CANON CITY, Colorado USA — While the focus of NARAM attendees begins on a rocket range, it doesn't stop there. NARAM traditionally has an entire series of evening activities to tempt and entertain. Monday brought the NAR Town Hall and Association Meetings. Those two meetings allow NAR members the chance to find out about various NAR committee projects, and ask questions about NAR service programs. There's also an annual election for open seats on the NAR Board.

The Manufacturer's Forum is one of the most well attended events at NARAM. New products always bring out the modelers! Click to enlarge.

Tuesday night brings out all the sport rocket manufacturers to the annual Manufacturers Forum. This event is often a highlight of NARAM's week long activities. Nearly every NARAM attendee is interested in hearing about new products, kits or engines. There's also some occasional gentle ribbing between competiting companies that can add a nice touch of humor to the event.

Wednesday taps further into NAR member wallets with the annual charity auction. Over the years, this event has raised thousands of dollars for various causes. However, a few years ago, the NAR Board decided that the funds from this auction would support the Bob Canon Scholarship Fund. Bob Canon was the longtime head of the Estes Education effort and trained thousands of teachers in how to use model rockets in their classrooms. Bidders fight over ancient kits, engines and publications with bids being fast and furious.

A portion of the items that were auctioned off Wednesday evening, topped by a $351 bid for a Centuri Saturn V kit still in shrinkwrap. Over $4,000 was raised for the Bob Canon Scholarship Fund. Click to enlarge.

Thursday NARAM nights turn serious with oral presentations in Research and Development. R&D as it's called, is one of the competition events flown at NARAM. Competitors undertake a research or development project using rocketry, and oral reports are required for those reports considered for top places. After the oral presentation, questions come from both judges and audience, and the technical side of our hobby gets explored further.

Friday closes the week with the annual awards banquet. After a week of jeans, shorts and t-shirts, NAR members get into whatever finery they have in their wardrobes, sit down for a nice dinner, and watch as their national champions in three age divisions, teams and sections (clubs) are crowned. Trophies are sponsored by various manufacturers for all events and the national titlists. Here the NAR also presents its major service awards: the LAC Newsletter Trophy, for the best club newsletter in the country, the NAR President's Award for NAR volunteer service well done, and the Howard Galloway Spacemodeling Award, the nation's highest honor for sport rocketry.

NARAM at Nite; a unique addition to your typical flying event is not to be missed. I hope we'll see you at next year's NARAM to share in our fun.

Photo Gallery:

Vern Estes rolled out his original 30+ year old Big Bertha for a successful flight at NARAM. Click to enlarge.

After a successful flying day, Vern tries his hand at auctioneering. Click to enlarge.

An altitude tracker's eye view of the range. Imagine trying to find a small model moving very fast from that far away! Click to enlarge.

Sunburned tonsils are an occupational hazard for the timing crew supporing the duration events. Click to enlarge.

Ken Hutchinson preps his cluster altitude model. Bird features drafting vellum airframe to cut weight. Click to enlarge.

Our own Ted Cochran takes time out from reporting to get in a flight on three D12's in this colorful bird of his own design. Click to enlarge.