Bob Welch of Federal Way, Wash., flies his
Oriental in Classic Stunt at the 2023 Fall Follies at Jim
Walker Memorial Field in Delta Park in Portland,
Ore. Welch was awarded the annual Don McClave
Vintage Stunt Trophy for combined season-long performance
in Old-Time Stunt and Classic Stunt Flying Lines
photo.
Sun shines on Fall Follies' move to
Portland
At new venue, the annual autumn gathering
stays true to the spirit
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Jim Walker Memorial CL
Field, Portland, Ore.
Impending loss of Bill Riegel Model Air Park in Salem
resulted in the move of the 36th annual Fall Follies to
Portland, with nary a glitch or a hitch in the long-running
contest. It was the usual relaxed, friendly
competition in crisp and sunny fall air. The Northwest
Fireballs joined with the traditional sponsor, the Western Oregon
Control-Line Flyers, to host the contest.
Fireballs set up the field, provided food and support staff
as WOLF administered the competition.
The fun began on Saturday with Old-Time Stunt, Classic
Stunt, Profile Stunt and Round-Robin 80mph Combat.
Profile Stunt was cut short as winds picked up to an
uncomfortable 15mph. A crash toward the end of the
first round touched off a series of "pass" decisions by the
fliers, so the contest ended there. Racing was
postponed until Sunday; with a low entry, it involved only
one heat run after the conclusion of Precision Aerobatics,
the day's main event.
The Fireballs brought pizza for lunch on Saturday and cooked
up a nice barbecue on Sunday that evoked memories of Salem's
traditional Salem Zoot Barbecue.
At Sunday's trophy celebration, Bob Welch of Federal Way,
Wash., was awarded the Don McClave Vintage Stunt Trophy for
the best season-long performance in combined Old-Time Stunt
and Classic Stunt. The trophy, originated by McClave,
is sponsored annually by Flying Lines. See the Northwest
Standings page for complete Vintage Stunt Trophy
standings.
In a small contest like the follies, it takes everyone on
hand to help out and make the days run smoothly, and
everyone there pitched in mightily to make the Follies a
success.
Contest staff:
Park permit application, liason with parks department and
field setup: Northwest Fireballs, including Jim Cameron,
Doug Powers, Barbara White, Niels Madsen, Don Curry and
probably others whose names were not recorded. (Email
the editor if you know someone who should be added
to the list).
Registration: Barbara White and John Thompson
Weighing and pull-testing: Mike Denlis
Tabulation: Barbara White and Robin Gearn
Combat Event Director: Gene Pape
Combat circle marshal: Jim Cameron
Combat setup: Gary Harris and Terrance Bardue
Racing Event Director: Mike Hazel
Stunt Event Director: John Thompson
Saturday Pizza, Sunday barbecue: Doug Powers and Robert
Ladd
Contest director: John Thompson
Thanks also to many others who helped out with various
chores and details!
Fall Follies Results
NW Standings points in parentheses
80MPH COMBAT (4 entries)
(Round robin format)
1. Russ Hester, Florence, Ore. — 3-0 (4)
2. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. — 2-1 (3)
3. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. — 1-2 (2)
4. Gary Harris, Banks, Ore. — 0-3 (1)
Gary Harris (left) and Gene Pape duel in an
80mph Combat match.
Flying Lines photo
NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (3 entries, only two flew) (Heat
only)
1. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. — 4:29 (2)
2. Niels Madsen, Portland, Ore. — DQ (overrun) (1)
NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE (1 entry, no race)
OLD-TIME STUNT (5 entries)
1. Bob Welch, Federal Way, Wash. — 286 (5)
2. Dave Royer, Portland, Ore. — 271 (4)
3. Mike Hazel —268.5 (3)
4. Jim Cameron, Portland, Ore. — 206.5 (2)
5. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. — 134.
Judges: John Leidle and John Thompson
CLASSIC STUNT (4 entries)
1. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. — 473 (4)
2. Randy Ling, Kent, Wash. — 457 (3)
3. Bob Welch — 444 (2)
4. Mike Hazel — 351.5 (1)
Judges: Dave Royer and Tim Wescott
SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Randy Ling — 466.5 (3)
2. Mike Hazel — 408 (2)
3. Gary Weems, Monroe, Ore. — Pass (wind)
Judges: John Leidle and Tim Wescott
EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (5 entries) (Second round
canceled because of wind)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore. — 515.5 (5)
2. Bob Welch — 485.5 (4)
3. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. — 478.5
(3)
4. Rod Claus, Kent, Wash. — 301 (2)
5. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. — Pass (wind)
Judges: John Leidle and Tim Wescott
BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)
INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Gary Weems — 415.5 (1)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Bob Welch
ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Randy Ling — 478 (5)
2. Jim Cameron — 460.5 (4)
3. Mike Hazel — 428.5 (3)
4. Rod Claus — 91 (2)
Judges: Mike Haverly and Bob Welch
EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Howard Rush, Olympia, Wash. — 568 (11)
2. Fred Underwood — 538.5 (10)
3. Bob Welch — 517 (9)
4. John Leidle — 505 (8)
5. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. — 500
6. John Thompson — 485
Judges: Dave Royer and Tim Wescott
Results of this contest are included in the Northwest Control-Line Competition
Standings.
Fall Follies photo gallery
Old-Time and Classic planes lined up in
the Delta Park pits on Saturday. Flying Lines photo.
Gary Weems' Vector 40 takes off for Gary's
first-ever competition flight, in Intermediate Precision
Aerobatics; Niels Madsen launches. Flying Lines photo.
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