How fast does the average beginner-level pylon racer have to go?

I'm considering getting into pylon racing, but I can't get a new plane to do it. I have a 40 sized scale Miles Sparrowhawk with about a 54" wingspan and a K&B .48 engine. I've never done an extended full throttle run with it, but I'm guessing that it will do 60-80 mph if I let it get up to speed. It's built very light.

Is this quick enough to be in a pylon race? Unfortunately, I can't get a picture right now. It has bad stall characteristics when the engine dies on takeoff.

There are two classes that are for the real beginner. I recomend you go to RCPro.com and take a look at Club 40 and quickie 25 to get an idea of what the planes consist of. As far as speed, the average for these two classes is high 70s to low 80s on a two pole course. You can see in the one hundred teens on a straight pass all out.

So is there any event that I can enter this into? It is a scratch airframe and a rare engine (you don't see K&Bs at the flight line every day), so it doesn't seem like there is.

I live in central Illinois, if there is anything is there something around here?

To race what you have would require others to have the same or very similar set-ups. To my knowledge there aren't too many classes other than some pockets of clubs doing an event for thems selves.
Check out RCpro I'm pretty sure there is some activity in IL trying to get started in quickie 25.
If you go to House of Pylon I'm sure you can get a link to RCpro also.

BsSmith,

Check out [link=http://www.sirs-rc.com]www.sirs-rc.com[/link]

This is the website for the R/C Club in Bloomington, IL.

They are doing some 4 star racing and also have a Q500 424 race scheduled in September.

One problem is that this is the scale racing forum. I bet you would have better luck in the General Racing Discussion forum. Best bet would be to check out RCPRO.org and look at what they have to offer. My guess is you are going to need a different plane if you hope to find a race to enter. Our Warbird racing has a class that your engine would fit very nicely in. Stuff it in a 40 size warbird you should be right there.

Blessings, Terry

At the club level, it might be informal enough that they don't care what you brung...just have fun win or lose. The club that races in our area has a tiny field, so they only race tiny planes.
Check your local hobby stores to see what's going on.