Standard class is the most competitive class of all!
It is almost a one design class (D2 and LS8), both gliders are so close in
performance that pilot skill is the only factor that determines your place
on the score sheet.
oops.... there is also a 28 too, sorry LX

So why did I not show up at the nats.? - pretty simple CA is too far away
and I am sure this is true for a lot of East Coasters. With a limited time
off work, who can waste 4 days of driving each way??

Why is Perry so successful? The same reason why New Castle is sold out every
year - hospitality and a reasonable driving distance for us on the east
coast.

For the record: Hobbs last year had 40 competitors, Mifflin, the year before
had 48 competitors, with a waiting list! Location, Location, Location!!!!!!

I believe that we have to rethink the set up of our national contests. Would
it be possible to have an eastern and western championship every year and a
national championship every two years somewhere in the middle of the
country?

Just some food for thought.

Peter Pförtner (PF LS8)
PS: See y'all in New Castle



"chris" wrote in message
...
I was wondering that too. Maybe it is just because the economy in
California /west is weak so the locals did not show up much and few
people wanted to drive that far. I say this because here in the east
we have been oversubscribed on some races. The Regional in Perry SC
was at 65 contestant, bigger than many nationals, and then the GTA
race we had there was ~27 contestants [and closer to 40 on the weekend
that got rained out].

So it is odd to me that regionals are doing well and nationals poorly.

Maybe the Standard class is just getting weak. At some races the
standard class seems less competitive than 15m or Sports. Often Std
class seems more like a social team flying cub. I've seen several
races where a old generation glass glider flown unballasted is much
faster than the newest generation std class full of ballast with
experienced pilots.

Chris