Sept 1966
Thun Field Contest...south of Puyallup Wa.
3 Big Winners.....starting from the left.
1st place-ED KNUDSON
2nd BEN MADSEN
3rd? LEO MEL
This was about the roughest flying site for a contest that equalled the 1966 YAKIMA FIRING CENTER CONTEST
The photo is shown as we were practicing on the end of the runway before they closed it off to us that morning...claiming that it was unsafe for landing aircraft.
After this photo was taken....the owners came out and shoooooooo'd (demanded that we fly our contest on that weed-stubble field at the left of the photo.
HEY NO PROBLEM..I MADE A QUICK TRIP TO A FUNITURE STORE NEAR BY
All of us that day...used 3 old cardboard mattress boxes...cut open and nailed down onto the grass for our take-off strip.
Who ever made the best take-off and landings on that stubble ended up the winner.
Hey Leo!!!! If you are lurking....your mind is less demented from sniffin paint fumes than mine?
FILL US IN ON THE DETAILS...
THAT WAS THE CONTEST WHERE ONE EXTREMELY UGLY TWIN CHAIN-SAW MOTORED HOME BUILT AIRPLANE CRASHED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY???
The pilot was not even hurt...but was pinned against the makeshift seat and joystick that he had made. Quick thinking on Bruce Gail's part..he ran out there with an old crow bar that he had in his trunk and pried him out of the seat.
Thus lending fact and truth...THAT THE GOD TAKES CARE OF FOOLS, DOGS, AND SOME MODELBUILDERS!!!