LA-25 Sport Racing at the 2017 Brodak Fly In
also speed changes
We ran the 100-Miler as a one-time demo and ended up running it twice with three entries per year. I have decided to retire the event and proclaim the Barnes family permanent champions for life with their record-shattering 1:22, which bettered the Toronto record by 6 minutes.
In its place I am proposing a standard 5 and 10 mile sport race like the very competitive race we had at Brad’s this summer. Everybody ran two 5-mile races and finished every race. When all was said and done, the times ranged from 4:30 to 4:36 (minutes not hours). So I am proposing to run that event at The 2017 Brodak Fly In. We have plenty of equipment among us. There are always spare pilots and mechanics to be hired.
If we hustle a five mile heat takes five minutes to fly and five to set up. Even at a slow pace we can run six races in one to one and a half hours. That would leave 30 minutes for the 10-mile final and thus still only use the circle for two hours. But we would have the capacity for NINE, not just three teams. As with Foxberg and Clown, we will allow a person to enter only once, but to assist two other teams.
If the whole gang goes to Carmichaels we could possibly have Brad, myself, Leonard, Mark, Peter, Keith, Doug, and Chris, that’s eight just from here. Add on Whitney & Hallas, Charles & Chuck Barnes and Charlie Johnson, plus one traveler. For the shorter race we could bring in Banjock, Palko and maybe Shafer & Ferraro. It’s not a perfect world, but getting 9 or even 12 of the above is within reason.
On the subject of the 2017 Brodak, I have decided to phase out Clown Speed and add a Sportsman Stock Stunt Engine Speed event. In the Clown Speed there were only three entries in addition to the three I sponsored. But in Fox 35 Stunt Speed there were five stock entries who got slaughtered by the four all speed engines. . There’s no change to Fox 35 Speed, just a relief event for those who don’t build engines. And it’s an either/or deal to keep the engine builder clear of the stock event. Also, the Stock class will go a half-mile from a flying start. This will eliminate the need to build a light plane and give the stock flyers a more respectable score and fair chance at the average.
Perky is alive and better than ever with high entries and higher speeds every year. No change to Perky.
The Closest to Average prize will continue and span Perky, Fox 35 and Stock Stunt Speed.
Paul Smith