RVotter Wins Historic Worlds 1st Everett Hatch
Memorial Rotary Powered Air Race
October, 2001
The Racers
Finn Lassen, Clearwater, FL, known for perfecting
the fine art of low budget aircraft construction. Finns highly refined RV-3
displays advanced cost cutting features such as muffler hanger brackets crafted
from shipping crate straps and custom fitted Styrofoam seat upholstered with
beach towels. In a clever
weight saving measure, Finns plane flies sans paint.
Ed Anderson, Matthews, NC. At the other end of
the spectrum from Finns econo-racer is Ed Andersons RV-6A, which won the
prestigious Best Auto Powered Award at Sun n Fun 2001.
Eds meticulously built plane features more genuine aircraft parts than
all other flying rotary aircraft, combined. Aiming to gain the psychological
edge over his competitors, Eds shrieking 13B, dual exhaust configuration had
the other racers referring to Ed as The Intimidator.
Tracy Crook, Bell, FL. Still sporting its
original, well aged primer gray paint job, 1977 Buick station wagon heat
exchanger and only the finest quality NAPA hoses, the RVotter represents seven
years of subtle tweaking and tuning. After
turning its previous 6 mufflers to shrapnel, Crook had a reasonably reliable but
aesthetically obnoxious external Swiss muffler.
The Race
Paul Lamar, who publishes an on line rotary engine
newsletter, organized the event known as the Everett Hatch Memorial Rotary Race.
Prize money came from donations from newsletter subscribers all over the world.
The start and finish line were located at Shady Bend Airpark, with one
pylon point 16.5 miles away at the Trenton water tower.
The race start was delayed by Ed Andersons GPS user
interface, which was almost as difficult as a typical VCR. After resolving that
problem, the participants, judges, timekeepers and race coordinator held a
pre-race briefing in the luxury media suite (the location of which strongly
resembled the center of a grass airstrip.)
Race preparations began with Finn and Tracy applying
sophisticated 200 mph duct tape to some ill fitting intersection fairings while
Ed smirked from the cockpit of his immaculate racer.
The plan was to begin the race with a formation flying
start across the start/finish line. Unfortunately,
the only time there was anything even remotely resembling a formation was while
taxiing for take off . 
Further efforts at coordinating a pre-start flyby were
hampered by a malfunction of Tracys radio.
Nonetheless, the competitors took off in rapid sequence and
the sound of three rotary engines flying by at War Emergency power setting
was truly awe inspiring. After a
couple of circuits around the pattern the three racers were in the same general
piece of sky as they crossed the start line and the race was on.
The RVotter immediately pulled into the lead with Finn and
Ed in a dead heat most of the way to the pylon turn. There was a stiff wind blowing with lots of turbulence that
had the racers reducing power, tightening their shoulder straps and ducking
their heads in an attempt to keep them inside the canopy.
Even at reduced power, ground speeds approached 220 mph with the tail
wind.
Nearing the pylon (water tower in Trenton Fla.) Ed caught
the scent of hot oil wafting through the cockpit and further reduced power
allowing Finn to pull cleanly into second place.
Turning back toward Shady Bend and into the wind, ground speeds dropped
precipitously. Hoping to hold the
average speed above the magic 200 mark, Tracy ignored a flashing EGT warning
light, throttled up to 92% power setting and increased his lead.
The three planes finished with the order unchanged.
Finn and Tracy couldnt resist the urge to do victory rolls and all
promptly landed to do post race inspections.
Eds whiff of smoke was caused by a couple drops of oil seeping past
the seal in his redrive, but no real problem.
The RVotter had a small crack in muffler #7,
while only Finns econo-racer was unscathed.
Paul Lamar handed out the prizes for 1st, 2nd
and 3rd place. Tracys
winning speed was 202 mph. (We dont have the final numbers on Finn and Ed,
but we will be getting those from Paul in the near future.)
All participants were smiling upon return.
As one of the spectators told Laura Hearing the sound of
those planes is worth a million dollars.
We think that says it all.
Real World Solutions, Inc
