Heartland Speed Freakz Q-40 Pylon Race
by Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
aseaholm@gmail.com
Last fall, on September 19-20, the Heartland Speed Freakz (HSF) Pylon club held a two-day Q-40 race in Wichita, Kansas. The contest drew 25 competitors from across the US.
HSF Q40 Pylon Race
Name — Time — Points
1. Mike Helsel — 1:03.52 — 29
2. Lonnie Finch — 1:01.52 — 28
3. Maurice “Moe” Vereecke — 1:03.16 — 26
4. Duane Hulen — 1:03.92 — 26
5. Scott Hartman — 1:07.15 — 25
Fast time: Lonnie Finch — 1:01.52
Moe Vereecke, Lonnie Finch, and Ben Hobbs have been instrumental in making the HSF races a reality. I look forward to attending this race in 2016.
Tip of the hat goes to Lonnie, Moe, Duane Hulen, and Scott Hartman for their great top-five finishes against some exceptional competition. Congratulations go to Mike Helsel and teammate Dub Jett for another hard-fought and well-deserved win, and congratulations to Lonnie and Moe for earning Fast Time, with a smoking-quick 1:01.52.
Fallen Racer: Mike Tallman
I am deeply saddened to report that Mike Tallman, of
“I have known Mike since I was a kid. He was involved in so many aspects of model aviation—Control Line, Free Flight, Indoor Free Flight, Slope Soaring, and his favorite, Pylon Racing. It’s unreal what a wealth of knowledge that man was. He was a true friend, mentor, and competitor. To me he will always be known as the godfather of Pylon Racing in the Midwest.”
—Duane Hulen
“At one of the Wichita races, I damaged my primary airplane and crashed my backup. Mike had an airplane ready for me to race before I had the debris gathered up. He would not accept my ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ After racing his plane all weekend and setting Fast Time, he asked, ‘How did you like it?’ I said it was great and he responded with, ‘Keep it, it’s yours.’ Mike had a heart of gold. I will miss him.”
—Ken Van Tuyl
“Mike was a great competitor, a wealth of knowledge, and was always willing to help anyone. He was the guy you knew would be at every race. He basically was the reason that our
races happened in Wichita. He was like everyone’s father figure at a contest. I remember the first time I saw Mike fly during practice before a race in [Kansas City]. I turned and said to someone, ‘I’ll never be able to compete with him.’ He was someone I wish I had taken the time to get to know better.’
—Moe Vereecke
“When I was just a pesky kid running around the QM 15 contests in Fort Wayne, Toledo, and Dayton in the late ’70s and early ’80s, I’d see Mike there calmly keeping watch from the pits or setting a hot pace around the poles. And he was still there 30-plus years later at Phoenix, Wichita, and Muncie—steady as the tides, always willing to offer a kind word of advice on how to ‘make yer stuff work better.’”
—Duane Gall
“First thing that comes to mind when I think of Mr. Mike Tallman is class, class, class, class, class, and more class. Being one of the few who enjoys a Phoenix Speedworld race-day sunrise, I will painfully miss Mike’s early-morning camaraderie. Fred now has some additional ‘Godspeed’ competition.”
—Tom Hegland
“Mike played a major role in creating and maintaining interest in model aviation here in the Midwest. I first met Mike during the Wednesday-night two-pole club racing in Wichita, [an] event he put on. I will always remember the moments when Mike would come back from his van, smiling, and holding a racer from a faster class than you were currently flying. He would gesture you to the line with him to fire it up. You could always count on Mike to show you the next progression in Pylon—when he felt you were ready. Mike introduced me to Pylon Racing and Control Line [CL]. He was an RC and CL father figure to me and will be greatly missed.”
—Ben Hobbs
“All you boys get so amped up at the Nats. Mike, on the other hand, was always so calm and laid-back. He knew everything going on up and down the pit area, too. Occasionally, he would lean forward in his chair, listen intently for a while, then lean back and smile.”
—Michele Seaholm
“Mike was a good friend and a dedicated Pylon racer. I have known him since my QM 15 days and his signature cigar aroma. This certainly leaves a vacancy in our hearts. He was loved by all and will be missed.”
—Dan Kane
“Mike was one of the most gracious guys in Pylon Racing. He was a true gentleman! Rest in peace, my friend. You will truly be missed.”
—Randy Bridge
“A very sad day in the hearts of so many.”
—Darrol Cady
“Mike was always more interested in helping others, even if it impacted his placing or health. He was very stoic, but so helpful and giving. He was involved with so many different aspects of modeling. He could drive to any event at the Nats and know everyone there.”
—Rhonda Cady
Godspeed, Mike.
SOURCES:
National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA)
www.nmpra.org
