Current pattern is like IMAC, turnaround. You are judged on the entire flight. Center maneuver, left turnaround maneuver, center maneuver, right turnaround etc. The old "AMA" style, BPA and SPA you are judged on maneuvers in the center only. We used to do a 1/2 reverse Cuban 8 as turnarounds 1/2 a mile away
Then fly at full throttle to the center stage for your maneuver. In order to fly turnaround you need a plane that will fly slower. The switch to turnaround started somewhere in the mid to late 80's. Initially with one class and then the rest I think. The Desire was from 1989 and was the first plane that I saw that actually looked good flying turnaround. A year or 2 later the first YS 120 4 strokes showed up and they were more powerful than the piped 60's turned a bigger prop at lower speeds which helped fly the bigger planes.
OS 61 pumpers come up now and again for sale This one was from 9/13
http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=870066
I would sure hate to see you cover up the beautiful wheel wells on the Desire wings