BUGGY NEWZ 2.3 The Official Organ of The Buggy Pilots International August/Sept. 1994 IN THIS ISSUE: Buggy Boogie Summer Thang Australia Buggy Safari 1st British Buggy Thingy Night Buggy Excitement Buggy Wildwood Buggy Seats New SkyTiger & QuadTrack Foils How-To-Buggy PaintBall Buggy Insurance Update Buggy Boogie Schedule *** FRENCH TICKLER: The "Transaquitaine " race, a 90 km run along the Bordeaux coast to Cap Ferret, reported in the last Buggy Newz 2.2, was not only run by Julian Wolf-Patrick, it was WON by Julian on a buggy. Reports are that the winds were too strong for the larger land yachts and Julian wolfed down the sandy miles (55 of them) with a Q Jr. and his SlingBack seat equipped buggy. Later reports are that Julian will be writing for a new French magazine called Kite Passion (but in French). More as we hear it. *** The Buggy Pilots International is an informal organization dedicated to spreading the fun and glory of Kite-powered Buggy-riding around the world. The common ground of wind-powered traction kiting transcends all boundaries except those of wind, gravity and drag. BUGGY OR DIE!! *** BUGGY BOOGIE SUMMER THANG: Summer 1994 version of the Buggy Boogie Thang saw a couple of dozen rabid Buggyers at El Mirage Dry Lake in Southern California's Mojave Desert for three days of extremely hot weather (over 118 deg F) and some of the best Buggy riding we have ever had. The miracle of kite gatherings assured the right mix of people could attend. (Timing the event for just before Berkeley SKC didn't hurt) Dean Jordan, Dodd Gross, Dave Arnold, Sliceman, Fritz Gramkowski, David Klein, Scott Dyer, Bob-ski Childs, Andrew Beattie (from England!), Mike Greenholz, Hoy Quan, Derek Moran, Dan Rubesh, Ray & Jeannie Merry, Steve Shapson, Keith Jackson, Ted Dougherty, Ty-dye Billings, and others I temporarily can't remember, but whom I will hear from soon - No doubt. A bunch of them met Tuesday evening at SFO. Some off the planes, Andrew - who luckily was working in Silicon Valley - in a rental full of buggy gear, and Ty down from Marin County. I found them waiting at a rest stop on I-5 and we followed each other through the night arriving on the lake bed shortly after dawn. I'll let Andrew tell you his story as seen through his own eyes... "Andrew of Mojave" on page 2. *** ANDREW OF THE MOJAVE By Andrew Beattie Wednesday morning. The sun was already hot. To start with the winds were very light and I think I was the first to buggy with my 10m Peel on 300' lines, but soon there were a swarm of people on buggys exploring the lake. I've had many spills and crashes with my kites, buggy and boat, but the most scary thing I've done happened this first afternoon. I had just finished a fast tack across the lake and had turned upwind to soak off the speed. As I came to a stop with the kite (the 10m Peel on 300' lines) parked above me, it caught some thermal lift. I slowly left my seat, but instead of being deposited back down as I was expecting, I was lifted some 2-3 feet clear of the ground and started drifting downwind. Dean estimated I covered 100 feet or so before coming back to earth. Although I was not hurt and never moved quickly or suddenly, I was deeply shaken by the fact that I had little or no control over what was happening. As well as the many buggys, there were 3 land sailors that we played with. These were good fun and belted across the lake at an impressive turn of speed and were put to good use as video platforms. My earlier brief lessons in sailing were useful and I was soon cranking the 2-man sailer up to speeds much in excess of those that I was comfortable with. Back in the camp, the most welcome toy was a canopy, set up by Hoy Quan, complete with a 4-head misting system. We could stand in the shade, enveloped by a cool spray, in the middle of the cooking (literally and figuratively at 118 F with buggys and land sailors going everywhere) lake bed. Later that afternoon, the overnight drive and pace of the day starting to take their toll, a few of us went into town, checked in at the motel and had some low-rent dinner. To avoid packing, Scott Dyer volunteered to return and sleep with the gear t in the desert. Later that night I decided to try to find him and maybe do some night buggy. This was more difficult that it sounds. His unlit truck was difficult to see in the middle of umpteen square miles of featureless terrain. After spending some time chatting, we sorted out some kites and lines (Peels are hard enough to untangle in daylight, finding the bridles and lines is a real challenge in moonlight) and tried it out. We were rewarded with some of the most magical buggying I've ever done. The kite was just a black silhouette against the sky and we were unable to see any features at ground level until they were just a few feet away. Something about the night wind and the smooth surface made it possible to tack much more sharply than normal. Usually you can't get closer that 45 degrees to the wind, but that night, we went more like 25 degrees easily (estimated against distant illuminated landmarks). Finally, around 2 or 3 AM, tiredness took over and I slept in the desert. The sun and a local autogyro pilot conspired to wake us at 5:30 AM on Thursday and the second day of the "Thang" was underway. Light winds and much dallying about as the heat started to build. I went back to the motel and slept in air-conditioned comfort. When I returned fresh in the early evening, the wind had picked up significantly. I put on my helmet, long sleeves and trousers and got out the 10m Peel. On a downwind run I quickly attained but never exceeded 35 mph. Although it looked impressive to put up such a large kite in so much wind, I never felt uncomfortable with it and the run was easy and controlled. Suspecting that a smaller kite would yield a higher top speed, I tried another run with the 7.5m Peel. The wind had calmed down a little, But I still managed to exceed the previous attempt with 38 mph registered as the event record on the car that was chasing me. The dream of getting a US traffic citation for breaking 55 is still some way off. Later in the evening, Dean, Coney and a bunch of the others headed off up the lake, to return after dark with stories of good times. I'll leave that for them to tell. When they returned, we spent a good while sitting around, recounting stories, telling lies and making jokes, but I was distracted by the gentle breeze I could feel on my face and went off to set up the 10m on the 600' lines. After a couple of false starts in the dark, and some help, it launched into the dark sky. Although there was nothing to feel at ground level, the magic wind had returned at altitude. Several of us had a chance to experience the beauty of speeding silently across the darkened lake while the lines whistled tunefully above us before the desert finally became totally still and we wandered gratefully off to bed. The End. *** BUGGY NEWZ is an independent operation. Non-profit as it happens. The purpose is to spread the word around the world of the Kite Buggy and the people who ride them. Conceived, Founded, Written, Edited, Published & Distributed by Coney Jensen. The ultimate responsibility for facts and errors, for truth and fallacy, for all the things you find enjoyable, and because there is no-one else to blame, for the things you disagree with ... Falls on only one pair of shoulders. Contact him or me in care of: Windborne Kites 585 Cannery Row #105 Monterey California 93940 USA Work / Kite Shop # 408 373-7422 Home # 408 372-7922 Fax # 408 373-0688 *** THE REGULAR HOW-TO-BUGGY ARTICLE: The first rule to learning the buggy is to use the smallest kite that will work and medium winds. Don't let anyone (or yourself) talk you into more than you can handle. Work the kite to gain power and speed and steer the buggy to turn the power in to speed. Get comfortable with the kite before jumping on the buggy. If the kite crashes, get off the buggy and point it downwind before relaunching the kite. Trying to relaunch without pointing the buggy downwind can pop you out sideways. Keeping the kite overhead and dropping it into the power when you want to go lets you apply power gradually. The bottom lines of quad-foils only brake the kite, not the buggy. The result is slack lines and wrapping them around your axle (The Bryan Brake). A set of 4'-6' dacron leads from your handles saves your spectra lines should this happen. There are three ways to stop the buggy: 1. Steer the buggy into the wind with the kite overhead. 2. Drop the kite behind your direction of travel for a moment then bring it back overhead. 3. Spin a quick 180 degree turn with the kite overhead. The surface you are buggying on is a consideration as well. Hard-pack dry lakes and pavement need less power, while sandy beaches and grass fields require a bit more for the same performance. Winds 8-16 mph and a really big place (100-200 yds minimum) with a clear area downwind (in case anyone has to release their kite) is acceptable. The bigger the space the better. Add power a bit at a time. Use the larger kites for lighter winds. Smaller kites can go faster (less sideways drag). Shorter lines offer quicker control response, but too short costs power. Get comfortable with the kite and buggy before trying any stunts. Practice and learn! *** Windborne Kites A complete selection of top-quality Buggys and Power Kites. Complete parts & accessories. Call or write for our Retail Kitealog Windborne Kites 585 Cannery Row #105 Monterey, California 93940 Toll-Free Orders: 1-800-234-1033 Fax: 408-373-0688 Shop: 408-373-7422 *** BUGGY BOOGIE THANGS: The January 1995 KTA Trade Show (the excuse to be in the Nevada desert last year) will be held in Orlando, Florida this time. Dean Jordan and Mike Simmons have been looking around for a suitable site, but have so far come up empty. Any leads out there? In January 1996, the KTA was expected to return to Las Vegas, and we expected to return to Ivanpah Dry Lake for a rerun of that blast we had at the first one. But you know, the only constant is change and the 1996 KTA Show has been moved to San Diego. This brings El Mirage Dry Lake into range. Approximately 2/3 the size of Ivanpah Dry Lake outside Las Vegas, the 22 sq/m of hard-pack at El Mirage still offers plenty of room for beginners and racers. Only 3-4 hours from San Diego, north on Interstate 15 to Victorville, then about 10-15 miles west to the lake bed. Accommodations are not nearly as convenient, being nearby in Adelanto, but the lake bed offers advantages as far as terrain choices and buggy runs through the surrounding desert. *** NEW PETER LYNN BUGGY & BOAT: The newest buggy design, a manifestation of the creative abilities of New Zealand's legendary Peter Lynn, sports an improved front fork design with higher foot pegs offering better maneuverability for trick riders and racers. Also available are the new aluminum bolt-together wheels. Imported by the Gramkowski's High Fly Kite Co. The latest generation buggy/boat will also be present at the AKA Convention in Wildwood. Fritz is very excited by the power and speed and has some great stories of the fun he has had. Boaters should be aware of the difficulty in relaunching inflated wings >From the water. A chase boat to render assistance is almost a necessity. Great article in KiteLines on the boat races and the Wipi-Cat inflatable kite boat. Great minds... etc. etc. *** BUGGY INSURANCE: The AKA Board has voted to include Buggys under the AKA insurance policy. This applies at sanctioned events only. The Buggy Event Guidelines are being written by members of the buggy community on the AKA Power Kiting Committee. A huge thank you is due all those who have worked so hard and with such care to bring this wacky edge of kiting under the umbrella. We all benefit and gain access to venues otherwise unavailable due to liability and one-time insurance costs. *** SUNSET SAILING AT EL MIRAGE: Picture this... You've been cruising the lake bed for a few hours. The wind came with the afternoon heat, and buggying is the best way to "maintain an even strain". A couple of water bottles (that you filled with ice from the cooler before you left camp) hanging from a belt and your goggles snug on your face to keep the dust out of your eyes. The hard, flat surface of the lake and your tires scream at each other in praise of speed, and the whistle of the lines makes a sonic chord with the rustle of ripstop sail. The rush of wind in your ears combines to make a finer music than the most expensive Walkman. You gobble up the miles. Approaching a trance state, the long traverses of the lake become hypnotic and you feel very small and insignificant in the midst of such vastness while at the same time increasing your awareness of the your place in the scheme of things The use of wind to propel a human, the technology and the primal forces coming together. Not out of necessity, but for pleasure. Applied theory. The shadows from the surrounding mountains grow longer across the lake but the winds hold up and no-one comes in. The buggys are small dots in the distance, easily lost in the heat shimmer and the pucker bumps, but the foils are visible above them and show the movements as the fleet of buggys criss-crosses the lake bed. Sundown comes quickly. Still we have the wind so we keep sailing. The camp is over that way, somewhere. If you think about it too much or try to run, the wind gods will know and they will take it away. So no-one heads back. This is too good! We keep sailing. That time between sundown and dark passes quickly in the desert when the wind is streaming through your consciousness. The sense of distance and space is deceptive, alone in the dark, on a moonless night, not sure where camp is. The Theory of Relativity proven again. We finally figured it out and everyone straggled back after awhile. Awed, humbled, exhilarated and thrilled, all at once. And people wonder why we buggy. *** Intentional lunacy has no logical criticism. *** CONEY FINALLY GOES ON-LINE: Yes, it has happened. I have an account with America OnLine and have figured out how to read stuff on the INTERNET. I have not yet posted anything (it's called "lurking") but soon, my friends, soon. If you have a computer and have not yet accessed an online service, get off the fence and join in the most exciting thing to happen to kiters (and others) since the invention of ripstop. Call or write me for a FREE AOL starter kit that includes 10 free hours of on-line time. *** LARGE RICHARD I recently took delivery of my new Land Lizard "Long Prong" cruising buggy. This latest model also sports the new front fork with the upgraded ball-joints for increased strength and durability. The "Long Prong" extends the wheelbase to over 5 feet . The added length aids stability at speed with only a wider turning radius as the price to pay (performance-wise). The "Long Prong" extension is 3 feet long and packs easily into the vinyl carry bag. With the added comfort of my new SlingBack - I was in heaven! *** BONNEVILLE ENDURO REPORT: Derek Moran reports in from the Bonneville Buggy Enduro held Sept. 10-11. About 30 buggy riders from every corner of the globe descended on the Bonneville Salt Flats for a 50 mile Enduro, but the winds did not co-operate for the race. Jeff Cain did make a lap of the 2 1/2 mile course - In 2 hours 45 minutes! Still, the group in attendance was impressive. Truly an international event with Mick Parsons from Wales along with a group from Great Britain, and Phillip McConachie came all the way from New Zealand. They came from all across the U.S. and Canada . The sport, even in these early years, can draw a group of aficionados. Hey! Push me! *** 1st BRITISH BUGGY THINGY REPORT: Andrew Beattie reports on the first British Buggy Thingy held 29 August at Wroughton Airfield in England. Last minute problems with the local council and insurance almost killed the event, but even with a change in venue, the event was a smashing success. Ian Meredeth (a focal point of British buggying) brought his British National Buggy Race to the event, but that conflicted with the aims of the PKA and their insurance (sounds like American squabbling), so the PKA backed out refusing to play at all, and sent Andrew scurrying about at the last minute to bring it all together. With the help of generous fellow buggyers insurance was obtained and the BBT was a go! Having scouted the terrain at the abandoned airfield, they settled on a 3-lap four corner race course. Chris Lamb took 1st Place with Mike Shaw in 2nd and Dominic Early in 3rd. The race proved a vindication of "no-rules" racing - It was fair, it was fun, and the winner deserved his place. Next thing on the schedule was a manic idea by Ian. All racers had a long balloon taped to the rear axle, and within a small area, the dozen or so participants tried to snatch others balloons while protecting g their own. The ensuing chaos proved to be immense fun. At any one time you would be acting both to attack some other buggy, while always defending your own rear. All of this was complicated fact that the sky was thick with kites and lines, so y u couldn't always go where you wanted (or were headed). The lunacy was so much fun that they did it twice! The last organized event was the world's first tandem buggy race. Stretch Tucker acted as chief judge, marshall and flag waver. Wind shifts created a different race from the one they started, but Ian took 1st, Andrew got 2nd, Mike Shaw-3rd, Bungle (Richard Liddlecote)-4th, and Chris Lamb-5th. Despite the hard surface and high speeds, the atmosphere had been conducive to safety (having fun-not taking risks) and the only injury was a sprained wrist when Mike Shaw dumped his girl out of the back at the end of the tandem race. It's a little early to confirm, but next year's race is being planned, so keep the August Bank Holiday clear! *** SPEED RUNS: The truth of who is fastest continues to be the goal of many buggyers. All claims must specify pilot weight, terrain, wind speed, run direction (cross-wind or down-wind), kite size, line length, and measuring method (cyclocomputer, pace car or measured distance/time). Only in this manner can we hope to compare. *** THAT NEKKID BUGGY THING: It started as a goof. A childish prank out in the middle of the desert. Get nekkid and buggy. Who's to notice? Who's to care? Besides, we thought, if people do it nekkid... How dangerous can it be? That was before Ivanpah Dry Lake and The Buggy Boogie Thang last January. A bunch of us had stopped to chat out on the far side, and the conversation turned, as it often does, to nekkidness and the fact that the sun was no longer overhead and the risk of burning here-to-fore underexposed parts was greatly reduced. Before you could say Gypsy Rose Lee, we had thrown caution (as well as our clothing) to the wind and off we went in a pack, breezing across the lake only inches away from a real-time demonstration of friction. The word and wonder of Nekkid Buggy Stuff has spread around the world. Advocates of the Nekkid Buggy Experience can be found everywhere there are buggyers. Note: Sitting on your clothes is better than leaving them on the field and loosing them. Lately, some attempts at modesty have been proposed as acceptable to enter the unclothed ranks. Acts of outrageousness by their definition exclude modesty. If the baring of flesh - yours or others - is not a part of your lifestyle and not on your "to-do list", well fine. No body should be exposed before its time. The act is not defined by limits. Quite the opposite, it is an act of stepping outside the limits and doing so only because of desire. Not need. Although you do go faster, and can point higher upwind, and buggy in lighter winds. Really! *** KITE SKIING AT IVANPAH: During the Buggy Boogie Thang last January, the KiteSki crew came up >From San Diego prepared for some awesome skiing on the lake. Winter weather in the desert mandated wetsuits for protection from the chilly waters and the strong winds made slalom skis the choice for the experienced. Carving hard turns set up a sheet of spray that drenched the crowd watching from the shore. But the excitement of high speed water skiing action kept the crowds mind off the wetness and focused on the skills displayed. *** PAINTBALL BUGGY: One of the wackier ideas we came up with in the desert was the plan to mount paint guns on our buggys to enable us to play Desert Rats in the desert. The guns should be mounted in a fixed position on single buggys to prevent drive-bys. Having to aim the buggy to aim the paint gun enhances tactical planning over skill-less guns a'blazing hit-and-run raids. Tandems would be like bringing up the heavy tanks. More firepower but heavier and slower. Besides being a big target that is not quite as maneuverable. Figuring out how to fire the paint guns is also tricky. *** 16' & 20' BANSHEE PEGASUS Curved Leading-Edge Delta Single-Surface Battened Wing. Custom-built for the serious kiter. Available through Windborne Kites *** How To Get Buggy Newz: Ask for it! I write and publish Buggy Newz when I can. Usually 4-6 issues a year. If you wish to contribute to the cause, you may. In fact I encourage you to. Current format (8 pages w/ photos), printing & postage run me about $250/issue. Windborne contributes some background support (computer, scanning time, envelopes, etc.) but this is my baby and I pay. Dan Rubesh converts my Mac files and shares Buggy Newz (without the awesome illustrations and outstanding photography) via the INTERNET on the bbs called . Reprints are encouraged (with proper credit) Please be kind and send a copy for the Buggy Newz files. Making copies of Buggy Newz to share is cool too. *** BUGGY SEATS FOR COMFORT & SUPPORT: The desire for a more comfortable riding position especially during long distance and extended time runs has inspired some creative solutions. The portability of the buggy is one of its features, so any add-on seat back should be collapsible for transport. No interference with the pilots control of the kite is another consideration. The SlingBack Seat* from Moran Products in Santa Barbara, is the commercial version of Julian Wolf-Patrick's design. Easy to install and adjustable. The SlingBack is well-built and reasonably priced at $50-$60 retail. Short course racers might no t want to use it as it lulls you back in a comfortable position with a definite rear-weight bias. Perfect for cruising though. Mike Greenholz from Utah has adapted the Sling-Back seat to also support a backpack, axle bag, and side pods to allow the carrying of extra kites, water bottles and repair kits. Mike's original design is unnecessarily complicated (a daypack adapted o the buggy) and a redesign is underway to reduce costs and improve capacity. Hoy Quan has adapted a collapsible canoe seat to his buggy. The design has straps that secure it to the buggy frame and the application works well. Back support is sufficient for extended seat time. There are no provisions for hanging water bottles or kite bags from the seat, so the lesser cost (as compared to the packs Mike has adapted) is balanced by the lack of space to pack gear. Dean Jordan has also come up with some interesting ideas. He has added heavy bunji cord between the seat of his PL buggy and the frame. Ride comfort is noticeably enhanced. The seat feels gently sprung and absorbs bumps before they are felt. I have adapted a catamaran-style full-torso sling-seat with an adjustable chest/waist harness for buggy use in desert and beach cruising and am pleased to discover it fits the SlingBack installed on my Long Prong Land Lizard. *** NIGHT BUGGY NEON: The joys of buggying at night were enhanced at the Buggy Boogie Thang last January when John Lind debuted his neon light system. You've probably seen similar products on cars cruising the main drag on Saturday nights. An eerie light underneath presents the illusion of the vehicle hovering on the ghostly glow as it moves down the street. Now you can achieve the same effect on your buggy or even install them on your kite. The neon tubes are encased in plastic making them very rugged. The device is battery operated (for those of us who have not yet installed a generator on our buggy ) and the effect is magical. List price for the kite kit is $79.95 and for the buggy kit - $159.95. For more information, contact John at 20 Maplewood Ave. Gloucester, MA 01930. Phone 508-283-0442 *** BUGGY WILDWOOD-AKA 94 Buggy riders will descend on Wildwood, New Jersey for the AKA National Convention October 12-16, 1994. Roger Chewning has announced a Power Kite Exhibition running Sunday and Monday, October 9-10. Before AKA. Riders are coming in from Friday on, and most plan to keep buggying throughout the week of the AKA convention. Fat tires and tails! The beach is not groomed during the off-season so if they have a good blow before we arrive, we can expect a hard-pack surface over much more of the beach than is found during the summer months. Plenty of room for all skill levels including a buggy training seminar by Dean Jordan will give any wanna-bes the opportunity to find out what this noise is all about. Long speed runs (wind permitting) up and down the beach should satisfy any buggy riders who long for beach buggy fun. Bring your helmet and safety gear, this is an AKA-sanctioned event. Come see what the others are doing. Learn from some of the best buggy riders in the world. Buggy Wildwood! *** BUGGY PILOTS OF AMERICA Cloisonne' Pins Silver on Black $6 Paint The Sky Kites Portland, Oregon Ph: 503 222-5096 Fax: 503 222-5034 *** BUGGY DOWN-UNDER: We are getting ready for November 1995 when the World Cup goes to Lakes Entrance, Australia. Many buggy riders are already making plans to join in the first ever Buggy Boogie Safari Thang to Lake Eyre and Lake Tyrrell immediately after the World Cu p. Lake Eyre, in South Australia , north of Adelaide, is on the edge of the Simpson Desert and has a plenitude of space for the buggys. Lake Tyrrell, in the northwest corner of Victoria, is a dry salt lake out in the bush some 3-4 hour drive from Melbourne. Many buggy riders from Down-Under are excited by the opportunity to join with their international brethren for one of the most awesome buggy expeditions ever conceived. We are planning to use a large travel/camping coach to accommodate everyone and camp at the sites. We will see the outback up close. Major marsupial experiences are to be expected. This could well be one of the most interesting experiences of your life. Current planning has us out for 5-8 days. Side trips to interesting sites are also being planned. Costs will depend on how many share the trip. Make plans now to be included. We are maintaining a list of interested buggyers and if you would like to be on it... Let me know. *** Roger Ripstop says "SAFETY FIRST!" *** BUGGY PARTS: Judy at What's Up is no longer importing Peter Lynn Buggys and I have purchased all her Buggy parts from inventory. Now I offer them to YOU! If spare parts on hand is a concept you agree with, let me list the pieces I have: Red PL Buggy Bags - $45/ea. Rainbow Seat Web - $ 30/ea. Fat Tires - $15/ea. Fat Tire Tubes - $15/ea. Rear Axles - $ 70/ea. Seat Tubes - $ 30/pr. Complete Front Fork (w/ foot pegs) & Down Tube - $ 200. Front Fork (w/ foot pegs) - $ 70 Tandem Hitches - $45/ea. Skinny Front Tire/Spoked Wheel & Hub w/ Front Axle Bolt - $75. Rear Axle Bolts - $2.50/ea. Front Axle Bolt w/ spacers - $7.50/ea. Peter Lynn Video - $7.50/ea. Call me at Windborne Kites, M-W-F 10 AM to 6 PM or Saturday evening 5 PM til 9 PM. *** NEW BUGGY TRICKS: At the Bristol Intn'l Kite Festival, Andrew Beattie spent quite a long time with broadcast cameras pointed at him and created some new tricks. First was to put up a 10m Peel when a 5m would have been more appropriate, then instead of doing a 2-wheel run, pulled all three wheels off the ground for 2 or 3 rather exciting seconds. He changed down to a 7.5 m Peel to take a cameraman for a ride. After pulling a couple of rather fast corners and still wanting more, he powered up the kite and down-turned going into a corner. The tandem accelerated so fast that the cameraman fell clean off the back! Peter Lynn finished off the set by doing a spoken interview while flying a Peel. He caught a gust and was pulled forward breaking clean through the umbilical cord linking the cameraman to the soundman. Too Much Fun! *** NEW FOILS: SKYTIGER & QUADTRAC Ray Merry of Cobra Kites, co-inventor of the Flexifoil, has designed a quad-line power kite for buggy power. The SkyTiger is being made by Tailspin Kites in Canada and comes in 18, 26 & 40 sq/ft sizes. Conventional in shape and construction, it performs on par with the best of the current crop of designs. Ted Dougherty, late of Quadrifoil fame, has signed a deal with Skynasaur to build his new QuadTrac foil. Distinguished by a bulge mid-sail, the new kite more than held its own on the desert. Cross-vented cells, while not yet standard design, are available by special order. Skynasaur is building a strong following with their new approach to the kite game. I'll get one of each to test fly soon. *** BUGGY TALES: John Tavolacci, while buggying on a field in Norwalk CT learned a lesson. John was helping his friend Bob, on another buggy, who was new to the sport. Tagging along behind Bob and offering some helpful directions, John became mesmerized by the sigh t of the two SkyTiger 40's following in perfect order. John failed to realize that his lines were about 5 feet longer than Bob's and as they glided past a 50 foot light tower, his SkyTiger got tangled in the light post! Damn! A call to the fire department captain was futile. They don't come out for cats of kites. Something about risking a 1 million dollar machine for a kite. The nerve! The park superintendent suggested waiting until the next day when a cherry picker would be available. John figured leaving the kite overnight would cause it to beat itself to death, so he paid a truck driver $10 to pull his truck up next to the pole and with a 10 foot ladder and a 20 foot painting stick with a pocket knife taped to the end, there was just enough to cut the bridles and let the kite fall free. A bit of bridle work put the bag back into the sky. Moral of this story? PAY ATTENTION! *** HOW DOES THAT GO AGAIN? Rumor at the NYSKC that a reporter asked one of the buggyers how fast they had to get the buggy going to keep the kite up! Someone else was convinced that the Sliceman's off-road in-line skates were powered by a small electric motor. Funny how it's usually two guys with three teeth each. Oh well! *** Buggy Pilots International c/o Windborne Kites 585 Cannery Row #105 Monterey, California 93940