THE TEAMS
Trnka/Drazek
The real "Factory Team" for the state-operated MVVS these guys went to more World and European Championships than anyone. Despite the years when the Russian wouldn't let them go they still racked up numerous appearances. In a country in which flying models is one of the few ways to get a ticket across the border they consistently beat the teams at home and did well in many champs. The fast time they set in 1964 stood for seven years.
The reputation for being very fast was well deserved, and when I went to visit the Czech team in their room, with Adolph Malik's comical translation services, there was the somewhat rotund Milana Drázka. Malik looks at me and points to him "He holts za rekort" . Well sure, they were fast. Then Malik grins "One liter, three point two seconds!" Everyone laughs.
Jiri Trnka's flying style and the "Orion" he flew were designed for overtaking. The leadouts well forward so when pulled a lot the aircraft was trimmed to fly straight ahead. If there was a wind he could get a passing rhythm, starting to pass into the wind, then finishing downwind with a little tug and a huge speed margin. The 4:23 world champs heat time they set in 1964 stood for seven years.
Just look at the remarkable record: (remember the political problems with Russia in 1969 kept Czech entries to zero + a few politically OK teams.)
Each of these times they had to compete to get on the team, then compete with the rest of the world.
Milana Drazek and The Natural Finish Czech F2C Racer "ORION"
MVVS TR rear exhaust
| year | pos. | best heat time |
| 1960 | 11 | 5:19 |
| 1961 | 4 | 5:09 |
| 1962 | 11 | 5:09 |
| 1963 | 2 | 4:48 |
| 1964 | 2 | 4:23.8 |
| 1965 | 22 | 5:05 |
| 1966 | 7 | 4:45 |
| 1967 | 4 | 4:48 |
| 1968 | 8 | 4:48 |
| 1969 | n/e | only 1 Czh team |
| 1970 | n/e | no Czh team |
| 1971 | 14 | 4:56 |
| 1972 | 5 | 4:37.5 |
