I appeared at the last two Golden State contests with an airplane with a beat-up nose. I didn't want to face Larry Fernandez, who I know would have made fun of it, so I got some new Isocyanate Death Paint catalyst, did a quick refinish, and let the paint dry on the way to the contest.
Given Russell's recommendation of the Guadalajara in Redding, I thought I would give it another try. I met Chris and Joan Cox there Thursday evening on the way to GSSC. They are Canadians, so NAFTA enabled them to get Mexican food really cheap, and they dine almost exclusively at Mexican places when in the US. I don't know if the new treaty gives them the same advantage. We decided that the Guadalajara is pretty good.
Curiously, the wife of the guy who builds my airplanes was a stone's throw from Huntersville, NC last week. She didn't stay for that contest, but instead flew to Sacramento, where I was to fetch her for the GSSC. The Guadalajara slowed me down a little, but I arrived at the Sacramento airport not terribly late. I-5 from Redding to Sacramento was an interesting collection of smells: my airplane's fresh paint, southbound garlic trucks, used fish (maybe for fertilizer), and some other unidentifiable odors. It wasn't as many smells as the New Jersey Turnpike, which really has to be traversed by convertible for full enjoyment.
Friday we spent a heap of money at a lighting store in Sacramento (retaliation for my dropping a couple sawbucks for Isocyanate Death Paint catalyst the week before), picked up some sunglasses from the Zurich guy in Elk Grove, looked in vain for an In & Out, and finally got to Madera to fly a little stunt. It was perfect stunt weather, but not as warm as was predicted for Sunday. My home circle has been pretty cool lately, and it's only 200 feet above sea level, so I figured I'd better get some practice in low-density warm weather. It got warm Saturday, but by the time it did, I was all tuckered out from socializing and eating. I retired to the hotel for a nap.
You are wondering what creative action I took at this contest to thwart Brett Buck, and I'm particularly proud of this year's scheme. I have friends high up (figuratively) in the Space Force. I got them to shoot up a satellite which required Brett to be busy all Saturday night. That worked a treat. He got off work at 6:00 AM and came to the contest, but was too tired to fly stunt.
Rather than practice when it got warm, I sat in the shade to be fresh for my first-round flight. Yep, I should have practiced. The ground kept frightening me, and I flew some pretty substandard stunt for the first half of the pattern. I decided to bear down in the second round. I drew the coveted first flight in the second round and flew some pretty darn good stunt if I do say so, my coach growling only about my landing approach. That flight put me in the lead, a position I held for three whole flights. Then the varsity flew, so I didn't win a prize. Too bad, because the engraved acrylic trophies were really cool.
Chris Cox had won the previous four contests, and I figured he'd win this one, too. He came close. He tied with Dave Fitzgerald, and they used the second scores to break the tie. Chris's Hellcat won the Pilot's Choice award, which it also did at the NW Regionals and the Nats. It is a humdinger. After the contest Chris and Dave flew each other's airplanes.
I was asked to pose for a picture to send to Larry Fernandez, who didn't come to the contest, negating all the work, expense, and poison exposure I endured to refinish my dog's nose. I expressed my disappointment in a manner appropriate for the audience.
This was the 40th Golden State Stunt Champs, and Brian Massey's last as CD. Brian and crew really put on the dog for us. All contestants got a GSSC wall clock, the banquet was first class, and the weather was perfect all weekend. We got to see old friends and meet new ones. It was a wonderful time.
We made the customary stops on the enjoyable trip home for donuts at a Medford deli, pears at Harry and David's, and Thai food in Portland with the Wescotts. We returned to the foggy Northwest, where I got to work putting the fall fertilizer on the JCT Manor flying field:
Topic: Golden State Stunt Championships Trip (Read 1992 times)