Zero One sez:

"It is my understanding that the FAA has agreed _not_ to ramp check at
a
contest due to safety issues. Is that not correct, folks?"

I haven't seen any guidance that says anything like that, at all. But
I'll do some research and see if I can find some, might be an obscure
order, or maybe a policy bulletin. If it exists, I'll find it. There IS
an HBAW that states what records one should bring to an airshow, but
that's not the topic here.

Regarding the issue of being violated just for standing next to your
glider wearing a chute with an expired re-pack - not likely. The FAA
must follow the normal rules of evidence - that is they have to see you
actually violate the rule or you must admit it to a Fed you did it, or
they must have some other sort of evidence that proves you violated the
rule before they can hope to enforce the rule. I suppose they could
prove it if the other three guys in the thermal want to write out a
statement that they saw you fly your glider with that chute on, etc.

Sure, some Feds might try it, but it won't make it past the Regional
Counsel's office these days. I'm not sure I would want to test it since
dealing with the Feds is no fun.

I hope we get the 180 day rule thing done, it sure would increase
safety and compliance overnight with no cost to the end-user at all!

Jim