Scorpion Racing

Man Mr. WC, it seems like just a few months ago Allen Sale told you he wanted me to call for him instead of you too!! I guess layoffs can bite anyone!! It's ok, as soon as I move up I will let you call for me! I seem how you crept Cris Handguard past me off of turn 3 on the last lap to beat me, and your launches aren't too bad either!

Sorry about the weather Randy E., it was in the upper 70's and clear here today!! I got to work on and finish a new v-tail plug, and will start the waxing and parting boards this week. I hope to have some parts built to test soon.

Mr. WC, I will read your e-mail first thing when I get to work tomorrow!

Scorpion Racing

BUMP 7 weeks and counting....

luv to race

My Feedback: (1)

How early can we come out on Friday?

WC

Scorpion Racing

I would say anytime after 7:30 or 8:00 I will have the field open. The new poles only take a couple of seconds to set in the ground, so that isn't an issue either. The only thing will be us sweeping off the runway, but we keep it clean enough to use most anytime.

See you soon,

luv to race

My Feedback: (1)

I can bring my leaf blower if needed????

Scorpion Racing

You mean that little WC whipping helicopter?? We will have our leaf blower out there all weekend and will hit it every morning, I just like to have it up to "standards" for our WC when he is out there turning laps!

Scorpion Racing

Less than 4 weeks now....

Scorpion Racing

Less than 3 weeks to go!!

As a reminder for the 424 guys, 424 class will be required to run the APC 9x6 prop with a 16,500 RPM limit checked randomly during the event. We will do RPM checks as they sit on the pavement ready to fly - no pinch RPM's will be done. Once you are checked and pass, you will not be allowed to touch the needle until after the flight - OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. We will also be discussing a rule change proposal for 424 class for next year and would like to vote on it, so make sure you come out and are a SEMPRA member!

We will see you soon...

Randy Etken

My Feedback: (10)

Scott.
I have my caller Don Luce flying down for the race but he does not have a thunder tiger engine as we fly OS 46's. Any chance you can fine him a engine to use or buy for the race, will need mount also. I am leaving at midnight so give me a call on my cell 952-215-1436.
Thanks \
Randy

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Randy,

Dang, I have one here with little time on it that I used in Milwaukee for one race, your welcome to it, although I'm on the other side of town.

Scorpion Racing

Randy,
I have a new one in the box, but I don't have a set of bearings for it yet. If you guys need it, I can get the bearings and run a few tanks thru it and he can use that one for the race. I planned on getting it ready to race in a few weeks anyways, so it isn't a big issue there.

Let me know.

(863) 670-5141

Randy Etken

My Feedback: (10)

Sounds great, Scott, I will have him bring his viper over to load in the motorhome. See you in a few days.
Thanks much
Randy

Scorpion Racing

Ok guys, practice begins at 8 AM tomorrow!! The forecast for the weekend is: highs in the upper 70's to low 80's with winds from the NE or ENE which will put it quartering from the left of turn 1. Overnights in the mid 50's and less than 10% chance of rain. Looks like the winds could be 10-15 on Saturday, and 3-7 on Sunday. Should be a great weekend, I hope to see you all there!

[link=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/33860?dayNum=1&from=36hr_topnav_undeclared]Southern 500 Weather[/link]

twitte1

Good luck to everyone! Keep the daily updates coming! Include pictures.

Scorpion Racing

Ok guys, day one of the Southern 500 was a little bit of a struggle. A late start, a few turn light problems, and a wind from turn one that had to be 10-15 with gusts higher than that were really playing havac for cutting turn one. Racing was very good with some really close heats in 424 and 428. We put in 5 rounds in just under 6 hours with 63 heats (including a couple of re-flys) and two fly-offs for position.


Top 5 places in 424 were:
1 Phil Millner 1:42.62
2 Jack Fehling 1:46.64
3 Richard Zisa 1:56.22
4 Don Luce 1:42.23 (Fast Time)
5 Robert Rau 1:50.29


Top 5 places in 428 were:
1 Stephen Vaclav 1:06.24 (Fast Time)
2 Gary Freeman Sr. 1:09.73
3 Bryan Blanchard 1:12.59
4 Gary Freeman Jr. 1:07.92
5 Adam Grim 1:15.07

That's all for now, I will get the top 5 in 424 & 422 from Sunday up tomorrow as well as full results Monday or Tuesday. Right now, I am ready for bed!!

Scorpion Racing

5th Annual Southern 500
Mulberry, Fl. March 20-22


The weather for this years Southern 500 was in low 80's during the days and upper 50's at night for the entire weekend, but the real story was the winds. Our area has been very dry for the past few months, and the parched ground and abundance of pollen in the air proved it. Between the extremely high tanning index (read as sunburn potential...) and winds quartering from the left of turn one at 15 plus higher gusts, the pilots would have to be on their game to make flying adjustments all weekend.

Friday, March 20, was the official practice day for this years Southern 500, and it was nice to see so many competitors there ready to put the finishing touches on there preparations for this years event. Before lunchtime, the air was alive with the sweet sounds of Nelson's, Jett's and Thunder Tigers. 422, 424, 428 and FAI planes took advantage of the pre-race calm to check trims and acclimate to the course. I love the light atmosphere of a practice day to chat with racing friends and catch up on their lives. Before the practice was over, there were probably 20 or more guys enjoying the day together.

Saturday, March 21, would change all of that! After morning practice,registration, pilot meetings and all was finally completed, we got the first heat in just before 10am. The wind was apparent with the 424 and 428 guys realizing it took a little longer to get to turn one than expected! Marcus Blanchard's day began bad with loosing his plane in the first heat in a crash. There was a flurry of cuts on one, and a lot of tempers to prove it. After a few re-flys, arguments, a slow morning and having to switch the lane lights due to a malfunction in the cut lights on a lane, we were ready to due lunch and make some course adjustments. Jim Purdue does a wonderful job with the lighting scoreboard, and had it working perfectly in a matter of minutes (Thanks Jim!). The afternoon went much faster and was full of close heats as well as some scattered planes! The only serious incident during the day was in the final heat Jerry Elert got his hand a little too close to a prop and took some on site first-aid and a trip to the hospital. Jerry needed 9 stitches but should be back racing soon. We got in 5 rounds and two fly-offs by 4pm, and I think most of the pilots were satisfied and ready to stop for the day The results were:.


428 results After 5 rounds

Stephen Vaclav **1:06.24 14 (Fast Time)
Gary Freeman Sr. 1:09.73 12 (Fly-off)
Bryan Blanchard 1:12.59 12 (Fly-off)
Gary Freeman Jr. 1:07.92 11
Adam Grim 1:15.07 11 (First 428 race!)
Dennis O'Brien 1:09.33 10
Matt Fehling 1:10.13 10
Tim Yousey 1:14.49 10
Randy Etken 1:15.34 9
Jim Purdue 1:22.21 9
Jerry Elert 1:19.05 7
Randy Bridge 1:12.77 6
Johnathan Purdue 1:17.15 4
John McDermott 1:10.50 2
Ray Coletto 1:16.89 1
Marcus Blanchard 0:00.00 0


424 results After 5 rounds

Phillip Millner 1:42.62 14 (Fly-off)
Jack Fehling 1:46.64 14 (Fly-off)
Richard Zisa 1:56.22 10
Don Luce **1:42.23 9 (Fast Time)
Robert Rau 1:50.29 9
Robert Berry 1:51.98 9
James Creech 1:57.69 9
Robert Greer 1:59.12 8
Rick Ruede 1:59.12 5
Lindwell Bradley 1:59.55 5




Sunday, March 22, got off to an earlier start with the first round off by a little after 9am. The guys had a better feel for the wind today, and a lot less cuts in one was the proof. It didn't take long for the carnage to start in quarter 40. heat two had a late starting plane which was almost down to one when the leaders caught up to him. John McDermott's plane was overtaken and became part of a very dramatic mid-air with Dennis O'Brien's plane. Both planes were destroyed with one of them out between turn one and the judges and the other out beyond the pits. I know they had the attention of the crowd instantly, with all the gee rs of excitement it caused! The times were fast all day, with the fast time benchmark being set at 1:00.80 in the first heat and being chipped away at all day long. There were a bunch of close heats in 424 & 422, with a lot of guys in both classes turning good times, despite the winds. We got 5 rounds in by 3pm and called it a day as some much needed rain was coming and so that everyone could get on the road and home to their families. The final results were:


422 results After 5 rounds

Randy Bridge 1:00.60 15
Stephen Vaclav 1:00.07 14
Ray Brown **1:00.03 13 (Fast Time)
Tim Yousey 1:06.15 12
Matt Fehling 1:03.24 11
John McDermott 1:03.57 10
Ray Coletto 1:09.03 10
Gary Freeman Sr. 1:11.10 10
Marcus Blanchard 1:02.07 9
Bryan Blanchard 1:03.35 8
Johnathan Purdue 1:06.94 7
David Doyle 1:08.33 7
Randy Etken 1:10.08 7
Gary Freeman Jr. 1:01.27 5
Mario Travieso 1:12.58 2
Dennis O'Brien 0:00.00 0


424 results After 5 rounds

Phillip Millner **1:41.38 14 (Fast Time)
Don Luce 1:45.19 12
Robert Berry 1:50.02 10
Jack Fehling 1:45.74 9
James Creech 1:50.10 9
Robert Rau 1:53.02 8
Richard Zisa 1:54.47 8
Lindwell Bradley 2:08.49 8
Robert Greer 0:00.00 0


I would like to thank all of the pilots who came, and I hope you had a great time while you were here. We look forward to seeing you at one of the other SEMPRA races, as well as back here in October for the 6th Annual Mulberry 500. See ya' soon...

Scott Smith

RANIERY

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some pics

RANIERY

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Some more

RANIERY

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more

RANIERY

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more

RANIERY

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last two

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Nice thunder tiger.

diggs_74

Wow, that's about as destroyed an engine as I've seen.. At least is wasn't a new LS or something..

BarryReade

My Feedback: (1)

Must have hit asphalt or concrete.

RANIERY

My Feedback: (3)

well, yes it hit asphalt, the guy flying it aout of three over rolled it until nverted and then pushed up and that's what you get.