KCRC
Knoxville, TN
May 17-18, 2014

So, it was colder'n blitzen on Saturday...the fellowship and camaradie was warm and totally enjoyed by the attendees and participants in KCRC 2014. After all, we were flying off one of the most "scenic" flying sites in the USA and contesting in Knoxville, TN is just a tradition.

CD Phil Spelt, despite horriffic pain in his back and Co-CD Warren Oliver put together a weekend as "memorable" as any in the heralded series of contests, which for me (PIO) dates back to the late 50's. Once you attend a KCRC contest, you never want to miss another there.

First, the bad stuff.....with swirling winds and cold temps, Jim Johns, who was relieved of scorekeeping chores, had his DR blown into the safety fence on takoff one round. The collision apparently cracked the wing to fuselage intersection. Johns took off and got to his Double Immelman and they separated at that point, the fuselage straight ahead and down, the wing floating downwind to the earth. The wing was recoved but the fuse spent the night in a wooded section before being discovered by KCRC clubber Craig Dieter on Sunday.

An APC sliced its way into the pointing finger of Russ Chiles as he was removing his glow igniter. Scott Anderson, EMT, administered first aid and directed Mr. Chiles to a local hospital where 8 stitches were required to heal the wounds. His "stuff" was taken care of by CD Spelt and others til Sunday. Russ and Mrs. Becky did attend the Soiree at the Calhouns' restaurant Saturday night with his neatly splinted and bandaged finger still enjoying the antistetic injuected into it prior to the stitching. Later, when it wore off it was replaced with oral pain relievers.

Now, the good stuff.......Kudos-many to Duane Wilson who recruited first-time SPA flyer Kevin Duncan from Manassas, VA who Duane met at the Hobby show in Toledo this year. Kevin, a veteran of AMA pattern, entered Advanced and really flew the schedule well. Duncan won the Advanced class scoring 4 K's in the 6 rounds flown. John Nessler, Jr. (Dad) kept him honest garnering 3942 normalized points and Bill Dodge, after K'ing the first round copped 3rd place with 3788 total points.

Nary a single Novice competed. In Sportsman, it was close between Vic Koenig's 3975 and Scott Anderson's 3961. The Expert class was, as has been the case for the past few years, a "nip-n-tucker" with Eric Nessler getting the blue 1st place award with 4,000, Jerry Black, with 2 K's scored 3986 and John Nessler III just a ways back in 3rd with 3916. Warren Oliver, Kevin Clark and Jamie Strong placed in the order named.

Two of the Senior Experts eliminated themselves, Johns with the wing ejection in flight, and Chiles with the flesh-eating APC event. It was a "nip-& Tuck chase in the "old guys" class between VP Jeff Owens, who carried home the blue 1st place award in his Skylane to Florida, Jeff's total was 3998, knocking off Bruce Underwood's 3996. Dave Phillips amassed 3354. They just don't get much closer than those first two scores.

At the awards ceremony late Sunday morning, Phil named Duane Wilson, who came and worked, judging, etc, the SPORTSMANSHIP award. Wilson, demonstrated the CLASS, we have known for several years now, he possesses. Spelt acknowledged Duanes' expertise in production of our bi-monthly, handsome, SPA newsletter and the miles he has driven to participate in the success of our Association. Duane Wilson, Sportsmanship personified.

Raffle winners were as follows: Duane Wilson carried an Ed Hartley Taurus, framed up by the Late Hartley, to NC with him. Dave Phillips won a framed up Phoenix 8. John Nessler (Dad) won the $200 gift certificate donated by Carolina Kits. RTL Fastener 5 packs went to Russ Chiles, Warren Oliver, Kevin Clark and Jamie Strong. The fastener kits courtesy Rick Bastone of RTL.

Phil Spelt, you and Warren with the scoring talents of Joel Hebert and the members of KCRC surely did a GREAT job (Phil worked the flight boards and it was such a pleasure to hear him on the PA microphone, equally well in both directions from the HQ). You folks put another stitch in the blanket of fine RC modeling contests in Knoxville. We all are MOST grateful.

Bruce Underwood, SPA PIO

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