|
The Ben Oliver Memorial
Contest K C R C - What a glorious place to be!!!!! Knoxville, TN…..the weekend of May 19 & 20 at the “South’s Most Scenic Flying Sight” was one for the “memory-scrapbook”. From arrival on Friday afternoon til departure a bit after noon on Sunday..it was like the CD, Co-CD and the sponsoring club had ordered it from a menu prepared by the most experienced Chef’s in the universe. Co-CD Phil and several clubmembers welcomed arrivals on Friday and even assisted in tent erection, location, etc. With this particular time of the year selected for this year’s KCRC contest, the afternoon sun posed no problem and practice continued as long as there was daylight…then the visiting began, storytelling and the like. Saturday, Dennis and Phil decided to execute from a single flightline which kept on flying right on through lunch on Saturday and started at the pre-announced time on Sunday which allowed for attention to every flight from every attendee. Air was the best an old-timer can recall with probably 5 MPH at the most and mostly cross to SW. What a “great job” by the last cycle’s pattern committee, the top-heavy Novice entries of the last few years has been overturned as a result with almost even numbers of entries in the above classes thus far this season. Mr. Ken Antos of KY had the Novice class to himself and thoroughly enjoyed eyeballing the “K’s” by his name on the scoreboard for all 5 delightful rounds. So did, we, Mr. Ken’s admirers. Dennis Sams of Kingsport, TN showed he had been burning the fuel with his 1st place finish in the Sportsman class winning 3 out of 5…..Phil Spelt, co-CD kept Sams honest and K’d 2 rounds. Ohio’s John Nessler, Jr (Dad) flew to a great 3rd place with his Phantom-1, followed by Vic Koenig of Johnson City, TN and his Dirty Birdy. I repeat, “this season has seen the best Expert Class flights I’ve ever seen for this early in a season”. I was “privy” to judge 3 of the 5 rounds between these guys, and it was nip-&-tuck to choose downgrades by any of them. Mr. Barry Hunt (Dennis’ Son) borrowed one of Dad’s Panzers and flew with the Expert crowd. What a joy to have him from his home country visiting Dad and Mom and electing to participate. Barry placed 5th, Warren Oliver with that electric “Oliver-Twist” 4th, John Nessler III, fresh off a victory in Cullman last month copped the 3rd place award, only barely out-pointed by Ellis Newkirk of Flower Mound, TX who finished 2nd and Brother Eric of Dublin, OH who aced a total score of 3,000. Congrats, you experts, it was a genuine joy watching you jockey those SPA pattern ships and you are worthy of the title “Experts”. Four of us “old Codgers” flew the Senior Expert class. Mike Robinson, recently turned 60 put the pressure on Bill Dodge of Oak Ridge, TN who finished 3rd, Russ Chiles of Laurinburg, NC, 2nd, and Bruce Underwood of Guntersville, AL who won a nice class of the “seasoned vets”. Phil, reserved a room in the CALHOUNS restaurant in Knoxville whose pride of notoriety is “the best ribs in the nation”. This was Saturday night and the evening was just filled with luscious foods and good fellowship. Mr/Mrs. Warren Oliver shared a luscious ice-cream/banana desert with all at the table. Excellent. We swapped tales til way after normal bedtime. I don’t recall any mishaps other than Dennis Sams separating the landing gear from his fuselage (an easy repair) when a tailwind forced the model into some tall grass at the end of the runway. The highlight of the weekend came at the awards on Sunday with beautiful Tennessee shaped permanent plaques sporting the KCRC iconic logo, metal engraved memento and the SPA logo. Special prizes were drawn for along with the awards, winners were: Gallons of Cool Power fuel: Dennis Sams, Mike Robinson, Barry Hunt, Warren Oliver and Bill Dodge. Phil donated an A-6 Intruder shortkit which also went to lucky Bill Dodge. Dodge actually managed a “smile” when Mrs. Heather Nessler drew his name. Many photos where “snapped” and are available for memories both on the website and other locations on the Internet. Thanks to the photo-shooters for preserving the good-times shared with KCRC this week-end. Just viewing them will allow the pleasantries of this week-end forever. KCRC, you guys and gals never fail to make for the finest an SPA precision pattern contest can offer, it was such a GRAND week-end and we’re all so grateful. Bruce Underwood, PIO |
 |
Senior Pattern Association |
 |
| Dedicated to the Building, Flying and Competition of Vintage Pattern Model Aircraft | ||