Photos from the VSC Banquet Courtesy of Mrs Kathy Wright

John Wright and his Old Time Trophy

Warren Walker and Escort

Gary Akers and some Movie Star

Da Pres and Blondie

Get complete results and some photos at the CCMAC web site
    -> HERE

The VSC 2008 by John Wright

(Western music, drum roll). They come outa the west, the Knights, Renger, Borgonia, Wright, Kephardt, Tyler, Walker, Kick, Heydon, Gluth, Chesler, and Akers, to fly the VSC, OTS, Ignition, and Classic. Descending on Tucson like a swarm with their McCoy’s, AP Wasp’s and Brodaks, FP’s revving and screaming.

The locals were awed. They had never seen such raw talent, determination and guts. (Read: They had never seen such an assemblage of junk even get engines started, much less get in the air to fly.)

I had returned home from a Sunday flying session at Whittier Narrows to search the garage for pusher props. It seems that Kirk Mullunix was test flying a Rick Loomis push pull twin with two Aerotiger 36’s running APC 10-6’s one tractor, one pusher prop. It nearly tore his arm off. I was able to find some matched pairs of Zinger 10-4’s and 10-5’s which eventually proved to be more suitable. Rick Loomis brought the plane (his 1967 Sr. Nats winner design) and had Bob Whitley do the honors at the handle in Tucson. It was impressive, about 90 oz, 5 sec laps on full 70’ lines.

Kathy and I arrived Monday in bright sunshine, after an overnight stay in Blythe. The field was already buzzing with activity, test flying and just plain fun. Kathy left for the motel and I took some test flights with my 20 year old Barnstormer and it checked out OK. I don’t know if I’m slowing down or if time is speeding up, but I remember a few test flights Tuesday, but no trip to Pima museum, Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Tombstone, not even a hobby shop, but I was still busy all day preparing for the first round Wednesday.

Wednesday came and the weather was still holding good. I was up late in the flight order but the wind was reasonably. I ended up second in my circle, just a few points behind Keith with his Big Job/DS54. Charlie Reeves lead the other circle, also with a big Job but with a Fox 59. Thursday was due to be windy, but the worst never came up.

Since I was in the early flight order anyway, my flight came off well and put me in the lead. As the day progressed, some wind came up but as luck would have it, neither Charlie nor Keith outscored me, and my lead lasted until the end of the day. Only Bob Whitely threatened at the end of the day with his Belfrey Bound, but his first round score held him below me. This is the third time I’ve won OTS, and the second with the Barnstormer. My other win was with an embarrassingly beat up Ringmaster back when the Ringmaster was 40 yrs old (1992), now being rebuilt by Al and Matt Shorey. Hope they can do well with it.

There were no other Knights plaques in OTS, but the results are posted on SSW. Andy B was the sole Knights entry in Ignition. With OTS completed, the Knights focused on the Classic appearance judging. As usual, I was flying a begged/borrowed/stolen classic ship, so no appearance points for me. I suspect Stan and Warren lead the Knights in appearance points, Stan with a nicely finished Chizzler and Warren with his new Hawker Hunter. Anton’s Neptune had a nice Sunburst paint scheme, but the appearance judges were looking for buffed finishes. Larry displayed Anton’s Sig Fokker D VII profile. Gary Akers Thunderbird looked nice even with a rip in the covering.

On round 1 Friday, the wind gods held back for most of the day. My heavy Chipmunk/OS46SF scoffed the wind, but I wasn’t practiced or aggressive in my flying. Dick Wolsey was to fly the same plane but had some sore shoulder problems and sat it out. Warren wisely chose to fly his Smoothie instead of the Hawker when the wind came up late in the day. I say wisely because he crashed. The Hawker lived to fly the next day.

Dave Kick braved the wind at least one day with a Ringmaster in classic. When the dust had settled after round 2, Anton lead the Knight’s roster at 14th. Stan had an excellent second flight and came up to about 17th. I scored better than expected and ended 21st, which is as good as I’ve done in classic. Someday I’ll get up there near the top. Larry flew the Fokker D VII/McCoy RH29 through the complete pattern on the first round, but the wind scared him off the second round.

At the banquet, they announced the most unusual as Larry/Anton’s Fokker D VII. So the Knight’s brought home another plaque. I was pleased when they called for all who had flown in all 20 VSC’s. Besides myself, I remember Leroy Black, Lou Crane and Lou Wolgast. There may have been more, but I was the only one flying the same plane since VSC I.

The highlight of the banquet was the video of Ted Fancher’s Nobler demise, under the wheels of the family car. Ted has been involved in a little theater group, and Uncle Jimby Aron put together a video of the accident. Kathy was in stitches most of the video. I thought I might have to take here out to the lobby to recover. I hope all the other wives, especially Shareen thought it was as funny. Sunday I made my pilgrimage to the hollowed ground (Silverbell Park) and headed home, as did most all the Knight’s. I saw Warren’s big motor home on the way back, honked and waved but we didn’t have time to stop.

Hope to see more Knight’s at the 21st VSC.

Happy Landings John Wright