1968 NAR Nats Caps a Decade of Progress
January 1969 American Aircraft Modeler

January 1969 American Aircraft Modeler Table of Contents These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

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.

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