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From Page 1 ride. Most Warsaw residents can't afford private autcs and for those who can, there are long line-ups as the gas pumps, as there are just a handful of service stations in the entire city, he remarked. And everywhere there are monuments to World War 2,to the hundreds of thousands who died in brutal fighting or were yanked from their homes and carted off to concentration camps. One wall of an old church still stands with a tank tread imbedded in the brick work, the tank obviously used to flatten the church. Peter snapped a photo of a large crucifix half of it original, the other half re-built, a grim reminder of the war-time de- struction. As for the aero model (radio controlled airplanes) competi- tions, Peter took a de Havilland Chipmunk with him to War- saw. The Canadian team did not fare as well as the members would have liked, mainly be- cause one member was dis- qualified before the competi- tions even started. His model plane was about a pound too heavy, and that is against the rules. Still, Peter said it was en- joyable meeting competitors from so many other countries, all of who share a common pur- suit: model airplanes. Peter has been flying radio- controlled models for some 30 years, and this was the second time he has represented Cana- da at the International event. Four years ago, it was in Nor- way. The team members stayed in what Peter described as spar- tan, military barracks about 14 miles outside Warsaw. And the actual flying com- petitions took place at a busy military air-field nearby. The barrack rooms were - small and very plain, and for five days, there was no hot wa- ter at all. Seems a steam pipe had ruptured somewhere. "It sure wasn't the Shera- ton," he recalls with a smile. And just a few weeks before the competition, the Canadian team was dismayed to learn that the Polish organizers where changing the radio fre- quency that controls the models in the air. They had to scramble around to find new radio con- trols with different frequency, and then they were notified the old frequency was OK after all. Peter said he took both con- trol sets with him to Poland, justin case. Team members paid $50 r day for their room and ell (three meals) in the bar- racks, but Peter recalls with a smile how they would travel to the city centre for a meal in the large hotel where ice water was available. IF YOUR AD WAS HERE Over 20,000 people could have read it this week. That's a lot of potential customers for your business. For Advertising Made Easy call the PORT PERRY STAR 985-7383 It was impossible to get a smile thing like ice cubes at the barracks. And Peter was amazed to see the menu at this same hotel, offering two kinds of steak din- ner: one grade A American beef at $16.95 and the other Polish beef at $6.95. He opted for the American dish (it was great) but his friend tried the Polish beef and said it was not too bad. And he still chuckles at the thought of the Polish bathroom tissue. He brought home a "souvenir roll" and it looks like a blend of old cardboard and sand-paper. Peter, who works as an ag- gregate technician for a large gravel company, won the right to represent Canada by placing first in the Canadian champion- ships 18 months ago. He originally thought the world competitions were to be held in Switzerland. "We were surprised to learn that it was to be in Po- land," he said. At the international level PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, October 10, 1990 -- 13 Local man flies model in World competition aero modelling is not consid- ered a hobby, but a sport, a defi- nition Peter agrees with. But un-like other Canadi- an athletes, Peter received no fi- nancial help to represent his country, other than a reduction on the air fare via the Polish Air Line from Toronto to Warsaw. Still, it was more than worth the cost for the honour of wearing the Canadian colours abroad and the chance to visit the Polish capital. As for the people wholivein Warsaw, Peter said things are- tough in many ways. And this is reflected on their faces. He saw very few smiles, especially among the elderly. The next International Aero Model competitions are in two years time, and scheduled for Dayton, Ohio. Peter hopes he can qualify once more to represent his coun- try. And he admits that Dayton will be quite a change from War- saw. ect the Best to the staff of COUNTRY STYLE DONUTS PORT PERRY and to our CUSTOMERS! (270 Scugog Street PORT PERRY 985-9537 Open 24 Hours