Attention US Standard Class Pilots

On Feb 8, 1:48*pm, Chris wrote:
I'm a relatively new pilot to racing and plan on flying at Montague
this summer. Several other young, eager pilots from my club (Evergreen
Soaring / SGC) would like to race standard class nationals as well,
but have been hesitant to sign up because they feel uncompetitive in a
ship like a DG300. I'm in favor of a limited handicap because I'd
rather have them fly at Montague than go to Parowan for sports nats.

For what it's worth, this won't benefit me since I'll be flying a ship
that doesn't get the proposed handicap.

Chris Young
42DJ

PS: I promise I'll get my act together and sign up.

What kind of glider do you fly?
UH

On Feb 8, 12:57*pm, wrote:
On Feb 8, 1:48*pm, Chris wrote:

I'm a relatively new pilot to racing and plan on flying at Montague
this summer. Several other young, eager pilots from my club (Evergreen
Soaring / SGC) would like to race standard class nationals as well,
but have been hesitant to sign up because they feel uncompetitive in a
ship like a DG300. I'm in favor of a limited handicap because I'd
rather have them fly at Montague than go to Parowan for sports nats.

For what it's worth, this won't benefit me since I'll be flying a ship
that doesn't get the proposed handicap.

Chris Young
42DJ

PS: I promise I'll get my act together and sign up.

What kind of glider do you fly?
UH

UH:

I fly an LS8.

Chris
42DJ

On Feb 8, 5:38*pm, Chris wrote:
On Feb 8, 12:57*pm, wrote:





On Feb 8, 1:48*pm, Chris wrote:

I'm a relatively new pilot to racing and plan on flying at Montague
this summer. Several other young, eager pilots from my club (Evergreen
Soaring / SGC) would like to race standard class nationals as well,
but have been hesitant to sign up because they feel uncompetitive in a
ship like a DG300. I'm in favor of a limited handicap because I'd
rather have them fly at Montague than go to Parowan for sports nats.

For what it's worth, this won't benefit me since I'll be flying a ship
that doesn't get the proposed handicap.

Chris Young
42DJ

PS: I promise I'll get my act together and sign up.

What kind of glider do you fly?
UH

UH:

I fly an LS8.

Chris
42DJ- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

So you'll be going to Montegue anyway.
Now I recognize the number- it is a VERY good glider.
Have fun and sign up soon so they know you're coming.
UH

Respectfully....
Has the competition committee identified the problem? Could it be that
Montegue ( I actually wish I lived there) is next door to China. With
10 in 09' and three this year, and 16 last year in Cordele...I believe
the problem is site location and the inablility of working people to
get to those sites. Couple that with the technical challenge of the
area, a low turnout in a dying class is expected.
I race Standard and my limit is NM or east of and willing to give up
the Eastern 1/4. I believe , if possible, a more centralize US site is
a must , even to the point of using the same site consecutively if
necessary.
It the Nationals ......You cancel the contest and let the few race
with the 18m. If the class dies , it dies. You don't *******ize it
with voodoo formulaes and hopes that never prove to be a plan.
I understand that there may not be choices in selecting the contest
site and Montegue may have been the only site willing. I seriously
doubt if I would race in a handicap Standard National. I would change
over to 18m and kick their ass......as they leave me in the dust.
R

A couple of thoughts as I read through this thread:

(1) If adding a handicap to standard class nationals will help sustain
this class by making relatively modern ships competitive, then I'm all
for this. It's all well and good to say, let this class die if it
isn't viable, but then the value of all current standard class gliders
will take a hit. I'd be very happy to see standard class keep Discus,
ASW24, DG300, and similar ships competitive, and thus more valuable,
since it keeps the value of my ship (an LS8) from dropping.

Knowing that my LS8 isn't going to be worth $10k less as standard
class dies will make me feel a lot better about Tim McAllister kicking
my ass in his handicapped SZD-55. And frankly, I'm fairly certain he'd
still beat me even without the handicap, so the better pilot wins
anyway.

(2) While I recognize Montague is a long haul for a lot of pilots
coming from the East, Midwest, and Southwest, the converse is true for
those of that live in the Northwest and Central/Northern California
and need to go in the other direction. I think it's worth pointing out
that over 15% of the US population live on the West Coast and can
easily access Montague in less than a day's drive. It's all well and
good to say that we should just choose a site in the geographic center
of the United States that's no more than 2 days for anyone, but (a) I
suspect that this is just far enough that some folks from the East
Coast will say its too far, and some folks form the West Coast will
say it's too far, and you'll end up with mediocre turnout anyway. And
(b) I personally look forward to the challenge of a technical site--
whether it's Montague, Logan, or a place like Perry on the East Coast.
If I'm going to take nearly 2 weeks off from work, family, etc to
indulge in this chronic disease known as gliding, then at least I'd
like to fly in some interesting places.

Just my two cents.

Chris
42DJ