Jay Burkart
Oct 01, 1997, 12:00 AM
<p><font face="Times New Roman">This years SAM Champs was held on the Eldorado Dry Lake
just South of Las Vegas Nv. Unlike previous years the arid lake bed would not be fraught
with any visiting snakes or Fire Ants. We had here the perfect site some 5 miles wide by 7
miles long. The only thing to snag our models this year was the mountains some 8 miles
away.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">We had three electric events same as previous years, those
being: Spirit of SAM, Electric Texaco and Electric Limited Motor Run. The rules were not
any different this year but the competition was much tougher. As some of you may recall
this year I was a marked man with a large bulls-eye on my back from a winning performance
in '96. </font></p>
<p><font size="4">Spirit of SAM</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/eutrerwn.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Eut Tileston's winning model Earl Stahl TaylorCraft</strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman">This year's Spirit of SAM was won by Eut
Tileston flying his Earl Stahl TaylorCraft powered by a Speed 400. The model was very
light coming in at about 16 oz and with a 46in wingspan. With this combination he could
work the lighter thermals which were available at the time of the 3 man fly-off. Eut's a
veteran champion of SAM competition and several time over-all Champion of the SAM Champs.
It was only fitting that he finally won the competition since it was he who sponsored it
into the well accepted event it has become.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/euttaylr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Eut Tileston, winner of Spirit of SAM</strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kirbspir.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
<font size="2"><strong>Kirby Hinson's Spirit of SAM model from '38 Zaic Yearbook</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">A side note, I had visited Eut several weeks before the
Champs and stayed over a few days at which time I had given him some of my secret
"Snake Oil" which he applied to his model and gave him the edge.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">As noted I was a second to Eut in the fly-off, an all up,
last down flight to break the 3 way tie for first. I was flying my Lanzo Cabin same as my
two previous years. Jerry Smartt placed third in the standings flying the same airplane as
last year, his Heller's Mulvihill.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/davelmr.jpg" width="368" height="254"><br>
Dave Acker with his LMR model a unique Foote Westerner<br>
with MEC brushless and MEC Gearbox. Great performer.</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4">Electric Limited Motor Run</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Next days event was the Electric Limited Motor Run and the
event was won by Kip Merker flying a Lanzo Bomber with a Trinity Sapphire up front,
running a MEC 3.6 to 1 gearbox. Grabbing the air for every last inch was a Aeronaut 16.5 x
15 a very good combo. Wow! can Kip ever build light. I think the open space in the model
weighed more than the whole balsa structure. Kip is one of the best builders I have seen
for making a structure just strong enough but incredibly light.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kiplmr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Kip Merker with winning LMR Lanzo Bomber, Trinity Sapphire power</strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kenlmr.jpg" width="368" height="254"><br>
Ken Kullman with his LMR Weather's Westerner</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">In a 3 way flyoff again, an all up last down, I came in
second with my Cleveland Playboy powered by a Mega motor. Same plane as last year same set
up but not good enough in light lift. Phil Pearce came in third flying his Lanzo Bomber.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/phillmr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Phil Pearce LMR model Lanzo Bomber</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Day three was scheduled for Electric Texaco and here I had
my new secret weapon with many improvements over last year. However this year in the
desert Southwest, that arid parched landscape, with an annual rainfall of 2 inches-</font><strong>WE
GOT RAINED OUT!</strong></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/rearwin.jpg" width="371" height="258"><br>
Eut Tileston back-up model, Stahl Rearwin Speedster, <br>
came in second in SAM Concours</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Well wait till next year. Sept 15, Muncie Indiana, at the
AMA National Flying site will be the '98 SAM Champs. I've already got new plans and lots
of Snake Oil. If you'd like to see more detail of the models and some of the unique motor
combos please look for my article upcoming in Electric Flight Intl sometime around Spring.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Jay Burkart<br>
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=jayflyer&d=iglou.com">jayflyer(at)iglou.com</a></font>
just South of Las Vegas Nv. Unlike previous years the arid lake bed would not be fraught
with any visiting snakes or Fire Ants. We had here the perfect site some 5 miles wide by 7
miles long. The only thing to snag our models this year was the mountains some 8 miles
away.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">We had three electric events same as previous years, those
being: Spirit of SAM, Electric Texaco and Electric Limited Motor Run. The rules were not
any different this year but the competition was much tougher. As some of you may recall
this year I was a marked man with a large bulls-eye on my back from a winning performance
in '96. </font></p>
<p><font size="4">Spirit of SAM</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/eutrerwn.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Eut Tileston's winning model Earl Stahl TaylorCraft</strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman">This year's Spirit of SAM was won by Eut
Tileston flying his Earl Stahl TaylorCraft powered by a Speed 400. The model was very
light coming in at about 16 oz and with a 46in wingspan. With this combination he could
work the lighter thermals which were available at the time of the 3 man fly-off. Eut's a
veteran champion of SAM competition and several time over-all Champion of the SAM Champs.
It was only fitting that he finally won the competition since it was he who sponsored it
into the well accepted event it has become.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/euttaylr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Eut Tileston, winner of Spirit of SAM</strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kirbspir.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
<font size="2"><strong>Kirby Hinson's Spirit of SAM model from '38 Zaic Yearbook</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">A side note, I had visited Eut several weeks before the
Champs and stayed over a few days at which time I had given him some of my secret
"Snake Oil" which he applied to his model and gave him the edge.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">As noted I was a second to Eut in the fly-off, an all up,
last down flight to break the 3 way tie for first. I was flying my Lanzo Cabin same as my
two previous years. Jerry Smartt placed third in the standings flying the same airplane as
last year, his Heller's Mulvihill.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/davelmr.jpg" width="368" height="254"><br>
Dave Acker with his LMR model a unique Foote Westerner<br>
with MEC brushless and MEC Gearbox. Great performer.</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="4">Electric Limited Motor Run</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Next days event was the Electric Limited Motor Run and the
event was won by Kip Merker flying a Lanzo Bomber with a Trinity Sapphire up front,
running a MEC 3.6 to 1 gearbox. Grabbing the air for every last inch was a Aeronaut 16.5 x
15 a very good combo. Wow! can Kip ever build light. I think the open space in the model
weighed more than the whole balsa structure. Kip is one of the best builders I have seen
for making a structure just strong enough but incredibly light.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kiplmr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Kip Merker with winning LMR Lanzo Bomber, Trinity Sapphire power</strong></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/kenlmr.jpg" width="368" height="254"><br>
Ken Kullman with his LMR Weather's Westerner</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">In a 3 way flyoff again, an all up last down, I came in
second with my Cleveland Playboy powered by a Mega motor. Same plane as last year same set
up but not good enough in light lift. Phil Pearce came in third flying his Lanzo Bomber.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/phillmr.jpg" width="368" height="248"><br>
Phil Pearce LMR model Lanzo Bomber</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Day three was scheduled for Electric Texaco and here I had
my new secret weapon with many improvements over last year. However this year in the
desert Southwest, that arid parched landscape, with an annual rainfall of 2 inches-</font><strong>WE
GOT RAINED OUT!</strong></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2"><strong><img src="http://static.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/1997/sam/rearwin.jpg" width="371" height="258"><br>
Eut Tileston back-up model, Stahl Rearwin Speedster, <br>
came in second in SAM Concours</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Well wait till next year. Sept 15, Muncie Indiana, at the
AMA National Flying site will be the '98 SAM Champs. I've already got new plans and lots
of Snake Oil. If you'd like to see more detail of the models and some of the unique motor
combos please look for my article upcoming in Electric Flight Intl sometime around Spring.</font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman">Jay Burkart<br>
<a href="http://rcgroups.com/shared/nospam.php?u=jayflyer&d=iglou.com">jayflyer(at)iglou.com</a></font>