I flew the event(s) as much as possible from 1961 through 1991, then a few more in the 2005 to 2010 time frame. 

There were lots of good & bad happenings.  Typically only one out of sixteen comes out on top.  So there are more horror stories than successes.

I remember the successes well.  The failures are written off in the can't-win-em-all file. 

Back in the mid-1880's, I had a stack of brand new scratch built "Hot Stuff's" (my own design 1/2 A Tee Dee powered airplanes) at the field and ready for a day of 1/2 A combat with some OKC guys. One of the guys, "Alan", stumbled... and stepped back... right onto my stack of airplanes. All were a total loss. Worst experience ever.  In fact, I think that was the last active combat I flew for quite some time. Just didn't have the heart (and money at the time) to replace the stack of lost airplanes.

Andre

My worst experience???......I missed some available combat events.....

Bob.. I was thinking along the same lines....I was not real good, did not really have competitive equipment, or the skill to use the junk I had....effectively

BUT in the Oakland Bay area was a LOT of weekend contests...Mom (while dad was in Viet nam) drove me to a few

One local contest I did not Miss (in your sense) BUT I did MISS--- due to a 1970s Ford LTD station wagon (SW)....4 siblings, and "Beast" the female Gordon setter...acquired at my birth and was my puppy/dog as the eldest son...

On the way to San Jose... I forget the venue or contest... MY three Enya .35 5442 Mongoose planes were totally destroyed by my dog and family screwing around in the back of the SW... ...I was maybe 15~16

This about 1971, and I totally forget who all was there, BUT do remember the Hobby shop fliers advertising the event and the several (Magazine hero) fliers who would be there

As I recall, this was not the typical weekend contest--- but a bigger event for Calif Regional standings... I had zero expectations of doing well, but still could have gone back to my neighborhood school yard and combat buddies and still been a hero for loosing my ass to someone like Dick Mathis

So even just watching, I had a blast

Back in the school yard I told very believable lies about my losses...

I know low character points for this admission,,,,,, BUT I was just 16 in Oakland/Berkeley Calif... were you expecting the honorable citizen I (much later) eventually became???  

Possibly one of the BEST Fast combat matches I've ever had was with Jeff Rein. We were working out way through the pyramid at a N.W. Regionals. We always seemed to have great matches and he killed me clean somewhere half way through the day, after I made one error.. We were both flying "large". Jeff had a 60 some inch narrow wing and I was flying the giant f-ing Allenplane. Both honking Nellies. We met in the finals for 1st and 2nd. I have no idea how long the match went on for and at every half or quarter point of each move, the correct counter move was made by the other. We were really in the zone and I began so see the moves two or three ahead. I hit the sweet spot that would force a counter move and it was the ONLY mistake made in the entire match by either pilot. I saw it and pulled the trigger. I was so focused on the kill spot.....I didn't pull out. I wanted to be sure I had hit it. I did and then realized the G.F.A.P. was stuck in the mud up to the backplate. Onetime Jeff and I sat down and tried to recount the wins vs loss between us.....the best we could count was an even 50-50. WHAT A HOOT.

Ken

    Talk about combat!!  I was invited to put on the gloves and get in the ring with Mike Tyson.  I didn't know he had just had a big argument with his manager .... .  I threw a right cross followed by a text book left hook .   Next thing I remember was 6 months of traction