The 2013 Northwest Stunt and Combat Championships
Salem, Ore., May 23-24-25, 2014

Appearance judging for the Expert Precision Aerobatics class on Sunday. Flying Lines photo.

Scaled-down 'Post-Regionals' contest continues Memorial Day tradition

With the loss of the Eugene Airport site after the 2013 Northwest Regionals, the sponsoring organization, the Northwest Regionals Management Association, searched unsuccessfully for a venue that could provide the seven control-line circles needed for a 44th running of the traditional Memorial Day Weekend CL extravaganza. Sadly, such a site could not be found for a 2014 Regionals.

As a result, the Regionals was scaled down and split into two separate contests -- the Northwest Stunt and Combat Championships on Memorial Day Weekend and the Northwest Speed and Racing Championships on June 27-29. The hope was that this was an interim situation and that the Regionals would return for 2015.

The stunt and combat portion of the pairing took place in mostly pleasant weather, with attendance in the stunt and combat events of about half of the normal Regionals turnout, which was just about right for the two-circle venue, the lovely Bill Riegel Model Airpark at the Salem Municipal Airport, home field of the Western Oregon Control-Line Flyers.

A little rain fell during Old-Time Stunt on Friday, but otherwise the weather was partly cloudy, not too windy, and in the mid-60s for temperature.

The result was three busy days of flying, culminating in the premier events of Expert Precision Aerobatics and AMA Fast Combat on Sunday. Earlier it was Friday's Old-Time Stunt and Beginner and Intermediate Precision Aerobatics; and Saturday's Classic/Nostalgia 30 Stunt, Advanced Precision Aerobatics, Profile Stunt, High-Performance 1/2-A Combat and 80mph Combat.

The Expert PA event was, like the 2013 Regionals, an evenly matched duel between two former world champions, David Fitzgerald and Paul Walker. You may recall that in 2013, Fitzgerald beat Walker by a single point. In the 2014 matchup, the two champions finished with a tie for their best-flight score, the tie being broken by Paul's next-best flight, which was 1.5 points better. Look at it again: A 1.5-point difference for two flights.

Alan Resinger of Delta, B.C., won the coveted Concours d' Elegance award for the contestants' favorite Precision Aerobatics airplane with his elegant Crossfire electric airplane -- it was Alan's second win in a row with two different Crossfires.

Field setup was done by WOLF and Eugene Prop Spinners members under the direction of Prop Spinners President Mike Denlis on Thursday morning. Post-contest teardown was done after an early finish on Sunday, as the contest had wrapped up by 1 p.m., with only two events on that day. Mike again organized a large crew of workers that got things done efficiently. Among the work crew were: Mike Massey, Gene Pape, Jim Corbett, Mike Hazel, Dave LaFever, Craig Bartlett, along with other Prop Spinners and WOLF members and contestants who pitched in at various times.

Registration and tabulation were handled by the dynamo Barbara White. Handling weighing of stunt planes were Richard Entwhistle and Mike Denlis. Richard and Jerry Olson handled pull-testing and other pit-boss chores.

Event directors were Don McClave for aerobatics and Gene Pape for combat.

The whole operation was directed by the tireless Mike Hazel, who also served as chef of the fine Sunday barbecue.

The results below will be reflected in the updated Northwest standings.

Alan Resinger's 2014 Crossfire was the contestants' choice for the Concours d'Elegance trophy. Flying Lines photo.

2014 Northwest Stunt and Combat Championships Results

(Northwest Standings points in parenthesis after score)

Stunt: Event Director Don McClave

EXPERT PRECISION AEROBATICS (9 entries)
1. Paul Walker, Deer Park, Wash. -- 589-591.5 (13.5)
2. David Fitzgerald, Napa, Calif. -- 591.5-587.5
3. Chris Cox, Delta, B.C. -- 570 (10.5)
4. Alan Resinger, Delta, B.C. -- 543 (9)
5. Mike Haverly, Auburn, Wash. -- 516.5
6. John Leidle, Kirkland, Wash. -- 512.5
7. Tim Wescott, Oregon City, Ore. -- 475
8. Keith Varley, Vancouver, B.C. -- 473.5
9. Leo Mehl, Portland, Ore. -- 452.5
Judges: Bruce Hunt and Scott Riese

ADVANCED PRECISION AEROBATICS (9 entries)
1. Mark Scarborough, Pullman, Wash. -- 491.5 (9)
2. Steve Helmick, Renton, Wash. -- 489.5 (8)
3. Bob Duncan, Fair Oaks, Calif -- 478
4. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. -- 462.5 (6)
5. Rex Abbott, Sequim, Wash. -- 461
6. Greg Hart, Molalla, Ore. -- 458
7. Gordon Rea, Eugene, Ore. -- 445.5
8. Floyd Carter, Eugene, Ore. -- 444
9. Mike Massey, Cottage Grove, Ore. -- 441.5
Judges: Chris Cox and John Leidle

INTERMEDIATE PRECISION AEROBATICS (3 entries)
1. Fred Underwood, West Linn, Ore. -- 442.5 (3)
2. Tom Brightbill, Oregon City, Ore. -- 416.5 (2)
3. Marc Winz, Edgewood, Wash. -- 415.5 (1)
Judges: Alice Cotton-Royer and Richard Entwhistle

BEGINNER PRECISION AEROBATICS (4 entries)
1. Jerry Olson, Clackamas, Ore., 222.5 (1)
Judges: Alice Cotton-Royer and Richard Entwhistle

CLASSIC STUNT (9 entries)
1. Scott Riese, Portland, Ore. -- 529.5 (9)
2. Mark Scarborough -- 489.5 (8)
3. Mike Massey -- 450.5 (7)
4. John Thompson, Eugene, Ore. -- 447-161 (6)
5. Tim Wescott -- 0-447
6. Gordon Rea -- 445.5
7. Rex Abbott -- 430.5
8. Leo Mehl -- 424
9. Marc Winz, 410
Judges: Paul Walker and David Fitzgerald

NOSTALGIA 30 STUNT (2 entries)
1. Bruce Hunt, Lake Stevens, Wash. -- 515 (2)
2. Bob Duncan -- 470
Judges: Paul Walker and David Fitzgerald

OLD-TIME STUNT (7 entries)
1. Dave Royer, Portland, Ore., 307 (7)
2. Scott Riese -- 305 (6)
3. Bob Duncan -- 281.75
4. John Thompson -- 277.5 (4)
5. Tom Brightbill -- 259.5
6. Marc Winz -- 238.5
7. Robert Moseley, Missoula, Mont. -- 232.25
Judges: Alan Resinger and Leo Mehl

EXPERT PROFILE STUNT (3 entries)
1. Mike Haverly, 481.5 (3)
2. John Thompson -- 444.5 (2)
3. Tim Wescott -- 439.5 (1)
Judges: Scott Riese and Dave Royer

SPORTSMAN PROFILE STUNT (7 entries)
1. Bob Duncan -- 464
2. Gordon Rea -- 458.5 (6)
3. Mike Hazel -- 449.5 (5)
4. Marc Winz -- 445.5 (4)
5. Tom Brightbill -- 423
6. Dave Denison -- 419
7. Robert Moseley -- 0
Judges: Scott Riese and Dave Royer

Combat: Event director Gene Pape

AMA FAST COMBAT (Double elimination) (6 entries)
1. Jeff Rein, Covington, Wash. -- 4 wins, 0 losses (6)
2. Buzz Wilson, Belfair, Wash. -- 3-2 (5)
3. Robert Smith, Roy, Wash., 2-2 (4)
4. Lee Letchworth, Rodeo, Calif. -- 2-3
5. Gene Pape, Eugene, Ore. -- 1-2
6. Jim Green, Bellevue, Wash. -- 0-2
Judges: Dave La Fever and Mike Denlis

80-MPH COMBAT (Double elimination) (6 entries)
1. Gene Pape, 4-1 (6)
2. Robert Smith -- 4-1 (5)
3. Lee Letchworth -- 2-3
4. Buzz Wilson -- 2-2 (3)
5. Jim Green -- 1-2
6. Jeff Rein -- 0-2
Judges: Dave La Fever and Mike Denlis

HIGH-PERFORMANCE 1/2-A COMBAT (Double elimination) (7 entries)
1. Jeff Rein -- 5-0 (7)
2. Gene Pape -- 3-2 (6)
3. Buzz Wilson -- 3-3 (5)
4. Robert Smith -- 2-3 (4)
5. Lee Letchworth -- 1-2
6. Jim Green -- 0-2
Mark Hansen -- 0-2
Judges: Dave La Fever and Mike Denlis

Contest Photo Gallery One

More Northwest Stunt and Combat Championships photos

Leo Mehl flies his Nobler in Classic Stunt under the watchful eyes of David Fitzgerald (left) and Paul Walker. Rex Abbott photo.

Jeff Rein was undefeated in High-Performance 1/2-A Combat. Rex Abbott photo.

Dave Royer flew his Humongous to another victory in Old-Time Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Floyd Carter was best-dressed Precision Aerobatics flier. Flying Lines photo.

A crash during an official flight spelled the end for Greg Hart's J.D. Falcon; a swirling dust devil was suspected as the cause. Flying Lines photo.

Classic Stunt flights: At left, Mike Massey flies his Nobler; at right, Mark Scarborough flies his Avenger. Rex Abbott photos.

More Classic flights: At left, Bruce Hunt with his Stiletto; at right, Marc Winz with his Smoothie. Rex Abbott photos.

Bob Duncan is one of the master builders of the hobby. Rex Abbott photo.

Advanced Precision Aerobatics judges Chris Cox (left) and John Leidle. Jim Corbdett photo.

Chef Mike Hazel in the kitchen. Rex Abbott photo.

Gene Pape (left) and Lee Letchworth watch the wreckage of their two 80mph Combat planes float down after a collision. Jim Corbett photo

Some of the Expert Precision Aerobatics pilots with their airplanes, captured on Sunday morning. Front, from left: Chris Cox and Alan Resinger. Back, from left: Paul Walker, David Fitzgerald, Mike Haverly. All planes are electric except for Fitzgerald's. Jim Corbett photo.

Two of the three Ringmasters that flew in Old-Time Stunt. At left is Scott Riese's plane; at right is Tim Wescott's. Flying Lines photos.

The contest's vital workers: Registration/tabulation executive Barbara White and Stunt Director Don McClave. Flying Lines photo.

Buzz Wilson shows combat-damaged Sonic Chicken after a rousing 1/2-A match with Gene Pape. Flying Lines photo.

Combat judges from left: Mike Denlis, Gene Pape, Dave La Fever. Flying Lines photo.

Saturday pit lineup. Flying Lines photo.

Bob Duncan flying his Imitation during Classic Stunt. Flying Lines photo.

Combat action: At left, Bob Smith (left) and Gene Pape; at right, Lee Letchworth (left) and Jeff Rein. Flying Lines photos.

At left, Bruce Hunt's Stletto for Nostalgia 30 Stunt; at right, Leo Mehl's Nobler for Classic. Flying Lines photos

.

Always a crowd favorite, Mark Scarborough's Classic Avenger. Flying Lines photo.

At left, Bob Duncan's Imitation, flown in Classic Stunt; at right, Tim Wescott's Sister Jenny for Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photos.

At left, Scott Riese's Nobler for Classic Stunt. At right, Mike Massey's Legacy flies in Advanced Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photos.

Paul Walker's Predator for Expert Precion Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

David Fitzgerald's Thunder Gazer 2 for Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

Mike Haverly's Fifth Element for Expert Precision Aerobatics. Flying Lines photo.

At left, Keith Varley's E-Sultan; at right, Chris Cox's Crossfire. Flying Lines photos.

More Northwest Stunt and Combat Championships photos

Flying Lines home page

This page was upated June 1, 2014