NERCCA newsletter Issue 12 - 5/5/1995 available from http://world.std.com/~racores/newsletter_index.html The following is the current list of Gremlin contest dates I have. When Where CD/contact ==== ===== ========== Saturday May 13th Wrentham MA Jim Reith-CD (508) 764-3173 or racores@world.std.com Saturday May 20th Oxford MA Ray Mierzejewski-CD (508) 757-5883 Sunday July 23rd North Dartmouth, Ma. Stewart Russell-CD (508) 636-6450 Sunday August 20th Beattie Field, RI Charlie Hochstrasser-CD (401) 463-7076 or XBronx@aol.com Saturday Oct 28th New Boston NH Joe Marrone-CD (603) 429-0914 or marrone@mkots3.enet.dec.com Sunday Nov 5th CMRCM Westboro MA Charlie Watt-CD (508) 842-0976 or watt@leds.enet.qntm.com R/C Combat Lovers - electronic discussion group You can join or leave this group by sending email to rc-combat-lovers-request@world.std.com with the word (UN)SUBSCRIBE in the BODY (not the subject line) of the message. If you want to receive this newsletter ONLY (and I've subscribed you initially), please send email to racores@world.std.com with a message stating that you just want the NERCCA newsletter. Billerica Contest Report MCRCF First Annual Combat Contest The 1995 flying season got off to an unofficial start on Sunday, April 2, when the Middlesex County R/C Flyers hosted it's first Gremlin Combat contest. Even though the temperature was a little on the cool side and some people forgot to set their clocks forward, festivities began promptly at 9:30. We had approximately 14 flyers from different clubs including one person from as far away as Rhode Island. In the interest of getting as many people involved as possible the contest was setup with two classes, one consisting of Gremlins running a "stock" configuration and 25 size engines. The "open" class consisted of any plane with a 40 size or smaller engine. The pilots were close to evenly split between the two classes with some pilots electing to fly both ( this proved to be a sound financial decision for some people). The open class pilots were the first to take to the air. Bill Pascucci was the first to suffer damage during the first heat, when attempting to perform the perfect spot landing, he cart wheeled his plane. Even thought the damage wasn't fatal it did put him out for the rest of the day. The next crashed occurred just two heats later when Kerry Caviston crashed his Sig Fazer. Post mortem after the fact revealed that the elevator servo horn had broke ( since I am currently building this kit I am anxious to find out if the horn was the one they provide in the kit). The first round ended uneventfully with Kay Fisher in the lead with his 2 points for the first cut of the day. The stock class was made up of mostly veteran pilots from other Gremlin Combats. The first round was going smoothly with Gary Christiansen, Ray Mierzejawski, and the ever so humble John Yaz picking up two points each for cuts. The last two flyers in this heat, John Robinson and Larry Caffary, gave us a great show when there two Gremlins mid aired over the field. Needles to say both planes were crashed well beyond the field repair stage. I felt especially bad for these two guys because they were friends and didn't what to fly against each other, but since they had shown up late that was the way they were paired. After the crash John told me that they had promised to take it easy on each other. The second rounds in both classes was uneventful, with nobody getting a cut and no crashes occurring. The stage was set for the dynamic duo of Gary Christiansen and John Yaz to go head to head for the final battle of who was really the Gremlin Combat king. The final round consisted of two heats in the stock class and three in the open. These would decide the final outcome for first, second and third places. The first two flyers were Gary C. and John Yaz. This promised to be a great battle since both contenders were flying well with one cut each to their credit. After what seemed liked a 20 minute round neither flyer had succeeded in getting a cut. The rights to first place were to be decided by the dreaded spot landing. When the dust had settled Gary Christiansen had won by a mere 3 inches. Third place in the stock class also came down to which of the two pilots Kay Fisher or Ray Mierzejawski came closest to the landing spot. Ray came out on top. The battle for top honors in the open class was played out between Gary Christiansen (yes the same one that won stock class) and the clubs very own resident nutcase George (jungle) McQuillian. Gary lucked out in this round since George attempted the little tried maneuver of a vertical takeoff. The plane rose to about six feet above the ground before its poor power to weight ratio forced George to cut the engine, causing his plane to crash and Gary to win by default. Third place in the open class was caught in a three way tie between Lawson Gunn, Mike Bumbaca and John Robinson. The first heat between John and Lawson went to John. The next heat brought what most people thought was the most spectacular crash of the day when Mike Bumbaca came out of a loop too low and smashed straight into a tree that had just jumped up to meet him. Do to the time of year we were all afforded a great view of the plane hitting the branches. What a great way to finish the contest. That about sums up the clubs first and hopefully not last combat contest. All the money collected went back to the flyers (minus the money for streamers). First place finishers received $20 each, second received $15 and third place finishers got bragging rights. A Gremlin kit that had been donated by RC Buyers Warehouse was raffled of to the pilots. The winner was Lawson Gunn. In closing I would like to thank all the people who helped me make this contest possible especially the judges Ray Capobianco and Lee Allen. I was also wondering if John Yaz now has to give the "Combat Champion" mug to Gary Christiansen since he is the current undisputed king of combat. Final standings are listed below: Stock Class Gary Christiansen John Yassemedis Ray Mierzejawski Kay Fisher Rene Rusche Wayne Field John Robinson Larry Caffary Bill Pascucci Lawson Gunn Open Class Gary Christiansen George McQuillan John Robinson Lawson Gunn Mike Bumbaca Dave Comeau Kerry Caviston Bill Pascucci Next Gremlin contests is in Wrentham 5/13 The Lazy Loopers of Norfolk MA will sponsor a Gremlin contest on saturday May 13th. The contest will start at 12 noon and the entry fee will be $5 per plane. The classes run will be: Stock - Any Gremlin with a 44-48" wingspan and a plain bearing .25 engine. Open - Any Gremlin, any size, any engine Other - if there is enough demand there will be a non-Gremlin class where ANY plane can be used. Please be aware that due to local interference problems R/C channels 20 and 28 are banned from this field. Sorry for any inconvenience. For more information contact Jim Reith-CD (acting) (508) 765-9998 Directions: From the north take Rt495 south to Exit 17 and head east on Rt140 From the south take Rt495 north to Exit 15 and head east on Rt1A When Rt140 and Rt1A join in Wrentham at the lights, continue east on Rt1A until you come to a flashing light. Turn left onto this road and the flying field will be ahead on the right hand side. There will be a contest in Oxford MA on May 20th Ray Mierzejewski-CD, (508) 757-5883 Directions to the Rocky Hill Fliers field, Oxford MA You want to head south from the Mass Turnpike exit 10 in Auburn on Rt 395 (this is what Rt290 through Worcester turns into south of the Pike) and get off at exit 4, Sutton Ave., Oxford Center, heading west towards Oxford Center. When you get to the lights in Oxford Center you continue straight through and go 1 mile and on the right you should find Old Howarth Rd. Continue down Old Howarth Rd. for .7 miles looking for a dirt road on the right, lined with large boulders. On the enterance there is a gate, it will be closed but unlocked, please close it back over when you are inside. Welcome to the Rocky Hill Fliers field!