber — Ohlsson .60 — 2,609
  3. Andrew Latowski — Lanzo Bomber — Super Cycle — 2,204

Texaco Glow (18 flew)

  1. Thomas Pratt — Miss America — O.S. .48 — 3,311
  2. Sam Hulin — Dollin — MVVS .40 — 2,734
  3. Fred Mulholland — Lanzo Bomber — Irvine .40 — 2,402

A Texaco (20 flew)

  1. Ron Johnson — Playboy — MVVS .15 d — 4,048
  2. Harold Sprague — Playboy — MVVS .15 d — 3,756
  3. Peter Barnes — Lanzo Bomber — P.A.W. .15 d — 2,852

B Texaco (45 flew)

  1. Let Titter — V‑tail Swallow — Cox .049 — 2,675
  2. Ken Gellman — Atomizer — Cox .049 — 2,441
  3. Harold Sprague — Lanzo Bomber — Cox .049 — 2,415

C Texaco (Glider & F/F) (7 flew)

  1. Luco Giancarlo — FD‑15 — 1,198
  2. Gaetano Fratini — FD‑15 — 1,197
  3. Leo Busnardo — AMG — 866

Special Events

1/2A Texaco (7 flew)

  1. Ron Johnson — Playboy — Leisure .05 — 724
  2. Luther Peters — Bomber — Leisure .05 — 424
  3. Luco Giancarlo — Scaletta — SMT 250 — 406

1/4A Texaco (7 flew)

  1. L. Peters — Playboy — Leisure .05 — 724
  2. L. Peters — Bomber — Leisure .05 — 424
  3. L. Giancarlo — — — 406

Old Timer RC (14 flew with O&R .23 ignition engines)

  1. Bob King — Westerner — 771
  2. Walt Geary — Playboy — 764
  3. Chuck Hutton — Playboy — 696

Brown Jr. LER (14 flew)

  1. James DeWitt — Rambler — 1,944
  2. Bob Angus — Pacific Coast Champ — 1,730
  3. Richard Pratt — Polly — 1,329

Gasser/Stock (30 flew with Ohlsson .60 ignition)

  1. Don Bekins — Record Hound — 1,723
  2. Fred Mulholland — Folly — 1,704
  3. Ed Tillotson — Lancer 72 — 1,667

1/2A Scale Texaco (20 flew with Cox .049 engines)

  1. Cal Sutterfield — Piper Cub — 1,436
  2. R. Hammond — Piper Cub — 1,308
  3. Don Schaffen — Wren — 1,273

Spirit of SAM Electric (14 flew)

  1. Jack Hunter — Estrellar 3900G — 4,500
  2. Ed Tillotson — CRY Speed 280 — 4,191
  3. Michael McIntyre — Stahl Gypsy — Speed 250 — 3,618

Electric LMR (17 flew)

  1. Harold Sprague — Playboy — Leisure .05 — 2,518
  2. Michael McIntyre — Playboy Cabin — Aerovox — 2,321
  3. Jack Hunter — Astro 805 — 2,224

Nostalgia Combined (12 flew)

  1. Mike Sayles — Airfloater — ST .29 — 1,639
  2. Lawrence Latowski — Playboy — K&B .40 — 1,529
  3. Ted Patolaio — Cobra — Hornet .60 — 922

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