6th Cass Underwood Memorial
Mac Hodges Field, Andersonville, GA
June 22-23, 2013

Recall many of the scenes in the movie, "Gone with the Wind"? Many were filmed in these flatlands of Southwest Georgia. Hodges Hobbies is located right in the midst of masses of farmland famous for it's peanut crops until the use of corn expanded to the fuel market...and many of the peanut producers switched to the latter.

Switches may have been made by the farming industry, but nothing has changed at Hodges Hobbies field...it's still gigantic in size with loved accommodations such as several thousand feet of covered area with paved flooring providing cooling shade and work area for scoring, tables for assembly of models, covered with astro-turf leading, at one end, to the restrooms and bath houses for both genders.

Note, both of them are air-conditioned. Ask for more? You got it, one of the best stocked Hobby Shops in the South right there on premise.

Now, you have the scenic setting in which the annual Cass Underwood Memorial SPA contest was held June 22 and 23rd. The weather was just ideal with a NW wind of 3 to 10 MPH, just enough to keep one comfortable. Even the gnats that inhabit this area seemed fewer in number than at past events. They were well handled with a new product discovered by some, a "bugs-off" towelette made by "Deep Woods".

Much like the "reunion" type atmosphere that encompasses each SPA contest, this one was another example beginning with many Cass stories shared along with practice til almost dark. Groups dined at their pleasure Friday night, with an organized jaunt to the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant in Americus, GA on Saturday. For those not familiar, Americus is just 6 miles from Hodges and is where most all stayed that occupied motels and Ruby Tuesday's nice restaurant is adjacent to them. See photo of gathering.

Grandpa Ken Blackwell, recovering from eye surgery just shy of two weeks prior, assisted his 15 year old Grandson, Will Blackwell in the B-Novice class. New blood with a famous SPA pattern name. Jim Johns kept scores with the computer program provided by Mike Robinson while acing the first four rounds in the Novice class. Duwayne Lindsey who traveled with Doc Charles Gray from Indiana earned the 2nd spot in the Novice category. Dwayne Wilson from Asheville, NC aced all six rounds in Sportsman with Dan Dougherty, Roy Thompson and Charles Gray finishing in that order.

Scott Sappington flew a replica of his famed Daddy Rabbit (cover photo Model Aviation) to victory winning 3 of his 4 rounds on Saturday. Mike Robinson was within 11 "normalized" points of Sappington with Charlie Johns placing 3rd with his "bandaged" single-stick transmitter. Friday afternoon in practice, his elevator spring broke it's perch in the gimble of his transmitter, with his prowess as an engineer, he improvised a "fix" that got him through the contest.

Our Vice President, Jeff Owens won the Senior Expert class with very nice flying of his 2 Stroke powered Dirty Birdy. Bruce Underwood and Keith Watson, with their 4 strokers just couldn't equal Owens' execution. That is the order of finish.

Needless to say...our Expert class was all that one expected...."Nip-n-Tuck". All 4 executing the sequences just like their Competitors Guide pictures them. Eric Nessler evened the score with Brother John who won in Knoxville last month, but only by 11 "normalized" points. Jerry black only 2 "normalized" points behind John. Greg Hoke, from Warner Robins pushed this trio all weekend with his Evo 60 powered DB. What a joy to see this quartet perform the Expert patterns. Each flight was a GEM!

CD Dan called the flying to a "halt" about mid afternoon Saturday (since the Hobby Shop) was going to close in a couple hours, to hold the raffle. Prizes, for the most part were gift certificates to Hodges Hobbies..........Lucky winners of the $100 gift certificates were Jim Johns and John Nessler. They redeemed them in the HS almost immediately. Gas money of $50.00 went to Dan Dougherty and the "ladies" prize of $25.00 cash went to Debbie (Mrs. Greg) Hoke. This was a nice gesture by Dan and very timely.

At the awards ceremony, Dan exclaimed, "this has been a totally casualty-free weekend, without so much as a broken prop". At the pilots briefing Saturday morning, he had announced the $50 cash prize for the model that first went in the pond (see in the distance), but noone went fishing...so the reason for the drawing and most deservedly, he won the "fifty". Greg and Debbies Grandaughters did the drawing and earned a "hug" from Uncle Dan for drawing his ticket.

Take a while and view the photos and lets "relive" this pleasant weekend over and over. It's another that ended with hugs and "I'll see you in Douglasville, GA in a month" departing remarks. Five hours into the 6 hour drive home found your PIO exclaiming, "why does a weekend this pleasant have to end". Thanks Dan and the helpers you named for your' traditional great CDing job. CU next month!

Bruce Underwood, SPA PIO

Click here for photos