Author Topic: NY Daily Mirror Contests 1950's (Read 3991 times)

Roger Vizioli · « **on:** January 05, 2014, 09:02:43 PM »

Does anyone remember when the "Mirror Meet" (s) was/were held at the Grumman Facility in Bethpage,NY?
I believe it was in the early or mid 50's, but cant find a date/dates or number of contests held there.
Thx,
Roger V.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2014, 09:30:12 PM »

Dee Hill or maybe Bob Reeves can fill you in on some of this. They held a yearly "Mirror Meet" tribute contest down in Tulsa, OK. My son Sean got to attend one of them, don't think they continued it after the first few years. There was a gentle man from my area here in St. Louis, whose name escapes me right now, was a participant and a podium finish winner in 1953, I think it was. It was a contest sponsored by the New York Daily Mirror newspaper and was quite large. I believe it was held on the parking lot of the original Madison Square Garden. I have seen pictures taken from the air the lot marked off in C/L circles, and huge crowds of spectators. What was difficult about the stunt competition, was the large number of maneuvers that were required. Most couldn't complete the flight on one tank of fuel and had to do pit stops. They guy I mentioned from my area told me he specifically designed a model that would do the whole pattern on one tank of fuel, and he credits that with helping him score well. I'm sure if you can get to someone's magazine collection, Air Trails, Flying Models, and Model Airplane News covered the contest and there should be lots of photos. I find it quite interesting and wish I could have attended the Tulsa meets.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

peabody · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2014, 05:03:05 AM »

I believe that a cadre of New Yorkers that flew in the Mirror Meets is still active in PAMPA....Frank McMillan, Gene Martine and Rich Giacobone....
I have the FOUR PAGE pattern that was flown (about 8 maneuvers per page!)......

Serious reconfiguration would be necessary to fly it today, or landing to refuel.......

Have fun

55chevr · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2014, 05:19:16 AM »

I entered and competed in combat in the Mirror Meet. I believe it was in 1958. It was held at Randall's Island.
Joe

EddyR · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2014, 06:14:53 AM »

I flew in the Mirror Meet mid 1950's. I won trophies in speed and FF. I got a lot of merchandise that lasted me for years. I just used the last of the checkered silk I got in 1955.
My Dad drove me and it took us six hours to get there from Binghamton NY.

Gene Martine · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:01:51 AM »

Floyd Bennett Field. mid 50's, thinking around 53 & 54!
Gene

Ward Van Duzer · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:22:41 AM »

Peabody,

That pattern did require TWO flights to complete!

Ward-O

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:28:37 AM »

I was Still in College in 1960 but was back into flying U Control. A full car load of fellow Flying Dutchmen from Lancaster, PA went up to Floyd Bennett Filed to see how the "Big Guys" did it! It was quite a thrill to go through NYC and to see such a large Contest! I still remember that day most vividly!

EddyR · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2014, 02:16:05 PM »

This footage shows a Sassy Saucer right at the start
http://brooklynbullshit.com/historic-footage-of-kids-flying-model-airplanes-at-floyd-bennett-field-video/

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2014, 03:41:42 PM »

Floyd Bennett field is still there. I believe there is an airplane exhibit. I've been planning to take a look, for a number of years. Jack Weston, a Philly Flyer flew at the Mirror Meet as Junior. I believe George Aldridge saw him fly there and sent him one of the first Top Flite Nobler Kits. I asked Jack if the current Old Time pattern was accurate to the early 50's version. Jack said it was the same pattern he flew.

55chevr · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2014, 03:45:51 PM »

The PARCS club flies R/C there ... NYPD Aviation unit flies helicopters out of there. It is part of Gateways National Recreation Area. Does anyone know the venues for the NY Daily Mirror Meets. I attended 2 at Randal's Island - late 50-s ... I entered combat - I think Junior and Intermediate. Can't recall exact years

Joe

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2014, 09:43:06 PM »

Quote from: Gene Martine on January 06, 2014, 09:01:51 AM

Floyd Bennett Field. mid 50's, thinking around 53 & 54!
Gene

Hi Gene,
Thanks!
I flew at Floyd Bennet, pitted next to Reinhart and Scarinzi, the year "Red" flew and won with the Stunt wing.
I also flew at the contest at the Grumman facility but dont remember the year, hence my question.

If it gets cold "up there where you are", come on down, it will be a warm 35 here tonight! ;-)
Take care,
Roger Vizioli

jfv · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2014, 09:25:15 AM »

I won PAA Payload Jet there as a Junior in 1959. It was at Floyd Bennett Field. Won a small RCA transistor radio. Quite expensive back then. Still have the radio and it works.

Don Hutchinson AMA5402 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2014, 04:14:59 PM »

The first Mirror Meet was held on Sept 29th, 1946 at the Grumman Bethpage airfield on Long Island. The report I have states there were 1,454 contestants, Approximately $10,000 in prizes and a guess of 150,000 spectators. Ernie Babcock of "Jughaid" fame won a full size Ercoupe.

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2014, 08:11:04 PM »

Quote from: Don Hutchinson AMA5402 on January 07, 2014, 04:14:59 PM

The first Mirror Meet was held on Sept 29th, 1946 at the Grumman Bethpage airfield on Long Island. The report I have states there were 1,454 contestants, Approximately $10,000 in prizes and a guess of 150,000 spectators. Ernie Babcock of "Jughaid" fame won a full size Ercoupe.

Don,
I am piecing together info. Your note leads me to "think" the Mirror Meets were all at Grumman until they moved to Floyd Bennett. Can anyone confirm that? I believe they were not at Grumman in '59 and later years as I started working there in 1959.
Roger V.

55chevr · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2014, 08:14:20 PM »

They definitely were at Randall's Island. Late 50-s .... I was 13 or so ... guessing 1958 ... Joe

De Hill · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2014, 09:28:18 PM »

Quote from: Roger Vizioli on January 05, 2014, 09:02:43 PM

Does anyone remember when the "Mirror Meet" (s) was/were held at the Grumman Facility in Bethpage,NY?
I believe it was in the early or mid 50's, but cant find a date/dates or number of contests held there.
Thx,
Roger V.

Hi Roger,

If you will send me your address, I'll send you all the information I've got regarding the Mirror Meet.

L0U CRANE · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2014, 11:22:53 AM »

The first contest I ever flew in was a MMFF at Floyd Bennett (then NAS, or NRAS?), around 1957-58. Flew in Senior. Johnson 35 on a kit Magician. Scored terribly.

VERY impressive meet! Crowd control and protection were "a bit different" from today's practice. Crowd stood a very few feet from the edges of the flight circles. No barriers. I remember the face on a kid next to me who thought a Dynajet speed model was soming straight at him - didn't get a long look at him, but remember it vividly. The Speed model's lines had a little slack at launch, so it rolled straight for a few feet. He didn't wait around...

Other things got in my way regarding competing for 'a few' years thereafter... Around then, however, did trek all the way from the bottom end of Brooklyn up to Flushing Meadows/ World's Fair parking lot with a load of my local buddies, occasional weekends. And a few other locations, often by way of the NY bus and subway system...

Don Hutchinson AMA5402 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2014, 07:24:48 PM »

The only info I have on the Mirror meets are the contest recaps from one of the model mags for the '46 and '47 meets.
Don

55chevr · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2014, 07:28:54 PM »

The meet I remember well was held at Randall's Island in the Downing Stadium parking lot. The complete lack of crowd control is very different than today. As mentioned the speed circle was next to the carrier circle with people standing in between. Different times for sure. Damned if I can remember the year exactly now.

Joe

peabody · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2014, 05:46:04 AM »

Here is the sheet that I got from Rich Giacobone.....and scanned to a WORD file
As an aside.....almost everyone I have met that said that they flew in the MM said they came in third....
Have fun

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #21 on:** January 10, 2014, 08:36:19 AM »

Quote from: peabody on January 10, 2014, 05:46:04 AM

Here is the sheet that I got from Rich Giacobone.....and scanned to a WORD file
As an aside.....almost everyone I have met that said that they flew in the MM said they came in third....Have fun

third ?

not me, I think I was way back on page 2 or ?? of the results, BUT, I did have fun!

Roger V.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #22 on:** January 10, 2014, 08:55:26 AM »

Well I have tried to open the files. Being a cheap skate I am not going to pay for a program in order to see them. The new Windows in the computer does not support the program files. But, I will say from the video I seen, todays lawyers would have a field day. Even the chap that got hit with the free flight plane or was it a radio plane.

55chevr · « **Reply #23 on:** January 10, 2014, 09:27:03 AM »

The video mentions that the meet was held in conjunction with Armed Forces Day which is mid may ... I do remember it wasn't overly warm but it warmed up during the day.

Joe

peabody · « **Reply #24 on:** January 10, 2014, 03:15:21 PM »

For Doc.....no need for fancy or expensive programs:

john e. holliday · « **Reply #25 on:** January 11, 2014, 08:13:11 AM »

Thanks Rich, I remember Tulsa Gluedobbers having the meets for this pattern. It was just to close to NATS time for me.