Precision Aerobatics planes are lined up and waiting for Sunday flights as Chris Cox flies his Crossfire in the background; judges can be seen at the far side of the asphalt circle. Flying Lines photo.

2014 contest season gets started at 'The Jim'

April 25-26-27, East Delta Park, Portland, Ore.

Gloomy weather forecasts turned out to be greatly exaggerated for the 2014 running of the annual Jim Walker Memorial Spring Tune-Up. The forecasts kept the entry level low, but the weather actually wasn't too bad. Every scheduled flight took place. Notwithstanding a couple of passing squalls and a clap of thunder or two on Sunday, it was an excellent weekend of 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.

With the light entry, events wrapped up early all three days, leaving practice time on the first two days and a chance for folks to get on the road home on Sunday.

Another excellent job of running the contest by the Fireballs. Here's hoping the entry level jumps back to traditional levels next year.

Here is Contest Director Dave Royer's official report on the contest:

It was a good contest in spite of the always iffy weather and the required support staff seemingly outnumbering the contestants. Our little spring contest season opener is not really so little. A three-day meet is actually kind of a big deal! It doesn't happen without effort from a lot of people. I'd like to thank them.

Many thanks go to the event directors: Mike Hazel, Doug Powers, Bill Lee, Gary Harris, and Scott Riese for running Speed, Racing, Carrier, Combat, and Stunt respectively. Also thanks to Bruce Hunt, Leo Mehl, and Alice Cotton-Royer for Stunt judging and Jim Cameron for helping with Combat and general pitching in along with Bill Heher, Tom Brightbill, and Tim Wescott.

Don Curry also deserves much credit for handling lots of little tasks that continually appear with his typical "Yeah, I can do that" response. The cookies and muffins don't appear by magic, for instance.  Well, there may have been some magic associated with that pizza ...  There are others whose contribution was not witnessed by me personally (or which I've temporarily misplaced) but was helpful nonetheless. Thanks to those individuals -- you know who you are.

A couple of "Sunday drivers" need acknowledgment as well. There could have been no carrier deck at Delta Park if Richard Entwhistle had not driven it out on Sunday morning even though still in recovery from recent illness. Thank you!  And also a big thank you to the new club "ambulance driver" Jerry Olson for getting Gene Pape to the ER for stitches and making it back in time to get in his Beginner P.A. flights before it was all over. Jerry also helped out in many other ways over the weekend.

Hurray for club chef Robert Ladd who got us all fed up Saturday and Sunday with his special touch at the grill, with the help of his wife, Christine. Thank you, Robert. It just wouldn't be a Jim Walker Memorial Spring Tune-Up without those dogs and burgers.

Lastly, I want to give Barbara White a really really great big thank you for your stellar organizational and administrative contributions, not to mention those packing skills. This contest actually starts in January for you and you keep a lot of "ducks in a row" so it can happen for the contestants in April. Well done!

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

2014 Jim Walker Memorial Results

NW Standings points in parentheses

Friday events

SPORTSMAN CLOWN RACE (10-minute heat) (2 entries)
1. Mike Hazel/John Thompson, Mehama/Eugene, Ore. -- 147 laps (2)
2. Ken Burdick/Bruce Tunberg, Kamloops, B.C..McMinnville, Ore. -- 128 laps (1)
Event Director: Doug Powers

RECORD RATIO NORTHWEST SPEED (3 entries)
1. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore., F2D Proto, 99.62 mph -- 103.8% of record (3) (Northwest record, ecllipses 95.96 mph set by Ken Burdick on May 26, 2012)
2. Chris Sackett, Maple Ridge, B.C., Northwest B Proto, 99.35 -- 100.0% (2)
3. Jim Booker, LaGrande, Ore. -- NW Sport Jet -- 151.41 -- 95% (1)
Event Director: Mike Hazel

RECORD RATIO AMA SPEED (4 entries)
1. Louie-Louie Team, Mehama, Ore./Kamloops, B.C., D Speed, 173.42 mph -- 86.9% of record (4)
2. Bruce Tunberg, McMinnville, Ore., 1/2A Proto, 87.14 -- 80.1% (3)
3. Ken Burdick, Kamloops, B.C., 1/2-A Proto, 75.92 -- 69.8% (2)
4. Mike Hazel, B Speed, 116.46 --62.3% (1)
Event Director: Mike Hazel

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

OLD-TIME STUNT (5 entries)
1. Chris Sackett, 272.25 (2)
2. John Thompson -- 131.75 (1)
Judges: Alice Cotton-Royer and Scott Riese

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Mike Hazel --453/451 (3)
2. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. -- 453/420 (2)
3. Tom Brightbill, Oregon City, Ore. -- 431.5 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl and Scott Riese

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (1 entry)
1. John Thompson -- 445 (1)
Judges: Leo Mehl and Scott Riese

CLASSIC STUNT (1 entry)
1. John Thompson -- 317 (1)
Judges: Scott Riese and Dave Royer

NOSTALGIA 30 STUNT (2 entries)
1. Bruce Hunt, Lake Stevens, Wash. -- 522 (2)
2. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore. -- 447.5 (1)
Judges: Scott Riese and Dave Royer

80MPH COMBAT (6 entries)
1. Jeff Rein -- 4 wins, 0 losses (6)
2. Buzz Wilson -- 2-2 (5)
3. Robert Smith -- 2-2 (4)
5. Gene Pape -- 1-1 (retired due to injury) (3)
5. John Thompson -- 0-2
John Knoppi -- 0-2
Event Director: Gary Harris

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Jerry Olson, Clackamas, Ore. -- 220 (1)
Judges: Dave Royer and Alice Cotton-Royer

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (1 entry)
1. Tom Brightbill -- 394.5 (1)
Judges: Dave Royer and Alice Cotton-Royer

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Tim Wescott -- 505 (4)
2. Greg Hart, Molalla, Ore. -- 462 (3)
3. Mike Hazel -- 453 (2)
4. Floyd Carter, Eugene, Ore. -- 340.5 (1)
Judges: Scott Riese and Bruce Hunt

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (6 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash. -- 596 (9)
2. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C. -- 569 (7.5)
3. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C. -- 564 (6)
4. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. -- 535 (4.5)
5. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. -- 518
6. John Thompson -- 488
Judges: Scott Riese and Bruce Hunt

RECORD RATIO NAVY CARRIER (3 entries)
1. Mark Hansen, Portland, Ore. -- NW Sport 40, 181.3 points, 87% of record (3)
2. Mike Hazel -- AMA Profile Nostalgia, 304.33, 62% (2)
3. Joe Just, Waitsburg, Wash. -- NW Sport 40,126.39, 61%
Event Director: Doug Powers

Jim Walker Memorial photo gallery

A highlight of both Saturday and Sunday was the hot dog and burger feed hosted by chefs Robert and Christine Ladd. Barbara White photo.

Chris Cox's new Crossfire, electric, for Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Alan Resinger's Crossfire. This photo actually taken a couple of weeks earlier, presented here to lead into the photo below ... Mike Haverly photo.

... of Alan's handle, complete with matching artwork. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Hazel's record-setting F2D Proto airplane. Gene Pape photo.

Ken Burdick pits his Sportsman Clown racer. Gene Pape photo.

Lineup of Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Precision Aerobatics planes on Sunday. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Smith (left) and Mike Hazel fly a 1/2-A Combat match. Gene Pape photo.

Some of the Precision Aerobatics planes: From left, Greg Hart' JD Falcon, Floyd Carter's Tiburon, John Leidle's plane. Flying Lines photo.

Ken Burdick and Jeff Rein in the 80mph Combat pits. Gene Pape photo.

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This page was upated April 21, 2015