Longer lines approved for fast Clown Race
Northwest racing fliers approved lengthening the lines used in the fast version of Northwest Flying Clown Race. The new line length requirement, approved in a vote counted on Feb. 24, will take effect for the 2019 season.
Previous rules specified 52-foot lines. Under the new rules, lines will be 60 feet long.
The proposal was offered by John Thompson.
The vote to approve the 60-foot line length requirement was unanimous. No "no" votes were received.
Here are the specifics of the change:
Amends rule No. 2.1 by changing the length of lines specified.
NOTE: This change does not affect the Sportsman version of Clown Race, which remains on 52-foot lines.
Approved 2019 Northwest Flying Clown Race rules
New language in red; deleted language in strikeout
NORTHWEST FLYING CLOWN RACE
2019
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 52 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, 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./2/24/19ballot
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./2/24/19ballot
For a complete copy of the Northwest Flying Clown rules (without the annotations above), and for an explanation of how the Northwest control-line rules process works, see the Northwest Rules section.
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This page was upated Feb. 24, 2019