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.
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.
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