Lineup of some of the Precision Aerobatics planes at the Raider Roundup on Sunday. Rex Abbott photo.

R.F. Stevenson Raider Roundup

Sept. 7-8, 2013, Auburn Airport, Auburn, Wash.

Northwest aerobatics and Navy Carrier fliers converged on Auburn, Wash., for the annual fall contest hosted by the Northwest Skyraiders. They were greeted by perfect weather and a well-run contest. With food and lodging literally alongside the flying circle, this is one of the finest stunt contest venues around.

Pete Ferguson, Howard Rush and the rest of the Skyraiders ran a flawless event that has everyone who attended already looking forward to next year.

The competition itself was a shootout, with a sprinking of world championship contenders among the competitors. Canadian star and Roundup defending champ Chris Cox edged out former world champion and many-times U.S. Nationals winner Paul Walker, with 2014 U.S. world team member Howard Rush coming in fourth behind Canada's Alan Resinger. If you wanted to know how Precision Aerobatics should be done, this was the contest to watch and learn!

The special Crock Pot award went to Mike Haverly for combined performance in the four events. The Crock pot is a cash award given annually by the family of the late R.F. Stevenson, the longtime Skyraider for whom the contest is named, who liked to call himself, "an old crock." "Steve" believed that one should always have $100 in his pocket, and his AMA number was 5529 -- hence the award amount of $155.29.

Here are the results. Northwest standings points in parentheses.

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (10 entries)
1. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C., Crossfire, electric, 593.5 (15)
2. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash., Impact, electric, 589.5 (13.5)
3. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C., Crossfire, electric, 574 (12)
4. Howard Rush, Bellevue, Wash., Impact, electric, 573.5 (10.5)
5. Bruce Hunt, Lake Stevens, Wash., Stiletto XL, Stalker .51RE, 555.5
6. Mike Haverly, Auburn,Wash., Sultan, electric, 554
7. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash., Junar, PA .61, 543.5
8. Steve Helmick, Renton, Wash., Eagle, OS .46VF, 527
Keith Varley, Vancouver, B.C., Sultan E, electric, 527
10. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore., Vector 40, O.S. .40LA, 524
Judges: Joan Cox and Pete Peterson

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Tom Strom, Olympia, Wash., Impact, electric, 517 (6)
2. Rick Cochrun, Marysville, Wash., Profile Impact, Saito .62, 499.5 (5)
3. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore., Profile Cardinal, O.S. .40FP, 498 (4)
4. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash., Legacy, Saito .56, 495 (3)
5. Pete Ferguson, Auburn, Wash., Shock Therapy, electric, 487.5
6. Bob Emmett, Sequim, Wash., Buccaneer 740, SuperTigre .40, 390.5
Judges: Mike Haverly and Pete Peterson

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Nathan Johnson, Rochester, Wash., Skyray 35, 143.5 (2)
2. Daniel Johnson, Rochester, Wash., Profile Oriental, OS. .40LA, 135 (1)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Gary Letsinger

Pete Peterson flies his Venus in Classic Stunt on Saturday. Flying Lines photo.

PROFILE STUNT (5 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, Starfinder, electric, 507 (5)
2. Tom Strom, Pathfinder, O.S. .46LA, 500 (4)
3. John Thompson, Cardinal, Evolution .36, 491.5 (3)
4. Rick Cochrun, Profile Impact, Saito .62, 487.5 (2)
5. Mike Hazel, Cardinal, O.S. .40FP, 482.5
Judges: Steve Helmick and Pete Peterson

CLASSIC STUNT (5 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Tacoma, Wash., Venus, Brodak .40, 528 (5)
2. Mike Haverly, Barnstormer, Magnum .28, 502 (4)
3. John Thompson, Ares, Brodak .40, 499 (3)
4. John Leidle, Space Hound, Thunder Tiger .36, 491 (2)
5. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash., Strathmoor, Saito .40, 452.5
Judges: Dave Gardner and Bruce Hunt

OLD-TIME STUNT (4 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Jamison, Double Star .40, 275.2 (4)
2. Mike Haverly, Barnstormer, Magnum .28, 257.15 (3)
3. John Thompson, Ringmaster, O.S. .26 four-stroke, 251.5 (2)
4. Rex Abbott, All American Sr., Forster .29, 206.75 (1)
Judges: Dave Gardner and Steve Helmick

NORTHWEST SPORT .40 NAVY CARRIER (5 entries)
1. Bill Darkow, Tenino, Wash., Yak 9, Tower .40, 199 (Northwest record, eclipsing Mike Potter record of 192.5 set in Auburn, on Sept. 8, 2012) (5)
2. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash., Square Cat, O.S. .40FP, 194.7 (4)
3. Lloyd Marohl, Tacoma, Wash., MO, O.S. .40FP, 183.6 (3)
4. Scott Johnson, Rochester, Wash., Corsair, Tower .40, 178.3 (2)
5. Daniel Johnson, ME 109, O.S. .40FP, 3 attempts

Raider Roundup photo gallery

Rick Cochrun's profile Impact looks good in flight. It was one of several versions of the Paul Walker design in use at the Roundup. Flying Lines photo.

Left, Mike Havely's electric Sultan; right, Paul Walker's latest electric Impact. Flying Lines photos.

Left, Pete Ferguson's Shock Therapy in flight; right, Howard Rush's Impact. Flying Lines photos.

Chris Cox launches Alan Resinger's electric Crossfire. Flying Lines photo.

Resinger's Crossfire makes a smooth liftoff. Flying Lines photo.

Alan Resinger makes an inverted pass. Flying Lines photo.

Bruce Hunt with his new Stiletto. Flying Lines photo.

Lloyd Marohl makes a flight in Northwest Sport 40 Carrier. Flying Lines photo.

Left, Pete Peterson's Venus won Classic Stunt; right is Tom Strom's electric Impact. Flying Lines photos.

Contest workers Howard Rush (left) and Pete Peterson going over pull test paperwork. Flying Lines photo.

Chris Cox flies his electric Crossfire. Rex Abbott photo.

Mike Hazel flies his Cardinal. Rex Abbott photo.

Mike Haverly weighs in. Rex Abbott photo.

Paul Walker flies. Rex Abbott photo.

Steve Helmick flies his Eagle. Rex Abbott photo.

Keith Varley flies for Expert Precision Aerobatics judges Joan Cox and Pete Peterson. Rex Abbott photo.

Bob Emmett works with his plane. Flying Lines photo.

Results of this contest are counted in the Northwest Competition Standings

This page was upated Sept. 11, 2013

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