Control Line: Racing
More on the death of Rat: I think I really stirred up a hornet's nest with the column on the imminent death of Rat Race! I have received quite a number of letters from all over the U.S. on the subject, about equally split in agreement and disagreement with me. But, even though there are those who agree that Rat is in trouble and something ought to be done, there are many, many fliers out there who feel that Rat is the king of our racing events because of its speed and complexity; and that, to be competitive in Rat Race, is the ultimate of all possible achievements in Control Line Racing. To do anything to limit this event would be to destroy the very reason it exists: unlimited, all-out racing!
Control Line: Racing
NOW WHY WOULD anyone be writing about last year's Nats at this late date? Why, there's been coverage in all (well, nearly all) the model magazines since way last summer. Is there anything left to be said? Well, I hope so, especially from my point of view. Not as a spectator, nor a competitor, but this year as an official. Because this year I had the honor (?) of being the Control-Line Racing event director at the Nats in Lake Charles. I mean, someone has to do it and, when they got to the bottom of the barrel, guess who was left. You're right, that little old racing-writer, me. You think you know how to run the Control-Line racing events? Well, try it at the Nats sometime, but keep in mind that the best competitors in the country will be there, and they will be expecting the best in officiating since, after all, this is the Nats.
Control Line: Racing
I HOPE BY NOW you all have read the new Slow Rat rules that have become part of the AMA rule book. If not, they go something like this. Plane must be 300 sq. in. minimum with a 1 in. thick wing at all points except the last two inches of each tip, 24 in. prop hub to elevator hinge fuselage length, canopy and rudder required, .36 cu. in. max displacement engines, suction only, landing gear required. Get the AMA rules for the details. I don't know if you agree or disagree with the Slow Rat rules as they finally were passed. But at least there is now one set of rules that maybe can get enough nationwide backing to try and straighten out the can of worms that Slow Rat has been until now. I was the one who made the original rules proposal two years ago to try to get some order into the rules. The rules are very close to what we have been flying in Texas for the last several years and they do work if you give them a half a chance.
Control Line: Racing
Fuel Mixings: A recent newsletter from George Aldrich of Aldrich Products, Inc. has some interesting thoughts on fuel mixings. I'll present it here for your consideration. "Some years ago one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic lubricants paid me a very nice fee to test their polyolefin oil on model engines. From these tests and many other tests I discerned that, while these lubricants had many assets such as clean burning, miscibility with any percentage of nitromethane, cleaness of operation, etc., they could not carry all the load alone. The very fact that the polyolefin oils burn along with the rest of the fuel ingredients is the clue to the problem. When an engine is really punished under severe circumstances such as an over-lean run, the high heat generated dissipates the lubricant, leaving little or no protection for the engine.
Control Line: Racing
A COUPLE of columns ago, I took a couple of good shots at some racing events that I know are popular in several areas of the country: specifically, limited capacity events. I said, in effect, that this was not the way to go and pleaded for those who disagreed with me to write and let me know if I was off base. The response was underwhelming. Two letters. One came from George Cadlwell of Walkersville, MD. George supports the concept of limited capacity events. George is also a member of the Racing Advisory Committee. I really expected to hear from the RAC members. The fact that they are on the RAC generally means they are not hesitant to air their views and will generally sit down and write when necessary.
