I’m grateful for the 53rd Northwest Regionals and for the chance to gather with so many lifelong friends around a shared interest while making new memories. Many thanks to Mike Hazel and John Thompson for keeping the contest going. We should continue to support their efforts, because we never know what tomorrow may bring.

Doug Powers and I teamed up as event director and assistant for both Racing and Speed. Thank you, Doug, for your outstanding help, and thanks as well to everyone who helped time the races and speed events. A special thanks to Mike Hazel for running the Dallas Goodyear races while I competed, flying for both Alan Stewart and myself. Thanks also to Mark Crouse, who helped with the racing event throughout the day.

After an eight-year stint in Germany, I’m now back in the USA permanently, and it’s been wonderful to reconnect with local flying clubs and regional events. A big thanks to Alan Stewart, with whom I returned to competition in the Dallas Goodyear and F2D Proto events. Dan Rutherford introduced Alan and me in the mid-1970s, and we flew many Combat contests together. It was a great time to be involved in Combat.

This year, Alan built two excellent Dallas Goodyears and, at the last minute, an F2D Proto model. The Dallas Goodyears were competing for only the second time. Alan entered one, and I entered the other. I flew both entries while Alan handled the pit work. As the results show, Alan finished first, Paul second, and I placed third. After flying back-to-back finals, I joked with Paul that I had done everything possible to help him take first place, including an extra pit stop for each model and an especially graceful cartwheel landing in both finals. Even so, Alan’s steady, excellent pit work helped us achieve strong results and set a new NW record in the event.

For F2D Proto, we had only one test flight before the contest, so we were delighted with how well the plane performed. We posted our fastest time on the first flight of the contest. Now we just need to find that last 7 mph—easier said than done—but we’ll get there somehow.

In NW B Proto, Doug Powers and I flew models and engines built by Don Curry. I flew both entries, and we posted some respectable times. Again, there are still a few mph to find, but the real thrill was simply competing in the event for the first time. Thank you, Don, for building these fine models and making it possible for us to compete.
For next year’s NW Regionals, we’re looking forward to building new models for other events.

Hello to all, I hope you had a chance to attend the NWR, if not, I’ll give a rundown on my experience.

Firstly, I am still recovering from a medical issue that collapsed me shortly after the 2025 Regionals. I still do not trust my body, so I asked Paul Gibeault to fly my higher-rotation models. Paul is a world class pilot and I was fortunate he agreed to it.

Friday afternoon we all noticed the high afternoon winds so come Saturday we all had our 1/2-A Protos out. My first run was something like 80 something and quite rich. I let it stand until Paul blew my time out off the water. Next was F2D proto, and again not a clean run, and as predicted along came Paul and blew that one out of the water too, with a smoking 107mph. Alan Stewart had come out of the woodwork with a very nice F2D Proto and was in the hunt with well over 100 mph runs. The afternoon arrived along with the wind so not too much action late Saturday.

Sunday we were against the clock with a 2 p.m. deadline. I was at the field early and put up what looked to be a smoking 1/2-A Proto run, but it was only 90 some mph. The P-Zero sounded right on note. Paul came right back at me, but unfortunately had an accident that destroyed his model.

I made an adjustment to my F2D Proto and claimed first with a just under 110 mph run.

My new 21 Proto gave me fits the rest of the day, and I switched to my new B Proto. The engine, highly reworked, it would not hold a rich -enough setting for a decent time. Lane Puckett, an experienced Combat flyer, pinched the feed tube to keep it running and what seemed to be a good flight turned out to be just plain slow. A pure stock engine has run faster and I don’t have an answer for this.

The events were well organized by both Will and Doug and we ran off all entries without any issues.

We had six entries in speed, including assistant contest director John Thompson. John brought out his B Proto aka Sticky, and had control issues that cut short an official flight. It’s downstairs in my shop getting a once over to get it flying straight, and a new paintjob.

A tip for all as I did this myself. Rustoleum 2x paint is good once cured. BUT, do not use their clearcoat over the top of it. Fuel will attack it and then YOUR airplane will be called “sticky”

Thanks to Will for running the event, Doug for his fill in which was flawless, many thanks for Paul Gibeault for helping me fly and the entire NWR crew for making this a wonderful trip.

Final note from Will: In the future updates of FL, there will be more comments from the competitors!  I enjoy reading about others adventures in the various events because everyone goes through unique experiences that most of us can relate to.
Again this year I dusted off my venerable, vintage racers for Day 1 of the Regionals, and find Racing to be a great way to kick off three busy days of flying fun. I’ve no realistic hope of matching the polished and practiced teams (Mangels, Gibeault, et. al) attending the Regionals, but I dig the starting horn and pit stops where I do what I can to keep the heat on them — just in case.



The attendance and times in Dallas Sport Goodyear this year were noteworthy. Not only was a new Regionals record established, but the second place time would have also qualified! Great looking planes too — not bad, guys! 

Will N ran events with the greatest efficiency, safety, and consideration for all. 

Special thanks go to my (Shanghai’d yet again!) pilot, Jim Schneider. Despite a bunch of other stuff to attend to as ED in Carrier, getting his massive fleet airborne and also flying Stunt events he readily and skillfully piloted my clunkers — thanks, Jim!

From Paul Gibeault

The 2026 NWR is now in the books. It was a very lightly attended affair this year with notable people like the Hazel/Thompson (Nitroholics) team, the Californians and others MIA.

This year we only had but two Clown racers. In Open Clown race Leighton Mangels/Doug Powers team completed 63 laps for first place.
In the slower NW Sportsman Clown (aka "Geezer Clown"), Leighton Mangels again won first with 13 laps. His pitman Doug Powers did not score for second place.

In NW Super Sport (.40 engines) Paul Gibeault/Gerry Van Dyk (Team Soft Shoe) maintained their supremacy with a fast 3:39 heat. It was decided to forgo the final and let the contestants stand on their heat times. Leighton Mangels team placed second with a 4:26 heat. Mark Schluter's team placed third with a 4:39 heat.

The last event, Dallas Sport Goodyear had the highest interest level with six entries and some new teams. All teams double entered. Due to the wind, it was decided to fly two-up races. New racer Alan Stewart showed up with a fleet of extremely well built and finished models. Will really put Alan's models through the wringer on several landings, but they stayed remarkably intact. Lesser models would have incurred serious damage but Alan's models soldiered on.

The first heat was Mangels/Powers (timing error) vs. Naemura/Stewart 4:27:75. The second heat was Van Dyk/Gibeault (9 laps)  vs. Stewart/Naemura (4:41). Although Gerry's new Fora Jr.-powered Alley Cat design appeared noticeably faster than the field, it quit every two laps for a DNF score of 9 laps. Cause yet to be determined. Very strange as it worked so well in practice earlier! Third Heat was Gibeault/Van Dyk (4:54) vs. Powers/ Mangels who crashed out. With the wind, it was decided to fly two two-up finals.


The first final was close with Leighton/Powers (10:55) vs. Naemura/Stewart (10:45). The second final Gibeault (10:11) vs. Stewart (9:39). Paul was looking very good until one slow pit stop put an end to his chances as Alan cruised by on to victory. Goodyear ended up with Al Stewart/Will Naemura in first, Paul Gibeault/Gerry Van Dyk second, and Will Naemura/Alan Stewart rounding out the third place podium finish, with Leighton Mangels/Doug Powers in fourth place.

All teams used the Magnum .15 engine (or variation thereof) I believe. It was refreshing to see the new team of Alan Stewart and Will Naemura do so well for their first time out as a team. They can only get better with a bit more practice.

The 2026 racing grand champion was awarded to Leighton Mangels.

So, it's finally happened. Racing appears to be on life support in terms of contestants and time keeper/lap counters. (Hence the two-up races). Organizer Mike Hazel has announced the NW Regionals will continue. I can only hope we drum up more racing interest for next year. Thanks again to the NW Regionals Management Association for continuing to hold the NW Regionals.

From Gerry Van Dyk

I had better run at NWR this year than last. A good run in the Scale circle, actually put up some scores on the Carrier deck. The Racing circle, however, was just as frustrating for me as last year.

I entered only Goodyear as I like the Scale element. I entered my new Alley Cat model with several drag reduction features compared to last year's Nemesis, and it sports a rip-snorting Fora engine. We had test flown it before leaving for the rRegionals, unlike last year, plus we got some test flights Friday morning.  With Paul flying, he like the way it handled, but wanted narrower line spacing. With his own handle on the lines, a couple more flights. This model feels seriously quick, but we didn't get around to taking lap times. After test flights, we found a mounting tab came off the tank, so out with the torch, and get it back in place. Perfect!


The races went on, I pitted for Paul to the win in Super Sport, Pretty good pit stop, all is good. Goodyear comes up, I'm in heat 2. I'm pitting my entry, Paul at the handle, good initial start, this engine is still breaking in, and the starting is getting better with time. I was about to grab a watch and get some 8-lap times, then, after just a couple of laps, the loud one stops making noise. What! That's not right! Paul's gliding in, we get the engine restarted and go back up. Two laps later the engine quits again. Another restart, another two laps, dead again. We retired. After the racing was done I ran the engine in the pits. It emptied the tank without issue. I discovered later someone else crashed with fewer laps, so we're not the worst. I guess I'll take that, but I was absolutely livid in the moment.

Anyway, we managed a second place with Paul's Goodyear entry. Two good pit stops, but the third was a slow restart. Still another podium finish, can't be too upset.

 Back home I pulled the tank, nothing rattling inside, I hesitate to pull it apart, because it runs beautifully, at least when it's not in a race. I pulled the venturi, found one small piece of schmutz, but with four holes feeding fuel, I think it unlikely that was a problem. We'll fly it again this weekend and see if we've somehow cleared the problem. This model will be back with it's Fora breathing fire. Look out next year.