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Old July 29th 13, 07:09 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Wallace Berry[_2_]
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Posts: 122
Default Florida Sailplane Grand Prix Race Sep 27-29 at Seminole Lake

In article ,
wrote:

Thanks to Andy McQuigg, he has volunteered to direct a series of weekend
"Grand Prix" style races that are of no cost, other than your tow fees. Here
is a website if you are interested.

Email Andy McQuigg at ash99e(at)yahoo(dot)com to sign up for the event.


Visit ----
https://sites.google.com/site/florid...lanegrandprix/


Tailwinds,
SA




We sorta did a GP style "race" during a GTA weekend at Cordele several
years ago. I think it was a 3-day Memorial Day weekend GTA. We had
gotten in two excellent days of soaring on Saturday and Sunday. In fact,
Sunday's task was a 500k triangle that we all successfully completed and
I think Joe Flores had also done a 500k on Saturday. After two strong,
long days we were pretty well raced out. So,instead of the usual racing
task on Monday, Larry Goddard suggested we take a couple of newbies out
for their first real cross-country flight. Larry suggested doing a GP
start to facilitate the training aspect. Getting everyone together at
about the same altitude and lined up for a start was actually pretty
easy. It was way cool to start like that. Looked like a formation of
bombers heading off on a mission. We all pretty much stayed together for
the 120 mile task and essentially the whole grid "team flew" the task
and coached the newbies along. About two thirds down the second leg,
Larry was coaching the new guys to start getting themselves in a final
glide mindset and to try to finish the task with little or no additional
thermalling. We pretty much were on final glide for the last 40 miles or
so. The new guys were a little nervous about blowing on through good
thermals without stopping but loving it. In the end, one of the newbies
even won the day!