By Mike Hazel

The The Northwest Fireballs club of Portland once again hosted a little late season racing contest. Turnout was lighter than the previous year, with only four planes entered. The Fireballs once again were great hosts, providing doughnuts and hot coffee, along with plenty of help for the officiation. The weather was great for this time of year, cool of course but otherwise calm and dry air for the day.

Gary Harris was the contest director, and herded the racing cats through the heats and finals. The format this year was everyone flying one heat race, and then the best two times went to a final race. A lack of racing pilots and/or team conflicts made a three-up final not do-able.

The Fireballs' Barbara White reports that there were 14 participants in all. The event started at 10 a.m. and was finished by 1 p.m. Winner Leighton Mangels won the $20 in entry fees.

Results

(Northwest standings points in parentheses)

NORTHWEST SPORT RACE (4 entries)
1. Leighton Mangels, North Plains, Ore. -- 8:17.88 (4)
2. Mike Hazel, Mehama, Ore. -- 8:21.34 (3)
3. Richard Entwhistle, Scappose, Ore. -- 4:17.28 (heat) (2)
3. Doug Powers, Portland, Ore. -- DNF (1)

Lineups of planes in the pits awaiting action. Mike Hazel photo.

Contest winner Leighton Mangels launches Doug Powers' Northwest Sport Race plane. Mike Hazel photo.

Richard Entwhistle at work in the pits. Mike Hazel photo.

A race in progress: Pilots are Leighton Mangels and Jim Cameron, watched by (from left) pitman Mike Hazel, timer Don Curry, and Richard Entwhistle. Barbara White photo.