There are going to be those who just can’t leave a good thing alone. They will be the ones who say things, such as, "Why did they do (something) that way?", or, "That doesn’t make any sense. They should have done it this way.". or, "If they’re going to do….". "If they won’t allow…". Etc., "…then I don't want anything to do with it." If you are one of those, there’s no reason for you to continue reading. Hopefully, you’re of the attitude, "Hey! A lot of work has gone into this. Let’s give it a try and see how it goes.".

A lot of work has gone into the resurrecting of the "old" AMA Control Line Team Racing Regulations to make them more livable for today’s needs and attitudes. Since mid 1994, Jed Kusik and Dave Braun (fellow Southern California modelers) and I have discussed this project with the local racing group and with fellow racers from across the United States. We’ve talked to many of the guys who actually flew the event from 1949 to about 1965; a couple are considered the originators of the event in Southern California.

Nostalgia is the main reason for dredging up a by-gone event such as this; not the need to have another "all out, do anything to win" racing event. To many of us AMA Team Racing is a remnant of "the good old days", a good feeling, one we’d like to enjoy again. For this reason most of the rules decisions have been made to carefully preserve that feeling. Those of you who want more freedom to change the designs of yesteryear and make them something they were not, PLEASE, go fly the current AMA events and leave us alone.

The results of all the research and discussions are based upon the 1965 AMA rule book, section 15, starting on page 20. The intent is to make Classic "B" Team Racing a fun event that an "average" pilot can fly and one that hi-tech methods are not required to be competitive. It is intended to keep the air speeds below 100MPH. If air speeds get much over that, specific restrictions MUST be implemented.

Due to the fact that the old racing engines are not readily available, are expensive and those who have or can get them don’t always want to use them in competition, a modern engine group has been included with the old engines as allowable power.

In discussing the event with the "old timers", the first thing suggested (strongly) was to get rid of the "stooge" start. We have taken their advice. The race starting method used is the FAI Team Racing "LeMans" style start. For safety reasons we encourage the use of "hot gloves" over the plug-in battery connections used "way back then".

The rules as originally stated in the 1965 rule book will be presented in the same type as you are now reading. Changes to the original rules for the Classic "B" Team Race rules are presented in italics. Recent changes from the 1995-1996 rules to formulate the current 1998-1999 rules are preceded by an (*).

A copy of the legal model list is available for $3.50. Some full size plans are available at $7 per plan.

So, put together a model and come out and have fun with Classic "B" team racing.

Kenn Smith

521 Jansen Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773-1617

Ph: 909-592-2100 Fax: 909-592-7873

E-mail: SMPKENN@Aol.Com

2. GENERAL     All pertinent (the latest) AMA regulations and the regulations for gas model

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS

3. Engine shall be as listed below. It shall be completely cowled with only glow plug, needle valve stem, cut-off lever, fill-vent tubes, or exhaust permitted to protrude through the cowling. A small access hole for choking is permissible.

Allowable engines:

Any engine (max. .29 cid) manufactured for commercial sales prior to January 1, 1961.

15.4 Model shall have a minimum effective wing area of 125 square inches.

5. Model shall have a cockpit or cabin containing a dummy pilot’s head with both being in proportion to the model. The minimum distance from the top of the pilot’s head to the bottom of the fuselage shall be 3-3/4" and the minimum fuselage width from shoulders to hips, where the pilot is located, shall be 2".

6. Model landing gear shall be of the two wheel, side-by-side type, and may be either fixed or retractable. Wheels must lower for all landings if of the retractable type.

7. All fuel shall be contest supplied and consist of 10% Nitro, 20% Castor oil and 70% Methanol.

8. Fuel tank, including filler line and fuel line from tank to needle valve, shall hold no more than 1 fluid ounce (1.80 cubic inches - 29.50 cubic centimeters). Fuel systems shall be subject to measurement at any time.

9. Model shall have a means of engine shut-off, controllable by the pilot in flight.

10. Model shall be rigged for counterclockwise flying.

11. Model shall be colorfully painted and have a large number on each side of the fuselage for identification. For added realism, the required AMA license numbers should be prefixed by the letter "N". (When a national points system is established, these racing numbers will be obtained from and registered with the governing organization.)

12.   Team Racers shall not be acceptable if they are pod-and-boom, flush or prone cockpit, asymmetrical, (*) fiberglass or carbon fiber shell, single wheel, or flying wing designs.

MODEL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

13.   All models must pass a general safety inspection.

14.   Line length, measured from center line of the model to center of control handle, must not be less than 60 feet, nor longer than 60’6". Control handles providing for easy adjustment of line length are permitted providing they are equipped with a positive safety lock. Readjusting line length after official measurement shall disqualify the contestant. Lines must be measured each official flight, but may be stored between flights.

15.   Two line systems are required and each line shall have a minimum diameter of .018", (*) and be braided lines. No internal line hook-ups are allowed.

16.   Model control mechanism from the handle to and including the model shall withstand a 20G pull test.

FIELD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

17. Pilots must stay near the center of a 10 foot radius "center" circle and walk around the center while flying.

18.   Pilots must move to the edge of the "center" circle to land for refueling or at the finish of a race. Pilots must keep one foot inside the "center" circle during the start of the race and during pit stops.

19.   During a race, any pilot not flying (unable to continue or having finished), must take a sitting or kneeling position outside the "center" circle and keep out of the way of other pilots. He, or she, may not leave the Racing Zone until the finish of the race.

20.   Pilots should be crouching, straddling the "center" circle for the start of the race and for take-off after refueling during a race and move back to the center of the circle as quickly as possible when racer becomes airborne.

21.   The "Pitting" or "Flying" circle shall be a radius of 74 feet from the center of the flying area with eight equally spaced pitting segments. Crew members must keep themselves and their equipment outside the "Pitting" circle during the race.

22.   Crew members shall not step into the Racing Zone with both feet.

ENTRY AND QUALIFICATION:

24.   The individual team shall consist of one pilot and not more than two crew members.

25.   While the entrant need not necessarily be the pilot, he, or she, must be a member of the team.

26.   Only one model may be entered per team member.

27.   All teams must pass the following requirements before starting of the first race:

1. Model must pass all team racing rules and safety regulations.
2. New pilots, or pilots unknown to the race officials must fly a qualifying flight by making a smooth take-off and fly a 7-lap course with complete control and in a smooth manner.
3. Pilot must successfully demonstrate engine control device to end qualifying flight.

RACES:

28.   Qualified teams will be given one chance to fly in each of the following heat races, with pit stops in any race if necessary.

1. 1-1/2 Mile Heat Race (21 laps)
2. 2-1/2 Mile Heat Race (35 laps)
3. 5 Mile Heat Race (70 laps)

29.   A Consolation Race (100 laps) will be flown by the teams standing from 4^th to 7^th place in Heat Race total points.

30.   The 10 Mile Feature Race (140 laps) will be flown by the teams standing from 1^st to 3^rd place in Heat Race total points, plus the winner of the Consolation Race.

POINT SYSTEM:

31. Points shall be awarded to the teams winning each heat race as follows:

Race 1^st 2^nd 3^rd 4th

1-1/2 Mile Heat 19 14 9 4

2-1/2 Mile Heat 28 22 16 10

5 Mile Heat 39 32 25 18

32. BEAUTY JUDGING. It is recommended that all models be judged for their beauty and workmanship, and that points given each racer be added to the heat race points to determine final Heat Race Point Totals from which Consolation and feature Race participants are selected. Between 10 and 2 points are to be given each entrant. Each plane should receive what it is worth.

Design and Realism 1 to 5 points

Workmanship and Finish 1 to 5 points

2 to 10 points

33. (OMITTED)

RACING RULES AND PROCEDURES

34. Each team flying in a given race shall enter the ready pits as the teams in the previous race move into the flying area. All necessary preparations must be made in the ready pits before entering the flying area. Each team in the ready pit should be ready to move into the flying area as soon as the teams in the previous race have cleared the flying area.

35. There shall be a two-minute time limit to warm up all engines.

36. At the end of the two minute warm-up period a five second countdown will commence, ending with a sharp, clear "GO" signal. At that moment the crew members must be standing upright close to their model and the pilots must be crouching on the border of the "center" circle with the control handle near the ground below the knees.

42. After all models have completed the race, pilots should land and clear the area for the next race.

43. (OMITTED)
1. (OMITTED)
2. (OMITTED)

46. Any conduct or flight maneuver by a pilot that endangers, or results in damage to any other participating pilot or his model will constitute a foul and cause immediate disqualification from the race in which it occurs.

47. Whipping, backsiding, pivoting and blocking shall be cause for disqualification from the race in which it occurs.

15.48 (OMITTED)

1. The model MUST be built in the same manner as the original design. If it shows all wood construction, it must be built of all wood (no fiberglass or carbon fiber shells). You can cover the exterior surfaces for added strength,, but the wood structure must remain intact.
2. The Berkeley "Quest" came with a metal cowl. In such cases, a fiberglass cowl or a built up wood block cowl will be acceptable.
3. "VECO" and "FROOM" spinners are not readily available. If you have one, please use it. If not, a "modern" aluminum or plastic spinner is acceptable as long as it doesn’t distract from the lines of the model.
4. "Banner" and other wheels of the era are not very plentiful. Again, if you have them and your model shows them, please use them. If your model drawings show "fatter" wheels, please use wheels that look like what was used on the original. Some models of the era used racing wheels of the day. Be conscious of the intent. We don’t want all the models looking like real airplanes except for a bunch of super skinny, tiny racing wheels. If you use racing wheels, they must be of the same diameter, or larger, as the wheels on the drawing. "Perfect" streamlined wheels would be a good choice and are still found at old hobby shops and swap meets.
5. Modern hinges and control horns are acceptable. However, you will get more appearance points if you have hinges and exposed control horns of the period.
6. Modern covering materials, except prefinished, iron-on plastic coverings, are acceptable as long as they are painted over and undetectable.
7. Models must be painted in some racing paint scheme of the era. No clear, wood finishes. Modern graphics were not used in the 50s & 60s. Please, stay in "period" paint schemes.
8. Aluminum landing gear may NOT be substituted for a wire gear, and visa-versa. The thickness of an aluminum gear may be altered thicker than shown on the original design or than what was provided in a kit. Example: Berkeley kit gears were very thin, flimsy sheet aluminum.
9. Wheels must be of the same diameter as the originals and must be located, both fore & aft and laterally, as shown on the plans.
10. Leadouts may be either solid wire or flexible cable. Leadouts must exit the fuselage as shown on the drawings. Example: "Quest" leadouts exit above the wing, run parallel to the wing over the top of the wing and pass through guides at the tip. "Sheik" leadouts run through the wing. Leadouts may be moved fore & aft, but the spacing between leadouts must remain the same as shown on the drawings.
11. Canopies were hand made many times. If you wish to do it, do it, but keep it the same length and relative shape as the original. SIG has a choice of two styles. Pick the one that fits the closest to original in length and style as possible.

As you can determine from the above, we want to keep the model designs as unchanged as possible. It is not possible to "allow anything to be done as long as it was done with other models of the era.". Each design is unique and it is important to keep this uniqueness in tact. I repeat, "this is not an event for the all out, do anything to win competitor". We are working very hard to maintain control over the appearance and performance of this event. It is very important that we keep this event at a level where any average pilot and builder can feel like he or she can build a competitive model and quickly learn to fly in a 4-up race and be among the winners. If you feel otherwise, PLEASE, go fly Rat.

Kenn Smith