Re: Club 20 Pylon Racing. Own up, who remembers them?

There's a chance that someone may Google "Club 20" and stumble on this thread so I'll start it and see what happens.
When I started flying 35 years ago it was very popular in our club, but I don't hear of it now.
There are several forms of Pylon Racing but they're mostly in the USA from what I've read.

The type we used to fly were a cheap form of competition flying that anyone with a decent 20 engine could have a go at.
We had a triangular course of any size that would fit your flying site but we did need to have a fairly big turnout because we needed a marshall for each flyer at each point of the triangle.

The models would all be hand launched at the same time & you just had to do a set number of laps as fast as you could.
The marshalls were there to make sure you didn't cut any corners, they would raise a flag as soon as you hit the turning point.

The models tended to be very similar and the rules regarding them were simple.
The engine had to be a 20 or less ...fast 19's were very popular.
The model had to weigh a minimum of 2lbs..... that's about it.
Oh, .. I think there was a minimum wing span of about 30 inches but my memory is clouded on that bit.

Most models were aileron & elevator only ... not even a throttle.
Turns were "Bank & Yank" and many a model would "clap hands" when the wings folded with the G force.
Control line fuel tanks were common so the way to stop the engine at the end of the contest was to fly inverted until the engine cut out.

Can you imagine the fun with six of these models all scrambling for the same airspace at a million miles per hour? (well it felt like it)

Do you remember flying this type of model? .... let us know what you can remember, especially any funny stories or rules that I may have forgotten.

Polyphilla.

Well done for making me remember Club 20. I now remember it well, but must admit it was done a long time ago.

Poss one of the most exciting events in the R/C racing calender.

If I remember it was an event that the Nats used to stage. One event I attended, as you quite rightly state it was hand launch, six models went for the first pylon, such an almighty crash, and all six models were in bits. Not detered they did it all again 10 mins later with the same result, and believe it or not a third time, when two models survived to complete the course. So out of 18 models,2 survived (sounds like a typical Sunday at my club)

Maybe our friends at health and safety would frown on the lack of safety in such an event, and is this why we dont see it these days

As far as I can remember the rules you set out were correct

Long time ago

Garry

If I remember rightly I used to think there was some very 'pretty' models used for this. I'm sure they would look good even today.

Geoff 1 wrote: If I remember rightly I used to think there was some very 'pretty' models used for this. I'm sure they would look good even today.

I remember doing a spray paint job on one of mine. I did a sunburst effect on the wings .... the sort you often see on guitars.
It was probably the biggest mistake I made because the paint put it a few ounces overweight and it always trailed behind the others.
My flying was perfect !!! ... The damn thing was that slow I had loads of time to react.

Pol.

Club 20 has been replaced with club 2000, a more basic form of 20 pylon racers since the sport got a little too specialised in the late 90's. It lives on with good numbers and still makes the Nats ever year in the same spot on the field it's always been on. You'll probably find half of the flyers are the same faces from the late 70's/early 80's!!! I was a keen young spectactor from about 1985 til the early ninties... I've since switched the FAI-F3D.

Sport 40 died a few years ago but set to make a come back for 2012 with a lot of interest shown...we also have the electric pylon guys, F5D.

F3D is also still going strong with the current GBR team recently back from the World Champs in Australia having had their best team reasult in over 20 years.

You can catch up on the latest news here: www.pylonracer.co.uk

More current info here: www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php/board,216.0.html
...and you might be interested in this thread: www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php/topic,64642.0.html

p.s. Yes, I did find this thread by googling "pylon racing"

Thanks for that info illy and may I welcome you to Modelchat. We are a laid back group and do not over mod the site. Have fun, we do. Live chat usually wakens up about 10 pm

Garry

Thanks for that illy, & welcome to ModelChat.
Some handy links there, I hope you'll stick around and join in the fun.

Phil (Polyphilla)

Hi, eveyone yes I do remember, got interested in Club 20 in the mid 70s. First seen pylon racing up my local park and was hooked straight away and had to have one, started off with Cotswold Tracer's and ended up with Cotswold Tracer's still got one from the late 80's and also have a brand new one still boxed from the late 80's, infact have always had one in my possesion one way or another since 1975.....had to fit a carb to the one I have now as my reactions are not as good as they were but still lots of fun, it comes out every few years and then goes back in the loft, will include some photos......the black and white one is possibly my first and the colour is my last but one.....thanks for the memories

fitzyt wrote: Hi, eveyone yes I do remember, got interested in Club 20 in the mid 70s.

I knew it, another golden oldie. .... welcome fitzyt.
I've seen you logged in all evening & thought you'd post at some point.

Have a good look around the place & I hope you enjoy it.
Look in on us in Live Chat if you feel in the mood.
I just knew this thread would spark a few memories.

Polyphilla.

Welcome aboard from me also. We are here to have fun, and we do!!! Join in as you see fit.

Garry

fitzyt wrote: had to fit a carb to the one I have now as my reactions are not as good

This bit about reactions has reminded me of something.
For some reason most Club 20 flyers used to hog the ground.
These things flew at a hell of a speed (in those days).... You did need fast reactions to survive but even so, many flyers used to scare the crap out of the pylon marshalls by pulling the turn at head height.
I've seen those poor guys duck on many occasions.

Pol.