Radio Control: Pylon Racing
READERS of this column are either competitors or are very interested in Racing. The AMA is now in the midst of its biennial competition rules-change cycle. Let's not let non-Racing types govern our events. Let your RC Racing Contest Board members know what you think about the new rules proposals. For a full list of the proposed rule changes, see pages 136 and 137 in the December '88 edition of the "Competition Newsletter," a regular section of Model Aviation. Let's discuss some of the proposals: RCR-90-1 provides for establishing National Record categories for F-1 and FAI. Comment: Yes. It sure wouldn't hurt to be able to establish a record.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
THE YEAR of the Q500? It looks to me like it might be. Boy, I wonder if the old bearded one, Glen Spickler, ever thought this type of Racing would grow like it has. For those who don't remember, Glen designed and kitted the Spickler Q500 Pylon Racer. This plane was designed to be a low-cost, fun-to-build, and fun-to-fly Pylon Racer. Just the thing for club races: low-key, low-cost racing for those who wanted to race but didn't want to get as involved as the Formula One pilot. These days Q500 has a good set of rules-and even a spot at the Nationals, though I'm not sure it was intended to get this big. Remember, guys: It was supposed to be a low-key event! When you bring it to the Nats . . . well, we'll see. I hope for the best, because there sure are a lot of people flying this neat event.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
SUMMER'S END usually means Championship Race time for most Pylon Racers. Our latest event-Q500-has really taken off. And so of course we have a Championship Race for that event. The following report was supplied by Bob Greer, who also was the Contest Director for the '88 races. "This year's National NMPRA Q500 Championship was held at North Lake/Dallas on October 8-9. We had a good turnout, with fliers coming from Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, California, and Texas. Donna Bartle came all the way from California to be the starter. She did her usual great job. The week before the race she hurt her arm, so she had Marc Greer do the actual flagging. He did a great job for his first race as starter.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
AVAILABILITY: I've received quite a few letters this summer wanting to know where to get a certain kit or engine rework, etc. You will find an updated list at the end of the article. Are you having trouble with your needle valve? You need to break in your new needle valve! Read on. Here are a couple of things that you should consider. It helps matters if the needle is supported where it exits from the fuselage. A rubber grommet works well here. It must be a tight fit. Most racing engines will have a needle valve assembly utilizing a jam nut on the spray bar to adjust for the desired grip on the needle. This is where we must be very careful. As we run in a new engine and carb, we will have to readjust the jam nut to maintain a solid grip on the needle. What has happened is that the needle threads wear (due to adjusting and engine vibration) where it is generally set for running. It should never have to be moved more than a turn or so for the proper engine setting.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
TWO major events during 1988 should interest the Formula One fliers: the AMA Nationals, and the NMPRA Championships. But back in the Seventies we had an annual race in Bakersfield, CA that, at one time, drew over 100 entries. Just about anyone who was anybody in Racing attended this contest. We even had people come from Japan just for the meet. Those were the good old days! It sure would be great to have a race of that magnitude again. Well, maybe we might just have a chance to have such an event again! It might not be in Bakersfield-but how about Phoenix, AZ?
