smokingwreckage
Posts: 242
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: , TX, USA
Status: offline
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I tried to get into pylon this past spring but too much investment for too few events too far away. Instead, I began flying SSR combat with a club that requires .15-size HORS, either V-tail or conventional. Everyone runs stock OS LA or Magnum .15s and MAS combat props. Standard servos and ni-cads required. The rules keep everything cheap. An engine claim rule keeps everyone honest.
There is a tree at each end of the runway, opposite the pilot box, so at the end of each combat heat I'd bring 'er down low and make a few laps of bank-and-yank practice waiting for everyone else to land. Boys being boys, it didn't take long for someone to start chasing me. Next thing you know, there were three planes, then four, impromptu pylon racing after each combat heat. Three weeks ago when the horn blew, eight planes dove for the pylon race. Two weeks ago the club decided to cut down the trees. Last week there were markers set up to show the ends of the combat box, a little further from the runway than the trees. After the combat, which finishes about 1, six pilots actually set up a matrix and ran 4-plane, 10-lap heats with their HORS. The two pilots who were not flying judged the pylons. I've since heard from several pilots who left early that they would have stayed and raced had they known to bring their lunches. One sport pilot who showed up to fly after the combat meet asked about getting a HOR just for the pylon races!
What were the keys that lead to this race series? I think the first thing to consider is the cost of getting involved, which was nothing but the extra fuel burned since everyone is flying what they already have. Second, all the planes are pretty much equal in performance, which means tight, evenly matched, exciting racing. Third, the planes are slow enough that the novice pylon pilots are not intimidated. There are your answers to getting more people involved in pylon. Low cost, evenly matched planes, and close to home.
So what if the same ol' fart is always the fastest around the course, everyone knows it is because he is an exceptional pilot, so nobody complains.
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pylon Universe - RC Pylon Racing >> General Racing Discussion >> RE: My thoughts about re-vitalizing pylon racing 
RE: My thoughts about re-vitalizing pylon racing - 
But the day will come when that no longer happens.