Planes are ready in the pits at the Jim Walker Memorial as Jerry Olson puts in a flight in Beginner Precision Aerobatics in the background. Flying Lines photo.

Jim Walker Memorial keeps Portland circles busy in season opener

April 19-21, East Delta Park, Portland, Ore.

The annual Jim Walker Memorial Spring Tune-Up brought control-line fliers from around the Pacific Northwest to East Delta Park in Portland for a well-run and well-attended meet that got the competition season off on the right note. Only a few April showers passed by on Friday, and the rest of the weekend was partly cloudy and almost windless.

New planes, good turnout across the board and very few problems or mishaps made for a fine weekend of competition flying in Speed, Racing, Combat, Navy Carrier and Aerobatics.

The Northwest Fireballs served up tasty hot dogs and burgers for lunch and provided all the winners with nice certificates. Dave Royer was contest director. Robert Ladd was the Chief Cook, assisted by several other Fireballs. Richard Entwhistle ran the stunt competition, Gary Harris directed Combat, Bill Lee administrated Navy Carrier and Mike Hazel directed Speed. Fireballs member Doug Powers directed the racing and assisted with Navy Carrier and played a major role in logistics. Barbara White ran the registration, tabulation and general organization. Other Fireballs members were hard at work around the circles; Barbara reports that more than 80 percent of Fireballs members worked and/or flew in the contest, serving as judges, timers and in other capacities.

One very sad note for the Northwest CL community was that Fireballs member Geoff Christianson died after suffering a heart attack at home on Saturday morning. Condolences from all of us CL fliers to the Fireballs and Geoff's family.

This contest's scores are reflected in the Northwest control-line competition standings.

2013 Jim Walker Memorial Results

NW Standings points in parentheses

Friday events

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (3 entries)
1. John Thompson-Mike Hazel (Eugene, Ore./Mehama, Ore.) -- 9:34.00 (3)
2. Richard Entwhistle-Jim Cameron (Scappoose, Ore./Portland, Ore.) -- 13:00.00 (2)
3. Dave Shrum-Ken Burdick (Roseburg, Ore./Kent. Wash.) -- 133 laps (1)
Event Director: Doug Powers

RECORD RATIO NORTHWEST SPEED (2 entries)
1. James Booker, LaGrande, Ore. -- NW Sport Jet -- 148.97 mph, 100.2% of record (1)
Event Director: Mike Hazel

RECORD RATIO AMA SPEED (6 entries)
1. Scott Newkirk, Edmonds, Wash. -- .21 Speed, 143.42 mph, 89.8% of record (6)
2. Don McKay, Redmond, Wash. -- 1/2A Proto, 81.78, 75.2% (5)
3. Ken Burdick, Kent, Wash. -- .21 Speed, 106.94, 67% (4)
4. Ken Burdick -- 1/2A Proto, 69.62, 64.0%
5. Scott Newkirk -- Formula 40, attempt
Loren Howard -- D, attempt.
Event Director: Mike Hazel

HIGH-PERFORMANCE 1/2-A COMBAT (7 entries)
1. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. -- 5 wins, 0 losses (7)
2. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash. -- 3-2 (6)
3. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash. -- 2-3 (5)
4. Don McKay 1-2 (1.3)
John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. -- 1-2 (1.3)
Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. -- 1-2 (1.3)
7. Jim Green, Bellevue, Wash. -- 0-2
Event Director: Gary Harris

OLD-TIME STUNT (5 entries)
1. Pete Peterson, Tacoma, Wash. -- 313.5 (5)
2. Dave Royer, Portland, Ore. -- 310.75 (4)
3. John Thompson -- 268.75 (3)
4. Russell Shaffer, Klamath Falls, Ore. -- 184.5 (2)
5. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash. -- 162
Judges: Scott Riese, Alan Resinger

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (4 entries)
1. Dane Covey, Tacoma, Wash. -- 480.5 (4)
2. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. -- 467.5 (3)
3. Richard Entwhistle, Scappoose, Ore. -- 451 (2)
4. Russell Shaffer -- 427 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Dave Royer

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (4 entries)
1. Jerry Eichten, Newberg, Ore. -- 550.6 (4)
2. Bruce Hunt, Lake Stevens, Wash. -- 514.5 (3)
3. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. -- 509 (2)
4. John Thompson -- 490.5 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Dave Royer

CLASSIC STUNT (5 entries)
1. Pete Peterson -- 545.5 (5)
2. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. -- 528 (4)
3. John Thompson -- 500.5 (3)
4. Dane Covey -- 497 (2)
5. Rex Abbot, Sequim, Wash. -- 417
Judges: Leo Mehl, Al Resinger

80MPH COMBAT (7 entries)
1. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. -- 5 wins, 1 loss (7)
2. John Thompson -- 3-2 (6)
3. Buzz Wilson --2-2 (5)
4. Robert Smith -- 2-2 (4)
5. Don McKay 1-2
6. Jim Green -- 0-2
7. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. -- 0-2
Event Director: Gary Harris

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Tom Brightbill, Oregon City, Ore. -- 244 (3)
2. Jerry Olson, Clackamas, Ore. -- 224.5 (2)
3. Daniel Johnson, Rochester, Wash. -- 128 (1)
Judges: Richard Entwhistle, Jim Harper

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (5 entries)
1. Jim Harper, Portland, Ore. -- 490 (5)
2. Tim Wescott -- 453 (4)
3. Russell Shaffer -- 439 (3)
4. Mike Denlis, Springfield, Ore. -- 369 (2)
5. David Denison, Keizer, Ore. -- 317
Judges: Dave Royer, Scott Riese

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Dane Covey -- 509.5 (3)
2. Floyd Carter, Eugene, Ore. -- 489 (2)
3. Mike Massey, Cottage Grove, Ore. -- 466.5 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl, Pete Peterson

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (7 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash. -- 601 (10.5)
2. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C. -- 577.5 (9)
3. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C. -- 560.5 (7.5)
4. Mike Haverly -- 534 (4)
5. John Leidle-- 527
6. John Thompson -- 501.5
7. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore. -- 449.5
Judges: Don McClave, Bruce Hunt

RECORD RATIO NAVY CARRIER (13 entries)
1. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash. -- NW Sport 40 Carrier, 188.6 points, 97.9% of record (13)
2. Mark Hansen, Portland, Ore. -- NW Sport 40, 187.7, 97.5% (12)
3. Bill Darkow, Tenino, Wash. -- NW Sport 40, 185.2, 96.2% (11)
4. Nathan Johnson, Rochester, Wash. -- NW Sport 40, 176.5, 91.6% (10)
5. Mike Hazel -- AMA Profile Nostalgia, 306, 86.5%
6. Russell Shaffer -- NW Sport 40, 161.6, 84%
7. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash. -- .15, 178, 72.8%
8. Duke Johnson, Rochester, Wash., .15, 175, 71.5%
9. Mike Potter, Auburn, Wash. -- AMA Profile, 231.6, 65%
10. Daniel Johnson -- NW Sport 40, 97.2, 50%
11. Joe Just, Waitsburg, Wash. -- NW Sport 40, 76.4, 39%
Event Director: Bill Lee

Jim Walker Memorial photo gallery

Contest Director Dave Royer (left) and Russell Shaffer consult over Russell's profile entry. Flying Lines photo.

Rex Abbott heads toward the circle with his Mars. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Haverly's new profile, electric-powered. Plane is designed by Norm Whittle. Flying Lines photo.

At left, Russell Shaffer's "Medic" profile entry. At right, John Leidle's Spacehound, a Russian design. Flying Lines photos.

One of two new Crossfires at the contest with Canadian markings. This one is by Alan Resinger.
The Crossfire is a Bob Hunt design for electric power. Flying Lines photo.

Chris Cox's new Crossfire. Both Chris and Alan fly in the expert class of Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Pete Peterson's Caprice for Classic Stunt, designed by Bob Hunt. Flying Lines photo.

Two beauties on the Expert PA flight line. At left, Paul Walker's electric Impact. At right, Alan Resinger's Crossfire. Alan flies clockwise. Flying Lines photo.

At left, Mike Massey's Legacy. At right, Dave Denison's electric Finesse. Flying Lines photos.

At left, Floyd Carter's Tiburon. At right, Tim Wescott's Sister Jenny. Flying Lines photos.

The Johnson family at the Carrier pits (from left): Nathan, Daniel, Duke. Mark Hansen photo.

Daniel Johnson made his first attempt at Beginner Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Alan Resinger has the hatch open on his electric Crossfire. Flying Lines photo.

Bruce Hunt has just finished this Stiletto, with Stalker .51 power, for expert Precision Aerobatics.
Bruce judged expert at the Jim Walker, but had the plane along for show and tell. Flying Lines photo.

Dave Denison (left) and Bruce Hunt chat near the Saturday pit lineup. Rex Abbott photo.

Bruce Hunt flies in expert Profile Stunt. Rex Abbott photo.

Russell Shaffer flies in Sportsman Profile Stunt. Rex Abbott photo.

Dane Covey flies his electric profile Nobler. Rex Abbott photo.

Mike Haverly flies his electric profile. Rex Abbott photo.

Hard-working Richard Entwhistle gets a chance to put in a flight in sportsman Profile Stunt Rex Abbott photo.

Tim Wescott flies his Jenny. Rex Abbott photo.

Jerry Eichten returned to competition, taking first place in Expert Profile Stunt. Rex Abbott photo.

The 80mph Combat competitors, from left: Bob Smith, Buzz Wilson, Jim Green, John Thompson, Don McKay, Jeff Rein, Gene Pape.
Photo provided by Gene Pape.

Bob Smith (left) and Jeff Rein fly a 1/2-A Combat match. Jeff won both 1/2-A and 80mph Combat. Gene Pape photo.

Ken Burdick (left) flew Speed on Friday and judged and worked as a pit crew member during both Combat events. Above, he is helping Jeff Rein in 1/2-A Combat. Gene Pape photo.

The Navy Carrier pits. Mark Hansen photo.

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This page was upated May 30, 2013