Secret practice sessions, allegations of draw fixing,
late night motor rebuilds, last minute building, must be combat season. Hang
on it's the middle of winter what the ?
Yes the club slow contest was on, all on. Where a few years ago we were lucky
to get four entries in slow combat it's now by far the biggest single control
line event, Rotorua saw seven entries in slow but the slow meeting at Bill Bells
on June 19th saw a record fourteen fliers turn out, their enthusiasm perhaps
boosted by a $100 first prize. Second prize ?, well as they say in "Highlander"
there can only be one. NOCLASS members were, of course to the fore, well some
of them anyway. Besides Rosco, Chris, Jon Spain Alistair and Bryce, Glenn Stewart,
Dave Ackery and Bill Bell were also waving the NOCLASS banner, yep they are
all NOCLASS guys, if they pay their subs !!
The weather was perfect for combat, flat calm and thick low cloud, er fog actually.
While most people used diesels a few used glows, with it must be said limited
success. Overall the standard of combat was pretty average but there was a lot
of cat flown ie. Two models up manouvering so that's hope for the future.
I particularly enjoyed the bout between Jon Spain and Chris Renton with both
using Mejzlik models with detuned glows, this was excellent combat but when
I flew Jon with a diesel I didn't feel disadvantaged, from comments from both
Jon and Chris have made since I suspect both will be sniffing ether.
Bill Bell's return to combat was short lived due to crap in the tank (he claims!)
but is using Arnies line "I'll be back"
Glenn Stewart was forced to abandon his 'Olly' and use his backup motors (Rivers)
but non burning fuel caused frustration to both him and his pit crew, next time
huh Glenn.
On Friday night Chris claimed he was looking forward to winning, well keep on
looking Chris!!!!
Rosco had perhaps the fastest model combo with his terrifying PAW 19 , (well
it frightens the shit out of me!) but a couple of early landings (vertical)
and insufficient fuel prevented him from making the final three, finishing fourth
just ahead of the most improved flier Dave Ackery. Jon Spain headed up to Auckland
after his needle setting problems restricted him to sixth, but he had the satisfaction
of the highest scoring bout. Alsitair who definitely had the slowest model (44/10
laps) meanwhile had made his way up the pyramid untroubled after an early loss.
Danny Walker is now a real threat in slow and went through five rounds without
scratching a model. Due to the vagaries of the draw and a little confusion Bryce
having both lives intact, had to fly Alistair then Danny. The bout between Alistair
and Bryce was as usual crap but not without humour. Bryce didn't realise Al
had removed half his elevator "that's funny it wont turn" thump "oh
dear". Bryce then had to fly Danny but mysteriously Danny had lost trim
and an early decking buried the motor, I swear I never touched it (although
I might have held a heat gun near it).
The final was between Al and Bryce so Bryce cheated, with his opponents permission
he used Als reserve model (which belonged to Bryce anyway). It's much easier
to get agreement when you threaten to take your toys home if you own your opponents
toys too. As usual the bout was crap, the last good bout between Bryce and Al
was Easter 96. This time Bryce got a cut up then smashed off Al's outboard wing.
No worries, thought Al, Bryce used a similar asymmetrical model for three rounds.
Well Al here's a tip I learnt from trying to fly F2A, you gotta whip the crap
outa asymmetric models from launch or they'll turn in on you, did I forget to
tell you that during the bout?
Here's how to remember my contest, "tinny win tinny win good pit crew opponent
crashed line tangle mid air". Comr along to the next contest and find out
who's right.
Thanks to Bill Bell for the use of the site, Brian Howser for centre marshalling
and line processing and particularly Andrew Robinson who ran the contest brilliantly
and was presented with a RTF model to use next time for his trouble, thanks
also to all the competitors who cooperated to make it possible to cram 29 bout's
into six hours.
Results
1. Il presidente.
2. Alistair "could I borrow that" Boys
3. Danny "combat is quite easy really" Walker
4. Rosco Smith
5. Dave Ackery
6. Jon Spain
7. Chris "I've spent so much time at Bryces place up is down" Renton
8. David "My first combat contest" Conraghan (junior)
9. Kevin "beaten by a junior in my first combat contest" Morgan
10. Jim Burdus
11. Lars Carlson
12. Glenn "stupid fuel" Stewart
13. Bill "I'm gunna get a cut off Bryce" Bell
14. Jai "Bryce always forgets my name" ???