Racing rollercoaster
by Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
aseaholm@gmail.com
The thrill of head-to-head RC Pylon Racing is difficult to put into words. If I had to choose one word, it would be exhilarating—like the first ride on a big rollercoaster that pulls you up a long, slow incline. Anticipation builds as you crest the hill and start the descent toward the unknown.
That feeling in your stomach as you start down the slope is the best comparison I can think of for RC Pylon—pure exhilaration that few other activities can provide.
I hope you will give Pylon Racing a try and let me know if you get the same rush.
Call for Pylon Topics
My goal with this column has always been to provide valuable information to racers, highlight the great people in this sport, and promote RC Pylon with a style that is fun to read. As the years and columns stack up, producing fresh ideas gets harder.
I am calling on the readers of this column to help me keep it fresh. Please send topics for future columns to my email address, listed at the top of this column.
Supplier Shout-Outs
While preparing for the Billings Flying Mustangs Bump and Run race, held each year in Billings, Montana, I had a couple of great supplier experiences that I want to share.
The first was with my two Sport Jett motors for Q-500 Event 426. Both motors were crashed last year; one hit hard. I replaced the bearings and a number of other parts supplied by Jett Engineering.
For those not familiar with the sport, Dub Jett is a National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) Hall of Fame member who rarely misses a race. He’s a great man and a world-class competitor, not to mention that he builds and services terrific engines.
The crashed motor was returned to its pre-wreck strength and was good enough to take first place and set Fast Time. Most motors would have been a complete write-off. The crash-conscious design features such as softer stainless-steel muffler bolts, an independent propeller shaft, and low-cost Venturi, return dividends. The next time you are at a race with Dub, take a minute to thank him for supplying robust motors at an economical price.
Another supplier I’d like to recognize is DinogyLipos. I decided I needed a couple of new battery packs for Electric Formula 1 (EF1) before the Billings race. As life has been lately, this revelation occurred roughly a week and half before the race.
Whenever I have EF1 questions, Dan Kane gets a text from me. He pointed me to DinogyLipos. The packs were back ordered on the company’s website, which I took as a sign that
EF1 is going strong. After a couple of emails with Mark Ferreira from DinogyLipos, my packs arrived by FedEx next-day air, just in time for the race. They worked flawlessly all weekend and I was pleased with the performance and reasonable $50 price point. Give DinogyLipos a try for EF1 products.
Race Season Heats Up
The Markham Park, Florida, race was held April 25-26, 2015. A special shoutout goes to Ray Brown and the Markham Park Pilots Association club for hosting this contest.
Markham Park Q-500 (424 Sat.): 1. Scott Smith, 1:31.01, 8; 2. Kyle McGuire, 1:54.16, 6. Fast time: Scott Smith, 1:31.01.
Markham Park Q-500 (426): 1. Craig Kर्सen, 1:12.27, 13; 2. Lonnie Finch, 1:06.62, 12; 3. Richard Oliver, 1:08.84, 12. Fast time: Randy Bridge, 1:06.46.
Markham Park Q-500 (424 Sun.): 1. Scott Smith, 1:49.89, 12; 2. Kyle McGuire, 2:12.27, 4. Fast time: Scott Smith, 1:49.89.
Markham Park Q-40: 1. Mike Helsel, 1:02.43, 14; 2. Adam Grim, 1:04.17, 13; 3. Dub Jett, 1:04.49, 13. Fast time: Terry Frazer, 1:00.70.
The Wichita, Kansas, race was held May 2-3, 2015. The Heartland Speed Freakz (HSF) hosted the spring Pylon competition. The group continues to bring great racing to the heartland.
HSF Q-500 (426): 1. Hank Diepenbroek, 1:08.20, 15; 2. Rich Beers, 1:04.54, 14; 3. Duane Hulen, 1:07.90, 14. Fast time: Rich Beers, 1:04.54.
HSF Q-500 (424): 1. Ken Van Tuyl, 1:41.11, 13; 2. Barry Gosnell, 1:48.07, 11; 3. Gary James, 1:43.22, 10. Fast time: Ken Van Tuyl, 1:41.11.
HSF Q-40 (422): 1. Rich Beers, 1:02.99, 15; 2. Lonnie Finch, 1:02.75, 12; 3. Gordon McWilliams, 1:10.22, 11. Fast time: Lonnie Finch, 1:02.75.
The Billings, Montana, Bump and Run race was held June 6-7. The race was coordinated by a handful of Billings Flying Mustangs members, and Ed Alves, Darrol Cady, and the Elbert family.
Billings Bump and Run EF1: 1. Leon Elbert, 1:35.79, 15; 2. AJ Seaholm, 1:32.45, 13; 3. Craig Kर्सen, 1:39.00, 13. Fast time: Shane Elbert, 1:20.58.
Billings Bump and Run Q-500 (424): 1. Ken Van Tuyl, 1:31.54, 8; 2. Duane Gall, 1:32.44, 8; 3. Leon Elbert, 1:33.95, 7. Fast time: Ken Van Tuyl, 1:31.54.
Billings Bump and Run Q-500 (426): 1. AJ Seaholm, 1:12.14, 18; 2. Ken Van Tuyl, 1:14.60, 10; 3. Duane Gall, 1:17.97, 8. Fast time: AJ Seaholm, 1:12.14.
The Cincinnati Moon Shot race was held June 6-7. Tom Scott and the Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club continue to deliver a first-class contest.
Cincinnati Moon Shot EF1 (Sat.): 1. Dan Kane, 1:16.43, 12; 2. Dub Jett, 1:17.63, 12; 3. Mike Deneve, 1:19.91, 12. Fast time: Dan Kane, 1:16.43.
Cincinnati Moon Shot Q-500 (424 Sat.): 1. Tom Melsheimer, 1:32.81, 11; 2. Jim Nikodem, 1:27.29, 10; 3. Joe Ruh, 1:31.90, 10. Fast time: Brad Clayton, 1:27.21.
Cincinnati Moon Shot Q-500 (426 Sat.): 1. Dub Jett, 1:04.66, 12; 2. Mike Helsel, 1:05.58, 11; 3. Craig Grunkemeyer, 1:03.93, 11. Fast time: Mike Eden, 1:03.33.
Cincinnati Moon Shot EF1 (Sun.): 1. Jim Nikodem, 1:31.34, 12; 2. Dan Kane, 1:26.54, 11; 3. Tim Lampe, 1:32.50, 11. Fast time: Dan Kane, 1:26.54.
Cincinnati Moon Shot Q-500 (424 Sun.): 1. Brad Clayton, 1:31.36, 12; 2. Jay Cappis, 1:29.56, 10; 3. Jim Nikodem, 1:29.29, 9. Fast time: Rick Vogelsang, 1:28.06.
Cincinnati Moon Shot Q-40: 1. John McDermott, 1:12.94, 12; 2. Bill Johanson, 1:05.98, 12; 3. Kurt Bozarth, 1:06.54, 11. Fast time: Mike Helsel, 1:03.91.
NMPRA Championship Race
The 2015 NMPRA Q-40 Championship race will be held at the Old Julian Airport, in Liberty, North Carolina, on October 2-4.
The Old Julian Airport has been relocated and improved. The new venue features a 55 x 500-foot paved landing strip, a paved takeoff pad, and 500 feet of manicured grass before and after the paved landing surface. That’s right—1,500 feet of landing surface.
At the time of this writing, entries topped 100 and the decision was made to remove the entry limit. Come participate in one of the largest Q-40 races in the world.
Special thanks to the Langlois family and Jimmy Katz for making this race a reality.
Sources:
NMPRA
www.nmpra.org
Jett Engineering
jett2008@jettengineering.com
www.jettengineering.com
DinogyLipos
(949) 525-1644
www.dinogylipos.com
Old Julian Airport
www.oldjulianairport.org
