Author Topic: Sad Day In Akron (Read 9867 times)

Dick Fowler · « **on:** April 29, 2009, 02:31:52 PM »

This morning I went to the Akron Circle Burner's field located at Akron Fulton Airport to see the saddest thing I've seen in a long time. The asphalt circle is being ripped up. Seems that two individuals have taken it upon themselves to make life as miserable for our club as they can. The whole situation reads like a very bad soap opera. So sometimes the biggest threat to our sport comes from within. Unbelievable!

Some before pictures taken a week or so ago at the Fun Fly.

andreas johansson · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2009, 02:50:27 PM »

Thats horrible!

Why would anyone do such a thing?

Atleast you seem to know who they are....

Andreas

Matt Colan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2009, 04:14:13 PM »

That's terrible. If anybody remembers Defense Hill in long island, it had a blacktop circle and a grass circle. There wasn't very much activity going on there, and somebody wanted to put a baseball field there. They tore up the circle, and just after that, the head of that whole project resigned so the circle was tore up for nothing. This is a story I've heard from my grandfather talking to Mike Chiodo.

billbyles · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2009, 04:20:22 PM »

Why are the circles being ripped up? What are the plans for the property? Did club members cause this or what happened? Man, that is a sorry situation.

Bill

Robert McHam · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2009, 06:18:22 PM »

That is sad to hear.

Robert

Brett Buck · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2009, 06:28:59 PM »

Quote from: Dick Fowler on April 29, 2009, 02:31:52 PM

Seems that two individuals have taken it upon themselves to make life as miserable for our club as they can. The whole situation reads like a very bad soap opera. So sometimes the biggest threat to our sport comes from within. Unbelievable!

Two modelers did it? On what basis? Or was it just plain old vandalism? Sounds like a lawsuit is in order.

Brett

Robert McHam · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2009, 07:02:26 PM »

Civil suits can be very expensive and take years in our legal system. Can the club afford the cost? I am betting that most clubs have no monitary recourse.

Robert

James C. Johnson · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2009, 07:43:23 PM »

Isn't this one of the reasons we pay dues to the AMA? So we can collectively be a force to recon with.

Here in Olympia.. the airport wouldn't give us a place to fly but they put in 4 ball fields... and we can't use them even in the winter... and what was more appalling was the Airport land was supposed to be used to "promote aviation"... I hate T Ball ... it's an infection...

Sorry this has happened.. file charges... I bet you could defend your self on this one.. court isn't that hard.. you can even get free bids to get it fixed..

I would sure like to know why?

Jim

Robert McHam · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2009, 08:16:36 PM »

Mr. Johnson, Mr. Buck, I too would like to know more about the perps but sometimes there is that factor of witnesses. If no one has actually seen who did the deed then it is hard to name names even though it may well be known who is the likely suspect(s).

I have been placed in a similar situation more than once and am sympathetic.

Robert

Scott Hartford · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2009, 08:24:58 PM »

GET A ROPE!!!

Joey Mathison 9806 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2009, 09:10:52 PM »

over at clspeed.com it was said that dave cotton was the one who ripped up the circle he is the guy who has been the cd for controline speed at the nats the last couple of years. the circle was very very new and now the back hoe has tore it up and left the kids no where to fly.

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2009, 09:21:06 PM »

Quote from: Joey Mathison 9806 on April 29, 2009, 09:10:52 PM

over at clspeed.com it was said that dave cotton was the one who ripped up the circle he is the guy who has been the cd for controline speed at the nats the last couple of years. the circle was very very new and now the back hoe has tore it up and left the kids no where to fly.

Correct. Vandalism wasn't the issue here but revenge seems to be the real motive. Not just the kids but about 40 club members are affected too. At this point, the grass circle is still OK... who knows for how long. I'm clearing the idea of posting the whole ugly story with club officers. If they say OK then I'll do it.

EDIT TO ADD - http://forums.delphiforums.com/flyfast/messages/?msg=3518 Under 2009 Contest Schedule

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2009, 10:48:11 PM »

Dick-

I'm anxious to know the details too, and when they come, I'll post in the NCCL newsletter. We really enjoyed our first visit to this nice flying field for the fun-fly; 'such a pleasant place. One prominent member of our club has characterized this as the act of an insane person, and I'll be interested to learn whether he was within his rights to destroy that facility after it was established. How utterly sad!!

SK

andreas johansson · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2009, 12:35:58 AM »

Do I read it right? are there kids that have no place to fly now? That makes my wiking blood boil....

Andreas

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2009, 05:49:42 AM »

Maybe it was Armondo or Pepe

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2009, 04:14:39 PM »

As a distant member of the Circle Burners I truly enjoyed my flying experiences flying on their macadam circle. The site is 65 miles from my home and I drove over there both Saturday and Sunday for the two days of the Fun Fly. Truly they were magic moments for all of us in attendance. The vindictiveness of the persons involved is very difficult to understand much less appreciate their side of the story. Certainly there should be some form of prosecution coming forth to at least get a bit of recompense from the perps.

Phil Spillman

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2009, 09:45:19 PM »

Is this area still USAF property? Wasn't said responsible person the CO of the base past/present? Is this a military/civilian power struggle? Can't see how said person would do something to hurt a club of model flyers when he's been involved so heavily for his whole life. Seems incomprehensible! As noted it wasn't vandalism, so this has a deeper backstory...
Chris...

Brett Buck · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2009, 09:55:09 PM »

Quote from: Chris McMillin on April 30, 2009, 09:45:19 PM

Is this area still USAF property? Wasn't said responsible person the CO of the base past/present? Is this a military/civilian power struggle? Can't see how said person would do something to hurt a club of model flyers when he's been involved so heavily for his whole life. Seems incomprehensible! As noted it wasn't vandalism, so this has a deeper backstory...
Chris...

Incomprehensible is the right word for it. There's got to be some sort of back story, but I can't conceive of any back story that would justify the end result.

Brett

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2009, 11:58:50 PM »

I can't either, Brett. That's why I'd like to know!
Chris...

Rog Strickler · « **Reply #19 on:** May 01, 2009, 10:33:31 AM »

Gentlemen,
My name is Rog Strickler and I am the elected President of the Akron Circle Burners. The question of whether Mr Cotton did or did not do this is very clear. YES he did! The question of why he did is also clear to those of us who are members of this club. I am hesitant at this time to get into too much detail. Let it suffice that we are going to let the attorneys sort it out. I will say that Mr Cotton appears to be more concerned with vengence than the well being of this club.
Rog Strickler
Guess I don't know how to add pics
Rog

Robert McHam · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2009, 10:52:20 AM »

I, like many others here am waiting to hear the rest of the story for it rates high attention.

In my opinion, not that it counts here, regardless of the back story ripping the asphalt up with a backhoe just seems far from being a rational action to whatever may have preceeded it.

Robert

catdaddy · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2009, 11:19:08 AM »

What a GINORMUS prick!

Scott Hartford · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2009, 12:14:45 PM »

Down here in Texas, a guy would catch a beat-down for something like that!

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2009, 12:34:44 PM »

This is proof positive that "Hell hath no fury like a women scorned"!

EDIT:Names removed

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2009, 12:39:44 PM »

I guess I thought Dave was on the Kubota. That young feller' isn't 75 year old Dave!
Chris...

RC Storick · « **Reply #25 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:00:22 PM »

Dick I am sorry about you plight. However due to legal issues we can not name names here. So any reference to the person who did this should be in private emails.

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #26 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:12:19 PM »

Quote from: Robert Storick on May 01, 2009, 01:00:22 PM

Dick I am sorry about you plight. However due to legal issues we can not name names here. So any reference to the person who did this should be in private emails.

I understand your position and will comply... even though these people deserve to be treated to a public flogging.

Eric Viglione · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:15:34 PM »

My eye's! My eye's! Eeeeeek!

That picture is a terrifying sight!

As someone who's club just went through the effort and expense to put in a just a 10Ft wide x 40Ft long take of semi circle strip & a pilots pad, I can't begin to imagine your loss of such a fine looking fully paved circle, financially, or psychologically.

I guess on silver lining side, be glad this person didn't attack someone's person to do bodily harm, because I suspect anyone mentally able to justify this act of revenge is also capable of physical violence. What a selfish lunatic!!

Sorry for your loss,
EricV

andreas johansson · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:26:59 PM »

No matter what ugly story that lays behind this, I cant see any reason to destroy Akrons circle. A lawsuit seems to be in order, the innocent in this case must be Akron Circle Burners.

Just my $0.02

Andreas

jetbill40 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2009, 01:33:11 PM »

Be glad he didnt or you would be missing me. Jet Bill

Brett Buck · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2009, 06:19:36 PM »

Quote from: Dick Fowler on May 01, 2009, 12:34:44 PM

This is proof positive that "Hell hath no fury like a women scorned"!

EDIT:Names removed

Hey, that sounds familiar...

Brett

Steve Thomas · « **Reply #31 on:** December 02, 2014, 07:30:41 PM »

I just came across this old thread, and read it with a mixture of disbelief and sadness. 5 years later, is it too soon to ask what the outcome was? Was justice served, and did the Circle Burners get a new circle to burn? I'm only asking out of curiosity, and understand if legal sensitivities preclude a reply.

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #32 on:** December 02, 2014, 07:43:11 PM »

No field, tore it all out. Akron club flies at the MAPS museum but thats a struggle. Club is shrinking. Stunt Contest sponsored by Akron will be at the North Coast Controliners field at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds September 2015 as joint contest. AMA sanction will be filed in January. We will post details. Check out the North Coast Controliners web site or facebook.
Thanks
Wayne

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #33 on:** December 02, 2014, 10:42:39 PM »

Quote from: Scott Hartford on May 01, 2009, 12:14:45 PM

Down here in Texas, a guy would catch a beat-down for something like that!
[/quo

That why i like Texas and Texans!!

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #34 on:** December 03, 2014, 06:03:41 AM »

Depending on where you live, getting and keeping a flying site is incredibly difficult and time consuming. And it always seems that there are a few very small-minded individuals that cannot stand someone else having fun with model airplanes. I just don't understand that attitude. Its an amazing and awful thing: there are people who didn't know about our flying site but when they found out it was there, decided that we shouldn't be allowed to fly there. Incredible! What we were doing hadn't bothered them at all because they were unaware of it, but once they knew we were flying there, they wanted to stop us.

We won, but they continue to scheme.

Scott

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #35 on:** December 03, 2014, 07:18:37 AM »

As I read this story I hadn't looked at the date and thought it was a new event. Made me mad! Almost glad to discover it was old news. I hope the responsible party lost his AMA license for life at the very least. This hits home as I'm dealing with at least one 'farmer' at our new field. It's discouraging to find more tire ruts to patch almost every time I go out there. At this point there is no sign up to even tell anyone what this nicely groomed circle of grass is doing out this open pasture. Not sure if it would matter but they don't even know what they are tearing up and who they are hurting by doing so. I'd actually rather just teach them to fly. I'm working on a sign that will say this IS park property and volunteer maintained. Maybe a light will go on. Spiking bothers me but might happen. Last and pricey resort is to drill in landscape timber posts a around the circle. Might get a motion sensor camera out there. When the weeds in the field all grow back the circle should be hidden from the road. That might help- or the farmer will find a new hobby.....

Dave

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #36 on:** December 03, 2014, 07:29:52 AM »

Did the same thing thinking it was recent news and seeing red. Does make me wonder what the outcome was if anything..

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #37 on:** December 03, 2014, 12:27:33 PM »

Quote from: Bob Reeves on December 03, 2014, 07:29:52 AM

Did the same thing thinking it was recent news and seeing red. Does make me wonder what the outcome was if anything..

Bob I sure like how you've done your circles there with the raised edging. I'm patterning mine here like you did.

Dave

Harleyman · « **Reply #38 on:** December 03, 2014, 12:35:02 PM »

Without naming any specific people, Can someone provide the full story?
Reading this really pissed me off.

So wrong, so wrong.

Motorman · « **Reply #39 on:** December 04, 2014, 06:55:51 PM »

Yeah come on, you can't break a story like this and leave everyone with no closure for 5 years.

MM

Rog Strickler · « **Reply #40 on:** December 05, 2014, 08:15:22 PM »

O.K. Guys, here’s “the rest of the story”.
The Akron Circle Burners broke all ties with the parties involved with the destruction of the flying facility. We abandoned the field, it remains unused today. The Club reformed and named itself “The Akron Skymaters Control Line Association”. After much searching for a facility that could handle all disciplines of Control Line flying, we were able to reach an agreement with Military Aircraft Preservation Society “MAPS” Air Museum in North Canton, approx 10mi South of the old field. We were able to set up three asphalt circles (2 with speed pylons) and 1 grass circle. We have held two Control Line Speed meets, Three Control Line Stunt Meets, Three Control Line Fun Fly meets and many hours of control line fun with out the hassle of someone’s ego. I am sorry to say that several of our members were very disappointed with the previous club leadership and did not come back when the dust cleared, in fact they left control line altogether. Sad.

Rog Strickler Pres. Akron Skymasters

Motorman · « **Reply #41 on:** December 05, 2014, 09:39:42 PM »

That's great you guys got another field going but you left out the juicy parts. What happened to make him do it and was he held accountable.

MM

Rog Strickler · « **Reply #42 on:** December 06, 2014, 02:00:49 PM »

Motorman,
"Juicy parts" are best left under the covers and in the dark. If you're interested knowing all, contact me privately.
Rog

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #43 on:** December 06, 2014, 04:13:50 PM »

Wow! NW Skyraider's big controversy is which cart the cones should be stored on in our shed. Nobody likes Howard's furniture dolly cart except Howard, of course.

Steve

John Fitzgerald · « **Reply #44 on:** December 06, 2014, 06:19:38 PM »

Did he get a beat down from someone who also lost his cool?

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #45 on:** December 07, 2014, 03:16:25 PM »

No, Howard is fine!

Steve

John Fitzgerald · « **Reply #46 on:** December 07, 2014, 04:46:07 PM »

I meant the guy who tore up the asphalt.....

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #47 on:** December 07, 2014, 05:13:16 PM »

Yeah, I know! Making a funny there...

Steve

Author Topic: Sad Day In Akron (Read 9867 times)

Eric Viglione