Kite Flyer
January 2000 Issue Route 66 Kite
Club (R66KC)
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Kite Club Phoenix, AZ
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Table Of Contents
(Just Click On The
Left Item Of Interest. It is recommended that all articles be read)
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Hot Buttons |
Descriptions
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Letter From The Director Mad Dog Dines |
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The Next Couple Of Weekends |
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What Happened The Last Couple Of Weekends |
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Long Term Dates And Plans |
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Other Items Of interest |
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Questions To The Club |
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Unanswered Questions From Before |
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HELP ME! |
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Notes From Our Very Own Kite And Banner Maker (New) |
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Fun Stuff - Was “Inquiring Minds Want To Know” |
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Fun Stuff From E-Mail |
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Lost Puppies And Things For Sale |
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Club Fields That We Use |
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Kite Stores And WEB Sites |
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Club Structure etc. |
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Cover My Ass Legal Ease |
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Please Help Yourselves |
Notice And Reminder: I will be
publishing anything and everything that comes my way that relates to kites. If you
wish to communicate with me, and DO
NOT want something used in the Kite Flyer, please indicate what part of your
E-mail is private. Otherwise, everything is fair game. Send me
something, come on, I dare you! thomas.m.manson@boeing.com.
Directors Editorial
Nothing
New To Report From Our Director And Fellow Member, Billy (Mad Dog) Dines.
Upcoming Flying Events
Note: All flying events will be from
12:00 noon through 4 or 5 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
Club Fly – 01/01/00 – Saturday: Will be at the Riverview
Park, (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions). Possible dinner and drinks to
follow.
Off Weekend Recommended Fly – 01/09/00 – Sunday: Was not
announced. (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions).
Club Fly – 01/16/00 – Sunday: Will be at the Original Hippie
Park AKA Jim Jennings Park, (see the new Kite
Field Recommendations section for directions).
Off Weekend Recommended Fly – 01/23/00 – Sunday: Will be at
the Plateau Park, (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions).
Club Fly – 01/29/00 – Saturday: Will be at the Riverview
Park, (see the new Kite Field Recommendations
section for directions). Possible
dinner to follow.
Note: By popular demand and the desire
to socialize after a fly with a meal and possibly drinks, the club flying
events will be moving, periodically,
to SATURDAYS!!! Stay tuned as to when
this will start. Park selection will be
alternated so that no single group of individuals will have to drive a long way
all of the time.
Special
Note: Jane
and I have purposely bought three
indestructible Beetles for guests! Please
do not hesitate to ask for them when you have a guest attending our events.
Latest Fly Report
Club Fly Report For - 12/04/99 – Saturday: Was held at the Riverview
Park, (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions), with about 9 attending. The wind
was up and down without much continuous wind. The result was that even fewer
went for wings and drinks. Attempts were made to try out some new spiked bowls,
which required some major winds, and a new remote control kite, which
experienced radio interference as well as a need for more wind. In truth, I am
having trouble remembering much in detail except that we had a few spectators
when we were flying, and a lot of chat time when we weren’t.
Off Weekend Fly Report – 12/12/99 – Sunday: Was to be at the
Sherminator Park, (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions). No report available.
Club Fly Report - 12/18/99 – Saturday: Will be at the
Original Hippie Park AKA Jim Jennings Park,.
Possible dinner to follow.
Hi Tom, I went out on Sunday afternoon 12/19/99 to Jim Jennings Park, (see
the new Kite Field Recommendations
section for directions), and flew for only
15-20 minutes. Jim was not there and
the wind was swirling so bad that, one-minute my kite was in the east, and the
next it was in the west...or right in the sun so I couldn't see it anyway. Monday 12/20/99, I went to Plateau Park, (see
the new Kite Field Recommendations
section for directions), and the wind was
great!! I flew for a solid hour and the
kite never touched the ground (unless I crashed it). On another note I have finally got my Pro Wren back from
repair!!! What a great kite it is to fly!!
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!!
Dennis (The Menace)
Off Weekend Fly Report – 12/26/99 – Sunday: Was to be at the
Plateau Park, (see the new Kite Field
Recommendations section for directions). Was pretty much be a free for all
fly due to the holidays. No report available.
Club Fly – 01/01/2000
– Saturday: Was at the Riverview Park, (see the new Kite Field Recommendations section for
directions), and had about nine in attendance. The wind was really blowing, but
would stop and start over and over again. After failed attempts at getting the
single liners up, and the new high wind bowls up, and several of the high wind
two liners up, we all pulled out our Pro Wrens and had a great time. Numerous
spectators enjoyed the show as well. Some were launching rockets, some were
playing Frisbee golf, some were walking dogs, and some just sat down and
watched the show. We even had a man and his son come and attempt to fly their
plastic kite and eventually joined us for some tips. We all invited them to
join us in the future, and passed on our e-mail address for Kite Flyer
newsletters. Finally four of us went to the local restaurant and had wings and
beer. All said and done, a good time had by all.
(Special Note: We need to find more parks with an audience to introduce
more non-fliers to the sport. Some discussion at the last fly was made of
parks that might fit the bill. Please send in your recommendations ASAP
so that we can start trying them out. thomas.m.manson@boeing.com.)
Future Events
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home/Orphanage Charity Event –
Currently being worked on. And has yet to be determined.
04/07-04/09/2000 - Kite Fest 2000 to benefit Homeward Bound. It will be at Del Webb's anthem this year,
and promises to be bigger and better than Kite Fest '99 was!!!! Lynn Trochelman
is on the planning committee again, and will be getting in touch with the local
flyboys and girls to recruit volunteers to help with a few things for this
year. Lynn will keep you posted as she gets more nailed down. Lynn can be
contacted at: flykites2@aol.com
05/12-05/14/2000 – Route 66 Kite
Club Fly With Our Sister Club the San Diego Kite Club (SDKC). Come and tryout some really great winds with
loads of fun for the whole family. Sea World, Old Down, Seaport Village,
Mission Bay, Mission beach, the ocean, shopping, and a myriad of other things
for the family to do. We will be joining the SDKC, (http://www.sdkc.net) at their Mission
Bay Park for a Sister club fly on Saturday, with a night fly on the beach
Saturday evening. A Saturday evening barbecue will be promoted as well. We
would like to have everyone stay at the same hotel if possible for easier
logistics. The “Beach Cottages” hotel is on Mission Boulevard and right on the
beach for everyone’s enjoyment with lots of shops and restaurants within easy
walking distance. The rooms run from $80/night through $250/night for a
two-bedroom cottage. Jane and I have a
one-bedroom cottage that we all can congregate at, so my recommendation is the
cheaper rooms. Everyone should get
their reservations in early because this is a popular place. Hope to see you
all there!
09/22-09/24/2000 – September
San Diego Sister Club in San Diego w/ the San Diego Kite Club Event.
More information to follow when available. See the 05/12/2000 event for lodging
information.
10/08/2000 – One Sky One World
(OSOW) Annual kite event for world piece. More to follow as information
becomes available.
Note: Any ideas for events, please
contact the Gadget Man at: thomas.m.manson@boeing.com.
Other News
AKA Registration Renewal Due
Believe it or not, it is
time to renew your membership in the American Kitefliers Association
(AKA). We hope you have found
membership in the AKA beneficial and look forward to you being with us in the
future. The easiest way to renew is click on or access this web site: http://www.aka.kite.org/mbr_app.html and follow the instructions.
At the web site, you can
either renew your membership using a VISA or MasterCard or download a
membership application and mail it to us. (If you are concerned about giving your
credit card over the internet, read the page on credit card number security
and/or phone in your number.)
Your comments on the AKA
are important to us. Feel free to add them to your renewal or send them
directly to us by replying to this email address: xd@aka.kite.org
Thanks again for being
part of the AKA.
Mel Hickman
Executive Director
800-252-2550
Registration Renewal Timeframe
Selected For R66KC
It has been determined
that it would be too difficult to track and contact each one of you
individually, as to when your Club dues become due. Due to this, the May
timeframe has been selected as the date for club membership renewal dues. Also,
dues collected at any other time of year from new members will not be
pro-rated. Our intent is to keep the process simple, and keep the dues down to
$5.00/person/year, which is cheep compared to some clubs that charge as much as
$25.00/person/year. If anyone has any problems with this please contact me at
your earliest convenience.
Pictures Coming Soon
Sorry folks, but I
have been falling down on the job. I am the Chapter Photographer / Historian
for the Harley Owners Group, the Glendale AZ chapter, and do a lot of digital
photography for them, and as yet, have done little for the R66KC. I will be
remedying this soon, and will have photos posted on the new web site as well as
a few selected ones for the Kite Flyer. I would like to get a photo of everyone
soon so that I can share them as needed in the Kite Flyer.
New R66KC Web Site Coming Soon! You got it, a new domain has been established by
the Gadget Man for some side business, and a sweet deal for multiple access,
large amounts of space, chat rooms, bulletin boards, sub-domains, and unlimited
e-mail address’s. Due to this, several new sites will be set up, and one of
them has been designated for the Route 66 Kite Club. As soon as something is
available, I will be publishing where you will be able to fine it.
R66KC Shirts will be purchased
soon.
We are currently working this issue with Roman (The Fly’n Hawaiian)
Trugillo who is attempting to start a new T-shirt printing business. We would
rather give the business, (wait we already give him the business), than deal
with a non-kiter. To this end, please have a little patients.
It has been decided that a new batch of shirts will be purchased soon so
those club members will be able to get their very own Route 66 Kite Club
t-shirts. Due to the desire to drive down costs, and the numerous requests from
other kiters for shirts, we have decided to buy quantity of the same design,
and charge non-club members and additional $5.00 per shirt as a membership fee.
This will then bring them in as a member, and we will eventually have members
all over the world. Granted they will only be members for a year, and may not
renew their memberships, but we will have our Kite Flyer sent out to the world,
which will make kiters from everywhere aware of our club and our events. In
addition, this will drive down the cost of our shirts as a side benefit. I will
keep you all informed of when they will be purchased, and when they will be
available. I will round up the quantities of the orders based on the price
breaks from the following:
Blue Polo Style (about $25/ea)
XL 1 Dennis The Menace
1 Fly’n Hawaiian
Med. 1 Fly’n Ryan
Grey T-shirt (about $20/ea)
XXXL 4 Big Bad John
XL 1 Fly’n Hawaiian
Lrg. 1 Sherminator
1 Hugh
(maybe/maybe not)
Total of 10 shirts. We need at least 25 for a price break!
Important: If you would
like to identify yourself as a current OR future purchaser, please send me an
e-mail immediately. If you would like to get one later, for what ever reason,
please let me know, I will be glad to hold it for you until then. This will
help in keeping the cost down by ordering now.
New kiters are calling from all
over the country. Thanks to
our listing on the AKA web site, and in the AKA magazine, calls continue to
come in inquiring about out club and it’s activities. When you hear of anyone
interested in the club, please be sure to share my e-mail address so that they
can be added to the distribution list for the club newsletter.
New Questions
Warning: We need responses to the following questions in a
timely manor, from all of the
membership. If we cannot get the needed responses, we may have to call an
actual meeting, eeeeeeuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwww.
:-(
No new questions at this time.
Old Questions That Still Need
Answering
The following Questions Need Answers From All Of You! Some of you have responded, but we need all of you to respond, at least with a minimal of info. Please Respond As Soon As Is Possible! Thanks thomas.m.manson@boeing.com.
Kite Fest 2000 Needs Rokkaku
Trainers: Our Kite Festival
2000 coordinator has indicated that she is getting several corporate sponsors involved
with a the Rokkaku challenge, and will need some hands on lessons before the
festival. I am not sure that we have many Rokkaku fighters out there at this
time, but if you are one, please contact me at thomas.m.manson@boeing.com
to indicate that you may be able to help the corporate battlers with some basic
maneuvers in preparation for the Festival. If you know someone that might be
interested, please inform them, and let us know if they could help. As Lynn has
indicated, not a lot of experience is needed, nor time, so please consider
helping out our Kite Fest 2000 coordinator with some simple Rokkaku training.
Perhaps you might also instruct us single and double liners in the art as well!
- Thanks
Needed Input
1.
Jonathan Dellmar has posted that his new sewing machine is up and running and
the cutting table should be finished in the next few weeks. Jon also wants
input on the Route 66 banner? I have several ideas on this, and Jon has
suggested that he would like for all the club members to have a chance to have
some input on what it's gonna look like. Jon has several ideas as well, so
bring your thoughts on the banner to the next couple of flies for review. All ideas are needed, and none will be
rejected.
(We still
need input on this one. John will have his first practice banner ready for
review soon.)
2. Input for R66KC articles is always appreciated and always
needed. Please send all items for publication to Gadget Man Manson at: thomas.m.manson@boeing.com. Please
include R66KC in the subject of any E-mails. If you find any information
relating to kiting, even rumors, please forward them. Information on new Arizona stores that have kites, places that
have kite building materials, new web sites, and especially humorous ideas for
“Inquiring Minds Want To Know”, etc., are all desperately
needed. Anyone wishing to
publish his or her own articles or columns will gladly be accepted. Used kites
that anyone wishes to sell will also be published. Remember, it takes more than
a couple of people to make a club happen.
Al-Habib The Tent Maker (New)
Our very own Jonathan (Al-Habib The Tent Maker) Dellmar, has made some fascinating finds in the areas of fabric etc. He has been experimenting with bag and handle making as well as a few banners. This section is dedicated to any information that he can share with us regarding his finds during his quest in kite making. This sections will also list the items he is willing to make for club members. We must keep in mind that Al-Habib is not in the kite retail business and has graciously offered to extend his sewing talents in making a few things for our members at his cost. I would recommend, against Al-Habib’s wishes, that you consider his time, which he does not charge for, when paying him for his wares. Below are Al-Habib’s latest offerings:
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The name of the store is Fabric Depot. It's on Cave Creek, just
south of Bell Rd. on the east side of the road. It closes at 5:30pm Mon-Fri,
3:00pm on Sat, Closed on Sun. Mostly good for handles and bag supplies.
They also sell shock cord by the yard. Very limited stock of nylon
ripstop. Some (very) odd colors. Also check out JoAnne
Fabrics. They stock ripstop nylon in the primary colors.
Handles are available in: Black, Dk
Blue, Lt Blue, Red, Orange, Royal Purple, Forest Green, Grey, White and
Rainbow. Widths are 1 inch. 3/4, 1 1/2 and 2 inch widths are
available with limited color selection. Handles are $1.00 per set, your
choice of colors, mixed colors are ok. Specify Nylon or Chromed Steel
D-rings. Finger straps and over the wrist handles are available. I
can also do the adjustable length wrist straps for a bit extra. Tips are
excepted.
Custom kite bags are in the works. Built to your specifications.
I'm also working on armored kite bags for people who travel. They
are a custom design that slips over your current kite bag. There is a
heat-curved piece of polycarbonate sheet that is sandwiched in-between two layers
of 1000 denier Nylon. It's designed to prevent the apes that pack planes
from snapping half the spars in your kite bag. Prices dependent on
options and design.
Al-Habib, the tent maker.
As The Axle Turns
The story of Mad Dog Dines. Once upon a time...... in a land
by the sea, a normal kind of guy, a Pharmacist by trade, named Billy Dines,
once enjoyed his remote control planes and gliders and such. This hobby was
hard to transport and costly on repairs so his dreams glided along the lines of
the kites he would see at the beach. As little Billy began enjoying his new
hobby of flying kites, single and double lines, on the beaches he would
frequent in San Diego, he observed a very strange man that was flying two, two
line stunt kites at the same time. Little Billy was amazed at this strange
ability and approached the stranger who he learned was named Ray Bethel. As
Billy watched the hypnotic dance of the two kites dancing in separate flight,
he slowly became hypnotized with the acrobatics of the kites. (It is the
opinion of this reporter that this Ray Bethel. is one of the new race of alien
kite flyers that has been reported earlier in these articles. This would
explain the ability to fly two kites at once since this alien race has been
reported as having four arms.) This alien hypnotized poor Billy into making
Kiting the only true passion in his life. So much so he spent thousands of
dollars on kites, gave up sex, and sought out great kite events such as the
Washington Long Beach International Kite Festival. As he attends these events
you can see the transformation of poor Billy as he salivates at the kites in
the air, and runs all over the beach like a Mad Dog trying to keep is kite, and
everyone else’s kite in the air at the same time. Watch the Mad Dog next time
you fly with him and see if it isn’t so! He is even worse at the beach though
so come to San Diego in May, and you won’t believe your eyes. (Those damn
aliens strike again!)
(Note: For those of you that do not know, Ray Bethel is for real, and does
fly two stunt kites separately, and not in tandem. Definitely a must see at a
big kite Fest.)
Signature Lines To Remember
From Chris The Scherminator
Schermann.
It's good to be part of
the club! I believe it was Will Rodgers who said, "I wouldn't
belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member."
Just an old, funny quote.
From Our Kite Festival
Coordinator Lynn Trackelman
Take care....
And, remember, if the
wind sucks, you're flying backwards!!!
Lynn
From Our Editor the Gadget Man, and stolen with permission from Robyne Gardner of
AKA. Tom added the Kilroy face for fun and to play with your minds.
,,,,,,,,
_____________,,,,_{ô¿ô}_,,,,______________
You don't stop playing because you
get old,
you get old because you stop playing!
_____________________________________
Used Kites For Sale And Lost Kite Listing
We still have a little lost sole
in Big John’s bag. You can
contact him at: dellmar1@home.com. . Please look through all or your bags
as John has requested, (I did), and review what you have. John has a big heart
and has offered to go to extreme measures to return the kite to it’s owner. So
lets all take a little time to help Big John out.
No
Kites For Sale At This Time
Kite Field Recommendations
Note: Park names derived from primary user’s nickname,
recommended name, or a unique feature of the park.
Fountain Hills Park (Way East By
Northeast) This park is in
the center of city of Fountain Hills. From the north side of town take Shea
Boulevard all the way out to Saguaro Boulevard which is just before Highway 87
or the Beeline Highway. From the east side, take the Beeline, or Highway 87
north to Shea Boulevard, and head west to the first light, which is Saguaro
Boulevard. Once there, go north on
Saguaro Blvd. until you find the lake with the odd looking fountain in the middle.
This is the largest fountain in the world and usually goes off every hour,
creating it’s own wind, and cooling, which is great for the summer. Take the
first road past the lake, and you will find the place to fly on the north side
of the lake.
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Rating: |
Great But Far |
Restrooms: |
South Side |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
30 |
Drinking Fountains: |
None |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Good |
Park Benches: |
No |
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Distance To Amenities: |
5 Miles |
Shade Available: |
Limited |
Original Hippie Park (North)
Was the “Jim Jennings Park”, and can be located by going north on I-17 to Bell
Rd., west on Bell to 29th Ave., then south on 29th to
Grandview, and finally west again on Grandview for two blocks.
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Rating: |
Great |
Restrooms: |
None |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
30 |
Drinking Fountains: |
None |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Poor |
Park Benches: |
Yes |
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Distance To Amenities: |
1 Mile |
Shade Available: |
Lots |
Plateau Park (Northeast) This park is located approximately 100 Yards north
of Union Hills on 16th Street. Take I-17 north to Union Hills, and
go east to 16th Street. Then go north on 16th Street to
Wescott and turn east. Parking can be found about 100 yards east of 16th
Street on Wescott. We fly at the northern most ball field.
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Rating: |
Fantastic |
Restrooms: |
Locked |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
15 |
Drinking Fountains: |
Yes |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Poor |
Park Benches: |
No |
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Distance To Amenities: |
2 Miles |
Shade Available: |
No |
Riverview Park (Southeast) This Park is located approximately one quarter
of a mile south of Highway 202 on Dobson Road. Take the 202 to the Dobson Road
turnoff and head south. The park is on the west side of the road.
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Rating: |
Good |
Restrooms: |
Unknown |
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Kiters That Can Fly: |
20 |
Drinking Fountains: |
Unknown |
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Non-Kiter Visibility: |
Medium |
Park Benches: |
No |
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Distance To Amenities: |
3 Miles |
Shade Available: |
Yes |
Secret Park (Northwest) This park may soon be removed from the list due to
new housing development. This park can be located southwest of the intersection
of 51st Ave. and Northern. From there go west to the first street
that goes south and then follow that to the end, about three blocks, where it
ends at the park. This park was rated good, but is slowly being downgraded due
to the open fields being filled with new houses.
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Rating: |