Our trip to the SAM CHAMPS began with my friend Don Bekins arriving
with his contest gaggle of planes and things and we proceeded to transfer
his model shelf from his mini van to my wife's new Grand Voyager so we
could drive the 590 miles to Henderson together. (I have to say that my
wife, Robin, was truly generous in allowing us to use her "baby" for this
adventure --especially since she couldn't take the time off from teaching
her Special Education class to come with us)
It was a great trip but I'm sure our logistics were similar to a lot of
folks. We planned to convoy down with Ed Hamler and his wife Mary and we
set up CB walkie-talkies so we could converse from car-to-car. Eddie and
Mary were getting their gear together at about the same time we were, about
a minute-and-a-half down the road, so we joined up and took off for Henderson
on Saturday, the 20th of September.
We arrived on Sunday the 21st shortly after noon, having spent
Saturday evening in Mojave, CA. That afternoon we set up the shelters we
had brought and the flagpoles and flags for all the SAM countries expected
to be represented 
and
one who isn't: The Czech Republic flag flies with the others in honor of
SAM 27 member Rado Czisek, of the Czech Republic, who is keeping SAM and
modeling alive in that eastern block nation.
Here Ed Hammer and Kip Merker from Tucson, Arizona attach the West German
Flag before hauling it up high. A visiting SAM member from Australia (whose
name I will get and insert here soon!) was asked to perform the honors
for his nation's flag. Test flying and some special events are scheduled
for 
Monday.
We'll try to bring you pictures as well as results by Monday evening.
Return
to SAM Home Page 
Click
Here For R/C CD's Report on Champs '97
Click
Here for an Article on Electric Flyers at SAM Champs 97
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