Sunshine highlighted the fall colors around the Jim Walker Memorial flying field at Delta Park in Portland on Oct. 12-13, 2024. Above, Gary Weems makes a flight in Advanced Precision Aerobatics Flying Lines photo.

2024 Fall Follies: A perfect weekend of CL flying

Oct. 12-13, Jim Walker Memorial CL Field, Portland, Ore.

Attendance was light for the 37th annual Oregon autumn classic but the weather was sunny and windless for two full days of Stunt, Combat and Racing.

Contest sponsors the  Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers and Northwest Fireballs worked together to have the Delta Park field in perfect condition, provide food and beverages for both days and smoothly administer all the events.

Saturday featured Old-Time Stunt, Classic Stunt, Profile Stunt, 1/2-A Combat and 80mph Combat, Northwest Sport Race and Northwest Super Sport Race. On Sunday the competition focused on Precision Aerobatics. Food on Saturday was excellent Dough Boys pizza and on Sunday it was the traditional Zoot barbecue cooked up by Mike Hazel.

At Sunday's trophy celebration, Bob Welch of Federal Way, Wash., was for the second year in a row awarded the Don McClave Vintage Stunt Trophy for the best season-long performance in combined Old-Time Stunt and Classic Stunt. Randy Ling accepted the trophy for Bob, who was not able to attend.  Bob's score edged out local Jerry Eichten by a single point. The trophy, originated by the late Don 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: John Thompson, Doug Powers
Tabulation: Barbara White, Mark Crouse and Robin Gearn
Combat Event Director: Gene Pape
Racing Event Director: Mike Hazel
Stunt Event Director: John Thompson
Saturday Pizza: Don Curry
Sunday barbecue: Mike Hazel
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

1/2-A COMBAT (5 entries)
1. Greg Machen, Belfair, Wash. — 3-1 (5)
2. Slav Malovan, Vancouver, Wash. — 2-2 (4)
3. Russ Hester, Florence, Ore. — 2-2 (3)
4. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. — 2-2 (2)
5. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. —0-2

Slav Malovan (left) and Greg Machen duel in a 1/2-A Combat match.
Flying Lines photo

80MPH COMBAT (3 entries)
1. Slav Malovan — 2-0 (3)
2. Russ Hester — 1-1 (2)
3. Greg Machen — 0-2 (1)

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (2 entries)
1. Mike Hazel (Pit: John Thompson ) — 8:46.5 (2)
2. Leighton Mangels, North Plains, Ore. (Pit: Doug Powers) — 9:53.37 (1)

NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE (2 entries)
1. Mike Hazel (Pilot: Thompson) — 8:04.03
2. Leighton Mangels (Pit: Powers) — 11:26.4

OLD-TIME STUNT (2 entries)
1. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. — 273 (2)
2. Jim Cameron, Portland, Ore. — 262 (1)
Judges: Tim Wescott and Jerry Eichten

CLASSIC STUNT (4 entries)
1. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. — 481 (4)
2. John Thompson — 476 (3)
3. Jim Cameron — 445/444 (2)
4. Gary Weems — 445/371.5 (1)
Judges: Dave Royer and Tim Wescott

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Jess Walls, Gresham, Ore. — 425.5 (3)
2. Gary Weems — 424.5 (2)
3. Randy Ling, Kent, Wash. — 381 (1)
Judges: Robin Gearn and Tim Wescott

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (4 entries)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore. — 514 (4)
2. Jerry Eichten — 466 (3)
3. John Thompson — 444.5 (2)
4. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash. — 419.5 (1)
Judges: Robin Gearn and Tim Wescott

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (0 entries)

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (2 entries)
1. Jess Walls — 446 (2)
2. Randy Ling — 445 (1)
Judges: Tim Wescott and Dave Royer

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Jim Cameron — 460.5 (4)
2. Gary Weems — 428.5 (3)
Judges: Tim Wescott and Dave Royer

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Jerry Eichten — 494 (7)
2. John Thompson — 478 (6)
3. Mark Scarborough — 448 (5)
Judges: Tim Wescott and Dave Royer

Results of this contest are included in the Northwest Control-Line Competition Standings.

Combat director's report


Greg Machen launches a 1/2-A Combat plane. Flying Line photo.

By Gene Pape

First, thanks to the crew that set up the contest site for us including Gary Harris, Doug Powers, and, I think, Niels Madsen.  Niels and Terrance Bardue also spent the day on Saturday timing, counting cuts,and pull testing models so I got to just hang around and act important.

We started with five contestants in ½-A. I realized when my first match came up that I didn’t have my normal Gary Harris to take over my chores while I flew. With a fair bit of arm twisting, Mike Hazel took over during my matches so I could fly. Thanks, Mike! Because of the low turnout things had to proceed at a leisurely pace as the pilots had to pit for the other pilots in each match. When it was over Russ Hester was third, Slav Malovan was second and this year’s U.S. World Cup F2D Combat winner Greg Machen was first.

We had the same five entries in 80 mph, but Mike had to drop out, leaving no backup for me as an official so I was also unable to fly. After only three matches total, Greg was third, Russ second and Slav first.

Nine entries were expected for this contest. Three of them let me know slightly in advance that they had problems that would keep them from attending. The fourth  person simply didn’t show up. With the entry level continuing to fall, we have to question if it is worth the effort to continue this event.

Fall Follies photo gallery

Old-Time, Classic and Profile planes lined up in the Delta Park pits on Saturday. Flying Lines photo.

Jim Cameron prepares his Rebel for a flight in the Precision Aerobatics pits on Sunday. Flying Lines photo.

Old-Time Stunt judges Jerry Eichten (left) and Tim Wescott. Flying Lines photo.

Greg Machen (left) and Russ Hester fly a 1/2-A Combat match. Flying Lines photo.

Mark Scarborough flew this Epiphany in both Profile Stunt and Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Gary Weems' Vector 40 flies in Advanced Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Randy Ling's Banana flies in Intermediate Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Fred Undewood launches the Epiphany for Mark Scarborough. Flying Lines photo.

Slav Malovan (left) and Mike Hazel clear lines after a tangle in 1/2-A Combat. Flying Lines photo.

John Thompson's Barnstormer for Old-Time Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Gary Weems flew this Flite Streak in Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Jess Walls' Profile Stunt plane. Flying Lines photo.

Randy Ling's electric profile. Flying Lines photo.

Two 1/2-A Combat planes make a close pass. Flying Lines photo.

Jerry Eichten flew his Oriental to first place in both Classic Stunt and Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Sometimes a flight just ends up with a lawn dart.  This is an 80mph Combat contestant. Flying Lines photo.

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This page was updated Oct. 3, 2022