that there was nothing wrong with my car's engine.

As one can see from the snap shots the flying field that we were forced to use was a harvested wheat plantation, with enough upstanding hay (about a foot) with sharp edges. We soon found out that the best way to land was to make fast and flat approaches, with only a last moment "touch of up" and just let the model sweep the hay on touch down. Luckily we didn't have more than ten wing covering punctures from this cause in three weeks flying. The only bad luck we experienced was when a perfect in every aspect landing of my Silent Dream ended with a heavy sound. The "FAA investigation" revealed that the model's wing had hit on the ONLY hard root from a cotton plant in this field. Small damage to rear spar and covering, but should wait until repaired in Athens.
Now my plans are: how to stuff more models in the roof rack. Ten models is not enough!!!
My squadron consisted of:
Two O.D. high wing models called Telemachos (25 dm=385 sq.in). Speed 480, Kruse 2.6:1 gear, 9,5 X 7 Aeronaut glass (fixed blade) 8 X Max 1800. Kontronik Easy 1000
Two Little Stars (X-Models or X-440 by SR) Sp400 6V, 4:1, 11X8 CAM, 7 X 1250 Magnum or 1400 AE, Jeti 10
Easy (Graupner) same power as the Little Stars
Cumulus 97 (Graupner) Sp480, micro 4.4:1 gear, 11 X 8 CAM,  7 X 1250 Magnum  or 1400 AE, Jeti 18
Silent Dream (FVK) Planeta 500, Aeronaut 13.5X7 on 47 mm hub, 7 X Sanyo 2000 Jeti 35.
Freedom (Graupner) same power as the Silent Dream
Thermic Star (X-models) Sp Race 500 VS, CAM 14,5X9, 7 X Sanyo 2000, Jeti 35
and one O.D. electric glider with SD7037 (40 dm2= 620sq.in) constant chord wing Sp600 7,2V 3.0:1 Kruse. Aeronaut 12X7, Jeti 35

We (my buddy George age 18 and myself) mostly flew in the evenings, starting two hours before sunset, (allowing about 2,1/2 h to 2,3/4 h of flying time) because the ambient temperature was just getting comfortable and the winds dropped almost to zero. Perfect conditions for the mosquitoes and the flies too.  There was always a thermal or at least buoyant air and sometimes took much spiraling to bring a glider down. We seldom flew in the morning, because we couldn't wake up early enough every day. As you know Greeks enjoy night life.
One of he locals confessed one day that as he first saw the high wing model above his head and not knowing what it was, he gave a thought of shooting it down with his hunting rifle (the hunting season had just started). But he tracked the path of the model and saw us flying it.