Formula I at 1970 Nats
12-14-2012, 11:47 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Formula I at 1970 Nats
Glenview NAS:
This is the start of the fly-off for first place in Formula I at the 1970 Nats. It still stands out as a magical moment for me, especially seeing the smiles on everyone's faces. Bob Smith is about to start his laminar wing Minnow, with Jeff Bertken holding. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of the SOB's (Sons of Brooklyn, may be Harold Goldstein[img][/img]) that he was racing. but I'm sure they still remember this race well, which was very close. This was Bob's first National Championship. That is Larry Leonard in the green shirt on the right.
This is the start of the fly-off for first place in Formula I at the 1970 Nats. It still stands out as a magical moment for me, especially seeing the smiles on everyone's faces. Bob Smith is about to start his laminar wing Minnow, with Jeff Bertken holding. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of the SOB's (Sons of Brooklyn, may be Harold Goldstein[img][/img]) that he was racing. but I'm sure they still remember this race well, which was very close. This was Bob's first National Championship. That is Larry Leonard in the green shirt on the right.
12-14-2012, 03:08 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Decatur,
AL
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Great photo.
Where are the hard hats, the heavy duty cage for the starter, the
ear protection? Someone smoking around 65% nitro fuel? And
these folks actually lived thru this? Oh me.
Look, there are houses within visible distance of racing Form 1 -
no mufflers. What's this world coming to? never mind....
brad
Where are the hard hats, the heavy duty cage for the starter, the
ear protection? Someone smoking around 65% nitro fuel? And
these folks actually lived thru this? Oh me.
Look, there are houses within visible distance of racing Form 1 -
no mufflers. What's this world coming to? never mind....
brad
12-17-2012, 04:53 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Cincinnati,
OH
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
There are 3 guys I distintly remember first was Goldie , or Harold Goldclank standing in the middle, his pilot next to Bob is Alan, can't remember his last name, and I think the Cigerette guy with the Hat is Doc. These guys were a hoot. Goldie always did comentary fro both pylon heats and Pattern flights where he made up manuvers like Figure 7, 9 and W. 2 of these would wind up being crashes and the W was an inverted figure M. all with the color of a bit of Jack. I think I flew at that years NATS in my first Pylon race. Lou Penrod called for me. I worked at World engines at the time. WOW.
What a time.
T
What a time.
T
12-18-2012, 03:33 PM
#5
My Feedback: (41)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
ORIGINAL: iamtom
There are 3 guys I distintly remember first was Goldie , or Harold Goldclank standing in the middle, his pilot next to Bob is Alan, can't remember his last name, and I think the Cigerette guy with the Hat is Doc. These guys were a hoot. Goldie always did comentary fro both pylon heats and Pattern flights where he made up manuvers like Figure 7, 9 and W. 2 of these would wind up being crashes and the W was an inverted figure M. all with the color of a bit of Jack. I think I flew at that years NATS in my first Pylon race. Lou Penrod called for me. I worked at World engines at the time. WOW.
What a time.
T
There are 3 guys I distintly remember first was Goldie , or Harold Goldclank standing in the middle, his pilot next to Bob is Alan, can't remember his last name, and I think the Cigerette guy with the Hat is Doc. These guys were a hoot. Goldie always did comentary fro both pylon heats and Pattern flights where he made up manuvers like Figure 7, 9 and W. 2 of these would wind up being crashes and the W was an inverted figure M. all with the color of a bit of Jack. I think I flew at that years NATS in my first Pylon race. Lou Penrod called for me. I worked at World engines at the time. WOW.
What a time.
T
Harold Goldclank!!!! I told Charlee it was Harold Goldstein. So kudos for remembering that T. He used to call his Figure M "For Mother!!!!"
He would get a huge audience behind him when he flew pattern all with his gruff Brooklyn accent. Classic stuff.
BTW the houses were a lot closer in that picture than I remembering them being.
It was cool having the Nats a few times in my backyard. Great to think back on that time in my life.
Thanks Charlee, Mike Mueller
PS see who can identify these guys
12-18-2012, 04:32 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Austin,
TX
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Forgive me if I have the incorrect names associated with some of these...Funny, but what I remember best about the "California Guys", was how they had their fuel packed in a cooler full of ICE. So Chuck, after all these years, did it really make a difference or was there some "psychological gaming" going on? Hope the pics bring back a smile or two...
12-19-2012, 05:39 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Cincinnati,
OH
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
I think the guys in the pattern pix are left to right top:
Jim Kirkland, Bobby Smith, Don Lowe, forgot name but plane is Daddy Rabbit
Bot. Ted White? Ron Chigee and Tony Bonetti.
This was a time when my dad was the RC Pattern Event Director I worked the event as well and still have my orange Pith Helmet. These and so many more were the greats of the time.
Tom
Jim Kirkland, Bobby Smith, Don Lowe, forgot name but plane is Daddy Rabbit
Bot. Ted White? Ron Chigee and Tony Bonetti.
This was a time when my dad was the RC Pattern Event Director I worked the event as well and still have my orange Pith Helmet. These and so many more were the greats of the time.
Tom
12-19-2012, 05:53 AM
#8
My Feedback: (41)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Bottom left. Norm Page with his caller Bruce Balko. His plane was the Avenger which was the design beforehis famous Mach One.
Daddy Rabbit= Jim Whitley.
Back then about half of the guys who flew pattern also competed in Formula One so a lot of crossover familiarity. I couldn't afford to do both. Mike Mueller
Daddy Rabbit= Jim Whitley.
Back then about half of the guys who flew pattern also competed in Formula One so a lot of crossover familiarity. I couldn't afford to do both. Mike Mueller
12-19-2012, 07:17 AM
#9
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
"California Guys", was how they had their fuel packed in a cooler full of ICE. So Chuck, after all these years, did it really make a difference or was there some "psychological gaming" going on?
12-19-2012, 07:32 AM
#10
My Feedback: (41)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
I left a gallon of that stuff in a hot garage all summer and it contracted the gallon tin down to a small container. I guess that's why they used ice.
Does anyone remember the military providing transportation for the west coat crews? Mike
Does anyone remember the military providing transportation for the west coat crews? Mike
12-19-2012, 03:07 PM
#12
My Feedback: (56)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
The guy in the flyoff against Bob Smith was Alvin Sager. He went on to marry one of the daughters of Walt Schroeder of Model Airplane News fame. I had just returned from Vietnam and was stationed in NYC and spent a lot of time with the SOB's. They would all get together at an old Florist shop that they shared the rent on and built airplanes the3re. Harold Goldclank was really and entertainment to be around. I remember Johnny Gravino who was a good flier on reeds because he was a saxophone player. Bill Plisco, Ray Gallo and a couple of mother names I can't recall. Quite an experience for a boy from Oklahoma.
12-19-2012, 05:21 PM
#13
Thread Starter
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Jim,
We never tested the cold fuel theory scientifically, but it just made sense to me that it could make the fuel a higher density. We would do just about anything for a psychological edge, however. I think the fast time in '70 was 1:32. The photo you have marked as the original Miss DARA is actually the Minnow in the fly-off photo. The things we didn't get right on that racer were the wheel pants. They would always come loose so Bob took them off late in the contest. The original Miss B.S. flew for the first time at the '71 Nats, so the other photos with the BSs are from the '72 Nats. The photo with Cliff has Marty Barry on his left, who also worked for Kraft, and the young kid to his right is our brother Paul, who went on to fly F-16s and flew as a captain for Southwest. On the far right is Whit Stockwell, who was at Bob's 60th birthday party last month along with many others from our racing days.
I can't thank you enough for posting these. They bring tears of joy.
Charlee (Chuck)
We never tested the cold fuel theory scientifically, but it just made sense to me that it could make the fuel a higher density. We would do just about anything for a psychological edge, however. I think the fast time in '70 was 1:32. The photo you have marked as the original Miss DARA is actually the Minnow in the fly-off photo. The things we didn't get right on that racer were the wheel pants. They would always come loose so Bob took them off late in the contest. The original Miss B.S. flew for the first time at the '71 Nats, so the other photos with the BSs are from the '72 Nats. The photo with Cliff has Marty Barry on his left, who also worked for Kraft, and the young kid to his right is our brother Paul, who went on to fly F-16s and flew as a captain for Southwest. On the far right is Whit Stockwell, who was at Bob's 60th birthday party last month along with many others from our racing days.
I can't thank you enough for posting these. They bring tears of joy.
Charlee (Chuck)
12-20-2012, 05:01 AM
#17
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Upplands Vasby, SWEDEN
Posts: 7,816
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Hi!
Nice pictures! I read MAN and RCM in the early seventies and many of the above names comes to mind.
Build a 1/4 midget of the Miss Dara many years ago when I competed in quarter midget pylon.
Nice pictures! I read MAN and RCM in the early seventies and many of the above names comes to mind.
Build a 1/4 midget of the Miss Dara many years ago when I competed in quarter midget pylon.
12-20-2012, 07:19 AM
#18
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
On the Dara (Dayton Air Racing Assoc.), it's pilot was from Southern California because of the letter "C" after the 67 on the wingtip. But I don't see what letter is at the end of the "N" number which would be a clue to the pilots last name.
12-20-2012, 04:36 PM
#20
Thread Starter
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Just wanted to post some pictures of the past, present and future from B.S. and Associates.
Bob, Jeff and Kent Nogy 1972
1/10 PBJ-1J
Triton air tour aircraft
Bob, Jeff and Kent Nogy 1972
1/10 PBJ-1J
Triton air tour aircraft
12-20-2012, 11:46 PM
#21
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Formula I at 1970 Nats
Charlee, your brother was out of the racing scene for a long number of years. I think I first raced him in 1988 at the SLO contest in mid-May. We raced in the first round of the first day and the last heat flown on the second day (we actually flew the last heat twice, because three airplanes double cut and the fourth crashed on the first attempt).
