New England Championships

LLOYD SEYMOUR, NEIL SIMPSON

ROY GLENN & PAUL KUBEK

TAKE THE TOP FOUR SPOTS

ERNIE CAROSELLA IS THE SPORTSMAN WINNER

AUGUST 31, 2003-WORCESTER, MA -This year’s New England Championships attracted sixteen pilots for the fourteenth annual running of this very successful Formula GX happening. The location was Boynton Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. The weather was perfect with warm temperatures, low humidity and a gentle breeze.

Roy Glenn and Lloyd Seymour got off to the best starts each posting two cut wins. Round two started with Roy and Lloyd showing off their considerable skills in a match that had non-stop action, but no cuts and was spoiled by a mid-air very close to the end. In the next match Neil Simpson and Ernie Carosella had an action filled battle, with Neil posting a two cut win. Right after that Paul Kubek and Matt Stas squared off with Paul getting the win two cuts to one in another match that had plenty of action. Round two also saw Ken Hargreaves get into contention with a one cut win over Brian Seymour while Glenn Simpson did, likewise, with a two cut win over Len Minick. At the halfway point it was Paul Kubek with 1235 points followed by Neil Simpson with 1135 points. In close pursuit were Glenn Simpson, Roy Glenn and Lloyd Seymour all with 1025 points and Ken Hargreaves with 1020 points. Round three started with Neil Simpson getting past Paul Kubek two cuts to one in a match that went buzzer to buzzer. In the next match Lloyd Seymour got past Glenn Simpson three cuts to one in yet another action filled battle. Next Roy Glenn earned a one cut win over Ken Hargreaves in another good match. Meanwhile, after slow starts, Mark Rudner and Brian Stas were climbing back into contention each posting good wins. Going into the final round it was Neil (1860pts), Lloyd (1855pts), Roy (1645pts), Paul (1635pts), Mark (1340pts), Brian (1330pts), Glenn (1325pts) and Ken (1320pts). The final four flights of the contest would prove meaningful. In the first of these Ken Hargreaves and Glenn Simpson had a great battle that had lots of good action. Both pilots were in each other’s streamer several times but nothing came off, in a match that Glenn eventually won on air time. The next match was between Mark Rudner and Brian Stas. This match had some of the best flying we saw all day, with Mark earning a two cut win. The semi final saw Roy Glenn and Paul Kubek fly to a one cut apiece draw in yet another good match. The final match would be Lloyd Seymour and Neil Simpson. Lloyd got past Neil by one cut earning the contest win in the process. When it all shook out the top four were Lloyd (2475pts), Neil (2160pts), Roy (2155pts) and Paul (2145pts). Ernie Carosella just got past Brian Seymour and Jeff Vader to take home the Sportsman “gold”.

The top four flyers plus the sportsman winner received beautiful awards. Every competitor received a T-shirt to commemorate their participation in this annual GX happening. In addition, every pilot also received a raffle prize which included OS Max and Magnum engines, gift certificates, fuel and boxes of wing cores. GRW Model Products, J&J Sales, The Corehouse, Hog Heaven Hobbies and the Connecticut Ringer Model Airplane Club all made serious cash or merchandise contributions. Thank You to all these great sponsors from all of us. It was great to have Will Rogers, Lloyd Seymour and Ken Hargreaves competing again after long layoffs. It was also great to have Mark Rudner flying with us. Mark is doing graduate work at MIT and should be around to humble us for the next several seasons. Thank You to all the people who shared in the judging and to Roy Glenn and Alex Kopka who made the long trip, from New Jersey, to participate in this one.

New England Championships / Formula GX Combat

16 contestants ( 9 from MA) (3 from CT) (1 from NH) (2 from NJ) (1 from CA)

32 matches - 7 mid-airs

(E)Lloyd Seymour-Leominster, MA 2475pts Top Gun/Fox Mark VI/GRW tank

(E)Neil Simpson-E.Brookfield, MA 2160pts Carbon Coyote/OS Max 32SX/GRW tank

(E)Roy Glenn-Southampton, NJ 2155pts Hobart Special/OS Max 25FPS/bladder

(A)Paul Kubek-Brockton, MA 2145pts GRS Fast/OS Max 35FPS/bladder

(E)Mark Rudner-Los Angeles, CA 2065pts Czech Fast/Magnum 32XL/bladder

(E)Glenn Simpson-Worcester, MA 1845pts

(E)Dick Sherman-Andover, MA 1640pts

(A)Brian Stas-Kingston, MA 1630pts

(A)Ken Hargreaves-Worcester, MA 1520pts

(A)Alex Kopka-Bayville, NJ 1325pts

(S)Ernie Carosella-Clinton, CT 1320pts

(A)Len Minick-Clinton, CT 1310pts

(A)Matt Stas-Kingston, MA 1310pts

(S)Brian Seymour-Leominster, MA 1120pts

(S)Jeff Vader-Franklin, NH 1010pts

(E)Will Rogers-E,Hartford, CT 825pts (had to withdraw after two rounds)