The potential size difference may seem a bit strange but it seems to work. I've raced everything from a Nelson .40 powered NE-1 (cub!) (400 square inches) to a Top Flite Gold Edition P-47 with a YS 1.20 (lots of wing area). Depending on engine mods and fuel they actually can compete in the same class. I've seen that P-47 and a twin YS 1.20-powered Tigercat both show 160 mph on a radar gun and turn 1:30 on the course. The NE-1 (cub) actually posted faster course times (low 1:20s) but I don't believe it was actually going as fast (just turned a lot better).

Fuel can vary: most 2-strokers don't stray much above 40% nitro while the 4-stroke crowd can tip the can at 80% (!). Needless to say the mean time between failures for the latter can be measured in heats (sometimes only one or two if you miss the needle). My buddy's got the high-nitro 4-stroke thing figured out but most people don't care to go that route (a YS meltdown can be costly). Verano would be horrified if he knew what has been done with his engines...........

The nice thing about this event is that it can appeal to all modelers; half of your score is based on appearance, the other half on race points. With 3 classes of racing (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) there is a potential place for everyone. The static score (particularly the outline) helps temper the racing portion of the event. A big fat scale airplane won't go as fast as a slimmed-down racer (generally) and all those race points won't do you much good without a decent static score. Point of interest: rarely does the fastest aircraft win the event.

Some show up with an out-of-the-box glue-gun ARF (the World P-51 Mustang is popular) while some will go to the extremes of a beautifully painted finish and cycling gear doors. Some go just to have fun, some to race, some to be the class of the field. Few can do all three. The sad part about this event is that it has gravitated more toward mediocrity than toward perfection. In other racing venues the fastest guy with the best looking airplane is what you hope to become. In SWRA racing that type of behavior is discouraged and even frowned upon.

People used to travel from as far as St. Louis and Sacramento to come to our races.........now most won't even drive across town.