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National Association of
Rocketry Aeromodeling Meet No. 10 (NAMRAM-10) was held August 19th through the
23rd at NASA's
Wallop's Island, Virginia station. Growing up outside of Annapolis,
Maryland, (about
50 miles as the crow flies) I recall seeing the southern sky turn various
colors when atmospheric research was being conducted there. It was a very
appropriate location for model rocketry contesting given Wallop's Island's
significant role in full-scale rocketry. Being at the height of the manned space
program, the country was filled with boys (and some girls) who were excited to
be part of the action. Model rocket clubs could be found in every major city and
many small towns. Farm boys and guys like me in the suburbs launched model
rockets from our back yards - and often had to retrieve them from rooftops and
tree branches. Most trees in my neighborhood were of the genus/species of
rocketus/eatumupus*, and usually of the subspecies kantclimbit. My friends and I
literally risked our lives reaching for model rockets and airplanes stuck in
trees we would never consider climbing if not for our treasured models suspended
within their branches. Open, accessible spaces are very difficult to find these
days unless you live in the plains areas. Property owners these days rarely
allow you onto their land, primarily due to legal concerns, and I don't fault
them. The
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) does provide $2M in liability insurance
for members, so be sure to mention that if you approach someone for permission
to fly.
* Inspired by Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree.
The complete story and official results of NARAM-10.
 National Association of Rocketry Aeromodeling Meet No. 10 which culminated a
decade of growth for model rocketry in the U. S., at Wallops Island, Va. (NASA Station)
Aug. 19-23, was the scene of nine competition categories. A good number of rocketeers
traveled great distance just to make the annual meet NAR sponsors with the courtesy
of military and government installations.
Of the NAR sections represented, most likely the Y.M.C.A. Space Pioneers of New
Canaan, Conn., went home the happiest of all. Their section was named "1968 National
Champion NAR Section." This honor included a beautiful trophy that was accepted
by NAR Junior Sven Englund from officials, and a pennant the section will fly on
their flagpole until the next annual meet, NARAM-11.
Space Pioneers amassed a total 3615 points against their nearest competitor section
and eventual runner-up, NARHAMS from Washington, D. C. area, sporting 3080.
NARAM-10 National Standings - 1968
The Space Pioneer section boasts two national champs and a reserve champ (runner-up).
Junior National Champion and Bendix trophy winner was Connie Stine, NAR #1300 with
743 pts, Junior Reserve Champion was won by Johnny Drake, NAR #7515, with 670 pts.
Their section's chairman, G. Harry Stine, NAR #2, is Senior National Champion
and winner of the Bendix trophy, with a total 970 pts. Senior Reserve Champion was
Howard Kuhn of the Mars Section, NAR #11628, with 518 pts.
There were several other champs and awards at the big meet. Leader National Champion
was Robert Mullane, NAR #4157, of the Pascak Valley Section, with 615 pts. His next
highest competitor and Leader Reserve Champion was James Stevenson, NAR #11763,
of the Mars Section. Bob is an 18-year-old rocketeer; Jim, 17.
The Barrowman Team took the Senior Open Spot Landing category with 33 ft. from
the target to capture senior national honors with 719 pts. They are Jim and Judy
Barrowman of the NARHAMS Section. Another team award, in the Leader category, was
won by the Guill Team, with 512 pts, garnered by Talley and Jeff Guill of New Canaan,
Conn. Talley is a 19-year-old; brother Jeff, 15.
Robert Forbes, 20, of Ft. Riley, Kan., and the Astro-Modelers Section, was named
to receive the Sportsmanship Award. Truly one of the highest honors which can be
paid any athlete, modeler, or person involved in national meets.
Individual Champions at the Meet
This column of national honors would not be complete without mention of the first
berth champs in each category. We will denote the member as a: Senior (S), Leader
(L) and Junior (J). Their point total will follow this letter.
In the Scale event, national champions were: Bryant Thompson, NAR #1202, (S)
795, James Stevenson, NAR #11763, (L) 769, and Michael Pass, NAR #5702, (J) 824.
The Sparrow Boost-Glide event was won by Jim "Kasey" Kukowski, NAR #4668, (S)
59 seconds, Philip Slaymaker, NAR #6432, (L) 44 sec., and John Drake, NAR #7515,
(J) 57 sec.
Model rockets perfected according to exact specifications and exhaustive testing
before the meet proved winners for their owner-builders in the Class II Scale Altitude
event. Champs included: G. Harry Stine, NAR #2, (S) 1087, Guill Team, (L) 741, and
Michael Pass, NAR #5702, (J) 1190.
One of the most difficult and newly approved events in NAR, egg lofting, was
the scene of both smiles and red-faced embarrassment while being held among young
and old on the range. But some of our favorite breakfast food actually landed intact
so NARAM-10 would have champs. They are: Gerald and David Gregorek, NAR #9193 &
9204, (S) 408 meters, Paul Conner, NAR #5787, (L) 322 m., and Carl Guernsey, NAR
#9925, (J) 373 m.
Then we have the spot-landing contest event (open), where NAR rocketeers shrewdly
calculated every favorable possibility before launching their model. Top spots were
won by the Barrowman team (S) with 33 ft., Charles Gordon, NAR #6948, (L) 12 ft.,
and Loren Fagen, NAR #9100, (J) 16 ft.
In the Space Systems event, G. Harry Stine, NAR #2, (S) with 451 pts., Alan Malazia,
NAR #4740, (L) 282 pts., and Charles Duelfer, NAR #2580, (J) 587 pts., were named
champions.
Swift Boost Glide event provided more time (duration) of flights than the Sparrow
event, in fact, almost doubled and then some. Winners were: Jim Kukowski, NAR #4668
(who also won the Sparrow event), (S) 94 seconds, Bruce Blackistone, NAR #6413,
(L) 131 sec. (and best time of the meet), and Andrew Elliott, NAR #7419, (J) 101
sec.
The Class I Parachute Duration Event, also a category watched with close interest
by all-age modelers, was the scene of much overland, relay-type action, when every
rocketeer who launched chased his model till it drifted to earth. At the top of
the heap was Bryant Thompson, NAR #1202, (S) (who took first in Scale), clocked
177 seconds, Philip Slaymaker, NAR #6432 (also first in Sparrow Boost-Glider), (L)
116 sec., and Kevin Stumpe, NAR #9225, (J) 253 sec., who received best time.
Last of the events and perhaps the hardest to win, the Research and Development
event was judged according to the best model and system together with pertinent,
factual info. Champions were: Gerald Gregorek, NAR #9193, (S) of C.S.A.R. Section,
Mark Mercer, NAR #5839, (L) of NARHAMS, and Connie Stine, NAR #1300, (J) of Space
Pioneers.
NARAM-10 National Standings - 1968
The top three winners in each event are being published with this issue for the
information of NAR members and other rocketeers who should note the records established
at NARAM-10.
Posted December 30. 2023
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National Association of Rocketry Aeromodeling Meet No. 10