Henry Bartle

Have you ever woke up and all you think about is airplanes? Well, that is all Henry did as a child. At four years old he wanted to learn to fly control line. His father and cousin would go across the street to the park and fly. His father tried to teach him but wasn’t successful until Henry was about 6 years old.

Between a train layout and model airplanes Henry was a very busy kid. He built free fight models by the hundreds. 049 Control line combat kept him interested, along with countless Cox and Thunble Bee models.

At the age of 12 his father decided that Henry should graduate to Radio control. Henry scoured model magazines and decided to get a Mombo Special with a K&B .019 and a Galloping Ghost single channel with a escapement throttle. Henry went to Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley California and met with the Garden Grove R/C club. Mark Smith of Mark’s model did the first flight. Henry would fly until he broke his plane each day. After 45 controlled crashes his father thought that it was time for a Proportional radio. Henry and his father went to Louie Zienicker’s Hobby shop, Century Hobbies and bought a EK Logitol, 4 channel. He did not realized how expensive they were. His father paid $300.00 for that radio.

After two years of flying Henry met an old guy known as “Pop White”. He came up to Henry and said, “You need to get into Pylon racing”. Paul White; Pop White’s son, taught Henr y how to build Formula One racers. Paul also hauled Henry around to all the races since he was only 14 years old. The first race Henry competed in was at Sepulveda Basin in 1969. The record for Formula One was 1:55.2 held by Doug Brink. Henry was shaking in his boots. He was racing all his heros, Bob Smith, Kent Nogy, Al Strickland, Whit Stockwell and Terry Prather. Henry got lucky and placed 3rd in the novice class. He was hooked. Henry raced until he was 18. In 1973, he started his Corvette business and didn’t have time for both.

Fast forward to 1984. Henry and his wife Donna just had their second child and Henry was feeling house bound. He decided to start modeling again. He was also building a full size aircraft, his Marquart Charger MA-5 bi-plane that he still has today.

One day Henry had a customer that was buying Corvette parts from him at California Corvette’s . Henry walked him out to his Corvette and saw a racing model airplane in it. Henry told him that he did that when he was a kid. His name was Lyle Larson. Little did Henry know that this would be a life time friendship. Lyle invited Henry to a race at Whittier Narrows, California. When Henry got there Bob Nichols and Bob Novak were there. He knew them both when he was growing up. Bob Nichols said, “Lets fuel this Quarter Midget up and give you a flight”. Well, Henry was hooked again.

Lyle and Henry paired up and started racing everywhere. If it was too far to drive they would get into Henry’s Cessna 310 and fly. That was a fun and thrilling time for both of them.

In 1986 Henry became the NMPRA VP for the California, Arizona and Nevada area. He updated the pylon equipment and made a new trailer. Donna and Henry put on 18 races in 1986. The Formula One championship race was held at Sepulveda Basin. At that time you had to qualify to race. Out of the 72 people that qualified 66 showed up.

In 1987 Henry became President of NMPRA. There were 220 members when he started. Henry and Donna went to 36 races that year all over the US and Canada. He promoted the NMPRA everywhere he went. At the end of his year he had over 500 members and racing was happening everywhere on any given weekend. In the beginning he didn’t know the dire straights’ NMPRA was in financially. Henry started raising money by having hats, patches and pins made. With the help of many, he turned over $14,000.00 to the next President Gary Hover.

Henry says he “got lucky” and made it 5 times to the F3D world championship teams and to the podium each time. He also managed to win the Nationals 4 times and was High-point Champion twice.

Henry says he did not do this alone, his wife Donna was right beside him. His friendship with Darrol Cady came with a big benefit, his wife Rhonda. Rhonda led him to 2 National wins and countless wins all over the country. She was and is the best call girl he knows.

The best event for Henry was meeting Lyle Larson. He has been a great friend and racing partner. They have been all over the world together and still enjoy each other’s company.

The lasting memories are the friendships Henry has made all over the world from his years of racing.

Submitted by: Donna Bartle

Henry Bartle & Bruce DeChastel With Henry's F3D Racers

Henry Bartle With His World Championship Medal

Lyle Larson & Henry Bartle At World Championship

Henry Bartle & Son Henson With Formula 1

Henry Bartle With His 1st Place QM 15 Little Mike

Henry Bartle & Caller Henson With Formula 1