The Pat Hagan SPA Memorial Event
Asheville, NC
July 16-17, 2011

Pattern "stalwarts" flocked to the mountains of North Carolina July 16 & 17 to fly SPA pattern at 2200 feet (according to co-CD Duane Wilson)...in temperatures delightfully refreshing aside of the days of 100+ heat indices. Many of us "Rebels" who only brought shorts and short sleeves scrambled to the stores for jackets and long pants. It could NOT have been more pleasant weatherwise, nor hospitality-wise!

25 "pattern-pros" contested 5 full rounds under these "ideal" conditions which included the traditional amenities provided by co-CD Duane Wilson and Mrs. Penny at their home "kicking off' the weekends' activities. That "low-country boil" was bigger and better than ever this year and the "SPA Asheville" cake was as tasty as it was beautiful. Mrs. Penny garnished the evening with her "ladies-only" drawing for a "survival-kit" of needed items for a pilots' wife. Mrs. Julio (Petra) Arrietta was the deserving winner. The "kit" included sun-block lotion which Mrs. Petra could have used the week before when she and Julio attended an AMA event in Alabama and she was overexposed to the sunrays and baked her shoulder.

What a joy to meet Greg Kieliszek and Jay Marshall who've been promising via the Discussion List to become active and did this week-end. A welcomed "newbie" was Doyle Blevins of Green Mountain, NC who flew his initial SPA contest in the B-Novice class. Doyle's T-34 incorporates the tail section off Ron Underwood's A-6 Intruder that Ron gave him last year after he had hit the huge tower just within "eyeshot" of the site.

Warren Oliver flew his "Oliver Twist" powered with a Hobby King electric motor, 5000MAH 6.5S 22.2V pack which turned an APC 13.5/9 prop.....plenty of power for the expert sequence. John Nessler, Jr. and Eric Nessler, the "buckeyes", flew new winter projects, a Phantom-1 and a Daddy Rabbit, both nice performers. Greg K's Deception model, just like designer Jim Kimbro's original, featured a "fixed" portion of the fuse aft, below the rudder. Many of us recall the Bridi Kwik-Fly II was similar. Greg powers his model with a Webra Speed 60 turning a 12/7 prop and 15% nitro.

Competition in all classes was evident as you can determine from the scores (elsewhere)...especially in the Expert class where the flying was just like the good-ole-days, just itty-bitty errors made the difference. Carter Pounder, after judging a couple rounds of expert said, "it is just difficult to find downgrades". Accurate statement. In Novice, Koening won 3 rounds, Joe Grant 2. In Sportsman, Charlie Johns K'd 2 rounds, John Nessler, Sr. K'd 2 and Karl Gerth 1. That, folks, is close and good execution. It was evident, practice has shown.

A close call occurred at the Motel 6 when Greg K. plugged in his cube to charge his starter battery, left for about 20 minutes. Upon returning, his room was filled with smoke when, evidently, the innerds of the cube went awry and melted. (See Photo) I don't mean to initiate a recall but I asked Greg for pertinents.....it was a Mod HAN103 by Hangar Nine cube rated for: Out 12 @ 600MA. It's probably a good idea to use this item with caution. He had the cube plugged into an extension which did not "trip" even though it was rated for 15 Amps.

Raffle winners included: Helicopter - Mark Coffin, Taurus kit - Doyle Blevins, A-6 Intruder - Ken Antos, Cash for gas - Bruce Underwood. Two bright SPA shirts were auctioned,Russ Chiles and Jeff Owens were high bidders for them.

When your reporter says "Asheville was a COOL contest!"....that isn't just a figure of speech it was literal. What a delightful number six at ABA field, renamed the Pat Hagan Memorial in honor of the late Pat who passed away since the 2010 event.

ABA, Pat was above where he and the Chief blessed this event with, not only weather but in every respect. Many thanks for that NC hospitality and genuine CLASS. Will Hicks, CD, concluded the award ceremony saying, "we are so proud of the respect shown our field by SPA....when you leave it looks as if you didn't have a contest, for the field is just as clean as it was in the beginning". What a compliment for SPA hygiene! Just our way of saying, "ABA, thanks for hosting us annually". "We are so grateful and see ya' next year."

Bruce Underwood, SPA/PIO

Click here to see the photos by Duane Wilson
Click here to see the photos by Bruce Underwood