What is Purpose of Sports Class Nationals?

Frank,

Here is the FAI purpose:
"7.7.6 Club Class
The purpose of the Club Class is to preserve the value of older high
performance gliders, to provide inexpensive but high quality international
championships, and to enable pilots who do not have access to gliders of the
highest standard of performance to take part in contests at the highest
levels."

The problem arises with the "Entry" definition.
"The only limitation on entry of a glider into a Club Class competition is
that it is within the range of handicap factors agreed for the competition.
(AL7)"

The U.S. has opened this range to include all sailplanes. This tends to
cause contest organizers to declare tasks which are beyond the capabilities
of older gliders. This situation nullifies the "older high performance
gliders"/"inexpensive" phrase in the FAI purpose statement.

What is the common international handicap range of Club Class sailplanes?

Would limiting entries to older sailplanes increase, or decrease,
participation? What does the term "older" mean?

(Personally, I hesitate to enter contests flying mid 1960's technology.)

Wayne
HP-14 N990 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder




"Frank Paynter" wrote in message
...
According to the 2006 Sports Class Nationals Rules:


'The purpose of the Sports Class Nationals is to determine
the 2006 Sports Class Champion, and to select team
members for international Club Class competitions'

With most of the gliders at the latest 2006 Nats in
the ASW27/28 & LS-8 range, does it make sense to call
the winner a Sports Class Champion? Does it make sense
to select pilots for international Club Class competitions
from this group?

Inquiring minds and all that .... ;-).

Frank (X3)