1989 NMPRA Champs
EVERY YEAR since 1973, the nation's best Formula One fliers get together at the end of October for the most competitive race of the year. The race is usually held somewhere in the South. Texas, Florida, and California are some past locales. We'll start off with a listing of past NMPRA Formula One Championships-who won and where: In 1973 at Sepulveda Basin, CA, Bob Violett took top honors with his K&B-powered Cosmic Trick. In 1974 at Miami, FL, Terry Prather won with his SuperTigre X40-powered Prather Toni.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
I'VE JUST returned from the NMPRA Formula One Championships. Wow, what a contest. More in a later issue. At the race I was told of a new Q-500 engine. This engine will be produced by Henry Nelson-yes, the same person who does the .15 and our new FAI and Formula One engines. The new engine will be available about the first of '91. For more information write Nelson Competition Engines, RD 2 Box 233, Ramsey Rd., Zelienople, PA 16063 (telephone 1-412/538-5282), or Dave Shadel, Performance Specialties. P.O. Box 4003, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (telephone 1-619/729-1658).
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
FAI FLIERS: For those of you who want to try out for the U.S. FAI Pylon team, the team selection finals are upon us. If you're reading this, you're running out of time! This year's finals will be held September 1-2, 1990 at Lasalle, MI. Wayne Yeager will be the Contest Director. Contact Micheline Madison at AMA Headquarters for more information on this. I've just received samples of some new products from Aerospace Composite Products. For those of you who have used carbon fiber for reinforce ment, you know it can be difficult to keep it from fraying. You can now buy carbon fiber in 1-in.-wide by 12-in.-long strips contained in tissue paper covers. No more loose fibers. The company also has a new .054-diameter Kevlar cord and a new epoxy laminating resin. For more information, write to Aerospace Composite Products, P.O. Box 16621, Irvine, CA 92714.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
BUILDING TIME is upon us-unless, of course, you like to fly in the snow. Here are some hints for storing your radio till spring. First of all, if you have had any problems with your radio, now is the time to send it in for repair. The technicians are under immense pressure during the regular season. They have more time during the winter season, and will probably do a better job. At the very least, check out the radio yourself. You don't have to be an expert, just use a little common sense. Open the servos. Check the gear train for any chipped or missing teeth. Check for damaged wires or bad connections. You'd be surprised at the damage that can be done in a short summer of flying. Silverware cleaner works well for cleaning connections.
Radio Control: Pylon Racing
WE are always looking for new and better ways to finish our Pylon Racers. Here is an update on glass cloth application sent to me by Art Arro: "This article is a sequel to one written several years ago on applying lightweight (1/2-3/4 oz.) fiberglas cloth over balsa-sheeted surfaces. The original article recommended K&B Superpoxy clear paint to adhere the cloth to the sheeted surface. At that time I felt that this method was better than the near-universal procedure of polyester resin and toilet paper. Although the clear epoxy paint excelled in application, it required many coats to fill the weave, and the adhesion wasn't up to par.
