The reality is that Bike Week brings in many millions of dollars to the
local economy. *It draws about half a million bikers and wannabees to
the local area for an entire week. *We can't compete with those numbers
but It's hard to understand how there was NO local TV coverage of a
national event like this. *JMHO

Walt

--
Walt Connelly[/i][/color]

You guys are smoking dope if you think gliding is ever going to be
like bike racing or NASCAR - or any popular sport. Anyone can walk
into a motorcycle or car dealership and buy a bike or car and drive
it. He may not race it, but he is still involved.

You can't (and never will be able to) do that with gliding.

THAT is why gliding will always be a niche sport.

What gliding has to do is grow up, realize it's a (relatively) rich
man's sport, and work on attracting and keeping people who are looking
for a different way to spend their disposable income.

Yeah, I know that's heresy to the 1-26 and 2-33 crowd, and I wish you
could prove me wrong. But I think the numbers support me.

Which is why our club is looking at selling our 2-33 and one of our
1-26s, getting an ASK-21 and another glass single seater, making a
nicer clubhouse that is actually hospitable instead of being a
workshop, and building a simulator using the cockpit of a wrecked 103
and Condor.

And with the price of gas going up - trying to snag power pilots, who
already have the flying bug but can't afford or justify renting (or
owning, for that matter) a Cezzna for those $200 hamburgers anymore.

And as the Country Clubs fill up, snagging empty-nesters who don't
want to be stuck in a line waiting for a t-time.

Kids? Yeah, right, there will always be a few, and they should be
encouraged (good equipment helps here, too), but don't expect the
average kit to wander onto the gliderport...No chicks, way too many
old grumpy guys, too many rules, BORING!!!

Me, I'm going racing...and the only person I care about will be
watching me on my SPOT - and handing me a cold beer when I land.

Kirk
66[/quote]

I never thought that gliding could be as big as motorcycling or auto racing but my point is that we need to take the initiative to promote it to those who might become part of the community. I lived in Orlando for 25 years before I heard of the local gliderport and that was by accident. The power pilot concerned about the cost of avgas, the country clubber who might have been a pilot at one time and still enjoys the idea of flying need to be recruited. If there is not sufficient participation in the sport locally the local operation might not stay afloat. This is a great place to fly, people need to be made aware of this.

Walt