1964–65 Volume 89 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

SIX RECORDSNOT ENOUGHUrge To Excel Spurs Tulsa HobbyistDale Nutter, Oklahoma State '58The following story, reprinted in part from theTulsa (Okla.) Daily World by permission of theeditor, was authored by World staff writer RogerRickard. It was submitted to THE SCROLL by JackF. Cozier (Oklahoma State '53) .-ED.ALL SPORTS have statistical barriers separatingthe human from the superhuman, andthe magic numbers constantly entice men to runfaster, jump higher and throw farther.Those who surpass the beckoning numericalhurdles usually find themselves in the predicamentof Dale Nutter (Oklahoma State '58) ofTulsa.He still plots how to do better even thoughsix times he has broken national speed recordsin pylon racing of radio-controlled model airplanes.Nutter, 29, has criss-crossed the nation andeven trekked south of the border to Argentinaon his record-breaking path. Along the way hecollected a living room full of trophies and designeda bevy of his own airplanes and equipment;some designs were so avant garde that onewas copyrighted and another may be distributednationally in a model kit form.Brother Nutter is vice-president in chargeof sales of the Nutter Engineering Co., Tulsa.One of his biggest problems is dividing time betweenprofessional and family responsibilitiesand finding enough left for his hobby interests.With a chuckle Nutter outlined a prerequisitefor any hobbyist. "You have to get your wifeinterested in something so she will let you sitout in the garage and work," he said.Dale's modeling success indicates his prettywife has allowed him plenty of garage time, andso do her bowling trophies.Proud of her diversion, Mary pointed to hertrophies, four of which stand alongside her husband'smore than 40 modeling trophies in thelivingroom showcase, and remarked, "My topgame was 236, and that's pretty good for a littlegirl."Her husband's addiction is not as technicaland expensive as some might think. Beginnerscan get started with a set of' single channel controlsand a plane for |100; usually many usedsets are available at half that price.[195]DALE NUTTER, Oklahoma State '58, tinkers with the"Sidewinder," his latest record-breaking model design,while his wife, Mary, puts a shine on the pile of trophieshe has won at model airplane meets.Nutter won the national model meet heldin July at Dallas with a rig that would costaround $300 new. He flew a radical deltawinged design, his own creation, this July totumble his own pylon record for the sixthtime.The most expensive equipment, proportionalcontrols with channels to make a model performten functions, wUl soon be available commerciallyfor about |500.For about three years now. Nutter explains,RC equipment has been sophisticated enoughto aUow persons without an engineering degreeto fly them. Periodical adjustment of the equip-(Continued on page 198)