Reports from Ontario Convention center (

LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-04 AT 08:38 PM (CDT)
 
Just a little report here from Ontario (California, that is) and the AMA Convention...

It was much like last year even though it was held at a different location than years past. Alot of R/C stuff, and alot of that being devoted to electric flight. Some of the latest and greatest in composite materials and the reason I go every year...Superior Balsa! They have a two table set up and have the best price I can find without driving to the far side of creation to get to it. Bundles for $5... any size. I stocked up and got me another year supply for $42. All that I could carry! The swap shop was pretty weak. We got there early and found a few good deals. I scored two Veco spinners for $5 in mint condition, and my buddy Bill picked up a Super Tigre G21 .40 for $20 and a V .56 for $40 both in almost new (if not never used) condition. I picked up a GP .42 for $20 and will convert it to C/L before the weekend ends. Not much at all for Control Line... The only representation of Control Line was the Knights of the Round Circle booth... I personally thank those guys for giving up their weekend... I know it was a rough deal (wink, wink)

One very cool thing for me personally... I got to meet one of my Guitar Heros of all time... The legendary "King of the Surf Guitar" none other than Dick Dale (remember Dick Dale & The Deltones?) He was quite gracious and seemed pleased that someone would recognize him... Way cool, man. Got me thinking of that old surf board! and that one night on the beach with Kelly R....Here comes the wife gotta go!

I went to Google and entered Dick Dale. Lots of stuff online. Why was he there? Steve

http://www.dickdale.com/

I met him while I was carrying a load of balsa and the auditorium was PACKED... He was there with his 11 year old son, Jimmy "The Prince of Surf Guitar" and was just a regular Joe lookin' at all the stuff. I am going to email him and see what his interest is. Hopefully stunt!

"Not much at all for Control Line... The only representation of Control Line was the Knights of the Round Circle booth... I personally thank those guys for giving up their weekend... I know it was a rough deal (wink, wink)"

Not true the Blacksheep are in to CL. they had a few CL planes there. One a co2 consolidated hawker hurcaine and an electric scientific AT-6.

Phil I met Dick when he came to Tampa about ten years ago for a rock concert. He was the king of Surf MUSIC long before the Beachboys.Two of his great songs are THE WEDGE,TIDAL WAVE and his well known MISIRLOU. He has been the background music for many tv commercials and movies for many years.I think he plays a right hand guitar in his left hand upside down.
Ed

Whew... I am glad I said "not much at all" intead of "absolutly none other than..." It was so packed I honestly don't recall even seeing the Blacksheep booth... All apologies for the slight. I wish that I had taken a look at those electric planes. I have been toying (no pun intended) with picking up an electric R/C park flyer for kicks & giggles... That won't get me banned from SSW will it??

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-04 AT 08:25 PM (CDT)
 
Yep, it was me who scored those Tigres at the show. Half the fun of going to one of those shows is getting to barter with the sellers. I would have never believed that I would walk out of there with a brand new 56 for $40 bucks. Like Phil said we went there primarily for the balsa. I do believe that I am well stocked for awhile. The only reason that the swap shop kinda sucked in my opinion is because of Da Bay. Didn't make it in the garage fast enough to avoid getting busted by my wife who had to make the comment "more engines?"

Bill

One very cool thing for me personally... I got to meet one of my Guitar Heros of all time... The legendary "King of the Surf Guitar" none other than Dick Dale (remember Dick Dale & The Deltones?) He was quite gracious and seemed pleased that someone would recognize him... Way cool, man. Got me thinking of that old surf board! and that one night on the beach with Kelly R....Here comes the wife gotta go!

Phil Hawkins

Phil,

Several weeks ago Keillor had on his "Prairie Home Companion" show a group that played some "Surf" music. They sucked, but it did remind me of the total lack of surfin' CDs in my (modest) collection.

Next day I bought two Dick Dale CDs. If you contact Dale, tell him I hope his share of my purchase goes toward toy airplane stuff.

Incidentally, "Pipeline," on the best-of CD I got, has Stevie Ray Vaughn playing with Dick Dale.

Yep, I am still a big fan of Stevie Ray too. The "Pipeline" song was from the very campy Annette & Frankie movie "Back to the Beach" with Dick and Stevie trading off licks recorded live for the film. I bought the movie just for that scene! The "Best of Dick Dale" is a must have. Even my very conservative wife likes to clean house to the music of Dick Dale!
Dick's son is big into R/C helo's that's what they were there for. But I did extend an invitation for him and his son to attend the next contest at Whittier Narrows. He said it sounds interesting and wants more info. I will be attending the Knights meeting this tuesday and will try to get the schedule of events for 2004 to pass on to any and all that I can get interested...

Dick Dale got a few more younger fans when Quentin Tarantino used one of his middle eastern folk song rip offs in Pulp Fiction. I love it.
Chris...