CHATTANOOGA 2016.................A 25th Anniversary is affectionately referred to as a couples’ SILVER one. Silver is known for it’s brilliance and value. These were indeed two virtues that gleamed with their “brilliance” and “value”, the weekend just past in Choo-Choo city Tennessee.

At the initial arrival Friday afternoon and the smiling (slightly sunburned) faces of CD Scott Anderson, his co-workers of the CCRC and the “prep squad”..... to the numerous “thanks for coming”, “drive carefully” and similar disembarking remarks, it was evident a lot of planning and effort had been put into this weekend of silver anniversary SPA celebration.

To us regulars, the initial eye-catching improvement was the field improvement. As most modelers who fly off of “land-fill” runways are aware, it’s almost impossible to maintain a level foundation because of the displacement of the foundation in that sort of environment. Believe it or not, this runway, probably a couple hundred by a hundred feet was as level as any parking lot in existence, maybe even more so. The 20 or 30 foot shoulders had just been “grassed” and covered with a laying of wheat straw and it was evident that had been just before the last shower as a footprint could be spotted dried into the surface ever so many feet apart.

A club officer gave us the story of the recent modelport improvements.....some of the runway, maybe 40% had simply disappeared in a “gullywasher”..when the “public works department” of the city of Chattanooga was kind enough to “not only fix the damaged area, but rebirth the entire runway area maybe 20 feet deep with stone and chert foundation prior to resurfacing with the asphalt of road-thickness”. You just don’t often see a more perfect runway construction project.

At the conclusion of the Pilot’s Briefing on Saturday morning, our group bowed for a word of thanks to “the CHIEF” for our blessings and a special “plea” was voiced by Scott Sappington, for a dearly beloved member of our lovely wives, girlfriends and special lady-friends, anticipating major surgery this coming week in Alabama. Mr. & Mrs. Dave Phillips, Sr were unable to attend with Mrs. Philips making preparations for this procedure this next week. We all just seemed to feel HIM assuring us, “Peggy will get my attention and is going to be well, soon!”

What was evident was the participation of all 3 of the beginning SPA Pilots from the prior month’s contest in Knoxville, TN. Scott introduced an SPA Introductory class which was won by Mr. Neal Robinson of the CRCC and, based on his enjoyment of this event will probably become a “regular” in SPA events. (Webmaster's note: I thoroughly bent his ear extoling the virtues of SPA at the Saturday evening dinner and he seemed VERY interested. His lovely wife Beverly just smiled.)

After a day of flying (4 rounds as planned), Anderson and the club had reserved a nice meeting room at Western Sizzlin Steakhouse in nearby East Ridge for an evening of excellent food, association and “remembering” in keeping with the 25th Anniversary theme. He even arranged a “slide show” that would repeat about 100 or so photos of SPA history on a mounted TV during the meal and get-together. The Club officers, and Scott introduced some local stalwarts, then our own Jeff Owens gave a few remarks. Jeff encouraged all to promote every facet of our organization, especially with emphasis on our fine Discussion List and Website, maintained by Jim Johns and available in so many different ways to assist in the promotion of the Association.

All six scheduled rounds were flown right on schedule and as far as your reporter knows, any damage with very minimal. The scores for the competition are displayed by Jim adjacent to this report.

We really owe a “vote of thanks” to Mr. Greg Hoke of Warner Robins, GA.....who flew one round to make it official then judged ALL the other rounds on one flight line....ALL weekend. Greg’s another example of “togetherness” in our membership.

Let’s get to the “fun” stuff on Sunday morning. The awards sponsors were so greatly appreciated and included:

• RJL − Servo Mounting Screws
• TOWER Hobbies − $25 Gift Certificates
• TRU-TURN − $25 Gift Certificates
• BALSA USA − $25 wood Certificates
• CHATTANOOGA RC CLUB − Novarossi 60 2-stroke ENGINE
• HOBBYTOWN CHATTANOOGA − Case Cool Power 20% ProPattern Fuel
• CLUB & Others − Tower Hobbies Kaos ARF

Winners were:

Screws

• Doc Gray
• Jane Underwood
• Tony Bosco
• Debbie Hoke

Fuel

• Harold (CCRC)
• David Johnson
• Dale Wooten
• Duane Wilson

Balsa USA Gift Certificate

• Warren Oliver
• Club Cook

$25 Tower Hobbies Gift Certificates

• Jeff Owens
• Jim Johns
• Bill Dodge

Tru-Turn Cap & Sunglasses

• Debbie Hoke
• Neal Robinson

$25 Gift Card

• Dale Rooth
• Allen (CCRC)

Tower Hobbies Kaos 60 ARF − Richard Henley

Novarossi 60 − Missy Varner

Let me conclude by saying, “I don’t know of an association like ours where the ladies have such a delightful time with each others fellowship”. You’ll note when the photos are posted so many good shots of the ladies enjoying whatever story the one at the time is sharing. I think Charlie Johns capped it well when he declared. “just this season, of all these wedded years together, I just discovered Miss Ann’s talent of calling maneuvers this season”. Charlie summed it for all us male-types who can never sum up our gratitude for the assistance from the fair gender.

Much obliged Scott and CCRC for the polish you folks applied and “spit-shined” this past weekend for the SPA’s 25th!

Bruce Underwood, PIO