Discussion period is now open!

John Knoppi has proposed a changes in the Northwest Clown Race rules that would allow shutoffs to be used during races.

Summary of proposal

Revises Section 7 to delete fuel shutoffs from the list of prohibited equipment.

Rationale, as explained by John Knoppi:

Clown Race planes are light and difficult to tow around the circle to the pit if the engine quits at an unpredictable location. This rule change would make the event easier for aging or disabled competitors by allowing the pilot to bring the plane to the pits.

Discussion period

A thread for discussion of this topic is active on the Northwest CL Forum. See what others have been saying and post your comments about the proposal there. Note that comments posted on that forum are not counted as votes. Only votes cast via the procedure explained below will be counted. Discussion period ends May 1.

Effective date

Approved changes, if any, will take effect after the conclusion of voting and the announcement of results.

Voting

Who can vote

When voting opens, approximately May 1, any resident of Academy of Model Aeronautics District XI (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska) and British Columbia who has participated in Racing in a Northwest contest either as a contestant or an official within the past five years can vote on these proposals.

Spread the word: It is possible that not everyone interested in this topic will have access to the Flying Lines website, or may not have seen these proposals. Feel free to pass on the information about the proposals to anyone you think might be interested. You can print out this page as reference material.

For more on the process of promulgating and revising Northwest control-line competition rules, see the Northwest Rules section.

Proposal details

Proposed rule change

NORTHWEST FLYING CLOWN RACE
New wording in red, deleted wording in ~~strikethrough~~

1. PURPOSE: This event is intended for all fliers and pit crews interested in a simple racing event which uses a common aircraft, emphasizes both speed and economy, and encourages the use of a wide variety of engines.

2. All AMA control-line unified racing rules apply, except as follows:

2.1. Airplanes and the entire control systems shall undergo a pull test of 25 pounds. Lines are .015 stranded steel. Length is 60 feet, plus or minus 6 inches, measured from the center of the handle to the fuselage.

3. Engine: Any design or make of piston engine is allowed, except that maximum engine displacement is limited to .19 cubic inches. Modifications are not restricted within the limits of the AMA safety code.

4. Fuel tank: Any design of fuel tank is allowed, including pressure systems, except as follows:
4.1. Fuel capacity is restricted to 1 ounce, with a +5% tolerance, 31cc maximum.
4.2. The fuel tank shall be fully external of the plane, on the outboard side of the fuselage, and entirely in front of the leading edge.
4.3. All tank vents are limited to a maximum size of 1/8-inch outside diameter. A spring-loaded pinchoff device capping the overflow vent on a uniflow tank is permitted.

5. Fuel: Glow fuel shall contain a maximum of 10 percent nitromethane with 20 percent lubricant and the rest methanol. Glow fuel will be supplied by the contest management. Diesel engines may use diesel fuel.

6. Aircraft: The only aircraft allowed is the PDQ Flying Clown or faithful replica. Changes to the planform, profile, or wing thickness are prohibited. Cheek cowls are prohibited. Wheels must be at least 1 inch in diameter, and be spaced laterally about 7 inches.

7. Prohibited equipment: Hot glove electrical contact systems and fast-fill setups ~~and fuel shutoffs~~ are prohibited. ~~Shutoffs may be installed on the plane for test-flying, but must be bypassed during races.~~

8. Races: All preliminary heats and the final race will be timed for 15 minutes from start to finish. The contestant with the most laps wins. Preliminary heats may be 7-1/2 minutes if agreed to by a majority of contestants or required by contest time constraints. Records shall not be established for heats less than 15 minutes. There shall be either two or three pilots in heat races. At least three aircraft shall advance to the feature race. The decision on the number of feature entries shall be made by the event director in advance before the start of any preliminary heats. If more than three planes advance to the feature, races will involve at least two and no more than three airplanes.

jmt/cbbb/FL/rev:6-10-94//4/15/96*rev1-10-98*//rev2-12-99*//prop9/05//rev.jt./2/24/19*//prop3-27-25.jk

SPORTSMAN FLYING CLOWN RACE

1. PURPOSE: This event is intended to be slower and less difficult than normal Clown Race.
2. RULES: All NW Clown Race rules except:
a. Engines limited to: O.S. 15 FP, O.S. 15 LA, and Brodak 15.
b. Lines are .015" stranded steel. Length is 52 feet, plus or minus 6 inches, measured from the center of the handle to the fuselage.
c. Races will be five-minute preliminary heat, and 10-minute final.

jmt/rev:1/5/17//rev.jt./2/24/19*

* ballot

Proposals would allow shutoffs in Clown Race