Don Bartick from the San Diego Orbiteers submitted a story of their recent dual club bonanza that they hold with the Fresno Gas Model Club at Lost Hills. I’ve been there in the past and had a great time. I encourage D10 members to check out a free flight contest I know you’ll have a great time and learn a lot of things you didn’t know before. Don submitted some great pictures too, they are right here.

Lawrence Tougas

Results of the Dual Clubs Free Flight Bonanza

A National Cup Event

May 19-20, 2012

LOST HILLS, CA

Don A. Bartick, San Diego Orbiteers, Event Coordinator

Don Bartick, San Diego Orbiteers, Contest Director

Bill Booth, Sr., Fresno GMC, Contest Director

The annual Dual Club Free Flight Bonanza was again held in the middle of May. This time of the year is working out rather well. We hope last year was an exception. The weather proceeding the contest had some misgivings. Thursday was fine in the morning, then about 1pm the winds came up and that was that for the day. The same was true for Friday as the anticipated front rolled through. The weather forecast for the weekend was for calm to 7mph gust. As it turned out, Saturday and Sunday started out in the low 60’s and reached the low 80’s around 2pm. Wind conditions were calm to 5-7 mph throughout both days. Perfect for free flight.

The scheduled Saturday noontime 1-hour break from flying for lunch and the now famous Ice Cream Social worked out especially well as in the past. Left over ice cream and condiments are giving to the local Lost Hills Fire Department. We have now initiated the Saturday night potluck feast. Started last years by Dan Heinrich, because the Sloan’s have retired and there is no longer an on-field dining hall available. It went over so well, that we have decided to make it a tradition. Participants are asked to bring a side dish or desert. Dan, with member donations, provides the main course, setups and preparation. This year it was outstanding. Lots of folks were filling their tummies. This is now a tradition for the event.

This year the attendance was fair. Not like the good ole days. We are older and many on fixed incomes. The economy and fuel prices had its’ toll also. There are fewer new comers to the hobby. But we did have one newcomer, Doug Mayer, coming over from a long career of UC racing. He brought his 2 sons that are AMA juniors to take a look and have the boys participate in the Junior Catapult Glider event.

The Fresno GMC again brought an incredible amount of merchandise for their drawing. Every event entry that the Fresno club sponsored was given a raffle ticket (up to 3). Don’t know of anyone that went away empty handed.

Special thanks to wife Arline, who spent a lot of time and effort in preparation and support of the contest. She also handled the camera duty. Along with her pictures and those by Don Kaiser, we got some great ones to share.

Forty two (42) senior/open and 2 junior flyers registered for the meet. These flyers participated in 105 events. We had 4 separate events for the juniors. This year, we provided 7 X 9 oval plaques made of alder with laser etched artwork for participation awards. They were given out to each registered contestant. We then awarded laser etched gold, silver and bronze placards for event placement. The placards could then be mounted on the participation award.

Highlight of the contest: The most contested event this year was AMA C/D Gas combined. We had 7 flyers slugging it out in the event with Terry Kerger taking the gold. Hand Launch Glider was next in popularity with 6 entrees. Also, to be noticed is the rise in participation in Vintage FAI. The second annual Tom Carman Memorial drew 5 entries to battle for the big bucks made possible by Jim Hurst. The weather stayed very flyable throughout the evening allowing for the very popular Night Flying event. Four brave souls battled it out with Doss Porter conquering.

Tim Batiuk made it look easy in Hand Launch and Catapult Glider events. Rocco Ferrario’s group of students ,that he’s mentoring in the glider events are making great progress. They were awesome as juniors.

Great to see Bruce Augustus from Idaho at this event. He needed to be in Chico and selected our venue for a weekend of competition. Also the return of Del Adams after several years. Who says you can keep an old free flighter away from his passion.

Several events had 0-1 entrees. They were: Mini FAI, E36/A/B combined, 1/2A Classic Power, Mulvihill, B/C Pylon, Small Rubber Stick, Large Rubber Cabin & Nostalgia Wakefield Rubber. These events will receive future scrutiny from next years’ Contest Directors and Event Organizer.

Until next year, have many delightful FF moments. Don Bartick

For the record . . . .

All results posted in the following manner competition followed by total entrants then below, place won, name, and duration in seconds

DAWN P-30 (2)

First Don Bartick 104

Second Ted Firster 71

P-30 (5)

First Ted Firster 358

Second Sam Smetzer 304

Third Mike Pykelny 272

DAWN MULVIHILL (3)

First Bud Romack N/R

Second Carl Redlin N/R

Third Don Bartick N/R

½ A Gas (5)

First Don Bartick 540

Second Terry Ellington 451

Third Glenn Schneider 432

A Gas (3)

First Jeff Carman 900

Second Terry Kerger 455

Third Bob Scully 445

B Gas (3)

First Jeff Ellington 802

Second Jeff Carmen 459

Third Glenn Schneider 8

C/D Gas (7)

First Terry Kerger 713

Second Don Kaiser 705

Third Jeff Ellington 540

MulvihillL (1)

First Dan Keegan 706

Hand Launch Glider (6)

First Tim Batiuk 960

Second Ricardo Samano 468

Third Sam Smetzer 396

Catapult Glider, (5)

First Tim Batiuk 480

Second Rocco Ferrano 471

Third Lee Hines 212

Catapult Glider , Jr (2)

First Mason Mayer 19

Second Tristan Mayer 9

Classic Towline (2)

First Jerry Kraineck 460

Second Richard Cline 112

Tom Carman Memorial (5)

First Ken Kaiser 720

Second Jeff Carman 632

Third Phil Ronney\ 374

Early ½ A Nostalgia (2)

First Al Heinrich 302

Second Doss Porter 180

½ A Nostalgia (6)

First Dick Neugebauer 985

Second Jeff Carmen 900

Third Bob Scully 463

A Nostalgia (5)

First Ken Kaiser 632

Second Dick Neugebauer 524

Third Glenn Schneider 469

B Nostalgia (5)

First Ken Kaiser 900

Second Jeff Ellington 540

Third Don Kaiser 530

C Nostalgia (3)

First Don Kaiser 900

Second Jim Hurst 685

Third Don Macnamee 419

.020 Replica (2)

First Jeff Carman 341

Second Ted Firster 233

½ A Texaco (4)

First Bud Romak 18:58

Second Al Heinrich 13:58

Third Doss Porter 7:37

Texaco (2)

First Bud Romak 18:29

Second Brad Levine 10:43

SM. OT Rubber Stick (1)

First Don Bartick 428

SM. OT Rubber Cabin (3)

First Dan Keegan 305

Second Carl Redlin 477

Third James Elliot 44

LG. OT Rubber Stick (5)

First Dan Keegan 512

Second Ted Firster 510

Third Tom Keppler 496

LG. OT Rubber Cabin (1)

First Dan Keegan 102

A Fuselage (2)

First Eric Strengell 319

Second Bud Romak 227

B/C FUSELAGE (2)

First Carl Redlin 398

Second Al Heinrich 58

A Pylon (3)

First Eric Strengell 532

Second Carl Redlin 506

Third Bud Romak 461

B/C Pylon (1)

First Bud Romak 468

NOS Wakefield (1)

First Bud Romak 212

Night Gas (4)

First Doss Porter 517

Second Phil Ronney 404

Third Dan Heinrich 372

FAI Vintage Power (4)

First Glenn Schneider 900

Second Dick Neugebauer 750

Third Dan Heinrich 691

E-36/A/B comb (1)

First Michael Pykelny 160

F1G Coupe (1)

First Michael Pykelny 556

F1H Towline (1)

First Lee Hines 120