2011 KOI Build it And They Will Come

[Thomas J. Weedman II]

We have had a record turn out today at the practice session for the first KOI at the new "Field of Dreams" in St. Augustine Florida. We have people from far away as Arizona coming for the first time to our contest. A few "Big" named guys showed up including Randy Smith, the Berrys, Kent Tysor, Stan Powel, the Dixons, William Davis, Watt Moore, Jimmy Welch, Artie Jessup, Gene Martine, Roy Trantham, Erric Villone, Bill Rich, Steve Fitten, Bob Zambelle, a few others, and the local guys. Weather not snowing, warming up a little, and light winds all day long for both saturday and sunday with a high of 70 degrees.

T.J. and Tom Weedman 63672 & 875582

[Bill Heher]

Here are a couple pics I snapped of just 1 of the pits / circles where folks were tuning up for the weekend. The site is fantastic! lots of room, concrete centers on 3 circles, trees well back from the flying area, truly a " Field of Dreams". There were 3 or 4 circles going all afternoon, everything from Bi-Slobs to Dreadnaughts -, and the whole spectrum in between.

Phil Coopy is packing it in for the day, and Dale Berry is putting in a flight while the un-official judging pool watches and makes wisecracks! A nice afternoon- and the pomise of even better weather tomorrow- we hope.

[Garf]

I made it in too late to practice but will be there Saturday.

[john e. holliday]

Great looking site from what I can see.  Hope the weather holds for you all.

[Allen Brickhaus]

Cannot make it this year, but the field looks great. Perhaps another year.  Trying to get ready for the Ice O Lated in St. Louis on February 27 and the following VSC trip with Wes Eakin.

Allen Brickhaus

[Neville Legg]

Forgive me if I'm wrong! (my lady says I'm always wrong ) but I'm only a dumb Englishman  does KOI stand for the King Orange International ? When I was a lad in the '60's, my Flying Models mags showed this as being a BIG event on a Naval base, with every kind of modelling discipline being catered for, on what looks like very hot days? Is this the same event?

Cheers

[Bill Heher]

Here are a couple more pics from today ( Sat).

Pic 1 Bob Dixon puts in an early warm up flight with his Fox .35 powered Nobler- the old Fox was a bit reluctant to start at 40 degrees, but soon woke up and was growling around the circle as the sun tried to break through the early morning cloud cover.

Pic 2 is the pit area as pilots and crew set-up for a day of Profile, Old Time Stunt, Classic and N-30.

Pic 3 is Phil Coopy in round 1 of Profile with his Gee Bee inverted - a great looking model both upside down and right side up - even has a dashing pilot in the cockpit!

Tomorrow looks like a full day of PAMPA Skill Class competition- and if the weather is same as today it should be a good one!  I have some pics of todays scoreboards- but they were taken with my wifes new Digi-cam and I have to massage them to get under the limit to post, after I treat her to a nice dinner in St. Augustine.

[Lynn Weedman]

Forgive me if I'm wrong! (my lady says I'm always wrong ) but I'm only a dumb Englishman  does KOI stand for the King Orange International ? When I was a lad in the '60's, my Flying Models mags showed this as being a BIG event on a Naval base, with every kind of modelling discipline being catered for, on what looks like very hot days? Is this the same event?

Cheers

Yes it is the and same King Orange International.