How about this question, instead: "Did the presence of the engine
cause you to place higher or lower than you would've without it?" I
think I finished lower; JJ thinks I finished higher. My philosophy is
I've flown a lot of contests, my wife has made a lot of retrieves, and
we're both happier if I accept some competitive disadvantage and we
don't have to do that anymore.

It's not surprising that a motor glider pilot would want to claim that
of course he has a competative disadvantage.

This might be true for Motor glider pilots that religiously fly
conservatively.
But to claim that all motor glider pilots fly that way, and especially
in competition. Is a bunch of Bull!

A typical example would be two pilots on a ridge, in the next valley
are landable fields. Failing to find lift at the next ridge will mean
landing in those fields. Although quite safe it will will mean that
the non motorized glider pilot will be getting back in the middle of
the night. But the motor glider pilot will just start his motor and
be back for evening dinner.

If you think that doesn't give the motor glider an advantage, then
there are
alot of people selling swamp land in florida that would like to talk
to you.

It sure would be a breath of fresh air, for some of the motor glider
pilots to
actually publish some of the instances where having a motor gave them
a distinct advantage compared to if they had been a non motorized
gliders in xc.

Soarin