Southwest Regionals 2005

Another great January at Eloy, Arizona has come and gone, but we had a great time at the SW Regionals! Our 3 separate contests [AMA Free Flight, FAI Free Flight, and SAM RC Old Timers] and the MECA Collecto provide a lot for modelers to do!

For 2005, we listed the whole slate of NFFS [National Free Flight Society] National Cup FF events, including the junior events. As a result, the SWR AMA FF contest was designated as a National Cup exempt event, meaning that points awarded here could be added to the usual limit of 6 contests.

It's sunset on Friday night, January 14, 2005 at the Toltec Road site in Eloy. All is quiet now, but tomorrow morning the three contests begin, bringing together about 150 contestants to fly an amazing variety of models. While it's going to be cold in the early morning, the temperature comes up quickly and for the rest of the day, it's shirtsleeve weather. Much of the southwest, including the Phoenix area, has been having rain, but we were lucky that rain at Eloy stopped the week before, leaving just enough moisture to hold down the dust. Follow along with us as we try to show you in pictures and words just what happened there. [pic by Key Crawford]

We haven't seen Sal Taibi at the SWR since probably Buckeye [he says 25 years], and he was a welcome sight! In the 50s/60s, I can remember arriving at the contest and unloading the car. About the time we finished that chore, we discovered that Sal had already put up 3 maxes in our favorite event!

Many of the free flight pictures here came from Alan Petersen, FAI contestant, NFFS webmaster and resident of Flagstaff, AZ. Aerial photos of the site and many of the RC OT pics are from Eut Tileston. Other pics from Steve Riley, John Patton, and Steve Hesla.

Mike Woodhouse, who travels to the SWR from the UK, told us he'd found a pretty good Mexican restaurant nearby. He said he's been working his way down the menu! Steve Riley and I checked it out - it's called "Eva's Fine Mexican Food", and it's on Sunland Gin Road [Exit 200, 3 miles north of Toltec Road, which is Exit 203], about 2-3 blocks north of I-10. Address is 7087 Sunland Gin Road.

Every year after SWR, I sit down and try to remember the high points and share them with all of you. This year there were several noteworthy items. For the first time, I drove down – Never attempt to drive from Seattle to Phoenix in January in the face of one of the worst snowstorms of the season. Interstate 5 was closed in several places. This brings me to the next thing I learned – Never drive US101 at night hoping to make up time. Eventually I managed to arrive – just as the skies dried out – the weather was fine for the rest of the trip. I had plenty of time for sightseeing - the desert and its bizarre plants fascinate me – but then, I’m used to 200 foot tall trees – a 20 foot cactus is pretty impressive.

This year Steve Riley did a tremendous job with the trophies (that meant Al Lidberg and I didn’t have to hassle with them on Thursday – thanks, Steve). Friday we went to Eloy to get things ready for the weekend’s flying. The greetings began as soon as we arrived - it is always good to see friends each SWR. It is unfortunate we all live so far apart; these are dear friends that I’d like to see more often. My sentimental favorites are the gang from Colorado – Herb, Art, David and the others – good to see you all. It is very gratifying to me each year to have someone come up and tell me it’s it good to see me again this year. Nice to know other people are glad to see me- I’m sure happy to be part of the show. I did miss Dan Keegan and his great coffee on Sunday morning – Dan, I hope all is well with you and I’m looking forward to seeing you next year.

Something very special happened for me this year. I have always had a soft spot for Sal Taibi’s Powerhouse - I’ve had several. This year I got to actually meet Sal. The competition between Sal and Bud Romak was truly a sight to behold – something like 30 or 40 maxes between them. And these two greats were having a ball – impressive – good-natured hard competition. After Sunday’s flying, Sal come over and sat at the CD table and visited for a while. I’d picked up a Powerhouse kit from Klarich, and Sal spent some time telling me how to set the plane up for best results. Then he autographed the plans “Good Luck—Sal Taibi – 1-16-05 ”. Thanks, Sal. Meeting a famous person sometimes bursts the bubble you have created for them. Meeting Sal was no different. But it is something special when the reality creates a better person that the one you held in the bubble. Sal Taibi is one of those special people – I consider myself most fortunate to have had this opportunity.

I’d like to thank my extended family in Arizona for hosting me again this year. John and Katy Patton took care of me at Eloy with hospitality and Katy’s excellent cooking. Bob Christ was my desert ecology/geology tutor – I hope I never stop learning. Steve and Jeri Riley made my job easier and it’s always nice just to have them around. Al gave me bed and board as usual – without his support, I could have never done all of this. My most heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you – I love you all. Until next year-

Southwest Regionals AMA/NFFS/SAM Free Flight 15-16 JAN 2005 Eloy , Arizona
[ ] = No. of Entries c = Certificate Award AZ etc = Home State
1/2 A Gas [7]			1/2 A Classic Power [8] c			A Gas [6]
1st	Ken Kear AZ	683	1st	Bob Hanford OK	648	1st	Jeff Ellington CA	1440
2nd	Don DeLoach CO	635	2nd	Gene Smith OK	484	2nd	Bob Hanford OK	1078
3rd	Gene Smith OK	609	3rd	Randy Burros AZ	481	3rd	Michael Thompson CA	879

Classic AB Power [4] c			B Gas [4]			C Gas [2]
1st	Bob Hanford OK	900	1st	Jeff Ellington CA	1406	1st	Bob Hanford OK	495
2nd	Bob Watson IL	657	2nd	Lynn Pulley CA	1092	2nd	Dennis Donnelley AZ	140
3rd	Sean Andrews CA	439	3rd	Bob Hanford OK	1045	3rd

Classic CD Power [2] c			D Gas [5]			1/4A Nostalgia [4] c
1st	Don DeLoach CO	720	1st	Jeff Ellington CA	720	1st	Ken Kaiser CA	525
2nd	Bob Hanford OK	527	2nd	Dick Nelson AZ	667	2nd	Tom Carman CA	496
3rd			3rd	Bob Hanford OK	419	3rd	Norm Peterson CA	250

Early 1/2A Nostalgia [3] c			1/2A Nostalgia [7]			A Nostalgia [6]
1st	Norm Peterson CA	444	1st	Randy Secor CA	1260	1st	Bob Watson IL	1080
2nd	Ken Kaiser CA	253	2nd	Don Bartick CA	867	2nd	Ken Kaiser CA	897
3rd	Narek Gabrielian CA	193	3rd	Norm Peterson CA	549	3rd	Dick Nelson AZ	678

B Nostalgia [6]			C Nostalgia [6]			.020 Replica [5]
1st	Jim Hurst CA	1080	1st	Gene Smith OK	1233	1st	Larry Kruse OK	684
2nd	Norm Peterson CA	1064	2nd	N. Peterson/T. Ellington tie CA	900	2nd	Ron Thomas CA	507
3rd	Dick Nelson AZ	680	3rd	Jim Hurst CA	404	3rd	Tom Carman CA	456

O T Gas Pylon [5]			O T Gas Fuselage [3]			Junior P-30 [1] c
1st	Sal Taibi CA	2160	1st	Bud Romak CA	3060	1st	Logan Tetrick CA	360
2nd	Ron Thomas CA	1436	2nd	Sal Taibi CA	2160	2nd
3rd	Bud Romak CA	1258	3rd	Ron Thomas CA	1564	3rd

P-30 [9]			Nostalgia Rubber [3]			Nostalgia Wakefield [4]
1st	Jim Seamster AZ	627	1st	Jean Andrews AZ	1655	1st	Jean Andrews AZ	806
2nd	Larry Kruse OK	503	2nd	Bernie Crowe CA	704	2nd	R P Hanford OK	523
3rd	Don DeLoach CO	497	3rd	R P Hanford OK	540	3rd	Bob White OK	508

Moffett Rubber [1] c			Mulvihill [4]			O T Rubber Small Stick [13]
1st	Jean Andrews AZ	480	1st	Carl Redlin UT	1080	1st	Bud Romak CA	1329
2nd			2nd	Don Bartick CA	705	2nd	Herb Kothe CO	1069
3rd			3rd	Allan Mecham UT	480	3rd	Carl Redlin UT	1009

O T Rubber Large Stick [3]			O T Rubber Small Fuselage [3]			O T Rubber Large Fuselage [1]
1st	Phil Klintworth TN	780	1st	Herb Kothe CO	757	1st	Art Hillis CO	217
2nd	Bob Watson CA	703	2nd	Phil Klintworth TN	474	2nd
3rd	Bob White CA	527	3rd	Len Kendy CA	156	3rd

Catapult Glider [8]			Hand Launched Glider [7]			Towline A1 [4] c
1st	Tim Batiuk CA	360	1st	Tim Batiuk CA	324	1st	Chris Lidberg AZ	288
2nd	Jake Engleskirger CA	318	2nd	Lee Hines CA	298	2nd	Larry Kruse OK	202
3rd	Lee Hines CA	312	3rd	Dallas Parker CA	272	3rd	Don DeLoach CO	193

Classic Towline [1] c			Jetex/Rapier [3] c			Jimmie Allen [4]
1st	Tim Batiuk CA	438	1st	Larry Kruse OK	239	1st	Herb Kothe CO	704
2nd			2nd	Al Lidberg AZ	145	2nd	Jim Kutkuhn AZ	311
3rd			3rd	Frank Pollard WA	76	3rd	Ted Firster CA	133

Junior Catapult [2] c			Junior HLG [1] c			Junior Delta Dart [2] c
1st	Anthony Ferrario CA	130	1st	Anthony Ferrario CA	118	1st	Tyler Turk AZ
2nd	Tyler Turk AZ	31	2nd			2nd	Bailey Archer AZ
3rd			3rd			3rd

It was great to see our favorite model magazine columnists again: Larry Kruse, David Ramsey, and Gene Smith were competing although David seemed busier with his camera.

Mike Myers, the new SAM President for 2005, was here to see what we do and to meet with folks about the upcoming SAM Champs. Mike says he'll be back, but with models the next time!

Anthony Ferrario, Sean Andrews, Rocco Ferrario	Bob White & Torontonian Nostalgia Wakefield	Elmer Nelson, F1B or F1G	Hermann Andresen and Willard Smitz
John Clapp FIB flyoff	Ron and Sue Thompson, Playboy	Ron Thompson Playboy	Blake Jensen
'Someone's' Ramrod	Texan, Top Banana, what?	Anthony Ferrario, with Peter Brocks in the background	Mike Woodhouse returned again from the UK for F1B
Peter Brocks	Ernesto Busnelli	Elmer Nelson, F1G	Cody Secor
Don DeLoach	Rich Rohrky F1B flyoff	Terry Kerger, Anthony Ferrario	Sal Taibi, Playboy, O&R .60
Tiffany O'Dell, F1G	Free Flight, looking south. AMA desk near left side; FAI near the motor home in the middle.	Vic Lichtenburg, Geef	Roger Morrell F1B flyoff
Al, your faithful scribe, with Jetex model. Next year may try rolled up $1 bills as fuel - might work, could be cheaper! Steve Riley pic.	Bud Romak's Clipper for OT gas fuselage. Steve Hesla pic.	Ken Kaiser with Ramrod 750. SH pic.	Somebody's Sattellite. SH pic.
Another Sattellite	Don DeLoach's Pearl Grande glides by. SH pic.		It did fly!
Robert Donnelly launches with father Dennis observing. John Patton pic	Ken Kear loves to enter Mulvihill with this semi-scaler. Photog John Patton says he was falling down as he clicked this pic!		Greg brought a model this time, but he really enjoys officiating so much that we had to bring lunch to him! JP pic

Randy Archer Invitational FAI Contest 15, 16 JAN 05 Eloy, AZ
F1A Glider [26]			F1B Wakefield [12]			F1C Gas Power [3]
1st	Ken Bauer	1,855	1st	George Batiuk	1,908	1st	Randy Archer	1,711
2nd	Don Zink	1,836	2nd	Blake Jensen	1,881	2nd	Terry Kerger	1,640
3rd	Dallas Parker	1,821	3rd	Rich Rohrke	1,880	3rd	Daryl Perkins	1,618

F1G Coupe [18]			F1H Glider [8]			F1J Small Gas Power [6]
1st	Jack Emery	1,009	1st	Lee Hines	1,289	1st	Randy Archer	1,320
2nd	Peter Brocks	1,008	2nd	Brian Van Nest	1,233	2nd	Lynn Pulley	1,295
3rd	Alan Petersen	991	3rd	Mike Mc Keever	1,203	3rd	Terry Kerger	1,253

			F1P Power [2]
			1st	Cody Secor	1,260
			2nd	Sean Andrews	476

Round-by-round details for FAI are available - contact AL : aalmps@aol.com

Barb and Fred Mulholland with a Bomber. I understand they also make something called a Lanzo 'Boomer'!	Luther Peters, Al Taffs, Eut Tileston, Jim Lang	Spirit of Sam flyers - pic by Mary Pearce	Eut's "Rasitudous"; says he hasn't tried to fly it yet, but why is it stacked there with the firewood?
Good old Conrad! Hank Sperzel sent this to SAMTalk after seeing the Rasitudous!