Now team trials are starting in preparation for the F3D WC 2013, here’s a look back to the past. Found this video and it features lots of familiar faces from the Australian pylon scene.
It’s a great video. Enjoy
Author Archives: Scadtastic
AMPRA 2012 – Maryborough, QLD
This event will be run over the Queen’s birthday long weekend (June 9-11, 2012). Some VMPRA members will be traveling to Maryborough, Qld. This is also on eof the selection events for the next F3D championships in the Netherlands from 24-28th July 2013.
The new event “F3R” will also be flown at this event as a demonstration event.
Good luck to all VMPRA members who are traveling up to Maryborough and competing. We look forward to seeing the results.
Werribee Q500 & Sport pylon day
The weather for this day was brilliant. There was just a light breeze and mostly sunny. There was even a sighting of sun block in the pits.
Discussion in the pits before racing starts
There was some very close racing in Q500. One race saw a mid-air collision between Terry O’Connor and Mark French. Mark came out of it unscathed but the same couldn’t be said for Terry.
There was 3 EF-1 (Electric F1) models racing and a new comer to pylon, Daniel Arapakis racing his trainer. Well done to Daniel! He improved dramatically during the day.
This event is always a great opportunity for people to try pylon racing for the first time.
The results are now post on the site – results>>>
Daniel waits for the countdown to start
And he's off
Warrnambool 2012 – Event Report
Brian, James, Jim & Tom on the way out to the line - FA1 (Aust F3D)
After a break from racing of over a month, VMPRA members headed down to Warrnambool for a weekend of pylon racing. Members of the Warrnambool club turned out in force to help and to provide good food and refreshments for the weekend. The field was in great condition but the weather on Saturday was not so good with very strong wind and the rain starting to fall in the afternoon. Sunday really made up for it, with only a light breeze and scatter cloud cover.
On Saturday we flew 5 rounds of Q500 followed by another 5 rounds of F400. Once the rain started falling, FA1 was abandoned for the day.
FA1 (Aust F3D) about to launch
Sunday started with FA1 & Q500 alternating until 9 rounds of Q500 had been completed and then a further 4 rounds of FA1 was flown to complete the event.
All in all this was a very enjoyable weekend. As well as the on field action, we all went to the pub for dinner and a good chin wag on the Saturday night. It was a pity that entries for this event were down on the usual numbers but there was plenty of good racing to be had by all.
Results have been posted. See results >>>
Warrnambool Club House & Tony Axon
Brian Steel Launching James Hurley's Q500. David Axon's model is just in the air
Full gallery of photos from this event >>>
Check out this video taken at the event>>>
Munro Event Report – John Hugan Trophy
Although numbers where a bit down due to the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and other clashes, this weekend turned out to be fantastic conditions for flying pylon, the field was in great condition and all had a good time.
F400 was flown with 2 new competitors to this class (Barry Townsend & myself) and Q500 saw Matt Carter flying in his second event (1st being Camperdown) and Ian Rickard who usually helps in the pylon cage on these weekends, flew Q500 for the first time.
The result are now uploaded. You can find them here>>>
The next event is at Warrnambool on April 28 – 29. See you there!
Camperdown – VMPRA Trophy – Event Report
View from the field of Mt Leura. David Axon in the forground.
What a fantastic start to the pylon racing year. Fine weather, great club and venue and a good turnout of competitors.
2 days of flying FA1, F400 & Q500 plus Beau Murphy & Rick Townsend flew their F5D planes as a demonstration event. These things really go. Beau’s 1st event of racing this plane saw him doing a 57.63 on the 10.5 lap cause. The best time with a FA1 was 59.20! I can see that this class has a good chance of gaining traction among the regular pylon racing fraternity plus bring in new pilots from the electric scene.
F400s being identified. Barry Murphy holding Beau's F5D
The results are now on-line, including lap times for the FA1 rounds. You can find the results via the “Results” menu button at the top of the page or follow this link.
Barry Townsend with his GoPro Camera
During this weekend, Barry Townsend took some video with his helmet mounted GoPro camera. It gives you a great view of the scene from the pilot area during a pylon race. It starts off with some Q500, then F400 & FA1 plus there is some vision of the F5Ds. It’s really well worth a look (especially at full scene as the video clip is HD).
Event Calender Update
Not long now until we go racing for the first time in 2012 and I think we’re all itching to go. First up is the VMPRA Trophy at Camperdown on the weekend of Feb 18-19. See the calendar for details.
Note the course restrictions and details of the VMPRA meeting.
There has been some minor changes to the calendar so make sure your diaries are all up to date so you don’t miss any of the action.
See you at Camperdown.
Passing of John Hughan
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Hughan, who finally lost his battle with cancer on the morning of Jan 30, 2012.
John, a member at LDMFA for many year, started pylon racing back in 1969, and was an active participant until recent years.
He was present at the formation of The Australian Miniature Pylon Racing Association (AMPRA) and was elected to the position of President. A position that he held for some 23 years. He was chairman of the MAAA pylon technical sub committee, was involved at the state level through (VMPRA) and had also been a contributor to the Australian Airborne Model Magazine for 15 years – writing a regular pylon articles.
Our thoughts go out to his family at this most difficult time.
New 2012 Calendar
The Preliminary calendar for 2012 is now on-line, see calendar >. August and September details are still to be finalised. There is also a schedule of how events will be run for the 2012 calendar. Events schedule >>>
Our thanks go out to Mick Kellett for coordinating with all the clubs and for putting all of this together.
Have a Merry Christmas and Safe Holidays and we look forward to another year full of pylon racing.
Bacchus Marsh Results, Nov 20, 2011
Quickies on the line before going on time
This was our last event for the year. We had 8 x Q500 & 4 x Sports entries including an EF-1 flown Alan Swift and Andrew Davies bought down a new EF-1 for a test flight during the day.
Alan Swift & Andrew Davies with their EF1 models
Also in the sport class was the battle of the Boomerangs between Matt Young in his 2nd event & David Axon.
David Axon doing some last minute tuning
It was windy as usual, the rain stayed away & it was a good day of flying with Some good close battles.
Toni Axon carrying out the starter's duties
Thanks to Joe Finocchiaro for the photo taken on the day.