SAM Old-Timer Championships
Overview
Competition in the manner of yesteryear — the Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) Championships — was held in Dayton, OH, at Wright-Patterson AFB, beginning Friday, August 8, three days prior to the AMA Nats. Building and flying models of times past, whether pure free flight or RC-assisted, made for a low-pressure, fun contest that drew increasing participation. The 1980 SAM Champs earned widespread praise for two main reasons: excellent organization and a positive contestant attitude.
Organization and volunteers
Contest Manager Bob Larsh provided a precise organizational structure, effectively running what were, in practice, two mini-contests: a Free Flight (FF) site and a Radio Control (RC) site. Timely posting of results, easily accessible timers, and a congenial on-field atmosphere reduced contest jitters. When problems arose, Larsh dispatched volunteers or handled them himself, so there was always a clear point of authority.
Key volunteers and officials included:
- Tim Banaszek (assistant duties)
- Woody Woodman (RC Contest Director)
- Mike Granieri (RC assistant)
- Meredith Chamberlain (FF Director)
- Don Kegg and Bob Laybourne (FF assistants)
- Marvin Mayo, Larry Fry, Meredith Chamberlain and others who kept operations running
- Tom Sutor (transported and assembled trophies)
Sponsors and contributors:
- K&B, Herb's Model Motors, Otto Bernhardt, Mark Fechner
- MAN, 4 J's Hobby Shop, John Wormley, Peck Polymers, Midwest
- Sig, Model Electric Company, Fox, Tatone, Satellite City, Schmidt Kits
- Coverit, Jim Crockett Replicas, Don Jenkins, Danny Sheelds
- Gene Lapansie, Bob Boucher, Tim Banaszak
Special thanks were given to Roger Wathen (photographic assistance).
Site, logistics, and weather
The contest field was a lush, manicured area approximately a mile across, adjacent to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Although runways intersected near the site, chase bikes were allowed, which reduced difficulties retrieving models from inaccessible areas. Compared with the previous year, a great deal of the retrieval difficulty was alleviated.
Weather was mixed but serviceable. Friday brought wind and a few thundershowers, but Saturday and Sunday delivered good morning and early-afternoon air. A consistent late-afternoon wind shift to the south was noted both days, so many fliers scheduled flights early. Only RC Texaco ran right up to closing time on Sunday.
Due to field size and nearby populated or inaccessible areas, Category III rules applied for Gas Free Flight, and rubber events were limited (3-minute maxes for certain rubber events were enforced).
Free Flight highlights
#### General Free Flight events featured a broad variety of antique designs — some hand-built or restored — and showcased the craftsmanship central to SAM. Flight sequences ran smoothly and results were posted quickly. The overall spirit was friendly and sportsmanlike.
#### Antique Antique events highlighted interesting and uncommon designs. Herb Wahl won Antique with a Comet Clipper that had an iffy ROG (rise-off-ground) launch but flew well once airborne. Bruno Markiewicz placed second with a Gas Bird; Markiewicz later won the FF high-point trophy.
#### Pylon and Cabin
- A Pylon: Won by Larry Willis flying the newly approved Kerswap, followed by Sal Taibi (Out-of-Sight) and Harry Murphy (Banshee).
- Gas Cabin: Dominated by Playboys, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Comet Clippers. A Cabin was won by Larry Boyer's Rocketeer. Bruno Markiewicz placed well with a Boomerang in B Cabin, and Ted Dock's Gladiator cracked the top five in C Cabin.
- Rubber Cabin: A mix of designs appeared. The event was won by a Lanzo Cabin, followed by a Super Stuff, a Cleveland Gull, a California Champ, and Ken Groves flying Nelder's Moffet (a Canadian entry).
#### Rubber Stick Rubber Stick was effectively a one-design event: if you weren't flying a Lanzo Stick, you weren't competitive. Bill Baker, Nolin, Perryman and Witte were notable stick fliers.
#### .020 Replica and other small-engine events Frank Heeb excelled in the .020 Replica event, winning by over 100 seconds with his Comet Mercury. Sal Taibi finished second flying a Playboy Jr. .020 Replica is usually dominated by Strato‑Streaks, Playboys and Interceptors, so Heeb's performance was notable.
#### OT Hand-Launch Glider OT Hand-Launch Glider was well attended and competitive. Bill Abbot won the event flying a Javelin design, with young Bob Boyer a close runner-up. Boyer also juggled entries in multiple events, including attempts at the unofficial Two-Minute Precision event.
#### Mark Fechner Slag Engine Only three entries flew in Mark Fechner's Slag Engine event despite 14 entries on paper — a reflection of the temperamental nature of the aluminum piston-and-cylinder engines. Flight times were low but closely bunched. Results included:
- 1st: Art Suhr — Buzz-powered Ranger
- 2nd: Tim Banaszak — Thor-powered Twin Cyclone
- 3rd: Root — Comet Mercury (powered by a Genie)
#### Unofficial events Five unofficial events rounded out the FF program:
- Twin Pusher: mass launch followed by retrievals in all directions.
- Compressed Air: mostly Hobart Cabins and Hoosier Whirlwinds.
- .020 Electric: dominated by Buzzard Bombshells.
- Nostalgia Glow (new for SAM): Ramrods and Spacers predominated with occasional Zeeks or Fubars.
- Two-Minute Precision: Fly as close to two minutes as possible without dethermalizers; anything over two minutes was disqualified. The odd assortments of winners reflected the event’s challenge:
- 1st: twin pusher
- 2nd: .020 Replica
- 3rd: C Gas Cabin
- 4th: HL Glider
- 5th: A Gas
Radio Control highlights
#### General The RC events were held about a quarter mile from the FF site and attracted 81 entrants. RC glow-engine classes merged modern engine and radio technology with Old-Timer aircraft, producing spectacular climbs and controlled returns without the long chases typical of free flight.
Mike Granieri’s MG series performed exceptionally:
- MGs or MG-2s placed 1st in A Glow, and in B and C Glow placed prominently (2nd, 3rd, etc.).
#### Ignition and glow A-B Ignition classes showcased a variety of vintage ignition engines — McCoys, Forsters, DeLongs, an Amco — all running well. Many judged the crackling exhaust of ignition engines to be especially fitting for antique models.
#### RC Antique and Texaco Antique RC brought out nicely finished ships. Bruce Norman (RC high-point winner) flew a Cumulus on a Rossi .60; J. Percy’s Riser Rider (an elliptical-wing model) followed closely with a very slow glide.
Texaco (RC) ran through Sunday evening. Notable Texaco results:
- 1st: Talbert — PB-2
- 2nd & 3rd: MG-powered entries
- 4th: Chet Lanzo — Lanzo RC Stick
- 5th: Bruce Norman — Dallaire (red and blue Monokote)
A dramatic moment occurred when SAM president John Pond’s large Dallaire nearly stalled at the end of its power run; a wing panel failed during the descent.
Notable models and craftsmanship
Many entries showed exceptional workmanship and vintage flavor:
- Marion Knight — Streamlined Cyclone with elliptical surfaces
- Joe Jones and other classic-plan restorations, including a hand-built 1941 Buzzard Bombshell
- Ed Rangus — monster-size Herky (tipped the scales at over 10 lb) powered by a K&B .61
- Tom McCoy — Silk‑and‑Dope Super Buccaneer powered by an Atwood .60
- Ken Hinton — Answer (Scotty Murray design) brought from Suffolk, England
Closing remarks
The 1980 SAM Old-Timer Championships showcased excellent organization, camaraderie, and a wide variety of classic models flown in the proper Old-Timer spirit. SAM continues to grow as a unique bridge between free flight and radio control communities, held together by a shared love of vintage aircraft, craftsmanship, and the simple pleasures of model flying. As the organization grows, the emphasis on mutual interest and fair competition remains central to preserving that spirit.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
