NARAM 50 - For the Record Books
 

NARAM 50 is now history, and, I would like to thank all of those who I saw there and met. I am still on the road in CT and will give my thoughts about the event that was GREAT.

I would appreciate comments from those who attended the event and I am looking forward to NARAM 51 being held in Johnstown PA next year.

Using a hotel computer right now, will give an update probably on Wed.

Thanks to all who participated in the Golden Scout and Sky Of Gold celebration. Remember, you must register your flight by August 9th inorder to get a certificate.

I will also update you on my next project as well.

Thanks

RD

Twas a great NARAM, at least the two and a 1/4 days I was there. I truly hate that I had to come back home Monday, but that was all I could wrangle from my bosses.

It was nice finally meeting you and Diane, and I hope to see you again next year.

It was great meeting so many of the online folks in-person. Great NARAM. Great Old Rocketeers Reunion. Great launches. Too much dining. Still waiting for my luggage to be delivered. Good thing I shipped most of my purchases via UPS and they will arrive a week from Monday. I bought a lot of kits and some of the new Aerotech 24-60 casings.

I missed the ORR, and was only able to attend Sunday afternoon throught Tuesday night.
I had a great time flying vintage model rockets. These were all models that were built in the 1960's and early 1970's.... all except my Model Missiles Arcon, wheich flew like a champ.

I had a great time hanging out with Sandman at the field (Thanks for the table space and the shade buddy!!). I sold about 1/2 of the vintage motors I brought along, and a pile of decals too. Thanks to all who purchased from me.

I also had a great time putting faces to all of the newsgroup and email names that I have corresponded with over the years. (including the rocketdoctor himself!!) It was a lot like meeting old frineds.

I realy enjoyed hob-nobbing with manufacturers. Everyone was universally friendly, which I believe speaks very well for the hobby.

I finally got to meet Vern, Gleda and Betty ESTES. They are simply the nicest people ever. Vern and Gleda signed my very first rocket: a Goblin. My Dad built this for me when I was 6, and it this had to have been my favorite moment of NARAM 50.

On Tuesday night, I had a great time at the Cannon auction. I came loaded for bear and was able to purchase a number of vintage and foreign motors, plus a vintage Czech ASTRA kit. I am still very pleased.

Even though I was only able to attend for two days, I had a great time, and have many wonderful memories.

Phred

Ah, so you're the one that won that. Where did that one come from? I had handed mine over to Carl on Sunday night (minus the ADAST motors, of course).

It looked like yours had some extra "stuff" in it. What was in there?

Well Said, Phred! I too got to meet some of you out there, RD, Initiator, Shredvector, Sandman, and of course Carl and Sheryl, Vern and Gleda . What wonderful folks.
Ya Shred , way too much dining for me too!

Shread's quote: "I bid 22 dollars!!"

Yeah, the ASTRA by IGRA (looks like an ASTRON MARK, with a 24mm OD body tube) , with 6 ADAST motors included AND a Russian 'shotgun shell' motor. The casing is literally a shotgun shell.
I have to do more research on that....

I have no idea where the kit came from, but it sure is neat!! Neither the motors nor the kit are dated but my guesstimate is late 1960'3, early 1970's.

I had so many great conversations with so many rocketeers, especially YORFers. Scott and I had a great discussion of ALPS printer tips and tricks.

Phred

Oooh, can we talk about this too? I'll start a thread in the Building Techniques section, if you are interested in contributing.

it is from at the latest, May 1966, because apparently they all came over from people attending the first FAI rocket contest in Dubnica, Czechoslovakia. I think that would be the Stines, the Estes (and Betty?), the Piesters, J. Talley Guill, and Jim Kukowski, maybe the Barrowmans. Mine came from Jim Kukowski (i got it at the NARAM-47 auction three years ago), and Lee Piester immediately recognised it and stopped me in the lobby last week to ask where I got it!

How lucky that you got six motors! If I had gotten six I would've fired at least one of them!

I just want to thank Ken (Rocket Doctor) for all he contributed to this year's NARAM.

The Golden Scouts were a fantastic idea, endorsed by rocketeers all over the country, and Semroc's implementation of it was masterfully done. Thankyou both for such a wonderful way to honor the Estes, and the hobby.

Ken's speech and presentations to Vern, Gleda, and Betty Estes at the Tuesday picnic were absolutely beautiful. Truly heartfelt sentiments delivered on behalf of all of us who benefited from all they've done, and continue to do, for the hobby. I don't think anyone could have honored them more with what they said than Ken did on behalf of all of us. And the presentation rockets were perfect. Thanks, Ken.

And another big thank you for building and donating the wonderful upscale Golden Scout to the auction ( just like the one you presented to Gleda) which Vern, Gleda, and Betty all signed. It was a wonderful thing to donate in support of the NAR and I'm thrilled to have been able to win it at the auction.

Finally, running into you and the Estes underneath the Enterprise at Udvar-Hazy on Friday was a very special treat. Learning about your next project, in that particular room, was a real honor. Please consider me donator #1 on the project, which I'm sure you'll roll out to the rest of the rocketry community soon. And I have every confidence it will be just as successful and worthwhile as your NARAM 50 efforts were.

Ken, again, thank you so much for all you did for all of us to make this a truly special 50th anninversary of the NAR.