D8 Contest Results

Here are the contest reports and notes from the 2015 season. Click on the "scores" link to see all the rounds details as well as all raw scores. Click on the "pictures" link to see the contest photos.

Spring Kick Off Pattern Contest, Richland WA, pictures, scores

Treasure Valley Pattern Contest, Boise ID, pictures, scores

We had a hot one in Boise this year. The 6th Treasure Valley Pattern Contest was held the weekend of June 6-7th just outside Boise Idaho. We had the best contest weather we have ever had. In sharp contrast to complaints received about snow and rain just a few short years ago. Complaints about upper 80 degree temperatures where heard this year. The sun shade was a very popular place to be.

While Rex Lesher and John Bentley took care of scorekeeping duties; CD Mike Riggs ran two flight lines with an Iron fist. Saturday 15 contestants flew four rounds followed by two more rounds Sunday.

It was great to see 4 sportsman, In addition to Boise local Robert Sox; Paul Chapman, Ray Wasson Jr. and Ray Wasson Sr. followed Art Kelley +500 mile from Medford, OR. This casual observer senses something good happening down Medford way. Pattern interest in Medford seems to have increased significantly since Art bought his - BIG - Sprinter van.

Steve Carothers from Utah made the trip and won Intermediate ahead of Boise locals Nathan Wingert and Kerry Carlsen. Steve flew all six rounds Saturday, so he could be back in Utah Sunday.

Dennis Chlarson from Utah and Art Kelly showed us how to have fun flying Advance. Both had smiley faces all weekend with Dennis taking first. Dennis flew a well worn General Hobbies Evolution which flew amazingly well.

John Bentley from AZ took first place in Masters in front of Bill Bowen and Jim Hiller, both from WA.

Jim had what appeared to be a serious consult with Darin Pierce about his newest design the Option 110.

Darin Pierce from Utah lead F3A all the way with Oregonians Pat Harris and Rex Lesher battling for second. Ironically Rex beat Pat by the same 8 point margin Pat beat Rex in Tri-Cities. Rex flew his new Plettenberg powered Proteus against Pat’s Hacker powered Xareltoo Bi-Plane.

I would like to thank NSRCA District VIII for their continued support of this event.

High-Desert Classic Pattern Contest, Redmond OR, pictures, scores

Albany Thundervolts "Renegade Classic Pattern Shootout" Millersberg, OR, report

Molalla Pattern Challenge, Molalla Oregon, pictures, scores

Fun In The Sun Pattern Classic, Richland WA, scores

Medford, Oregon Pattern Classic Contest, pictures, scores

Precision Matters

At the risk of being accused of boldly plagiarizing the work of another I’ve borrowed the heading from a recent General Motors magazine ad as an umbrella for this contest report. (Guilty as charged.)

As the morning sun began to sparkle in the east above Mt. McLoughlin we heard the crunch of gravel as vehicles pulled into the entry road to Agate field, home of the Rogue Eagles of Medford. The crunching continued, and continued....and continued. A convoy was arriving. We soon realized that we were hosting the largest pattern event seen by District 8 in many, many years. Despite a couple of last minute cancellations we had nearly 30 pilots for this year’s event. Participants arrived after long treks, from Washington, Idaho, California and all over Oregon. Every class was represented and especially rewarding were the nine pilots who registered for Sportsman (one had to scratch because of a misbehaving engine.)

The Medford event was a unique judging experience. We’ve gone green. It offered the first opportunity for most D-8 pilots to come face-to-face with a paperless scoring system. Peter Vogel not only joined his brethren D-7 pilots to journey to the north, he packed his digital scoring package. Now judges could keep their eyes on an airplane throughout its entire flight without once glancing at paper. Within milliseconds the scores were transmitted by wifi to Peter’s central laptop, calculated and immediately presented on a digital display. Needless to say, the display became a popular gathering spot as rounds were completed.

As the California delegation arrived they commented “We came for blood...” Let me emphasize that it was offered in a good humored manner and, indeed, it was really enjoyable to give a warm embrace to old friends not seen for many years. Sure there is some cross border rivalry, but more importantly there are some rich and enduring cross border friendships. After the dust settled, the blood had been drawn. D-7 needed a Brinks truck to haul away the heavy hardware and the big bucks.

To close, let me return to the title -- Precision Matters. Pattern flyers in every district across the county would agree that the best of all worlds would be having the season’s contests within a 50 mile radius of home. It’s easy to get to the local event. The reality is that we are spread from stateline to stateline. And the sustained success of our wonderful hobby comes from the pilots who are prepared to drag out of bed early, carve time out of family schedules and make the long hauls to one another’s contests. This happened this year at Medford and it was because Precision Matters to a great group of pilots. We are very grateful for your energy and support.

And here are the outcomes of the 2015 Medford Pattern Classic

Sportsman

First Place: Tyler Johnson

Second Place: Scott Hudson

Third Place: Ray Wasson Sr.

Intermediate

First Place: Peter Vogel

Second Place: Karl Watts

Third Place: Jerry Stinson

Advanced

First Place: Derek Emmett

Second Place: Bob Crump

Third Place: Bill Carder

Masters

First Place: Jon Carter

Second Place: Dale Olstinske

Third Place: Bill Bowen

FAI

First Place: Don Atwood

Second Place: Frank Capone

Third Place: Pat Harris