September 1, 2019
The Texas Championship is in full swing! As a refresher, The Texas Series is designed to increase participation at all three Texas contests by awarding super-cool trophies and airplane stickers to first AND second place finishers and airplane stickers to third place finishers in all categories. The Series winners MUST participate in the same category at all three Texas contests to be eligible and a simple average of the three scores will determine the champions. Additionally all participants will be recognized in this forum right here. Exciting, I know.
The second leg of this year’s Texas Series was the 2019 edition of the Lone Star Aerobatic Championship, hosted by IAC Chapter 24, at the Stephens County Airport in Breckenridge, Texas. As a pilot I want to again take a few minutes up front to thank the non-flying volunteers without whom the contest would not have happened…except there were way too many to name so I would just leave someone out and hurt their feelings. Suffice it to say that the Chapter and its members were all-in on this event in its new venue. If you want to see an example of the accommodations they laid on, and where the awards banquet was held, check out the T-Bone Ranch in Ranger, Texas. Jaw dropping! On second thought I will hit some of the highlights because they were way over and above…
Contest Director: Tony Wood and his wife Julia…here is what next-level CD work looks like…book a hotel for your contest based on past experience…the week before the contest find out the hotel has new ownership and no longer meets your standards…contact everyone attending to notify them AND find/recommend/arrange alternate accommodations. Unheard of dedication to the success of your contest!
Registrar/Scoring: Lynda Judy (sporting a broken foot no less) and Jen McDaniel
Chief Judge: Pat Clark
Judges: Chrissy Jenkins, Bill Denton and Jerry Esquenazi (who showed up even though his airplane broke the week prior)
By the way these Judges judged EVERY FLIGHT. There was no turning of the line. Every pilot, every flight, every category. Herculean effort.
All of the other volunteers who assisted, recorded, bought ice, sat on the corners, etc.
Without this veritable army of volunteers there would be no contest. Thanks to all of you!
Now, without further (long-winded, again) ado, on to the
Texas Championship Results:
Just as in 2018 there will be NO Primary or Unlimited Champions.
In Sportsman there are now seven pilots in the hunt with no change in the relative standings just moving up due to Early Bird pilots who fell out of the race because they were unable to attend Lone Star…
|
Pilot
|
Airplane
|
Early Bird Score
|
Lone Star Score
|
Overall
|
|
Todd Nelson
|
Skybolt
|
84.76
|
81.80
|
83.28
|
|
David Valaer
|
Pitts S2C
|
81.83
|
80.45
|
81.14
|
|
Patric “Balls” Coggin
|
RV-4
|
81.79
|
79.56
|
80.68
|
|
Jay Hanson
|
MX-2
|
77.11
|
80.86
|
78.99
|
|
DR Bales
|
Extra 200
|
76.13
|
76.09
|
76.11
|
|
Bo Kalabus
|
Christen Eagle
|
73.72
|
74.80
|
74.26
|
|
Doug Greene
|
DR-107XL
|
61.71
|
73.16
|
67.43
|
Intermediate is down to three intrepid aviators…
|
Pilot
|
Airplane
|
Early Bird Score
|
Lone Star Score
|
Overall
|
|
Erik “SNAP” McDaniel
|
Extra 200
|
79.31
|
78.85
|
79.08
|
|
Doug “Bags” Jenkins
|
Pitts S1E
|
80.78
|
77.11
|
78.95
|
|
Ron “Nationals CD” Schreck
|
RV-8
|
76.50
|
73.37
|
74.93
|
Sadly, there will be no Advanced Champion this year as both pilots from the Early Bird were unable to make it to Breckenridge.
So what can we glean from all of this.
Lesson number one: A well-flown Skybolt is a formidable adversary.
Lesson number two (again): “Legacy” airplanes can compete. Luck, skill and guile can still overcome brute horsepower.
Lesson number three: You can’t win if you don’t play the game.
Lesson number four: Intermediate is one Unknown buffoonerous moment away from glory or disaster.
So, to those who made the trek to Edna and Breckenridge, We hope to see you at Hammerfest!!
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