Nats2017

F2D Combat

Alex Prokofiev/South Plainfield, NJ (National Champion)

Cary Minor/Iola, KS (Second Place)

David Owen/Pegram,TN (Third Place)

Andy Minor/Greenwood, MO (Fourth Place)

F2D Fast Combat

John Knoppi/Renton, WA (National Champion)

Andy Mears/Lubbock, TX (Second Place)

Don Jensen, Pomona, CA (Third Place)

Phil Cartier, Hummelstown, PA (Fourth Place)

Rylan Ritch/Magnolia, TX (Top Senior)

Speed Limit Combat

Jeff Rein/Yuma, AZ (National Champion)

Don Jensen/Pomono, CA (Second Place)

Neil Simpson/East Brookfield, MA (Third Place)

Henry Nelson/Zelienople, PA (Fourth Place)

Samuel Londke/Nashville, TN (top Junior)

1/2A Combat

Neil Simpson/East Brookfield, MA (National Champion)

Don Jensen/Pomono, CA (Second Place)

Richard Stubblefield/Kingwood, TX (Third Place)

George Cleveland/Kenner, LA (Fourth Place)

Fast Combat

Ron Colombo/Dearborn, MI (National Champion)

James Ehlen/Minneapolis, MN (Second Place)

Ed Brzys/South Lyon, MI (Third Place)

Bill Maywald/Irvine, CA (Fourth Place)

Our first event is F2D Fast

Our stuff ran good which is a major part of the battle

I went out early but Brian beat some quality opponents and finished just one round out of the money

To add insult to injury Brian got a set of lines across the face in his final F2D Fast match.

Not quite as bad as it looks . . . by the next day he looked reasonably presentable.

Our second day of competition . . . speed limit combat

Brian didn't have any luck but the combat gods were with me early . . . they helped me with my first round win when a very good opponent had mechanical problems . . . I actually flew reasonably well the rest of way finishing with four wins and one loss, good enough for third place

Day Three . . . rested, relaxed and ready

Our stuff continued to run good . . . Brian flew good but went out just before the money rounds.

I actually flew pretty good and was lucky, as well (always a significant element of luck in this event).

Four good wins (one a bit ugly) got me to the finals against Don Jensen.

Don had knocked me out in the semi-finals of speed limit the day before.

We battled early for a minute or two with no cuts and then the combat gods took over . . .

Don went down in a line tangle . . . just a broken prop . . . but he had neglected to put the right spare props in his pit box . . . if not for that the result may well have been different.

I'll take it . . . this time next year no one, except Don, will remember how lucky I was.

Brian pitted for me all week long . . . I was recovering from a compression fracture in my prop flipping arm so he started all the engines . . . enthusiastic and capable he gave me great starts and restarts all week long . . . he, along with lady luck, were responsible for whatever success I enjoyed.

Although we give each other a fair amount of shit . . . he is a dear friend.

Late on day three we're testing the Big Block stuff for the next day.

I'm so worn out I can't stand . . . Brian felt he needed to document that with a photo.

The next day I went out early while Brian had some early success going out one round before the semi-finals.

Good trip with a good friend.