Northwest Super Sport Race rules update approved

Northwest Racing participants have approved four proposals by The Nitroholics Racing Team (Mike Hazel/John Thompson) to update the Northwest Super Sport Race rules. These are basically housekeeping updates intended to make the written rules comply with current standard practice.

Northwest Super Sport Race has existed since 1980, when the early version of Northwest Sport Race was split into two classes. At that time, Northwest Sport Race became a Fox .35-only race restricted to known kit designs, and the new NWSS allowed more design freedom and the faster single-bypass plain-bearing .36 engines available at that time. In the late 1980s, NWSS was revised to allow use of .40-size sport engines with restricted venturis to reflect that availability of the earlier popular engines had declined. The event has been largely unchanged since then.

Summary of proposals

1. Adds requirement to section 3.1 that glow plug must have a thread dimension of 1/4"x32.
2. Deletes requirement from section 3.3.2 (a) that engines be currently available through normal retail outlets.
3. Adds wording to section 3.3.2 (d) to clarify that RC carburetors must have been the type originally supplied with the engine.
4. Clarifies that any engine legal in Northwest Sport Race is allowed in Northwest Super Sport Race.

Rationale, as explained by Mike Hazel

3.1: This minor addition to engine definition will prevent use of a cylinder head modified to use a Nelson-type glow plug.
3.3.2. This new section clarifies that Northwest Sport Race engines are legal in NWSS, as has been standard practice.
3.3.3 (a): The most popular engine and its parts have not been available through retail outlets for a long time, which makes this requirement obsolete.
3.3.3. (d): This additional language will circumvent any attempt to utilize oversize carburetors that were not original equipment.

Result of voting

All four proposals were approved by unanimous consent. There were no "no" votes.

Effective date

The changes are in effect as of the approval date, June 2, 2025.

For more information

The process of promulgating and revising Northwest control-line competition rules is explained in the Northwest Rules section.

Proposal details

Approved rule changes

RULES FOR NORTHWEST SUPER SPORT RACE
New language in red, deleted language in ~~strikethrough~~

1. Purpose: It is the intent that this event will serve as an intermediate racing class between Northwest Sport Race and the AMA racing events.

2. All pertinent rules from the AMA control-line racing unified rules section shall apply in regard to safety and the conduct of races, except as follows.

3. Engine:

3.1 The "engine" is defined as the complete unit, ready to run, needing only prop, fuel and starting voltage, except that the glow plug, venturi and/or restrictor and spraybar and needle valve, gaskets, bolts, drive washer, front washer, prop nut, shims, piston ring(s) (if used), and ball bearings (if used) need not be considered part of the production unit. The glow plug must have a thread dimension of 1/4x32. These parts are not subject to the rules regarding quantity or source.

3.2. No tuned pipes or exhaust extensions are allowed except bona fide mufflers which do not increase engine performance. Engines shall operate on suction feed. No variable or in-flight adjusting carburetors are allowed; however, any other modification of the intake is permissible except as noted below.

3.3. ~~Two types~~ Three categories of engines will be allowed:

3.3.1. Engines of .36 c.i.d. maximum with single bypass intake port. These engines shall not be restricted in regard to venturi dimension. There is also no restriction regarding engine rework, except that all major components shall be produced by the original manufacturer. No material or part may be added.

3.3.2. Any engine currently legal in Northwest Sport Race is allowed.

3.3.23 (a). Engines of maximum total nominal displacement of 0.4020 cubic inches (6.6 cc). Engines must be production units assembled from factory available production parts. Engines and parts, with the exception of the venturi-spraybar assembly, must have been produced in quantities greater than 500, and all must be available through normal retail outlets in the U.S.A. Parts substitution shall be limited to catalog listed parts produced in quantities greater than 500 units for the engine being altered and available commercially to anyone from the manufacturer of the engine. Engines may only be modified by removing parts or material from parts. No material or part may be added.

3.3.23 (b). The engine must be of the front-intake, single-bypass configuration. All air for the combustion process must come through the crankshaft. Altering nominal subport induction, timed holes in the case and the sleeve, or other techniques to circumvent the requirement that all air come through the specified venturi opening, are prohibited.

3.3.23 (c). No ABC or AAC piston/sleeve configurations are allowed.

3.3.23 (d). Each engine shall be equipped with a venturi and spraybar meeting the following restrictions: The venturi shall have an inside circular bore of not more than 0.315 inch. The venturi will maintain this diameter for at least 0.25 inch above and below the spraybar centerline. The spraybar assembly will be located precisely through the centerline of the venturi bore and shall have a circular cross section of diameter not less than 0.155 inch for the portion in the throat of the venturi. Exception: R/C carburetors as originally supplied with the engine may be used with the opening fixed in one position.

3.3.23 (e). The complete engine/venturi/spraybar system shall weigh less than 10.5 ounces (excluding muffler).

4. Aircraft: The model shall conform to the AMA slow rat specifications:

"Models must be of profile fuselage type, and must conform to the general profile definition. The model must have a minimum fuselage length of 24" when measured from the propeller thrust washer face to the leading edge of the movable elevator surface.

"The minimum wing area shall be 300 square inches. The wing must have a minimum thickness of one inch when measured at any point along the span, with the exception of the last two inches before each wing tip.

"All models must have a canopy, horizontal stabilizer, elevator and vertical fin Models must have a fixed landing gear with a minimum of one wheel."

5. Fuel tank: The fuel tank shall be fully external and forward of the wing leading edge, and located on the outboard side of the fuselage. The tank may not be designed so as to cowl the engine. The tank may not be pressurized, but the vents may be directed forward into the airstream.

6. Pull test: The plane and entire control system shall undergo pull test of 35 pounds.

7. Lines: The minimum diameter of lines shall be .018". Lines shall be of the stranded type, with a length of 60 feet measured from the handle grip to the fuselage, plus or minus 6" tolerance.

8. Races: Preliminary heats shall be of 70 laps duration, with one pit stop minimum required. The final or feature race(s) shall be of 140 laps duration, with three pit stops minimum required. All races shall be flown with at least two entrants, and not more than three entrants. At contests where entrants fly preliminary heats to determine finalists, at least three entries shall proceed to the final race(s). The decision on the number of finalist entrants shall be made by the event director and be made before the start of any preliminary heats.

10/89/DC/jmt//Ed:jmt/4/15/93//rev/prop/mh/7/29/24

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This page was updated June 3, 2025