Attn: Glider Pilots

Region 6 North cordially invites you to register for the 2018 R6N Sports and Club Class contests to be held July 2nd - 7th (with practice dates scheduled for 6/30 & 7/01), in Adrian, Michigan. Join us as we revive a contest site that once held several U.S. National Championships (65, 74, and 79), and once set the standard for modern National sailplane racing championships (see September 1965 issue of Soaring).

Tony Condon will be the Contest Director for the combined R6N and 2018 U.S. Juniors Contest & Development Camp. Those flying in R6N are welcome to audit the morning lecture series and take advantage of mentoring that will be available at the contest (in a highly supportive, informative no-pressure contest environment). "Newbees" thinking of attending should consider R6N a "rookie camp" for all intensive purposes and look no further. This is the place for you!

And, for those of you with extensive sailplane racing experience, please show your support and consider joining us; take a pilot who’s new to sailplane racing, coach and encourage them through the process… share your passion for racing… and help grow the sport! If you have questions, or would like to be a Guest Speaker and/or Junior Mentor/Instructor Pilot (instructors with access to advanced, high-performance 2-seaters are presently needed), please contact me.

It should be noted that R6N contest organizers adopted a "Club Class" contest, in addition to its Sports Class contest, for the purpose of hosting a competitive "warm-up" to the 2018 Club Class National Championship to be held in Dansville, NY, later this August. Those jockeying for a spot on the U.S. Club Class Team or seeking a Club Class National Championship and/or podium finish are highly encouraged to take advantage of this venue to prepare for Nats!

The contest site, while being located in S.E. Michigan over the flat lands does share some similarities to Dansville in so much that their micro-climates are effected by the Great Lakes. Having said that, we picked the peak of Michigan's soaring season to hold the contest just as the organizers did back in '65, '74, and '79. While your hosts have no control over the weather gods, we believe we should be able to get 3-4 strong contests days in, and are likely to experience classic NW/SE streeting on no less than 1-2 of those days. Tony brings a wealth of Mid-West soaring experience to the game and will certainly do his best to challenge our Club Class pilots.

At the request of many, R6N will have a communal dining area setup in Adrian Soaring Club's large hangar. The social calendar and dining options for contestants, volunteers, and crew will excite and please many. There's both On and Off-Airport camping available. Hotel rooms may be reserved by pilots and crew for as low as $71/night + tax at newly a remodeled Super 8 Hotel (1.5 miles from the airport), and for $99/night+ tax at an adjacent Holiday Inn Express, which features an indoor swimming pool and fitness center. Details to come soon on the R6N.org website!

To Register now for R6N, go to: http://www.ssa.org/Contests?cid=2419&display=info

If you have any questions about the contest, please reply directly to this RAS post, or go to the R6N.org website, which will launch by January 28.

Best regards & safe soaring,

Chris Schrader
R6N Contest Manager