That makes sense! Eric & JJ: you were at that contest. I recall hearing that Rudy had landed on a road in a narrow canyon late in the contest somewhere down south of Minden (towards Bridgeport?). "Splints" sounds more accurate. I definitely saw them once but don't recall seeing them on the fuselage on the takeoff line, although it was a big contest.

Just checked the Soaring archives and Rudy took a DNC the last day so that's consistent with his not flying it that way. Thx for closing the loop on my memory after all these years!

Chip Bearden