By Charlie Johnson
Race day started off with the two juniors, Tristan and Mason Mayer, flying qualifying heats with their AMA Goodyear models. They were basically flying their Sport Goodyear models on the longer 60-foot lines, so the race times are quite presentable for the equipment that they used. Their races were uneventful, Open fliers take note.
- Tristan Mayer: 4:24.03 70-lap heat—9:05.11 140-lap final
- Mason Mayer: 5:29.72 70-lap heat—10:27.98 140-lap final
There was a lot of shuffling of pilots and pit crew during the Open heats and final. Bill Bischoff and Doug Mayer did most of the piloting, while Bill Lee, Bob Oge, and Richard Kucejko handled the model end. The models are very fast, loud, and temperamental. What looked to be a very fast race time would often become a frustrating ordeal. Bob Oge was declared the winner with a 7:46.99 final time. Bill Bischoff and Doug Mayer didn’t finish the race.
The wind really came up in the afternoon, so AMA Slow Rat was postponed to early evening. The air passing by the tower really upset some of the models as they glided in for a pitstop. Most models are low aspect ratio designs. Less frontal area may help, but having a very short body helps the body stay in one piece during fast catches during pitstops. The GO 25 is probably the most desirable engine, although the GMS 25 proved to be a good choice. Speeds are in the low 100 mph range.
As with Goodyear in the morning, piloting and pitting duties were adjusted as needed. It was decided, since it was getting late, to give everyone two 70-lap heats where the best time wins.
- Bill Lee: 3:17.97
- Bill Bischoff: 3:19.63
- Bob Oge: 345.19
- Doug Mayer: 3:51.46
- Richard Kucejko: 12 laps
Sport Goodyear and NCLRA Quickie Rat will be flown on Wednesday. The Sport Goodyear class is the most popular event. The models have external controls and use venturi restricted Magnum 15 clone engines. Quickie Rats use a venturi restricted 40, generally a K&B. Both events use user-friendly engines, so hopefully good race times will result.
